FBI, CISA Warn of Medusa Ransomware Targeting Sectors

Federal authorities, including the FBI and CISA, have issued urgent warnings about Medusa ransomware, which has been increasingly targeting various sectors such as healthcare, legal, and manufacturing since 2021. Medusa operates using a 'double extortion' model, encrypting victims' data and threatening to release it unless a ransom is paid. The ransomware group has transitioned to a ransomware-as-a-service model, recruiting and paying affiliates from online criminal forums to execute attacks through phishing and exploiting software vulnerabilities. Authorities stress the importance of cybersecurity measures such as using multi-factor authentication, regularly updating passwords, securing data backups, and keeping software up to date. Recent advisories are part of the broader #StopRansomware initiative aimed at helping organizations bolster their defenses against such threats. Medusa's aggressive tactics, including a public data leak site, intensify the pressure on victims to pay the demanded ransoms.