akira
ransomware group · aka Akira, Akira_VP (Linux/VMware ESXi variant), HDK / 'How Daemons Kill' (reported rebrand of its Linux encryptor, 2024) · Unknown; believed to be Russian-speaking. Some researchers have speculated links to former Conti-affiliated operators (unconfirmed). · active since March 2023
Victims · 7d
9flat
Victims · 30d
43active targets
Victims · 90d
86
All-time (tracked)
1.5Ksince 2023-04-29
Last post
09-17 17:39UTC
Estimated earnings
Approximately $42 million in ransom proceeds as of March 2024; no comprehensive public estimate since.public reporting
Profile · glm-5.3-flash · updated
Akira is a ransomware and data-extortion group first observed in March 2023, known for double extortion and a dedicated leak site used to pressure non-paying victims. It primarily targets small and mid-sized organizations across multiple sectors in North America and Europe, gaining initial access through SSL VPNs and edge appliances (notably Cisco ASA/FTD and SonicWall) often without multi-factor authentication. The group operates both Windows and Linux/VMware ESXi encryptors (Akira_VP) and, per 2025 vendor reporting, has used Windows Safe Mode reboots and attempted EDR tampering to evade defenses. The FBI and CISA estimated roughly $42 million in ransom proceeds as of March 2024 (source: FBI/CISA joint advisory, 2024). The group remains active, with this dashboard tracking five new leak-site victims in the past seven days (last post 2026-09-09).
Tactics & tooling
- Initial access via SSL VPNs/edge appliances lacking MFA; exploits Cisco ASA/FTD (CVE-2023-20269) and SonicWall SonicOS (CVE-2024-40766); 2025 reporting also links affiliates to SonicWall SSL VPN zero-day exploitation.
- Double extortion: data exfiltration followed by encryption; leak-site shaming of non-payers.
- Dual-platform encryptors: Windows locker plus Linux/VMware ESXi variant (Akira_VP).
- Exfiltration using cloud storage and transfer tools, including MEGA (MEGAsync) and Rclone, per FBI/CISA reporting.
- EDR evasion: rebooting hosts into Windows Safe Mode to bypass security tooling; at least one affiliate crashed systems while attempting EDR tampering (2025).
- Reported abuse of Microsoft Intune to push ransomware during deployment (2025 vendor research).
- Credential-based access: compromised credentials, brute forcing, and purchases from initial access brokers, per FBI/CISA advisory.
- Post-access reconnaissance with network-scanning utilities (e.g., Advanced IP Scanner) before lateral movement.
Targeted sectors
ManufacturingProfessional/business servicesHealthcareEducationConstructionFinanceIT servicesBroadly targets SMBs and mid-market organizations across critical infrastructure
Notable public victims
Stanford University (claimed October 2023), Nissan Oceania (claimed December 2023), Recent dashboard-tracked leak-site victims (September 2026): Kyodo USA, Brentwood Country Club, CreateASoft, Brent Electric, Stransky Heiz-Mess-Regeltechnik GmbH
Estimated earnings
Approximately $42 million in ransom proceeds as of March 2024; no comprehensive public estimate since. — FBI/CISA joint cybersecurity advisory AA24-109A (published May 2024), citing ~$42 million in ransom proceeds as of March 2024.
Leak-site victims1,494 posts · newest first
| Victim | Discovered | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Metalmatrix Clamps | · Jan 11, 2025 | — |
| Northern Lights Electric | · Jan 9, 2025 | — |
| Chain And Rope Suppliers LTD | · Jan 9, 2025 | — |
| Galfer | · Jan 9, 2025 | — |
| Permoda | · Jan 9, 2025 | — |
| Press Color | · Jan 8, 2025 | — |
| Surface Combustion | · Jan 8, 2025 | — |
| Slawson Companies | · Jan 8, 2025 | — |
| Drivestream | · Jan 7, 2025 | — |
| Drywall Partitions | · Jan 7, 2025 | — |
| AAA Environmental | · Jan 7, 2025 | — |
| Gunnar Prefab | · Jan 7, 2025 | — |
| Maverick Constructors | · Jan 6, 2025 | — |
| A Bar A Ranch | · Jan 6, 2025 | — |
| Los Andes | · Jan 6, 2025 | — |
| Bluegrass Ingredients | · Jan 6, 2025 | — |
| Action Imports | · Jan 6, 2025 | — |
| VO Baker | · Dec 27, 2024 | — |
| E-Tank | · Dec 26, 2024 | — |
| Charlie’s Tax Service | · Dec 26, 2024 | — |
| Pinno Construction | · Dec 26, 2024 | — |
| Ramos Law | · Dec 26, 2024 | — |
| Rio Negro | · Dec 26, 2024 | — |
| MLP Tax & Financial Services | · Dec 26, 2024 | — |
| Inteleca | · Dec 25, 2024 | — |
| Tillamook Country Smoker | · Dec 25, 2024 | — |
| Good Neighbors Credit Union | · Dec 24, 2024 | — |
| Billet Precision | · Dec 23, 2024 | — |
| Billet Precision (billetprecision.ca) | · Dec 23, 2024 | — |
| Jared Beschel and Associates | · Dec 19, 2024 | — |
| Hide-A-Way Lake Club | · Dec 19, 2024 | — |
| Leyman Manufacturing | · Dec 19, 2024 | — |
| ProCaps Laboratories | · Dec 19, 2024 | — |
| Archie Cochrane Ford | · Dec 18, 2024 | — |
| OL Products | · Dec 18, 2024 | — |
| Black Oak Casino Resort | · Dec 18, 2024 | — |
| Fullmer Construction | · Dec 18, 2024 | — |
| Skopos | · Dec 18, 2024 | — |
| Freightliner of Savannah | · Dec 18, 2024 | — |
| A Geradora | · Dec 17, 2024 | — |
| Toscano Law | · Dec 17, 2024 | — |
| Polskie Wydawnictwo Muzyczne | · Dec 17, 2024 | — |
| Time Machine Inc | · Dec 16, 2024 | — |
| National Air Vibrator | · Dec 16, 2024 | — |
| Great Plains Bank | · Dec 16, 2024 | — |
| Rob Levine & Associates | · Dec 16, 2024 | — |
| Diferencial Energia | · Dec 16, 2024 | — |
| An independent private assets manager | · Dec 13, 2024 | — |
| Luxor Capital Group | · Dec 13, 2024 | — |
| Matagrano | · Dec 11, 2024 | — |
In the newsAll →
Victim posts come from the group's leak site via RansomLook and are claims, not confirmations. The profile is written by the model from public reporting and refreshed monthly; earnings figures cite their source and year. First tracked .