Security Operations Centre (SOC) analysts are at the forefront of cybersecurity defence, managing thousands of alerts every day. The overwhelming volume of these notifications makes it increasingly difficult to distinguish legitimate threats from false positives, leading to analyst burnout and operational inefficiencies. Studies show that up to 62% of alerts are ignored, resulting in missed threats and the further weakening of an organisation’s security posture.

Cyjax monitors and analyses the initial access broker (IAB) market on the most prominent cybercriminal forums. As noted in Cyjax’s 2024 IAB market in review, it is almost certain that extortion groups, APTs, data brokers, and other threat groups use IABs to gain initial access to targeted networks. Though at first glance it is not immediately obvious how important the IAB market is to the threat landscape, Cyjax has conducted a deep analysis of public IAB listings and extortion group DLSs.

On 11 February 2025, a Telegram user called ExploitWhispers shared a ZIP file to a Russian-language Telegram channel. The user claimed that this file contained the internal Matrix chat logs of the BlackBasta ransomware group and was captured between 18 September 2023 and 28 September 2024. The user also shared information about some of the BlackBasta members, including one of the operation’s admins, the group’s administrator, and leader Oleg Nefedov.

As cyber threats evolve in scale and sophistication, governments and regulatory bodies are tightening cybersecurity and data protection regulations. Compliance is not only about avoiding fines but also about building trust, enhancing operational resilience, and safeguarding long-term business success. Data breaches and cyberattacks can disrupt operations and as such, organisations should prioritise compliance to mitigate financial and legal risks whilst fostering customer confidence.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a double-edged sword in cybersecurity, empowering both defenders and attackers. AI-driven security systems are often used to detect threats in real-time, analysing large datasets for anomalies, and automating responses to cyberattacks. However, cybercriminals are also leveraging AI to create advanced malware, automate phishing attacks, and evade traditional defenses.

In 2024, Cyjax observed the emergence of 72 extortion and ransomware group data-leak sites (DLSs). As of late February 2025, Cyjax has identified DLSs for six new groups in 2025, as noted in recent blogs on extortion groups Kraken, Morpheus, GD LockerSec, Babuk2, and Linkc. The latest DLS which Cyjax has identified is named Anubis. This Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) group appears to be sophisticated and professional, providing services including affiliates, data ransoms, and access monetisation.

2024 saw data-leak sites (DLSs) for 72 extortion groups materialise. As of February 2025, Cyjax has identified DLSs for five new groups, as noted in recent blogs on extortion groups Kraken, Morpheus, GD LockerSec, and Babuk2. The fifth one to emerge goes by the name Linkc. Read on to find out what Cyjax knows so far about this new entrant into the data leak extortion scene.

The MITRE ATT&CK (Adversarial Tactics, Techniques, and Common Knowledge) framework was developed in 2013 to document the tactics and techniques used by adversaries in cyberattacks. Initially an internal tool for threat detection, it became publicly available in 2015 to support the cybersecurity community. Over time, it has evolved into a comprehensive resource that describes adversary behaviours during attacks.

According to Gartner Research and McMillan (2003), “Threat intelligence is evidence-based knowledge, including context, mechanisms, indicators, implications, and actionable advice, about an existing or emerging hazard to assets that can inform decisions on how to respond.” Threat intelligence involves analysing data to predict and prevent cyber threats, allowing organisations to identify risks early and implement proactive defences.

Threat actors often use techniques such as phishing, lateral movement, and zero-days to gain and maintain access to systems. The increased sophistication of advanced persistent threat (APT) groups compared to other attackers means that long-term infiltration, careful exfiltration of data, and manipulation of systems without detection is often observed.

In today’s digital landscape, cyber threats are evolving at an unprecedented pace, growing more sophisticated and harder to detect. With each passing day, businesses and individuals alike find themselves navigating an increasingly complex threat environment. This complexity isn’t just about the number of attacks, it’s about their evolving tactics, the widening attack surface, and the sheer difficulty of distinguishing real threats from background noise.

Following the emergence of data-leak sites (DLSs) for Babuk Bjorka, GD LockerSec, and Morpheus in January 2025, a new extortion group called Kraken and its DLS has been observed in February. Read on to find out what Cyjax knows so far about this new threat group.