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 |
|---|---|---|
| Holmes & Brakel | · Oct 2, 2024 | — |
| Cascade Columbia Distribution | · Oct 1, 2024 | — |
| ShoreMaster | · Oct 1, 2024 | — |
| CSG Consultants | · Oct 1, 2024 | — |
| Enviromental Design International | · Oct 1, 2024 | — |
| Schäfer, dein BäckerGmbH & Co. KG | · Sep 26, 2024 | — |
| Concord Management Services | · Sep 25, 2024 | — |
| Lawrie Insurance Group | · Sep 25, 2024 | — |
| ATG Communications Group | · Sep 25, 2024 | — |
| Avi Resort & Casino | · Sep 23, 2024 | — |
| Brown Bottling Group | · Sep 23, 2024 | — |
| Idre Fjäll | · Sep 23, 2024 | — |
| Vickers Engineering | · Sep 10, 2024 | — |
| Baird Mandalas Brockstedt LLC | · Sep 5, 2024 | — |
| Imetame | · Sep 5, 2024 | — |
| SWISS CZ | · Sep 5, 2024 | — |
| Cellular Plus | · Sep 5, 2024 | — |
| Ultimus | · Sep 3, 2024 | — |
| REV Engineering | · Sep 3, 2024 | — |
| Pemberton Fabricators, Inc (Sexual Harassment videos inside) | · Sep 3, 2024 | — |
| Tedkomp AB | · Sep 3, 2024 | — |
| mk Technology Group | · Sep 3, 2024 | — |
| The City of Nassau Bay | · Sep 3, 2024 | — |
| Burmeister & Wain Scandinavian Contractor | · Sep 3, 2024 | — |
| Ascend Packaging Systems | · Sep 3, 2024 | — |
| Optical Cable Corporation | · Sep 3, 2024 | — |
| Jinny Corporation | · Aug 21, 2024 | — |
| HOERBIGER Holding | · Aug 21, 2024 | — |
| North Georgia Brick | · Aug 20, 2024 | — |
| The Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky (TANK) | · Aug 19, 2024 | — |
| Boni | · Aug 14, 2024 | — |
| Peñoles | · Aug 1, 2024 | — |
| Find Great People | · Jul 31, 2024 | — |
| BRASPRESS | · Jul 31, 2024 | — |
| Macadam Europe | · Jul 30, 2024 | — |
| Olschewski Davie | · Jul 30, 2024 | — |
| SAGE Publishing | · Jul 30, 2024 | — |
| Environmental DesignInternational | · Jul 25, 2024 | — |
| Empereon Constar | · Jul 25, 2024 | — |
| SKC West | · Jul 24, 2024 | — |
| American Acryl | · Jul 24, 2024 | — |
| Electroalfa | · Jul 24, 2024 | — |
| CALDAN Conveyor | · Jul 24, 2024 | — |
| siParadigm | · Jul 23, 2024 | — |
| Notarkammer Pfalz | · Jul 23, 2024 | — |
| Win Systems | · Jul 23, 2024 | — |
| Amino Transport | · Jul 15, 2024 | — |
| Financoop | · Jul 11, 2024 | — |
| Sigma | · Jul 11, 2024 | — |
| P448 | · Jul 10, 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 .