The Babuk ransomware group has decided to close the affiliate program and switch to an extortion model that does not rely on encrypting victim computers, according to a new message sent out today by the gang. The clarification comes after the group posted and then deleted two announcements yesterday about their intention to close the project and release the malware's source code.
The group seems to have taken a different path than the ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) model, in which the hackers steal data before deploying the encryption stage to use as leverage in ransom payment negotiations.
Babak's newly announced model is nearly identical except for the data encryption part, according to a third "Hello World" message posted on their leak site. In other words, the cybercriminals will run an extortion-without-encryption operation, demanding a ransom for data stolen from compromised networks.
“Babuk changes direction, we no longer encrypt information on networks, we will get to you and take your data, we will notify you about it if you do not get in touch we make an announcement,” stated Babuk ransomware.
Maze ransomware began exfiltrating data in November 2019 in order to boost ransom demands. All big ransomware operations quickly adopted it. In starting of 2021, Clop ransomware exploited zero-day vulnerabilities in Accellion's File Transfer Appliance to ran a series of data-theft attacks on high-value companies without encrypting systems. The group stole a large number of files and demanded large sums of money in exchange for not leaking or trading the information.
Several victims paid tens of millions of dollars in ransom. Babuk ransomware claims that despite being a new tea ..
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