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 |
|---|---|---|
| Usina Alta Mogiana S/A | · Jul 10, 2024 | — |
| Inland Audio Visual | · Jul 9, 2024 | — |
| Heidmar | · Jul 9, 2024 | — |
| Allied Industrial Group | · Jul 8, 2024 | — |
| Esedra | · Jul 8, 2024 | — |
| Federated Co-operatives | · Jul 8, 2024 | — |
| Alimac | · Jul 3, 2024 | — |
| Explomin | · Jul 3, 2024 | — |
| Salton | · Jul 2, 2024 | — |
| P1 Technologies | · Jul 2, 2024 | — |
| Conexus Medstaff | · Jul 2, 2024 | — |
| SYNERGY PEANUT | · Jul 1, 2024 | — |
| Wilmots (Legal services) | · Jun 28, 2024 | — |
| Power Lube Industrial | · Jun 28, 2024 | — |
| Ocasa | · Jun 26, 2024 | — |
| Gallos Metal Solutions | · Jun 26, 2024 | — |
| Waterbury Newton | · Jun 26, 2024 | — |
| Utility Datacenter | · Jun 25, 2024 | — |
| PCI Developments | · Jun 25, 2024 | — |
| Beckett Thermal Solutions | · Jun 25, 2024 | — |
| Agron (Five Ten) Adidas TERREX | · Jun 24, 2024 | — |
| Lindermayr | · Jun 19, 2024 | — |
| Perfumes & Companhia | · Jun 19, 2024 | — |
| TETRA Technologies, Inc. | · Jun 17, 2024 | — |
| New Balance Commodities | · Jun 14, 2024 | — |
| IPM Group (Multimedia Information & Production Company) | · Jun 12, 2024 | — |
| Arge Baustahl | · Jun 10, 2024 | — |
| Reinhold Sign Service | · Jun 7, 2024 | — |
| Panasonic Australia | · Jun 6, 2024 | — |
| E-T-A | · Jun 5, 2024 | — |
| Mahindra Racing | · Jun 4, 2024 | — |
| Anderson Mikos Architects | · Jun 3, 2024 | — |
| New Hampshire PublicRadio | · May 31, 2024 | — |
| TriLiteral | · May 31, 2024 | — |
| Faultless Brands | · May 30, 2024 | — |
| DreamWall | · May 30, 2024 | — |
| Excel Security Corp. | · May 30, 2024 | — |
| MagicLand | · May 30, 2024 | — |
| Western Dovetail | · May 29, 2024 | — |
| Avelina | · May 28, 2024 | — |
| OTR | · May 28, 2024 | — |
| Brett Slater Solicitors | · May 28, 2024 | — |
| Vannguard Utility Partners | · May 24, 2024 | — |
| IZOMAT Praha | · May 22, 2024 | — |
| GRANVILLE FOOD CARE LIMITED | · May 22, 2024 | — |
| Newman Ferrara | · May 22, 2024 | — |
| Marigin | · May 20, 2024 | — |
| Fiskars Group | · May 14, 2024 | — |
| Bruno generators (Italian manufacturing) | · May 14, 2024 | — |
| Reading Electric | · May 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 .