{
	"id": "47a4762a-666b-4224-99eb-362836d582cd",
	"created_at": "2026-04-06T00:11:20.27566Z",
	"updated_at": "2026-04-10T13:12:27.168877Z",
	"deleted_at": null,
	"sha1_hash": "42ebade173445b7eabee107a9fbb2b7d7f0c5d88",
	"title": "LockBit ransomware recruiting insiders to breach corporate networks",
	"llm_title": "",
	"authors": "",
	"file_creation_date": "0001-01-01T00:00:00Z",
	"file_modification_date": "0001-01-01T00:00:00Z",
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	"plain_text": "LockBit ransomware recruiting insiders to breach corporate networks\r\nBy Lawrence Abrams\r\nPublished: 2021-08-04 · Archived: 2026-04-02 10:39:25 UTC\r\nThe LockBit 2.0 ransomware gang is actively recruiting corporate insiders to help them breach and encrypt networks. In\r\nreturn, the insider is promised million-dollar payouts.\r\nMany ransomware gangs operate as a Ransomware-as-a-Service, which consists of a core group of developers, who\r\nmaintain the ransomware and payment sites, and recruited affiliates who breach victims' networks and encrypt devices.\r\nAny ransom payments that victims make are then split between the core group and the affiliate, with the affiliate usually\r\nreceiving 70-80% of the total amount.\r\nhttps://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/lockbit-ransomware-recruiting-insiders-to-breach-corporate-networks/\r\nPage 1 of 4\n\nhttps://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/lockbit-ransomware-recruiting-insiders-to-breach-corporate-networks/\r\nPage 2 of 4\n\nVisit Advertiser websiteGO TO PAGE\r\nHowever, in many cases, the affiliates purchase access to networks from other third-party pentesters rather than breaching\r\nthe company themselves.\r\nWith LockBit 2.0, the ransomware gang is trying to remove the middle-man and instead recruit insiders to provide them\r\naccess to a corporate network.\r\nLockBit 2.0 promises millions of dollars to insiders\r\nIn June, the LockBit ransomware operation announced the launch of their new LockBit 2.0 ransomware-as-a-service.\r\nThis relaunch included redesigned Tor sites and numerous advanced features, including automatically encrypting devices on\r\na network via group policies.\r\nWith this relaunch, LockBit has also changed the Windows wallpaper placed on encrypted devices to offer \"millions of\r\ndollars\" for corporate insiders who provide access to networks where they have an account.\r\nNew LockBit 2.0 wallpaper recruiting insiders\r\nThe full text, with the contact information redacted, explains that LockBit is looking for RDP, VPN, corporate email\r\ncredentials that they can then use to gain access to the network.\r\nThe ransomware gang also says they will send the insider a \"virus\" that should be executed on a computer, likely to give the\r\nransomware gang remote access to the network.\r\n\"Would you like to earn millions of dollars?\r\nOur company acquire access to networks of various companies, as well as insider information that can help you\r\nsteal the most valuable data of any company.\r\nYou can provide us accounting data for the access to any company, for example, login and password to RDP,\r\nVPN, corporate email, etc. Open our letter at your email. Launch the provided virus on any computer in your\r\ncompany.\r\nCompanies pay us the foreclosure for the decryption of files and prevention of data leak.\r\nYou can communicate with us through the Tox messenger\r\nhttps://tox.chat/download.html\r\nUsing Tox messenger, we will never know your real name, it means your privacy is guaranteed.\r\nIf you want to contact us, use ToxID: xxxx\"\r\nWhen we first saw this message, it seemed counterintuitive to recruit an insider for a network already been breached.\r\nHowever, this message is likely targeting external IT consultants who may see the message while responding to an attack.\r\nWhile this tactic may sound far-fetched, it is not the first time threat actors attempted to recruit an employee to encrypt their\r\ncompany's network.\r\nhttps://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/lockbit-ransomware-recruiting-insiders-to-breach-corporate-networks/\r\nPage 3 of 4\n\nIn August 2020, the FBI arrested a Russian national for attempting to recruit a Tesla employee to plant malware on the\r\nnetwork of Tesla's Nevada Gigafactory.\r\nAutomated Pentesting Covers Only 1 of 6 Surfaces.\r\nAutomated pentesting proves the path exists. BAS proves whether your controls stop it. Most teams run one without the\r\nother.\r\nThis whitepaper maps six validation surfaces, shows where coverage ends, and provides practitioners with three diagnostic\r\nquestions for any tool evaluation.\r\nSource: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/lockbit-ransomware-recruiting-insiders-to-breach-corporate-networks/\r\nhttps://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/lockbit-ransomware-recruiting-insiders-to-breach-corporate-networks/\r\nPage 4 of 4",
	"extraction_quality": 1,
	"language": "EN",
	"sources": [
		"ETDA",
		"Malpedia"
	],
	"origins": [
		"web"
	],
	"references": [
		"https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/lockbit-ransomware-recruiting-insiders-to-breach-corporate-networks/"
	],
	"report_names": [
		"lockbit-ransomware-recruiting-insiders-to-breach-corporate-networks"
	],
	"threat_actors": [],
	"ts_created_at": 1775434280,
	"ts_updated_at": 1775826747,
	"ts_creation_date": 0,
	"ts_modification_date": 0,
	"files": {
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