The HelloKitty Ransomware, a malicious software that has been causing havoc since 2020, is making headlines on Google News for a rather peculiar reason. An individual identifying as Gookee has taken responsibility for leaking the source code of this specific version of ransomware on a Russian-speaking cyber forum. Gookee has gone a step further by announcing their willingness to create more ransomware if they receive financial support. What’s intriguing is that Gookee, who also goes by the alias Kapuchin0, claims to be in the process of developing a more potent encryption tool, set to be released by the end of this year. This marks the first instance of a hacker openly admitting to enhancing their encryption capabilities, a surprising revelation.
ALPHV Ransomware perpetrators have recently targeted Florida’s First Judicial Circuit Court, resulting in the theft of sensitive information, including social security numbers and certain employee CVs. According to reports from Bleeping Computer, these cybercriminals also made off with network maps pertaining to the court’s computer network and both local and remote login credentials. ALPHV, also known as BlackCat, is a notorious criminal group known for infiltrating government networks in the United States. Florida Court has now fallen victim to a sophisticated attack orchestrated by criminals operating from Vietnam but allegedly funded by an Asian nation.
In other news, a UK-based company named Volex, which specializes in manufacturing products for data centers and electric vehicles, has fallen victim to a ransomware attack. A ransomware gang has successfully breached Volex’s server systems and is now demanding a substantial sum in exchange for decrypting the compromised data. While the identity of the threat actor remains undisclosed, an insider at the company has confirmed that the attack indeed involved a ransomware variant. As a precaution, Volex has initiated a business continuity plan to minimize the potential risks associated with this incident.
