Security News > 2021 > January > Another ransomware now uses DDoS attacks to force victims to pay
Another ransomware gang is now using DDoS attacks to force a victim to contact them and negotiate a ransom.
In October 2020, we reported that ransomware gangs were beginning to utilize DDoS attacks against a victims' network or web site as an extra tool to force them to pay a ransom.
The Avaddon ransomware gang now uses DDoS attacks to take down a victim's site or network until the victim contacts them and begins negotiating.
"Also, their site is currently under DDoS Attack, we will attack it until they contact us," Avaddon stated on their ransomware data leak site.
For one of the victims that Avaddon is currently performing a DDoS attack, you can see that the website is no longer accessible.
"It's not at all surprising to see threat actors combining ransomware and DDoS attacks: DDoS is cheap, easy and in some cases may help convince some companies that speedy payment is the least painful option. The more pressure the criminals can put companies under, the better their chances of extracting payment," Callow told BleepingComputer via email.
News URL
Related news
- JPCERT shares Windows Event Log tips to detect ransomware attacks (source)
- Ransomware attack forces UMC Health System to divert some patients (source)
- CUPS vulnerabilities could be abused for DDoS attacks (source)
- Cloudflare blocks largest recorded DDoS attack peaking at 3.8Tbps (source)
- Recently patched CUPS flaw can be used to amplify DDoS attacks (source)
- Cloudflare Thwarts Largest-Ever 3.8 Tbps DDoS Attack Targeting Global Sectors (source)
- Largest Recorded DDoS Attack is 3.8 Tbps (source)
- New Gorilla Botnet Launches Over 300,000 DDoS Attacks Across 100 Countries (source)
- Underground ransomware claims attack on Casio, leaks stolen data (source)
- Casio confirms customer data stolen in a ransomware attack (source)