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Locky Ransomware Surge: 14 Million Emails in One Week

Posted: November 1, 2016 to Cybersecurity.

Tags: Ransomware, Malware, Data Breach

Over the past week over 14 million emails have been sent out in a new campaign with the purpose of spread the Locky strain of ransomware. As we’ve reported many times, once Locky takes control it then encrypts a victim’s files and demands payment in Bitcoins to get a key to unlock them, typically around $340. It appears that the attack was probably carried out by a single group working together, using at least one botnet. There was a sudden drop in traffic before picking up again later. This and both attacks using the same IP addresses point to the possibility of using a single botnet. In the weeks before this latest attack, the hackers behind Locky had been nearly inactive. With this new campaign, security researchers believe that during that lull the perpetrators may have been preparing or upgrading their botnet.

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About the Author

Craig Petronella, CEO and Founder of Petronella Technology Group
CEO, Founder & AI Architect, Petronella Technology Group

Craig Petronella founded Petronella Technology Group in 2002 and has spent more than 30 years working at the intersection of cybersecurity, AI, compliance, and digital forensics. He holds the CMMC Registered Practitioner credential (RP-1372) issued by the Cyber AB, is an NC Licensed Digital Forensics Examiner (License #604180-DFE), and completed MIT Professional Education programs in AI, Blockchain, and Cybersecurity. Craig also holds CompTIA Security+, CCNA, and Hyperledger certifications.

He is an Amazon #1 Best-Selling Author of 15+ books on cybersecurity and compliance, host of the Encrypted Ambition podcast (95+ episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Amazon), and a cybersecurity keynote speaker with 200+ engagements at conferences, law firms, and corporate boardrooms. Craig serves as Contributing Editor for Cybersecurity at NC Triangle Attorney at Law Magazine and is a guest lecturer at NCCU School of Law. He has served as a digital forensics expert witness in federal and state court cases involving cybercrime, cryptocurrency fraud, SIM-swap attacks, and data breaches.

Under his leadership, Petronella Technology Group has served 2,500+ clients, maintained a zero-breach record among compliant clients, earned a BBB A+ rating every year since 2003, and been featured as a cybersecurity authority on CBS, ABC, NBC, FOX, and WRAL. The company leverages SOC 2 Type II certified platforms and specializes in AI implementation, managed cybersecurity, CMMC/HIPAA/SOC 2 compliance, and digital forensics for businesses across the United States.

CMMC-RP NC Licensed DFE MIT Certified CompTIA Security+ Expert Witness 15+ Books
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