Description

Sophos cybersecurity researchers have identified a concerning trend in the dark web underworld: cheap, one-time use ransomware tools are being sold, providing inexperienced freelancers an entry point into cybercrime without the need for affiliate interactions. According to their findings, between June 2023 and February 2024, 19 varieties of ransomware were advertised for sale or in development across four dark web forums. Described as the "junk guns" of cybercrime, these tools are cheap, easily accessible, and come with little traceability, akin to cheap handguns that flooded the U.S. in the 1960s and 1970s. With prices ranging from $20 to 0.5 bitcoin (approximately $13,000), these tools require no involvement of affiliates, making them an attractive option for entry-level cybercriminals. Unlike ransomware-as-a-service models, where affiliates expect a cut of the profits, these one-off tools allow criminals to operate independently, targeting small companies and individuals with minimal risk of detection. However, there are inherent risks involved, as the tools may be defective or contain backdoors as part of a scam. While the effectiveness of these tools in the wild remains unclear, at least one of the tools, EvilExtractor, was observed in attacks last year in the U.S. and Europe. Christopher Budd, director of Sophos X-Ops, emphasized the challenges these tools pose for defenders, highlighting the intelligence gap left by undetected and unreported attacks. Moreover, dark web forums selling these tools show an amateurish nature of operations, with users exchanging how-to guides and seeking advice on launching their first attacks. This growing trend emphasizes the need for enhanced cybersecurity measures and intelligence gathering to combat the rising threat of low-cost, one-time use ransomware.