Yesterday, an international coalition of law enforcement agencies successfully seized the negotiation and data leak sites of the RagnarLocker ransomware operation. This operation was a joint effort by partners from Europe, Asia, and North America, representing countries such as the US, Germany, France, Italy, Japan, Spain, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, and Latvia. The official announcement of this takedown is set to be made later today.

RagnarLocker, unlike other ransomware attacks, operated as a private gang that sought outside help to breach networks. This distinction made it a unique and challenging target for law enforcement agencies. While the takedown of their dark web portals is a significant setback, experts caution against prematurely celebrating the complete elimination of RagnarLocker.

Erich Kron, Security Awareness Advocate at KnowBe4, acknowledges the importance of this operation but urges caution, stating, “While on the surface, this feels like a win, ultimately it may be no more than an inconvenience for the Ragnar group if they are able to quickly set up other servers to replace these.” Kron highlights the possibility that RagnarLocker could swiftly establish new servers, undermining the impact of the takedown.

Moreover, the seizure of the negotiation and data leak sites could create difficulties for organizations that have fallen victim to ransomware attacks. Without access to these sites, victims lose a crucial channel for communication and negotiation with the cybercriminals. This delay in recovery could be prolonged if the seized websites do not contain vital information or decryption keys needed for data recovery. Additionally, the stolen data remains a concern, as it is likely still in the possession of the RagnarLocker group.

Adam Meyers, head of Counter Adversary Operations at CrowdStrike, sheds light on the historical context and impact of the operation. He reveals, “CrowdStrike tracks RagnarLocker as VIKING SPIDER (…) In its period of activity, VIKING SPIDER posted over a hundred victims from 27 sectors to their dedicated leak site (DLS).” Meyers notes that RagnarLocker was one of the first ransomware adversaries to employ the tactic of threatening to publish stolen data to pressure victims. This operation, therefore, has the potential to severely disrupt the activities of VIKING SPIDER.

While the takedown is expected to have significant effects, it is important to remember that similar operations targeting ransomware gangs have had limited permanent success. CrowdStrike Intelligence predicts that this action will likely have a severe impact on VIKING SPIDER operations in the medium term but stops short of guaranteeing its complete dismantlement. They acknowledge that other comparable operations have been effective to some degree but remain cautious in their assessment.

In conclusion, the seizure of the RagnarLocker negotiation and data leak sites by an international coalition of law enforcement agencies marks a significant blow to the ransomware group. However, experts warn against prematurely celebrating the complete elimination of RagnarLocker, highlighting the possibility of the group quickly adapting and continuing their operations. The impact of this takedown is expected to be severe, but its permanence remains uncertain.

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