…and put the blame on cyber security researchers

Here is a report from Bleeping Computers, looking at a data wiper malware attack that includes obvious clues pointing at well-known security researchers and Bleeping Computers claiming they are behind the operation (the author of the article was also included!).

The destructive malware, Azov Ransomware is being distributed using pirated software, key generators, and adware bundles. Once it runs and encrypts the information it points to victims to a number of (innocent) legitimate researchers and organisations saying they will provide the keys to decrypt your data. They cannot help and there is no way to contact or pay the real threat actors behind the attack – so the data is lost.

New Azov data wiper tries to frame researchers and BleepingComputer

Your takeaway from this is have a ransomware resilient back-up of everything.