Bitdefender today released a free tool that can help victims of ransomware Darkside recover their encrypted files for free without paying a ransom.
The tool, is available for download from the Bitdefender website, along with instructions for use, and gives hope to companies that had important files locked.
History of the Darkside team
It has been active since the summer of 2020. The Darkside team started and operates through ads posted on underground cyber forums.
The team uses an established Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) to collaborate with other cybercriminal groups.
These groups apply for Darkside RaaS and receive a fully functional version of Darkside ransomware. They would then breach the companies using their own chosen methods, install the ransomware and demand huge payments, hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars USA.
This modus operandi is not new and is called "big-game hunting" because ransomware gangs usually tend to hit companies, instead of home users, in the hope of increasing their profits.
In situations where victims did not want to pay, Darkside operators released the stolen documents on a special "website leakages”, as a form of punishment and warning to other victims who may be thinking of not paying the criminals.
