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 |
|---|---|---|
| AVer Information | · Feb 6, 2024 | — |
| VCS Observation | · Feb 5, 2024 | — |
| Borah Goldstein Altschuler Nahins & Goidel | · Feb 1, 2024 | — |
| Sefin | · Jan 31, 2024 | — |
| Castilleja School | · Jan 29, 2024 | — |
| Get Away Today | · Jan 29, 2024 | — |
| Safe Plating | · Jan 29, 2024 | — |
| Brazilian Business Park | · Jan 26, 2024 | — |
| Valley TeleCom Group | · Jan 26, 2024 | — |
| Lush | · Jan 26, 2024 | — |
| ANI Networks | · Jan 25, 2024 | — |
| Toronto Zoo | · Jan 25, 2024 | — |
| Dirig Sheet Metal | · Jan 24, 2024 | — |
| Cryopak | · Jan 23, 2024 | — |
| Milestone Environmental Contracting | · Jan 23, 2024 | — |
| Wilhoit Properties | · Jan 23, 2024 | — |
| Hamilton-Madison House | · Jan 19, 2024 | — |
| Hydratek | · Jan 19, 2024 | — |
| DENHAM the Jeanmaker | · Jan 17, 2024 | — |
| Becker Logistics | · Jan 16, 2024 | — |
| Bestway Sales | · Jan 16, 2024 | — |
| TGS Transportation | · Jan 16, 2024 | — |
| Premium Guard | · Jan 16, 2024 | — |
| Vincentz Network | · Jan 11, 2024 | — |
| Blackburn College | · Jan 11, 2024 | — |
| Ito Pallpack Gruppen | · Jan 9, 2024 | — |
| Viridi | · Jan 9, 2024 | — |
| Van Buren Public Schools | · Jan 8, 2024 | — |
| Heller Industries | · Jan 8, 2024 | — |
| International Electronic Machines Corp | · Dec 25, 2023 | — |
| Nissan Australia | · Dec 22, 2023 | — |
| Nexiga | · Dec 15, 2023 | — |
| Hyman Hayes Associates | · Dec 14, 2023 | — |
| SmartWave Technologies | · Dec 12, 2023 | — |
| Mitrani Caballero Ojam & Ruiz Moreno - Abogados | · Dec 12, 2023 | — |
| The Teaching Company, LLC | · Dec 12, 2023 | — |
| MSD Information technology | · Dec 11, 2023 | — |
| Goiasa | · Dec 11, 2023 | — |
| Studio MF | · Dec 11, 2023 | — |
| Tasteful Selections | · Dec 7, 2023 | — |
| Compass Group Italia | · Dec 6, 2023 | — |
| Aqualectra Holdings | · Dec 6, 2023 | — |
| Midea Carrier | · Dec 4, 2023 | — |
| Getrix | · Dec 4, 2023 | — |
| Bern Hotels & Resorts | · Dec 3, 2023 | — |
| Iptor | · Dec 1, 2023 | — |
| Bauwerk Boen Group | · Nov 30, 2023 | — |
| Lydall, Inc. | · Nov 29, 2023 | — |
| Alpura | · Nov 29, 2023 | — |
| Teleflora | · Nov 29, 2023 | — |
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 .