Putin Ransomware? | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

Gasprom ransomware with Putin's face as its branding has been detected. It is believed to be a variant of Conti ransomware, a ransomware-as-a-service group based in Russia.

Key Insights

• 🤨 Gasprom ransomware incorporates Putin's face as its branding, which raises questions about the involvement or approval of Russian authorities.
• 👨‍💻 Gasprom ransomware shares similarities with the Conti ransomware group, suggesting a potential affiliation or adoption of their source code.
• 👻 The ransomware-as-a-service model allows cyber criminals to create their own ransomware variants using existing source code.
• ❓ Gasprom ransomware is associated with a sanctioned entity, indicating potential political motivations or affiliations.
• ☠️ The detection rate of Gasprom ransomware has increased over time, indicating widespread distribution and potential threats to global networks.
• 🛟 Gasprom ransomware serves as a reminder to protect systems from execution, lateral movement, and encryption activities.
• 👊 Backup and restoration mechanisms are crucial to mitigate the impact of ransomware attacks.

Transcript

now what's funny is I came across a ransomware sample with literally Putin's face on it are you waging a cyber war against America where is the evidence where is proof becoming farcical I recently came across this very interesting ransomware sample which if we're going to execute on the system do not do this at home it is going to encrypt all of ou... Read More

Questions & Answers

Q: Is there evidence that Gasprom ransomware is part of a cyber war against America?

There is no concrete evidence linking Gasprom ransomware to a cyber war against America. However, its association with a sanctioned entity raises questions about its motivations and potential affiliations.

Q: How does Gasprom ransomware compare to other ransomware samples in terms of detection rates?

Initially, Gasprom ransomware was only detected by 19 engines, but that number has since increased to 51. Its sample submissions come from various countries such as the UK, US, France, and Germany.

Q: What is the relationship between Gasprom ransomware and the Conti ransomware group?

Gasprom ransomware is believed to be a variant of the Conti ransomware. Conti operates as a ransomware-as-a-service group, allowing cyber criminals to use their source code to create their own ransomware.

Q: How does Gasprom ransomware deploy and encrypt files?

Gasprom ransomware has an instantaneous deployment and encryption process. However, there may be additional files that download the actual ransomware application. Further analysis is needed to identify any connections to other files.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Gasprom ransomware, featuring Putin's face as its branding, encrypts all documents with a DOT gas prom extension.

• The ransom note instructs victims to contact the attackers via their Telegram channel, gasprom Lock, for file restoration.

• Gasprom ransomware is associated with a sanctioned entity and shares similarities with the Conti ransomware group.