The FBI has issued a warning about LockBit 2.0, a popular ransomware strain that emerged last summer with more sophisticated capabilities than its predecessor.
LockBit's authors updated it to automatically encrypt devices across Windows domains by abusing Active Directory group policies, the FBI said in an advisory on Friday. This enables it to trigger encryption with a single command, according to an analysis from security company Cybereason.
The ransomware uses bitwise operations for its encryption, which are bit-level operations directly supported by the processor.
The criminal gang behind LockBit 2.0 have also begun advertising for insiders to help them gain access to victims' networks by promising them a cut of the profits, according to the FBI advisory. Finally, the group developed a piece of Linux malware targeting VMware ESXi virtual machines.
LockBit 2.0 operates on an affiliate model, with separate groups paying a fee to the authors for its use. Consequently, each group's usage techniques vary. Alongside the new insider access approach, the FBI has seen perpetrators buy access to compromised systems from initial access brokers and target systems with unpatched capabilities, it said.
Once inside a network, the FBI has seen perpetrators escalate privileges using the Mimikatz password-stealing tool. They then often use StealBit, a custom data exfiltration tool included in LockBit 2.0, to steal data before the ransomware encrypts it. They typically select from a range of independent file sharing services.
In a sign that multi-factor authentication is becoming increasingly crucial, the FBI advised its use "to the extent possible" in its list of mitigations. It also recommended the use of strong passwords for those with password logins, software patching, and a host-based firewall. Administrators should enable protected files in Windows and remote unnecessary access to administrative shares, it added.
Time-based access is also a useful method to protect administrative accounts, the advisory said. This locks admin accounts until needed, unlocking them only in response to individual requests, and only for a limited time.
LockBit 2.0 was the busiest ransomware group in the third quarter of 2021, according to a report by security company Digital Shadows.
-
Upcoming webinars not to be missedWebinar Sign up for these free webinars to help inform decision-making and get the most value out of IT today and tomorrow
-
‘Polyworking’ is a cybersecurity nightmare waiting to happenNews Particularly popular with Gen Z, so-called polyworking brings huge cybersecurity risks
-
The Scattered Spider ransomware group is infiltrating Slack and Microsoft Teams to target vulnerable employeesNews The group is using new ransomware variants and new social engineering techniques - including sneaking into corporate teleconferences
-
Hackers breached a 158 year old company by guessing an employee password – experts say it’s a ‘pertinent reminder’ of the devastating impact of cyber crimeNews A Panorama documentary exposed hackers' techniques and talked to the teams trying to tackle them
-
The ransomware boom shows no signs of letting up – and these groups are causing the most chaosNews Thousands of ransomware cases have already been posted on the dark web this year
-
Everything we know about the Ingram Micro cyber attack so farNews A cyber attack on Ingram Micro severely disrupted operations and has been claimed by the SafePay ransomware group.
-
A prolific ransomware group says it’s shutting down and giving out free decryption keys to victims – but cyber experts warn it's not exactly a 'gesture of goodwill'
News The Hunters International ransomware group is rebranding and switching tactics
-
Swiss government data published following supply chain attack – here’s what we know about the culpritsNews Radix, a non-profit organization in the health promotion sector, supplies a number of federal offices, whose data has apparently been accessed.
-
Ransomware victims are getting better at haggling with hackersNews While nearly half of companies paid a ransom to get their data back last year, victims are taking an increasingly hard line with hackers to strike fair deals.
-
LockBit data dump reveals a treasure trove of intel on the notorious hacker groupNews An analysis of May's SQL database dump shows how much LockBit was really making
