Lockbit: A Franchise Model for Ransomware Attacks

Lockbit was a powerful and sophisticated ransomware organization that operated as a franchise model. They provided software, tools, and protocols to other criminals on the dark web, allowing them to carry out targeted attacks. Lockbit was responsible for 25% of ransomware attacks in the past year and had a well-established brand. Despite their technical prowess, law enforcement agencies, including the National Crime Agency (NCA) and the FBI, coordinated a successful operation to take control of the Lockbit website, rendering the group redundant. However, there is concern about the potential for backup servers and the ongoing threat from other ransomware groups.