During the last a number of years, LockBit has change into probably the most highly effective ransomware gangs. Whereas it has targeted on Home windows, Linux, and digital host machines, it seems to be just like the group has developed its first ransomware for Macs.
Found by MalwareHunterTeam (by way of Brett Callow), what appears to be the primary ransomware construct designed for macOS has surfaced on the internet. Whereas it’s not absolutely clear, it might even be the primary time a significant ransomware gang is concentrating on Apple units.
As a little bit of background, LockBit is believed by safety analysts to be a Russian-based group as many of the members are Russian-speaking. Nonetheless, the chief has stated he operates out of the US or China.
LockBit has grown because it runs a ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) operation. That strategy means the group lets others use their ransomware – for a worth.
It seems to be like this LockBit ransomware was created for Apple Silicon Macs with the construct title being “locker_Apple_M1_64.”
Whereas infosec Twitter account vx-underground talked about the looks of this LockBit ransomware for Mac displaying up in a single place with a date of November 2022, MalwareHunterTeam says they haven’t discovered any mentions of it on-line and I discovered the identical, so it seems it might have gone beneath the radar till now if it was round since final fall.
In any case, MalwareHunterTeam believes that is the primary public alert about LockBit going after Apple units. And with the gang’s RaaS strategy, it’s potential we might see an incoming wave of ransomware assaults concentrating on Macs.
Curiously, whereas the M1 ransomware construct could seize probably the most consideration, a LockBit ransomware construct can also be displaying up for PowerPC Macs.
Talking with Wired earlier this yr, Jon DiMaggio from Analyst1 shared that one of many causes LockBit has grown so highly effective is its chief’s enterprise savvy.
“They’re probably the most infamous ransomware group, due to sheer quantity. And the explanation for his or her success is that the chief is an effective businessman,” says Jon DiMaggio, chief safety strategist at Analyst1 who has studied LockBit’s operations extensively. “It’s not that he’s obtained this nice management functionality. They made a point-and-click ransomware that anybody might use, they replace their software program, they’re consistently on the lookout for person suggestions, they care about their person expertise, they poach folks from rival gangs. He runs it like a enterprise, and due to that, it is rather, very enticing to criminals.”
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