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New OS X Ransomware KeRanger Infected Transmission BitTorrent Client Installer ![Clock Icon](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/icon-clock.svg) 7 min read * ![Profile Icon](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/icon-profile-grey.svg) By: * [Claud Xiao](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/author/claud-xiao/) * ![Published Icon](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/icon-calendar-grey.svg) Published:March 6, 2016 * ![Tags Icon](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/icon-category.svg) Categories: * [Ransomware](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/category/ransomware/) * [Threat Research](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/category/threat-research/) * ![Tags Icon](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/icon-tags-grey.svg) Tags: * [KeRanger](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/keranger/) * [OS X](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/os-x/) * [![Download Icon](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/icon-download.svg)](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/new-os-x-ransomware-keranger-infected-transmission-bittorrent-client-installer/?pdf=download&lg=en&_wpnonce=824d729572 "Click here to download") * [![Print Icon](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/icon-print.svg)](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/new-os-x-ransomware-keranger-infected-transmission-bittorrent-client-installer/?pdf=print&lg=en&_wpnonce=824d729572 "Click here to print") Share![Down arrow](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/down-arrow.svg) * ![Link Icon](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/icon-share-link.svg) * [![Link Email](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/icon-sms.svg)](mailto:?subject=New%20OS%20X%20Ransomware%20KeRanger%20Infected%20Transmission%20BitTorrent%20Client%20Installer&body=Check%20out%20this%20article%20https%3A%2F%2Funit42.paloaltonetworks.com%2Fnew-os-x-ransomware-keranger-infected-transmission-bittorrent-client-installer%2F "Share in email") * [![Facebook Icon](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/icon-fb-share.svg)](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Funit42.paloaltonetworks.com%2Fnew-os-x-ransomware-keranger-infected-transmission-bittorrent-client-installer%2F "Share in Facebook") * [![LinkedIn Icon](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/icon-linkedin-share.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https%3A%2F%2Funit42.paloaltonetworks.com%2Fnew-os-x-ransomware-keranger-infected-transmission-bittorrent-client-installer%2F&title=New%20OS%20X%20Ransomware%20KeRanger%20Infected%20Transmission%20BitTorrent%20Client%20Installer "Share in LinkedIn") * [![Twitter Icon](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/icon-twitter-share.svg)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Funit42.paloaltonetworks.com%2Fnew-os-x-ransomware-keranger-infected-transmission-bittorrent-client-installer%2F&text=New%20OS%20X%20Ransomware%20KeRanger%20Infected%20Transmission%20BitTorrent%20Client%20Installer "Share in Twitter") * [![Reddit Icon](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/icon-reddit-share.svg)](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com//www.reddit.com/submit?url=https%3A%2F%2Funit42.paloaltonetworks.com%2Fnew-os-x-ransomware-keranger-infected-transmission-bittorrent-client-installer%2F&ts=markdown "Share in Reddit") * [![Mastodon Icon](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/icon-mastodon-share.svg)](https://mastodon.social/share?text=New%20OS%20X%20Ransomware%20KeRanger%20Infected%20Transmission%20BitTorrent%20Client%20Installer%20https%3A%2F%2Funit42.paloaltonetworks.com%2Fnew-os-x-ransomware-keranger-infected-transmission-bittorrent-client-installer%2F "Share in Mastodon") On March 4, we detected that the Transmission BitTorrent client installer for OS X was infected with ransomware, just a few hours after installers were initially posted. We have named this Ransomware "KeRanger." The only previous ransomware for OS X we are aware of is [FileCoder](https://securelist.com/blog/research/66760/unfinished-ransomware-for-macos-x/), discovered by Kaspersky Lab in 2014. As FileCoder was incomplete at the time of its discovery, we believe KeRanger is the first fully functional ransomware seen on the OS X platform. Attackers infected two installers of Transmission version 2.90 with KeRanger on the morning of March 4. When we identified the issue, the infected DMG files were still available for downloading from the Transmission site (hxxps://download.transmissionbt.com/files/Transmission-2.90\[.\]dmg) Transmission is an open source project. It's possible that Transmission's official website was compromised and the files were replaced by re-compiled malicious versions, but we can't confirm how this infection occurred. ![fig1](http://blog.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/fig1-500x284.png) *Figure 1 KeRanger hosted in Transmission's official website* The KeRanger application was signed with a valid Mac app development certificate; therefore, it was able to bypass Apple's Gatekeeper protection. If a user installs the infected apps, an embedded executable file is run on the system. KeRanger then waits for for three days before connecting with command and control (C2) servers over the Tor anonymizer network. The malware then begins encrypting certain types of document and data files on the system. After completing the encryption process, KeRanger demands that victims pay one bitcoin (about $400) to a specific address to retrieve their files. Additionally, KeRanger appears to still be under active development and it seems the malware is also attempting to encrypt Time Machine backup files to prevent victims from recovering their back-up data. Palo Alto Networks reported the ransomware issue to the Transmission Project and to Apple on March 4. Apple has since revoked the abused certificate and updated XProtect antivirus signature, and Transmission Project has removed the malicious installers from its website. Palo Alto Networks has also updated URL filtering and Threat Prevention to stop KeRanger from impacting systems. # Technical Analysis The two KeRanger infected Transmission installers were signed with a legitimate certificate issued by Apple. The developer listed this certificate is a Turkish company with the ID Z7276PX673, which was different from the developer ID used to sign previous versions of the Transmission installer. In the code signing information, we found that these installers were generated and signed on the morning of March 4. ![fig2-500x135](http://blog.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/fig2-500x1351-500x135.png) *Figure 2 Code signing information of KeRanger* The KeRanger infected Transmission installers include an extra file named General.rtf in the Transmission.app/Contents/Resources directory. It uses an icon that looks like a normal RTF file but is actually a Mach-O format executable file packed with UPX 3.91. When users click these infected apps, their bundle executable Transmission.app/Content/MacOS/Transmission will copy this General.rtf file to ~/Library/kernel\_service and execute this "kernel\_service" before any user interface appearing. ![fig3](http://blog.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/fig3-500x144.png) *Figure 3 The malicious executable pretends to be an RTF document* ![fig4](http://blog.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/fig4-500x285.png) *Figure 4 KeRanger executes the extra General.rtf file* After unpacking the General.rtf with UPX, we determined that its main behavior is to encrypt the user's files and hold them for ransom. The first time it executes, KeRanger will create three files ".kernel\_pid", ".kernel\_time" and ".kernel\_complete" under ~/Library directory and write the current time to ".kernel\_time". It will then sleep for three days. Note that, in a different sample of KeRanger we discovered, the malware also sleeps for three days, but also makes requests to the C2 server every five minutes. ![fig5](http://blog.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/fig5-500x227.png) *Figure 5 KeRanger sleeps for three days before fully executing* The General.rtf will collect infected Mac's model name and UUID, upload the information to one of its C2 servers. These servers' domains are all sub-domains of onion\[.\]link or onion\[.\]nu, two domains that host servers only accessible over the Tor network. The executable will keep trying to connect with the C2 server until it respond with two lines of encoded data. After decoding these two lines using Base64, the first line contains an RSA public key and the second line is written to files named "README\_FOR\_DECRYPT.txt." ![fig6](http://blog.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/fig6-500x155.png) *Figure 6 Connect with C2 server and get instructions* When we were analyzing the samples, the C2 server returned the data for the README\_FOR\_DECRYPT.txt shown in following picture. It asks victims to pay exactly one bitcoin (currently around $400) through a specific Tor network website to decrypt the files. The website will then guide victims to buy a bitcoin from somewhere else and transfer to the attacker at the address of "1PGAUBqHNcwSHYKnpHgzCrPkyxNxvsmEof". ![fig7](http://blog.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/fig7-500x236.png) *Figure 7 README file ask victim to pay Bitcoin* ![fig8](http://blog.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/fig8-500x161.png) *Figure 8 Tor website to transfer bitcoin and get decryption pack* After connecting to the C2 server and retrieving an encryption key, the executable will traverse the "/Users" and "/Volumes" directories, encrypt all files under "/Users", and encrypt all files under "/Volumes" which have certain file extensions. There are 300 different extensions specified by the malware, including: * Documents: .doc, .docx, .docm, .dot, .dotm, .ppt, .pptx, .pptm, .pot, .potx, .potm, .pps, .ppsm, .ppsx, .xls, .xlsx, .xlsm, .xlt, .xltm, .xltx, .txt, .csv, .rtf, .tex * Images: .jpg, .jpeg, * Audio and video: .mp3, .mp4, .avi, .mpg, .wav, .flac * Archives: .zip, .rar., .tar, .gzip * Source code: .cpp, .asp, .csh, .class, .java, .lua * Database: .db, .sql * Email: .eml * Certificate: .pem ![fig9](http://blog.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/fig9-500x157.png) *Figure 9 Encrypt all files under "/Users" and all specific files under "/Volumes"* KeRanger statically linked an open source encryption library named [mbed TLS](https://tls.mbed.org/) (formerly PolarSSL). As KeRanger encrypts each file (i.e. Test.docx) starts by creating an encrypted version that uses the .encrypted extension (i.e. Test.docx.encrypted.) To encrypt each file, KeRanger starts by generating a random number (RN) and encrypts the RN with the RSA key retrieved from the C2 server using the RSA algorithm. It then stores the encrypted RN at the beginning of resulting file. Next, it will generate an Initialization Vector (IV) using the original file's contents and store the IV inside the resulting file. After that, it will mix the RN and the IV to generate an AES encryption key. Finally, it will use this AES key to the contents of the original file and write all encrypted data to the result file. *![fig10](http://blog.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/fig10-500x286.png)Figure 10 Encrypt each file's content by AES* In addition to this behavior, it seems like KeRanger is still under development. There are some apparent functions named "\_create\_tcp\_socket", "\_execute\_cmd" and "\_encrypt\_timemachine". Some of them have been finished but are not used in current samples. Our analysis suggests the attacker may be trying to develop backdoor functionality and encrypt [Time Machine backup files](https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201250) as well. If these backup files are encrypted, victims would not be able to recover their damaged files using Time Machine. ![fig11](http://blog.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/fig11-500x124.png) *Figure 11 Function "\_encrypt\_timemachine" is implemented but not used yet* # Mitigations We reported the issue to the Transmission Project and to Apple immediately after we identified it. Apple has since revoked the abused certificate, and Gatekeeper will now block the malicious installers. Apple has also updated XProtect signatures to cover the family, and the signature has been automatically updated to all Mac computers now. As of March 5, Transmission Project has removed the malicious installers from its website. We have also updated URL filtering and Threat Prevention to stop KeRanger from impacting Palo Alto Networks customers. # How to Protect Yourself Users who have directly downloaded Transmission installer from official website after 11:00am PST, March 4, 2016 and before 7:00pm PST, March 5, 2016, may be been infected by KeRanger. If the Transmission installer was downloaded earlier or downloaded from any third party websites, we also suggest users perform the following security checks. Users of older versions of Transmission do not appear to be affected as of now. We suggest users take the following steps to identify and remove KeRanger holds their files for ransom: 1. Using either Terminal or Finder, check whether /Applications/Transmission.app/Contents/Resources/ General.rtf or /Volumes/Transmission/Transmission.app/Contents/Resources/ General.rtf exist. If any of these exist, the Transmission application is infected and we suggest deleting this version of Transmission. 2. Using "Activity Monitor" preinstalled in OS X, check whether any process named "kernel\_service" is running. If so, double check the process, choose the "Open Files and Ports" and check whether there is a file name like "/Users/\/Library/kernel\_service" (Figure 12). If so, the process is KeRanger's main process. We suggest terminating it with "Quit -\> Force Quit". 3. After these steps, we also recommend users check whether the files ".kernel\_pid", ".kernel\_time", ".kernel\_complete" or "kernel\_service" existing in ~/Library directory. If so, you should delete them. ![fig12](http://blog.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/fig12-500x358.png) *Figure 12 The malicious "kernel\_service" process* Since Apple has revoked the abused certificate and has updated XProtect signatures, if a user tries to open a known infected version of Transmission, a warning dialog will be shown that states "Transmission.app will damage your computer. You should move it to the Trash." Or "Transmission can't be opened. You should eject the disk image." In any case if you see these warnings, we suggest to follow Apple's instruction to avoid being affected. ![fig13](http://blog.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/fig13-500x220.png) *Figure 13 OS X system prevent user to open the infected installer* # Acknowledgements We greatly thank Yi Ren, Yuchen Zhou, Jack Wang, Jun Wang from Palo Alto Networks for helping to analyze KeRanger and protect our customers in a timely fashion. Thanks to Richard Wartell, Ryan Olson and Chad Berndtson from Palo Alto Networks for their assistance during the analysis and reporting. # IOCs **Samples of Ransomware.OSX.KeRanger** d1ac55a4e610380f0ab239fcc1c5f5a42722e8ee1554cba8074bbae4a5f6dbe1 Transmission-2.90.dmg e3ad733cea9eba29e86610050c1a15592e6c77820927b9edeb77310975393574 Transmission 31b6adb633cff2a0f34cefd2a218097f3a9a8176c9363cc70fe41fe02af810b9 General.rtf d7d765b1ddd235a57a2d13bd065f293a7469594c7e13ea7700e55501206a09b5 Transmission 2\.90.dmg ddc3dbee2a8ea9d8ed93f0843400653a89350612f2914868485476a847c6484a Transmission 6061a554f5997a43c91f49f8aaf40c80a3f547fc6187bee57cd5573641fcf153 General.rtf **Domains** lclebb6kvohlkcml.onion\[.\]link lclebb6kvohlkcml.onion\[.\]nu bmacyzmea723xyaz.onion\[.\]link bmacyzmea723xyaz.onion\[.\]nu nejdtkok7oz5kjoc.onion\[.\]link nejdtkok7oz5kjoc.onion\[.\]nu Back to top ### Tags * [KeRanger](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/keranger/ "KeRanger") * [OS X](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/os-x/ "OS X") [Threat Research Center](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com "Threat Research") [Next: New Malware 'Rover' Targets Indian Ambassador to Afghanistan](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/new-malware-rover-targets-indian-ambassador-to-afghanistan/ "New Malware 'Rover' Targets Indian Ambassador to Afghanistan") ### Related Articles * [Sofacy's 'Komplex' OS X Trojan](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/unit42-sofacys-komplex-os-x-trojan/ "article - table of contents") * [AceDeceiver: First iOS Trojan Exploiting Apple DRM Design Flaws to Infect Any iOS Device](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/acedeceiver-first-ios-trojan-exploiting-apple-drm-design-flaws-to-infect-any-ios-device/ "article - table of contents") * [Palo Alto Networks Researchers Discover High Severity Vulnerability Impacting Apple's Major Products](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/palo-alto-networks-researchers-discover-high-severity-vulnerability-impacting-apples-major-products/ "article - table of contents") ## Related Ransomware Resources ![Pictorial representation of Iran cyber attacks. 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Digital artwork of a pixelated U.S. dollar bill disintegrating into small blocks against a blue data matrix background.](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/05_Ransomware_Category_1920x900-786x368.jpg) [![category icon](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/icon-threat-research.svg)Threat Research](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/category/threat-research/) December 10, 2025 [#### 01flip: Multi-Platform Ransomware Written in Rust](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/new-ransomware-01flip-written-in-rust/) * [Bitcoin](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/bitcoin/ "Bitcoin") * [CL-CRI-103](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/cl-cri-103/ "CL-CRI-103") * [Cryptocurrency](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/cryptocurrency/ "Cryptocurrency") [Read now ![Right arrow](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/icon-right-arrow-withtail.svg)](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/new-ransomware-01flip-written-in-rust/ "01flip: Multi-Platform Ransomware Written in Rust") ![Pictorial representation of malicious LLMs. Close-up view of a digital wall displaying various glowing icons, representing a high-tech network interface.](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/AdobeStock_1270203474-786x440.jpeg) [![category icon](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/icon-threat-research.svg)Threat Research](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/category/threat-research/) November 25, 2025 [#### The Dual-Use Dilemma of AI: Malicious LLMs](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/dilemma-of-ai-malicious-llms/) * [Credential Harvesting](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/credential-harvesting/ "Credential Harvesting") * [Data exfiltration](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/data-exfiltration/ "data exfiltration") * [LLM](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/llm/ "LLM") [Read now ![Right arrow](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/icon-right-arrow-withtail.svg)](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/dilemma-of-ai-malicious-llms/ "The Dual-Use Dilemma of AI: Malicious LLMs") ![Constellation image representing the constellation schema used by Palo Alto Networks Unit 42 to track nation-state and cybercrime threat actor groups](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Generic-B-1920x900-1-786x368.png) [![category icon](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/threat-actor-groups.svg)Threat Actor Groups](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/category/threat-actor-groups/) August 1, 2025 [#### Threat Actor Groups Tracked by Palo Alto Networks Unit 42 (Updated Aug. 1, 2025)](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/threat-actor-groups-tracked-by-palo-alto-networks-unit-42/) * [Academic Serpens](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/academic-serpens/ "Academic Serpens") * [Agent Serpens](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/agent-serpens/ "Agent Serpens") * [Agonizing Serpens](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/agonizing-serpens/ "Agonizing Serpens") [Read now ![Right arrow](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/icon-right-arrow-withtail.svg)](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/threat-actor-groups-tracked-by-palo-alto-networks-unit-42/ "Threat Actor Groups Tracked by Palo Alto Networks Unit 42 (Updated Aug. 1, 2025)") ![Pictorial representation of Unit 42 threat attribution system. Illustration featuring a white triangle centered within an abstract cosmic background of purple and blue swirls and stars.](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Generic-A-1920x900-1-786x368.png) [![category icon](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/threat-actor-groups.svg)Threat Actor Groups](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/category/threat-actor-groups/) July 31, 2025 [#### Introducing Unit 42's Attribution Framework](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/unit-42-attribution-framework/) * [Advanced Persistent Threat](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/advanced-persistent-threat/ "Advanced Persistent Threat") * [Bookworm](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/bookworm/ "Bookworm") * [Nomenclature](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/nomenclature/ "nomenclature") [Read now ![Right arrow](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/icon-right-arrow-withtail.svg)](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/unit-42-attribution-framework/ "Introducing Unit 42’s Attribution Framework") ![Pictorial representation of the ransomware landscape. Digital artwork of a disintegrating U.S. dollar bill with pixelated effects on a cyber-inspired background.](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/05_Ransomware_Category_1920x900-786x368.jpg) [![category icon](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/icon-report-white-1.svg)Trend Reports](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/category/trend-reports/) April 23, 2025 [#### Extortion and Ransomware Trends January-March 2025](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/2025-ransomware-extortion-trends/) * [BianLian](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/bianlian/ "BianLian") * [Akira ransomware](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/akira-ransomware/ "Akira ransomware") * [Muddled Libra](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/muddled-libra/ "Muddled Libra") [Read now ![Right arrow](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/icon-right-arrow-withtail.svg)](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/2025-ransomware-extortion-trends/ "Extortion and Ransomware Trends January-March 2025") ![A pictorial representation of Akira ransomware, distributed by Howling Scorpius. A person's hand typing on a keyboard with a digital screen displaying the word "password" highlighted in blue, set against a backdrop of various cybersecurity interface graphics.](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/09_Cybercrime_Category_1920x900-786x368.jpg) [![category icon](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/top-threats.svg)High Profile Threats](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/category/top-cyberthreats/) December 2, 2024 [#### Threat Assessment: Howling Scorpius (Akira Ransomware)](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/threat-assessment-howling-scorpius-akira-ransomware/) * [Howling Scorpius](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/howling-scorpius/ "Howling Scorpius") * [Leak site](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/leak-site/ "Leak site") * [Torrenting](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/torrenting/ "torrenting") [Read now ![Right arrow](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/icon-right-arrow-withtail.svg)](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/threat-assessment-howling-scorpius-akira-ransomware/ "Threat Assessment: Howling Scorpius (Akira Ransomware)") ![Pictorial representation of a threat like BlackSuit ransomware. An illustration of a modern workspace with a laptop displaying cybersecurity icons, surrounded by stacks of coins and a credit card, all depicted in a neon, digital art style.](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/04_Ransomware_Category_1920x900-786x368.jpg) [![category icon](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/top-threats.svg)High Profile Threats](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/category/top-cyberthreats/) November 20, 2024 [#### Threat Assessment: Ignoble Scorpius, Distributors of BlackSuit Ransomware](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/threat-assessment-blacksuit-ransomware-ignoble-scorpius/) * [BlackSuit ransomware](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/blacksuit-ransomware/ "BlackSuit ransomware") * [Construction](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/construction/ "construction") * [Education](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/education/ "Education") [Read now ![Right arrow](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/icon-right-arrow-withtail.svg)](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/threat-assessment-blacksuit-ransomware-ignoble-scorpius/ "Threat Assessment: Ignoble Scorpius, Distributors of BlackSuit Ransomware") ![A representation of a threat group like Jumpy Pisces. Illustrative image featuring two fish and the Pisces constellation superimposed on a stylized, abstract background with flowing purple waves and a starry night sky.](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Pisces-NK-A-1920x900-1-786x368.png) [![category icon](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/threat-actor-groups.svg)Threat Actor Groups](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/category/threat-actor-groups/) October 30, 2024 [#### Jumpy Pisces Engages in Play Ransomware](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/north-korean-threat-group-play-ransomware/) * [North Korea](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/north-korea/ "North Korea") * [Jumpy Pisces](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/jumpy-pisces/ "Jumpy Pisces") * [Fiddling Scorpius](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/fiddling-scorpius/ "Fiddling Scorpius") [Read now ![Right arrow](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/icon-right-arrow-withtail.svg)](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/north-korean-threat-group-play-ransomware/ "Jumpy Pisces Engages in Play Ransomware") * ![Slider arrow](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/slider-arrow-left.svg) * ![Slider arrow](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/slider-arrow-left.svg) ![Close button](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/close-modal.svg) ![Enlarged Image]() ![Newsletter](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/unit42-footer-subscribe-desktop.png) ![UNIT 42 Small Logo](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/palo-alto-logo-small.svg) Get updates from Unit 42 ## Peace of mind comes from staying ahead of threats. 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