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 |
|---|---|---|
| 4QuartersIT | · Nov 29, 2024 | — |
| Complete Control (complete-control.com) | · Nov 29, 2024 | — |
| Lucid Corp | · Nov 29, 2024 | — |
| Cate Equipment | · Nov 29, 2024 | — |
| Corman Leigh | · Nov 29, 2024 | — |
| Lotus Concepts Management | · Nov 29, 2024 | — |
| Rengo Packaging | · Nov 29, 2024 | — |
| Snelling Paper & Sanitation | · Nov 29, 2024 | — |
| Deutsche Industrie VideoSystem | · Nov 29, 2024 | — |
| Ilvief | · Nov 29, 2024 | — |
| James H Maloy | · Nov 20, 2024 | — |
| Automation Tool & Die | · Nov 20, 2024 | — |
| Tampa State Bank | · Nov 20, 2024 | — |
| Ship Services | · Nov 20, 2024 | — |
| Volo Internet Tech | · Nov 20, 2024 | — |
| Furniture Mart USA | · Nov 20, 2024 | — |
| Maxus Group | · Nov 18, 2024 | — |
| Guard1 | · Nov 18, 2024 | — |
| H2OBX | · Nov 18, 2024 | — |
| Travis Pruitt & Associates | · Nov 18, 2024 | — |
| BULBRITE | · Nov 18, 2024 | — |
| HUTTER ACUSTIX | · Nov 18, 2024 | — |
| Monster Electrical | · Nov 18, 2024 | — |
| Hager Group | · Nov 18, 2024 | — |
| Dumont Printing | · Nov 13, 2024 | — |
| Berexco LLC | · Nov 13, 2024 | — |
| Intercomp | · Nov 13, 2024 | — |
| Hillandale Farms | · Nov 13, 2024 | — |
| Followmont TransportPty Ltd | · Nov 13, 2024 | — |
| Wright Engineers | · Nov 13, 2024 | — |
| AACANet | · Nov 13, 2024 | — |
| Ocean BeautySeafoods | · Nov 13, 2024 | — |
| Ocean Park Mechanical | · Nov 13, 2024 | — |
| LiveAquaria | · Nov 13, 2024 | — |
| El Dorado Stores and Supermarkets | · Nov 13, 2024 | — |
| Irr Supply Centers | · Nov 12, 2024 | — |
| Allegheny Millwork & Lumber | · Nov 12, 2024 | — |
| Yazoo ValleyElectric Power Assosiation | · Nov 12, 2024 | — |
| MONVIA Holding, a.s.' | · Nov 12, 2024 | — |
| Action COACH | · Nov 12, 2024 | — |
| Xtrim TVCable | · Nov 12, 2024 | — |
| Duplo USA | · Nov 12, 2024 | — |
| Falvey Linen Supply | · Nov 12, 2024 | — |
| Datron World Communications | · Nov 12, 2024 | — |
| Riley Gear Corporation | · Oct 4, 2024 | — |
| TANYA Creations | · Oct 4, 2024 | — |
| North American Breaker | · Oct 4, 2024 | — |
| TRC Worldwide Engineering (Trcww) | · Oct 3, 2024 | — |
| Rob Levine & Associates (roblevine.com) | · Oct 3, 2024 | — |
| ETC Companies | · Oct 2, 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 .