3 more infamous cybercrime crews team up to 'maximize income' in 'challenging' ransomware biz

Following in the footsteps of an earlier unholy alliance between three other cybercrime crews, ransomware-as-a-service giants DragonForce, Qilin, and LockBit claim to be collaborating on ransomware attacks.  In early September, around the time when LockBit reemerged with its new LockBit 5.0 ransomware variant, fellow RaaS crew …

[Anonymous Coward]

These sorts of groups always consolidate in the end. Its no different to businesses merging like Facebook buying a startup.

Cybercrime, particularly ransomware, is business not a hobby. Its awful shitty business, but its business none the less.

As long as blackhat money is higher than whitehat money there will always be a cybercrime business.

Especially since the barrier to entry for blackhat cybersecurity is much, much lower than whitehat.

Hackers don't have to have a certification that costs thousands of pounds that requires 5 years of experience and two other qualified people to vouch for you. You probably just need Tor and a proof fo concept attack.

Hackers also dont care about ISO 27001, ISO 9001, UKAS audits, cybersecurity insurance (and all the bullshit that goes with it) and so on.

Hackers get paid far more for doing far less. Whitehats get paid next to fuck all for doing 80% paperwork.

[The Sprocket]

We have a software industry working like hell to put millions of people out of work through their efforts in refining A.I. On the other hand, we have dark-actors merging forces to screw over businesses with the use of ransomeware and extortion.

Novel thought.

Why aren't the A.I. 'gurus' focusing on exterminating the ransomeware dudes? The money can be raised, and it would be one hell of a great challenge. Are the 'good guys' smarter than the 'bad guys'. I challenge the A.I. industry—are you as good as you want us to think you are? The gauntlet has been thrown down.

[Ian Johnston]

Why aren't the A.I. 'gurus' focusing on exterminating the ransomeware dudes?

Because the last thing the AI world wants is a genuine challenge at which its failure can be seen. It's only hope of sucking up that sweet, sweet venture capital until the bubble bursts (2027?) is to keep on making vague promises about things they'll be able to do one day (like putting millions out of work), pinky swear, knowing that these promises cannot even be accurately defined, let alone tested.

tl,dr; because AI doesn't work and can't do anything