A curious calm has settled over a previously active corner of the cyber-underworld. The notorious Fog Ransomware Group, known for its disruptive attacks on corporate networks, appears to have ceased operations, at least for now. Cybersecurity analysts and threat intelligence communities have noted a distinct lack of new activity from the group since their last high-profile attack in March 2025.
Also check: FOG Ransomware Recovery
That final confirmed strike targeted the prestigious Real Academia Española (RAE), Spain’s official royal institution responsible for overseeing the Spanish language, via its website rae.es. The incident, which occurred over a year ago, sent shockwaves through cultural and academic circles, highlighting the indiscriminate nature of such cyber threats.
Since the RAE breach, however, the digital breadcrumbs left by Fog Ransomware have gone cold. No new victims have emerged, and their usual channels of communication or ransom demands have fallen silent. This abrupt halt has sparked a wave of speculation among experts.
“It’s certainly unusual for a group like Fog to just vanish off the radar after a significant hit like the RAE,” commented Mike, a senior threat analyst at Decryp Cybersecurity Firm. “There are a few possibilities. They could be regrouping, rebranding, or perhaps key members were apprehended, though there’s no public information to suggest that.”
Another theory is that the group simply decided to “retire,” cashing out their illicit gains. Ransomware gangs, while persistent, are not always permanent fixtures. Internal disputes, a desire to avoid escalating law enforcement attention, or simply achieving a financial target can lead to a group dissolving.
“You know, these groups, they pop up, cause havoc, and sometimes they just… stop,” one online security forum member mused. “Maybe they made their money, maybe the heat got too much after hitting a target like RAE. Or maybe they’re just laying low, planning something new. Who really knows with these folks?”
While the cessation of attacks from Fog Ransomware is undoubtedly a welcome development for businesses worldwide, cybersecurity professionals urge continued vigilance. The digital landscape is ever-shifting, and the void left by one group can quickly be filled by another, or the same actors could re-emerge under a different guise.
For now, the Fog has lifted, but the question remains: is this a permanent dispersal, or just a temporary lull before a new storm? Only time will tell.
What is Fog Ransomware?
Fog ransomware, first observed in April 2024, has quickly established itself as a potent and rapidly evolving threat in the cyber landscape. This ransomware variant is known for its sophisticated attack techniques, speed of encryption, and the implementation of double extortion tactics.
Initial attacks primarily targeted educational institutions in the United States, often exploiting compromised Virtual Private Network (VPN) credentials to gain unauthorized access. However, Fog’s scope has since expanded to include a wider range of sectors globally, including business services, technology, manufacturing, and government agencies.
Key characteristics and operational methods of Fog ransomware include:
- Initial Access: Fog frequently breaches networks through compromised or weak VPN credentials and by exploiting vulnerabilities in public-facing applications. Phishing emails are also a common vector.
- Rapid Encryption: One of Fog’s distinguishing features is its speed. Attacks have been observed to move from initial access to widespread file encryption in as little as two hours. It utilizes advanced encryption techniques, potentially combining symmetric and asymmetric algorithms, making decryption without the key extremely difficult. Encrypted files are typically appended with extensions such as .fog, .Fog, or .FLOCKED.
- Lateral Movement and Privilege Escalation: Once inside a network, Fog actors employ techniques like pass-the-hash and credential stuffing to expand their access, escalate privileges, and move laterally across the network to identify and compromise valuable systems and data.
- Evasion Techniques: Fog incorporates sophisticated methods to avoid detection by security tools. These include fileless execution, code obfuscation, disabling security software like Windows Defender, and leveraging legitimate system tools like PowerShell and WMI to masquerade as legitimate activity.
- Double Extortion: Before encrypting files, Fog often exfiltrates sensitive data from the victim’s network. This stolen data is then used as leverage, with attackers threatening to publish it on a dark web leak site if the ransom is not paid. This adds significant pressure on victims to comply with demands.
- Ransom Demands: Ransom notes, typically named “readme.txt,” are left on infected systems with instructions on how to contact the attackers and the demanded ransom amount, often in cryptocurrency. Median ransom demands have been reported in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
- Windows and Linux Targeting: Fog ransomware has variants capable of targeting both Windows and Linux operating systems, with the Linux versions specifically tuned to target files associated with virtualized environments.
- Links to Other Ransomware: Analysis has shown potential links and shared infrastructure between Fog and other ransomware families, such as Akira and Conti, suggesting an evolving and interconnected ransomware ecosystem.
The emergence of Fog ransomware highlights the continued need for robust cybersecurity defenses, including strong authentication measures, regular security updates and patching, employee training on phishing awareness, regular data backups stored offline, and advanced threat detection and response capabilities.
Related Articles:
– A Comprehensive Guide to Understanding Artificial Intelligence
– 30+ Best Productivity Apps for Students and Professionals
– The Remote Blueprint: Key Strategies for Establishing a Virtual Company
– 25+ Best SEO Tools that SEO Experts Actually Use
– TOP 20 Web Hosting Services of 2024 (Experts Choice)
– How to Start a Blog in 2024 – 10 Super Easy Steps + Bonus Tips
– 15 Best Affiliate Programs of 2022 which are High Paying for Beginners
