@zdnet.com
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Federal cybersecurity agencies, including the FBI and CISA, have issued an urgent advisory regarding the escalating threat of Medusa ransomware. Since its emergence in 2021, Medusa has targeted over 300 victims across various critical infrastructure sectors, including medical, education, legal, insurance, technology, and manufacturing. The group's activities have accelerated in recent months, prompting immediate action recommendations for organizations. Medusa operates as a Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) model, now recruiting affiliates from criminal forums to launch attacks, encrypt data, and extort victims worldwide.
Medusa actors leverage common ransomware tactics, including phishing campaigns and exploiting unpatched software vulnerabilities. They employ a double extortion strategy by encrypting victim data and threatening to publicly release it if the ransom is not paid. To mitigate the risk, CISA and the FBI recommend organizations update systems regularly to close known vulnerabilities, implement network segmentation to restrict lateral movement, and enable multi-factor authentication for all services. They also urge organizations to report incidents promptly to aid in tracking and combating the growing threat.
Recommended read:
References :
- bsky.app: CISA says the Medusa ransomware operation has impacted over 300 organizations in critical infrastructure sectors in the United States until last month.
- www.bleepingcomputer.com: CISA: Medusa ransomware hit over 300 critical infrastructure orgs
- securityonline.info: FBI, CISA, and MS-ISAC Warn Organizations About Medusa Ransomware Attacks
- DataBreaches.Net: #StopRansomware: Medusa Ransomware
- Industrial Cyber: US exposes Medusa ransomware threat, as over 300 organizations targeted across critical infrastructure sector
- securityaffairs.com: SecurityAffairs article: Medusa ransomware hit over 300 critical infrastructure organizations until February 2025
- www.cybersecuritydive.com: Medusa ransomware slams critical infrastructure organizations
- www.itpro.com: CISA issues warning over Medusa ransomware after 300 victims from critical sectors impacted
- www.tripwire.com: The Medusa ransomware gang continues to present a major threat to the critical infrastructure sector, according to a newly-released joint advisory from the FBI, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center (MS-ISAC).
- : FBI and CISA Warn of Medusa Ransomware Impacting Critical Infrastructure
- bsky.app: CISA says the Medusa ransomware operation has impacted over 300 organizations in critical infrastructure sectors in the United States until last month.
- The DefendOps Diaries: Explore the impact of Medusa ransomware on critical infrastructure and learn strategies to enhance cybersecurity defenses.
- www.scworld.com: Medusa ransomware, a ransomware-as-a-service group, has increased attacks targeting critical infrastructure, potentially preparing for geopolitical conflicts. Recent attacks indicate a 150% increase in this activity.
- Tenable Blog: Tenable article: Cybersecurity Snapshot: Medusa Ransomware Impacting Critical Infrastructure, CISA Warns, While NIST Selects New Quantum-Resistant Algorithm
- SOC Prime Blog: SOC Prime blog: Medusa Ransomware Attacks Covered in AA25-071A Detection
- be4sec: Medusa Ransomware is Targeting Critical Infrastructure
- be4sec: This advisory summarizes the key activities of prominent ransomware groups in January 2025, highlighting a significant increase in Medusa attacks.
- aboutdfir.com: Medusa ransomware group has been actively targeting critical infrastructure organizations, employing a double extortion tactic.
- www.techradar.com: US government warns Medusa ransomware has hit hundreds of critical infrastructure targets
- cyble.com: The FBI and the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) issued a well-timed advisory on the Medusa ransomware group last week, as Cyble has detected an acceleration in the group’s activities in recent months.
- Email Security - Blog: Medusa Ransomware: Multi-Industry Threat on the Rise
- techxplore.com: Cybersecurity officials warn against potentially costly Medusa ransomware attacks
- Security | TechRepublic: Medusa Ransomware Strikes 300+ Targets: FBI & CISA Urge Immediate Action to #StopRansomware
- eSecurity Planet: Medusa Ransomware Warning: CISA and FBI Issue Urgent Advisory
- Blue Team Con: CISA and the FBI warn about Medusa ransomware, urging organizations to update security, enable MFA, and report incidents to mitigate the growing threat.
- thecyberexpress.com: Medusa Ransomware Surge: 60 Victims in 3 Months—Are You Next?
- www.zdnet.com: How to guard against a vicious Medusa ransomware attack - before it's too late
- www.cysecurity.news: The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), in partnership with the FBI and the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center (MS-ISAC), has issued a #StopRansomware advisory, warning organizations about the increasing threat of Medusa ransomware.
- Sam Bent: Cybercriminal Group Medusa Targets Critical Infrastructure Sectors A sophisticated cybercriminal group known as Medusa has been targeting many critical infrastructure sectors in the United States.
- The Hacker News: Medusa Ransomware Uses Malicious Driver to Disable Anti-Malware with Stolen Certificates
- www.cybersecuritydive.com: Medusa ransomware using malicious driver as EDR killer
do son@Daily CyberSecurity
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The Medusa ransomware operation has significantly impacted critical infrastructure sectors, affecting over 300 organizations in the United States by February 2025. According to CISA, these attacks have targeted essential services across various industries, including medical, education, legal, insurance, technology, and manufacturing. This widespread impact highlights the vulnerability of critical infrastructure and the potential for severe disruptions. The healthcare sector has been a primary target, with ransom demands ranging from $100,000 to $15 million, potentially disrupting patient care and compromising sensitive data.
Educational institutions have also been significantly affected, with 21 attacks reported in February 2025 alone. These attacks disrupt academic activities and compromise personal information of students and staff. In response, CISA, in partnership with the FBI and MS-ISAC, released a joint Cybersecurity Advisory providing tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs), indicators of compromise (IOCs), and detection methods associated with known Medusa ransomware activity. The advisory encourages organizations to ensure operating systems and software are up to date, segment networks to restrict lateral movement, and filter network traffic to prevent unauthorized access.
Recommended read:
References :
- Industrial Cyber: Recent findings from Symantec indicate a significant rise in Medusa ransomware activity, which is reportedly being operated as...
- securityaffairs.com: Medusa ransomware has claimed nearly 400 victims since January 2023, with attacks increasing by 42% between 2023 and 2024.
- : Symantec found that Medusa has listed almost 400 victims on its data leaks site since early 2023, demanding ransom payments as high as $15m
- Broadcom Software Blogs: Attacks using this ransomware have displayed consistent TTPs and grown steadily since 2023.
- bsky.app: CISA says the Medusa ransomware operation has impacted over 300 organizations in critical infrastructure sectors in the United States until last month.
- The DefendOps Diaries: Medusa Ransomware: A Growing Threat to Critical Infrastructure
- RedPacket Security: CISA: CISA and Partners Release Cybersecurity Advisory on Medusa Ransomware
- gbhackers.com: Medusa Ransomware Hits 300+ Critical Infrastructure Organizations Worldwide
- securityonline.info: FBI, CISA, and MS-ISAC Warn Organizations About Medusa Ransomware Attacks
- www.bleepingcomputer.com: CISA: Medusa ransomware hit over 300 critical infrastructure orgs
- securityaffairs.com: Medusa ransomware hit over 300 critical infrastructure organizations until February 2025
- Industrial Cyber: US exposes Medusa ransomware threat, as over 300 organizations targeted across critical infrastructure sector
- www.itpro.com: CISA issues warning over Medusa ransomware after 300 victims from critical sectors impacted
- CyberInsider: FBI: Medusa Ransomware Has Breached 300 Critical Infrastructure Organizations
- www.tripwire.com: The Medusa ransomware gang continues to present a major threat to the critical infrastructure sector, according to a newly-released - with at least one organisation hit with a "triple-extortion" threat. Read more in my article on the Tripwire State of Security blog.
- Resources-2: On March 12, 2025, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) released a joint advisory on Medusa ransomware [1]. Medusa ransomware emerged as Ransomware-as-a-Service in June 2021 and gained infamy by compromising over 300 victims from critical infrastructure sectors, including healthcare, insurance, technology, manufacturing, legal, and technology.
- : CISA, FBI Warn of Medusa Ransomware Impacting Critical Infrastructure
- www.cybersecuritydive.com: The ransomware-as-a-service gang tallied more than 300 victims in industries such as healthcare, manufacturing and technology.
- The Register - Security: Medusa ransomware affiliate tried triple extortion scam – up from the usual double demand
- DataBreaches.Net: #StopRansomware: Medusa Ransomware
- hackread.com: FBI and CISA Urge Enabling 2FA to Counter Medusa Ransomware
- Talkback Resources: #StopRansomware: Medusa Ransomware | CISA [net] [mal]
- Tenable Blog: Cybersecurity Snapshot: Medusa Ransomware Impacting Critical Infrastructure, CISA Warns, While NIST Selects New Quantum-Resistant Algorithm
- SOC Prime Blog: Medusa Ransomware Detection: The FBI, CISA & Partners Warn of Increasing Attacks by Ransomware Developers and Affiliates Against Critical Infrastructure
- www.itpro.com: CISA issues warning over Medusa ransomware after 300 victims from critical sectors impacted
Dhara Shrivastava@cysecurity.news
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February witnessed a record-breaking surge in ransomware attacks, fueled by the prolific activity of groups like CL0P, known for exploiting MFT vulnerabilities. The ransomware landscape is also seeing significant activity from groups like Akira and RansomHub.
Recent analysis reveals a notable development with the Black Basta and CACTUS ransomware groups, uncovering a shared BackConnect module. This module, internally tracked as QBACKCONNECT, provides extensive remote control capabilities, including executing commands and exfiltrating sensitive data. The Qilin ransomware group has also claimed responsibility for attacks on the Utsunomiya Central Clinic (UCC), a cancer treatment center in Japan, and Rockhill Women's Care, a gynecology facility in Kansas City, stealing and leaking sensitive patient data.
Recommended read:
References :
- cyble.com: February Sees Record-Breaking Ransomware Attacks, New Data Shows
- The Register - Security: Qilin ransomware gang claims attacks on cancer clinic, OB-GYN facility
- iHLS: Ransomware Group Targets Cancer Clinic, Exposes Sensitive Health Data
- securityaffairs.com: Medusa ransomware has claimed nearly 400 victims since January 2023, with attacks increasing by 42% between 2023 and 2024.
- thecyberexpress.com: Ransomware attacks set a single-month record in February that was well above previous highs.
- The DefendOps Diaries: Akira Ransomware: Unsecured Webcams and IoT Vulnerabilities
- blog.knowbe4.com: A new report from Arctic Wolf has found that 96% of attacks now involve data theft as criminals seek to force victims to pay up.
- DataBreaches.Net: The Akira ransomware gang exploited an unsecured webcam to bypass EDR and launch encryption attacks on a victim's network.
@techcrunch.com
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UK healthcare giant HCRG Care Group, previously known as Virgin Care, is currently investigating an IT security incident after the Medusa ransomware gang claimed responsibility for breaching the company's systems. The attackers allege to have stolen troves of sensitive data, totaling 2.275 TB, and are demanding $2 million (£1.6 million) in ransom. HCRG, which runs child and family health and social services across the UK for the NHS and local authorities, is working with external forensic specialists to investigate the incident.
HCRG has stated that its services are continuing to operate safely, and patients should keep their scheduled appointments. The Medusa crew is threatening to leak the stolen information online if the ransom isn't paid by February 27th. Samples of the allegedly stolen data, which include employees’ personal information, sensitive medical records, financial records, and government identification documents, have been shared by Medusa. HCRG has notified the U.K.’s Information Commissioner’s Office and other relevant regulators about the breach.
Recommended read:
References :
- DataBreaches.Net: HCRG Care Group, a private health and social services provider, has seemingly fallen victim to the Medusa ransomware gang, which is threatening to leak what’s claimed to be stolen internal records unless a substantial ransom is paid.
- The Register: Medusa ransomware gang demands $2M from UK private health services provider 2.3 TB held to ransom as biz formerly known as Virgin Care tells us it's probing IT 'security incident' Exclusive HCRG Care Group, a private health and social services provider, has seemingly fallen victim to the Medusa ransomware gang, which is threatening to leak what's claimed to be stolen internal records unless…
- The Register - Security: HCRG Care Group, a private health and social services provider, has seemingly fallen victim to the Medusa ransomware gang, which is threatening to leak what's claimed to be stolen internal records unless a substantial ransom is paid.
- Carly Page: UK healthcare giant HCRG Care Group has confirmed it’s investigating an IT security incident after the Medusa ransomware gang claimed to have breached the company's systems to steal troves of sensitive data
- techcrunch.com: HCRG Care Group, a private health and social services provider, has seemingly fallen victim to the Medusa ransomware gang, which is threatening to leak what’s claimed to be stolen internal records unless a substantial ransom is paid.
- go.theregister.com: 2.3 TB held to ransom as biz formerly known as Virgin Care tells us it's probing IT 'security incident' Exclusive  HCRG Care Group, a private health and social services provider, has seemingly fallen victim to the Medusa ransomware gang, which is threatening to leak what's claimed to be stolen internal records unless a substantial ransom is paid.…
- Legit Security Blog: Medusa ransomware gang demands $2M from UK private health services provider
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