Conti (ransomware)

Conti is a ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) operation known for targeting businesses, government agencies, and critical infrastructure, resulting in significant financial and operational disruptions. First observed in late 2019 and early 2020, Conti quickly gained notoriety due to its high ransom demands, aggressive double extortion tactics, and sophisticated technical capabilities.

Operation and Tactics:

Conti operators typically gain initial access to victim networks through various methods, including phishing campaigns, exploiting vulnerabilities in publicly accessible software, and purchasing access from initial access brokers. Once inside the network, they employ lateral movement techniques to compromise multiple systems and escalate privileges.

Before encrypting files, Conti affiliates often exfiltrate sensitive data, threatening to publicly release it if the ransom is not paid. This "double extortion" tactic significantly increases the pressure on victims to comply with the ransom demand.

The ransomware itself utilizes strong encryption algorithms to render data inaccessible. The ransom demands often range from hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars, typically requested in cryptocurrency to obscure the transaction.

Notable Features:

• Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS): Conti operates as a RaaS model, meaning the core developers provide the ransomware and infrastructure to affiliates who then carry out the attacks. The profits are split between the developers and affiliates.
• Advanced Technical Capabilities: Conti employs sophisticated techniques to evade detection and maximize its impact, including the use of living-off-the-land binaries (LOLBins) and custom tools for reconnaissance, lateral movement, and data exfiltration.
• Aggressive Negotiation Tactics: Conti operators are known for their aggressive negotiation tactics, pressuring victims to pay the ransom and sometimes engaging in psychological manipulation.

Impact and Response:

Conti attacks have had a significant impact on numerous organizations worldwide, causing financial losses, reputational damage, and operational disruptions. The United States government has offered rewards for information leading to the identification or location of individuals involved in Conti ransomware attacks.

Law enforcement agencies and cybersecurity firms have worked to track and disrupt Conti's operations. However, the decentralized nature of RaaS operations and the use of sophisticated techniques make Conti a persistent threat.

Affiliations and Disbandment:

Conti had strong connections to other ransomware groups and cybercriminal organizations. Following the group's support of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, a significant amount of internal data was leaked, potentially leading to a disruption of their operations. While the Conti brand has largely disappeared, it is believed that the affiliates and developers have dispersed and may be involved in other ransomware operations or criminal activities. The techniques and tools developed by Conti continue to be used by other threat actors.