Ransomware is malicious software or an attack operation that holds an organization's data hostage in exchange for payment. Modern ransomware campaigns typically combine encryption with data theft and public leak threats, a model known as double extortion. Many groups now buy initial access from brokers rather than running their own phishing campaigns.
Infostealer infections are a leading precursor to ransomware incidents. Stolen VPN credentials, admin session cookies, and cloud tokens give operators a foothold without triggering email-security alerts. Tracking infostealer exposures is one of the most direct ways to reduce ransomware risk.
Explore the infostealer-to-ransomware pipeline in our Ransomware.live partnership report, a real cartel case in the Coinbase cartel investigation, and a Qilin attack chain in our Romania pipeline operator report.