Ransomware Group

LockBit

Also known as: LockBit 2.0, LockBit 3.0, LockBit Black, LockBit Green

Status: active • First seen 2019-092,000+ known victims

LockBit is like a criminal franchise. The main group creates the ransomware "product" and recruits affiliates to deploy it against victims. Affiliates get 60-80% of the ransom, while LockBit takes a cut. This model has made them extremely prolific - they've attacked hospitals, schools, manufacturers, and businesses of all sizes.

Overview

LockBit is one of the most prolific ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) operations in history. Despite law enforcement disruptions in 2024, the group continues to operate and has claimed thousands of victims worldwide across all industries.

Target Industries

Healthcare, Manufacturing, Professional Services, Construction, Retail, Education, Government, Technology

How They Attack

  • Phishing emails with malicious attachments
  • Exploiting unpatched vulnerabilities (VPNs, RDP)
  • Purchasing initial access from access brokers
  • Brute-forcing weak credentials
  • Living-off-the-land techniques using legitimate tools

Notable Victims

Boeing (2023), ICBC (2023), Royal Mail UK (2023), Fulton County, GA (2024), Multiple hospitals and school districts

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How to Protect Against LockBit

  1. 1.

    Patch all public-facing systems immediately (VPNs, firewalls, email servers)

  2. 2.

    Enable MFA on all remote access (VPN, RDP, email)

  3. 3.

    Maintain offline backups (air-gapped or immutable)

  4. 4.

    Disable RDP if not needed; if needed, put behind VPN

  5. 5.

    Implement network segmentation

  6. 6.

    Deploy EDR solution on all endpoints

    CrowdStrike, SentinelOne, or Microsoft Defender for Business

  7. 7.

    Train employees on phishing recognition

    KnowBe4 Free Tools

MITRE ATT&CK Techniques

T1566, T1190, T1078, T1486, T1490

Related Groups

Blackcat, Clop, Play, Black Basta, Akira

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