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 |
|---|---|---|
| Servicio Móvil | · Nov 29, 2023 | — |
| Legacy Mail Management | · Nov 27, 2023 | — |
| Alspec | · Nov 22, 2023 | — |
| Custom Engineering &Fabrication, Inc. | · Nov 22, 2023 | — |
| IQ Supply Solutions | · Nov 22, 2023 | — |
| Metro MPLS | · Nov 17, 2023 | — |
| ATC SA | · Nov 17, 2023 | — |
| Battle Motors (CraneCarrier, CCC) | · Nov 9, 2023 | — |
| Autocommerce | · Nov 9, 2023 | — |
| SALUS Controls | · Nov 9, 2023 | — |
| City Furniture Hire | · Nov 9, 2023 | — |
| Simons Petroleum/Maxum Petroleum/Pilot Thomas Logistics | · Nov 9, 2023 | — |
| Michael Garron Hospital | · Nov 8, 2023 | — |
| BioPower SustainableEnergy Corporation | · Nov 7, 2023 | — |
| BITZER | · Nov 7, 2023 | — |
| Patriotisk Selskab | · Oct 31, 2023 | — |
| Freeman Johnson | · Oct 30, 2023 | — |
| Stanford University | · Oct 27, 2023 | — |
| CMC Group | · Oct 24, 2023 | — |
| Royal College of Physicians and Surgeonsof Glasgow | · Oct 20, 2023 | — |
| Southland IntegratedServices | · Oct 20, 2023 | — |
| Protector Fire Services | · Oct 20, 2023 | — |
| Visionary Integration Professionals | · Oct 19, 2023 | — |
| Inventum Øst | · Oct 19, 2023 | — |
| QuadraNet Enterprises | · Oct 19, 2023 | — |
| Healix | · Oct 7, 2023 | — |
| Terwilliger Land Survey Engineers | · Oct 5, 2023 | — |
| Gruskin Group | · Oct 4, 2023 | — |
| Vertical Development | · Sep 29, 2023 | — |
| Civic San Diego | · Sep 27, 2023 | — |
| The Polish AmericanAssociation | · Sep 27, 2023 | — |
| CLX Logistics | · Sep 22, 2023 | — |
| Glovis America | · Sep 18, 2023 | — |
| Fuji Seal International (US branch) | · Sep 18, 2023 | — |
| American Steel & Aluminum | · Sep 14, 2023 | — |
| Accuride | · Sep 13, 2023 | — |
| Energy One | · Sep 6, 2023 | — |
| New York & Company | · Aug 31, 2023 | — |
| Children's Home of Wyoming Conference | · Aug 31, 2023 | — |
| Rivers Casino | · Aug 31, 2023 | — |
| O'Brien Steel Service | · Aug 30, 2023 | — |
| Renton School District | · Aug 30, 2023 | — |
| Green Diamond Resource | · Aug 29, 2023 | — |
| Jasper High School | · Aug 28, 2023 | — |
| Intertek | · Aug 28, 2023 | — |
| Penny Publications | · Aug 28, 2023 | — |
| Voss Enterprises, Divvies | · Aug 28, 2023 | — |
| Cutler-Smith | · Aug 28, 2023 | — |
| Edmonds School District | · Aug 24, 2023 | — |
| Camino Nuevo CharterAcademy | · Aug 17, 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 .