The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), in collaboration with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center (MS-ISAC), has issued a joint Cybersecurity Advisory to assist organizations in North America and Europe in defending against Interlock ransomware attacks.
Interlock ransomware, first identified in late 2024, employs sophisticated tactics to infiltrate systems, encrypt data, and extort victims. The advisory outlines specific indicators of compromise (IoCs) and tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) associated with Interlock ransomware, as identified through recent FBI investigations.
Key Recommendations:
- Prevent Initial Access: Implement domain name system (DNS) filtering and web access firewalls to block malicious traffic. Educate employees to recognize and avoid social engineering attempts, such as phishing emails and deceptive websites.
- Mitigate Known Vulnerabilities: Regularly update and patch operating systems, software, and firmware to close security gaps that ransomware exploits.
- Network Segmentation: Divide networks into segments to limit the spread of ransomware from an initially compromised device to other parts of the organization.
- Implement Strong Access Controls: Enforce identity, credential, and access management policies. Require multifactor authentication (MFA) for all services to enhance security.
By adhering to these recommendations, organizations can strengthen their defenses against Interlock ransomware and other similar cyber threats.
Source: CISA Joint Advisory Issued on Protecting Against Interlock Ransomware | CISA