Overview of LockBitransomware

In this article, I've explained what is LockBit ransomware, How does it work, its Stages, Its variants, and How to safeguard our system from LockBit ransomware.

What is LockBit ransomware?

LockBit ransomware is a type of malware, It is designed to disable user access to Its files in exchange for a ransom payment.?It is also known as "ABCD" ransomware and it is a subclass of "Crypto virus".

It's highly targeted attacks against enterprises and government organizations rather than individuals.

It threatens organizations globally with some threats like, Data theft, illegal publication, and Extortion for the hacker’s financial gain.

How does LockBit ransomware work?

Many organizations consider LockBit to be a part of the “LockerGoga & MegaCortex” malware family.?

This LockBit ransomware can do the given below things,

• It has the ability to self-propagate, which means it can spread within the organization without human instruction.
• It uses Windows Powershell and Server Message Block (SMB) to spread.
• First, it uses a double-extortion technique, which means it steals data and encrypts data within the victim system.
• now, it uses a triple-extortion technique, which means data leaks, encrypts the victim's system, and uses affected systems for DDoS attacks.?

It is directed by pre-designed automated processes. so, that is why this makes it unique from many other ransomware attacks.

If LockBit ransomware infects a single host, it can find other accessible hosts, connect them to infected ones, and share the infection using a script. This is completed and repeated entirely without human intervention.?

After it encrypts, the system would be like this,

Stages of LockBit ransomware:

1) Exploit:

Many organizations are exploited by social engineering attacks, like phishing.

If It finds a weakness in a network, then it prepares the systems to release its encryption payload to all systems, which are already connected in the same network

2) Infiltrate:

It uses "Post-exploitation" to get escalate privileges to achieve its goal and It stops some running processes like backup services, and database-related services to make it difficult to recover files.

3) Deploy:

Once it is prepared, It encrypts all files within the computer system.

Variants of LockBit ransomware:

(i) Variant 1:

LockBit’s original version renames files with the “.abcd” extension name and also it includes a ransom note with demands and instructions for alleged restorations in the “Restore-My-Files.txt” file, this file has been inserted into every folder.?

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(ii) Variant 2:

The second variant of this LockBit ransomware encrypts the files with the “.LockBit” file extension.?

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(iii) Variant 3:

The last variant of LockBit is "LockBit 2.0" and it no longer requires downloading the Tor browser in its ransom instructions. Instead, it sends victims to an alternate website via traditional internet access.?

How to protect against LockBit ransomware:

• Use a strong password in every account and systems
• Activate multi-factor authentication
• Give permissions to limited users within the organization
• Delete or clean the unused or outdated user accounts
• Ensure system backups and system configurations are following all security procedures.??

Conclusion:

In this article, we'll discuss LockBit ransomware overview, which means how it works, Its stages, Its variants, and how to safeguard our systems from LockBit ransomware. In my upcoming article, I'll show you how to analyze a LockBit 2.0 ransomware statically and dynamically.