"Cheap Ransomware for Sale on Dark Web Marketplaces Is Changing the Way Hackers Operate"
Sophos X-Ops has found 19 "cheap, independently produced, and crudely constructed" junk gun ransomware variants on the dark web. These junk gun variants aim to disrupt the affiliate-based Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) model that has dominated the ransomware market. Instead of selling or buying ransomware to or as an affiliate, attackers develop and sell simple variants for a one-time fee. Other threat actors can use such variants to attack small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) as well as individuals. The median price for the observed junk gun ransomware variants was $375, much lower than some RaaS affiliate kits, which can cost over $1,000. This article continues to discuss findings regarding the sale of cheap ransomware on dark web marketplaces.
Submitted by grigby1