WannaCry and ExPetr: Kaspersky Lab researchers conducted a comparative analysis of the two latest attacks with ransomware programs, which were performed in different modes and different goals. 
However, both attacks have some similarities, showing signs of an emerging trend of disastrous targeted activity.
- Unlike previous destructive attacks with Wiper technologies such as BlackEnergy και Destover το 2014, και οι Shamoon and StonedDrill in 2016-2017, which were carried out in a very methodical and destructive manner, the motivations of WannaCry and ExPetr – whether for malicious activity or some sabotage – remain unclear.
- There was the same delay of about two months for the delivery of worm-enabled variants: according to the first information about the goals, the development of WannaCry started in March, while ExPetr was held in April. But the ransomware / wiper itself was propagated much later in May and June respectively.
- WannaCry's development was slow and hands-on, with scattered global targets, inconsistent profiles and no attention to collecting Bitcoins: the attacker sent a set of messages that encouraged users to pay BTC to their wallet.
- The development of ExPetr was rapid, advanced and technically flexible, focusing on the software of organizations connected to Ukraine. However, the ExPetr attackers apparently did not come back with either widely disseminated messages or precalls for their goals, nor did they prolong the incident by soliciting Bitcoin transactions for deencryption discs.
According to the researchers of Kaspersky Lab, the differences in the development of each ransomware show that the two attacks were not carried out by the same attacker.
But there are obvious similarities in both WannaCry and ExPetr tactics, which indicates the launch of new targeted APT attack activity behind the ransomware.
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