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The latest update to the Ransomware Tool Matrix Project highlights key ransomware groups and their activities as of May 2025. The report categorizes them into:
- Old Guard: Qilin, BlackSuit, RansomEXX, Medusa, BianLian, Hunters International, PLAY
- China-Linked: RA World, NailaoLocker, CrazyHunter
- New Entrants (<1 year old): IMN Crew, QWCrypt, NightSpire, SuperBlack, Helldown
For a deeper dive, check the full report:
Ransomware Tool Matrix Project Updates: May 2025
You Should Know: Detecting and Mitigating Ransomware Attacks
1. Detecting Ransomware Activity
Use these commands to monitor suspicious processes in Linux:
ps aux | grep -E 'crypt|lock|ransom|encrypt' lsof -i -P -n | grep ESTABLISHED netstat -tulnp | grep unknown
For Windows, use PowerShell to detect ransomware indicators:
Get-Process | Where-Object { $<em>.ProcessName -match "crypt|lock|ransom" }
Get-NetTCPConnection -State Established | Where-Object { $</em>.RemoteAddress -notmatch "192.168|10.0" }
2. Preventing Ransomware Infections
- Disable SMBv1 (common ransomware propagation method):
sudo apt remove samba Linux Disable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName smb1protocol -NoRestart Windows
- Enable File Integrity Monitoring (FIM):
sudo apt install aide Linux aideinit
- Restrict RDP Access:
sudo ufw deny 3389/tcp Linux firewall rule
3. Recovery Steps
If infected:
- Isolate the system immediately.
- Check for backups (ransomware often deletes them first):
ls -la /backup/ | grep -i "shadow_copy"
- Use ransomware decryption tools (if available):
- No More Ransom Project
What Undercode Say
Ransomware continues evolving, with China-linked groups and new entrants adopting advanced techniques. Defenders must:
– Monitor network traffic for unusual encryption patterns.
– Patch vulnerabilities in exposed services (e.g., VPNs, RDP).
– Train employees on phishing tactics (common ransomware entry point).
Key commands for threat hunters:
journalctl -u sshd --no-pager | grep "Failed password" Check brute-force attempts rkhunter --check Rootkit detection chkrootkit Manual rootkit scan
For Windows incident response:
Get-WinEvent -FilterHashtable @{LogName='Security'; ID=4625} Failed logins
Get-WinEvent -LogName "Microsoft-Windows-Sysmon/Operational" | Where-Object { $_.ID -eq 1 } Process creation
Expected Output
A hardened system with:
- Disabled SMBv1
- Active FIM monitoring
- Restricted RDP/SMB access
- Decryption tools on standby
Stay vigilant—ransomware actors adapt quickly.
Prediction
Ransomware groups will increasingly target cloud workloads and exploit zero-day vulnerabilities in 2025-2026. AI-assisted attacks may also emerge, requiring automated defense mechanisms.
References:
Reported By: William T – Hackers Feeds
Extra Hub: Undercode MoN
Basic Verification: Pass ✅
