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 |
|---|---|---|
| M2E Consulting Engineers | · May 6, 2024 | — |
| Imedi L | · May 2, 2024 | — |
| Studio Libeskind | · May 1, 2024 | — |
| GCH Hotel Group | · Apr 30, 2024 | — |
| tudio Libeskind | · Apr 30, 2024 | — |
| Myers Automotive Group | · Apr 18, 2024 | — |
| Serfilco, RP Adams, Baron Blakeslee, Pacer, Service Filtration of Canada, Polymar. | · Apr 17, 2024 | — |
| Medequip Assistive Technology | · Apr 16, 2024 | — |
| Wright Brothers Construction | · Apr 16, 2024 | — |
| Lotz Trucking | · Apr 16, 2024 | — |
| Studio LAMBDA | · Apr 16, 2024 | — |
| Best Reward Federal Credit Union | · Apr 15, 2024 | — |
| Snchez-Betances Sifre & Muñoz-Noya | · Apr 12, 2024 | — |
| Missouri Electric Cooperatives | · Apr 11, 2024 | — |
| Samart | · Apr 10, 2024 | — |
| Consilux (Brazil) | · Apr 9, 2024 | — |
| PGF Technology Group | · Apr 8, 2024 | — |
| REV Drill Sales & Rentals | · Apr 8, 2024 | — |
| Inspection Services | · Apr 4, 2024 | — |
| Radiant Canada | · Apr 4, 2024 | — |
| Control Technology | · Mar 29, 2024 | — |
| Lakes Precision | · Mar 28, 2024 | — |
| Santa Cruz Seaside | · Mar 28, 2024 | — |
| Mermet | · Mar 27, 2024 | — |
| Tanis Brush | · Mar 26, 2024 | — |
| Koi Design | · Mar 26, 2024 | — |
| Calida | · Mar 25, 2024 | — |
| Vita IT | · Mar 25, 2024 | — |
| European Centre for Compensation | · Mar 25, 2024 | — |
| Summit Almonds | · Mar 13, 2024 | — |
| Infosoft | · Mar 6, 2024 | — |
| Telecentro | · Mar 6, 2024 | — |
| Steiner (Austrian furniture makers) | · Mar 6, 2024 | — |
| Medical Billing Specialists | · Mar 6, 2024 | — |
| America Chung Nam orACN | · Mar 4, 2024 | — |
| CoreData | · Mar 1, 2024 | — |
| Gansevoort Hotel Group | · Mar 1, 2024 | — |
| DTN Management Company | · Feb 28, 2024 | — |
| Bjuvs kommun | · Feb 26, 2024 | — |
| Quik Pawn Shop | · Feb 22, 2024 | — |
| PEER Consultants | · Feb 22, 2024 | — |
| Lancaster | · Feb 21, 2024 | — |
| Desarrollo De Tecnologia y Sistemas Ltda | · Feb 21, 2024 | — |
| BRAM Auto Group | · Feb 16, 2024 | — |
| Asam | · Feb 15, 2024 | — |
| Nekoosa School District | · Feb 14, 2024 | — |
| Sanok Rubber CompanySpólka Akcyjna | · Feb 13, 2024 | — |
| Distecna | · Feb 8, 2024 | — |
| TeraGo | · Feb 7, 2024 | — |
| Celeste | · Feb 6, 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 .