Episode 43 - Wizard Spider

We're tracking the shadowy footsteps of Wizard Spider, the notorious ransomware group that's eluded capture. Delve into the world of cyberattacks and uncover the mystery of how these digital bandits operate. Who is really safe in this digital age?

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Created, Produced & Hosted by Keith Korneluk

Written & Researched by Jim Rowley

Edited, Mixed & Mastered by Greg Bernhard

Theme Song You Are Digital by Computerbandit

The Ransomware Hunting Team: A Band of Misfits' Improbable Crusade to Save the World from Cybercrime, by Renee Dudley and Daniel Golden

“Multiple Foreign Nationals Charged in Connection with Trickbot Malware and Conti Ransomware Conspiracies,” Department of Public Affairs, US Department of Justice

“Analysis of leaked Conti’s internal data,” KELA Intelligence Report 

“The Workaday Life of the World’s Most Dangerous Ransomware Gang,” Wired

“The State of Ransomware 2023,” Sophos

“PwC's HSE hack post-incident report should be a corporate textbook,” The Stack

“'Wizard Spider': Who are they and how do they operate?” RTE

“Meet Wizard Spider, the multimillion-dollar gang behind Conti, Ryuk malware,” The Register

“Wizard Spider profile: Suspected gang behind HSE attack is part of world’s first cyber-cartel,” Irish Times

“Ransom Mafia – Analysis of the World’s First Ransomware Cartel,” Analyst 1

“Wizard Spider Group In-Depth Analysis,” Prodaft

Trickbot Conti Indictment

“3 Hospitals in Alabama Forced to Turn Patients Away After Ransomware Attack,” Time

“AIDS Trojan: The Story Behind the First Ever Ransomware Attack,” Make Use Of

“The bizarre story of the inventor of ransomware,” CNN

“A history of ransomware: The motives and methods behind these evolving attacks,” CSO Online

“The Computer Virus That Haunted Early AIDS Researchers,” The Atlantic

“A Russia-Based Hacking Rampage Hits US Agencies and Exposes Millions,” Wired

“Unmasking Trickbot, One of the World’s Top Cybercrime Gangs,” Wired

“Trickbot member pleads guilty in Cleveland, becomes U.S.’ first conviction in probe into notorious Russian-based cyber gang,” Cleveland.com

“More than 250 hospitals across the US have been debilitated by a cyberattack that forced staff to cancel surgeries and work with pen and paper,” Business Insider

“When Should U.S. Cyber Command Take Down Criminal Botnets?,” Lawfare

“U.S. Military Has Acted Against Ransomware Groups, General Acknowledges,” New York Times

“Cyber Command has sought to disrupt the world’s largest botnet, hoping to reduce its potential impact on the election,” The Washington Post

“Major hospital system hit with cyberattack, potentially largest in U.S. history,” NBC News

“Ransomware Attack Hits Universal Health Services,” The Wall Street Journal

“A Ransomware Attack Has Struck a Major US Hospital Chain,” Wired

“More than 250 hospitals across the US have been debilitated by a cyberattack that forced staff to cancel surgeries and work with pen and paper,” Business Insider

“U.S. Military Has Acted Against Ransomware Groups, General Acknowledges,” New York Times

“Identity crisis: Why ransomware groups rebrand — and disappear,” Cybersecurity Dive

“Defence Forces deployed 'ethical hackers' to fight back against massive HSE cyber attack,” The Journal

“Destructive malware targeting Ukrainian organizations,” Microsoft

“Here’s what we know about how Russia’s invasion of Ukraine unfolded,” CNN

“Ukraine-Russia: the first shots have already been fired – in cyberspace,” The Conversation

“Here’s what we know about how Russia’s invasion of Ukraine unfolded,” CNN

“Leaked Chats Show Russian Ransomware Gang Discussing Putin’s Invasion of Ukraine,” The Intercep