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 |
|---|---|---|
| Café Soluble | · Jun 21, 2023 | — |
| Caruso | · Jun 9, 2023 | — |
| ACI Advanced Chemical Industries | · Jun 9, 2023 | — |
| Ellis Patents | · Jun 9, 2023 | — |
| The Adams County Communication Center orADCOM911 | · Jun 9, 2023 | — |
| Harbro | · Jun 7, 2023 | — |
| WTI - Western Telematic | · Jun 6, 2023 | — |
| Asakura Robinson | · Jun 6, 2023 | — |
| Malt Products | · Jun 5, 2023 | — |
| Middlesex County Public Schools | · Jun 1, 2023 | — |
| SK Life Science | · May 30, 2023 | — |
| The National Association of Home Builders | · May 30, 2023 | — |
| Lewis Young Robertson & Burningham | · May 30, 2023 | — |
| Fersten Worldwide | · May 29, 2023 | — |
| Computer InformationConcepts Inc | · May 29, 2023 | — |
| Brokers Trust Insurance Group | · May 29, 2023 | — |
| Harmony Gold | · May 22, 2023 | — |
| Advantage Resourcing | · May 19, 2023 | — |
| Schottenstein Property Group | · May 12, 2023 | — |
| Ipleiria Student Branch | · May 11, 2023 | — |
| Gregory Poole Equipment Company | · May 11, 2023 | — |
| Columbia Distributing | · May 10, 2023 | — |
| Sun Windows | · May 10, 2023 | — |
| Novatech EngineeringConsultants | · May 10, 2023 | — |
| Alliance Sports Group (THE PIONEER OF AKIRA BLOG) | · May 10, 2023 | — |
| BridgeValley Community & Technical College | · May 10, 2023 | — |
| Mercer University | · May 9, 2023 | — |
| The Perry Law Firm | · May 5, 2023 | — |
| The Lab Consulting | · May 5, 2023 | — |
| The Mitchell Partnership | · May 4, 2023 | — |
| New World Travel, Inc. | · May 4, 2023 | — |
| Garcia Hamilton & Associates | · May 4, 2023 | — |
| The McGregor | · May 3, 2023 | — |
| Fee, Smith & Sharp | · May 1, 2023 | — |
| BridgeValley Community & Technical | · May 1, 2023 | — |
| Alliance Sports Group (THE PIONEER OF BLOG) | · Apr 29, 2023 | — |
| Settlement Music School | · Apr 29, 2023 | — |
| Schottenstein Property Group Inc | · Apr 29, 2023 | — |
| Thompson Builders | · Apr 29, 2023 | — |
| Rockbridge Capital | · Apr 29, 2023 | — |
| Family Day Care Services | · Apr 29, 2023 | — |
| 4LEAF, Inc | · Apr 29, 2023 | — |
| Pak-Rite, Ltd. | · Apr 29, 2023 | — |
| Smith & Sharp | · Apr 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 .