DragonForce Ransomware Cartel Surges Ahead in 2025: A Global Threat on the Rise

A New Era of Ransomware Warfare Begins

The global cybersecurity landscape is undergoing a seismic shift as the ransomware group DragonForce escalates its operations to unprecedented levels. Emerging from the shadows in late 2023, this cybercriminal syndicate has rapidly evolved from a basic Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) provider into a fully-fledged cartel, demonstrating alarming technical sophistication and operational dominance. With over 120 confirmed attacks across sectors and continents, DragonForce is shaping the new reality of cyber warfare in 2025. From their aggressive cartelization tactics to sophisticated malware evolution, this group’s bold ambition to dominate the ransomware ecosystem is forcing defenders to rethink their entire approach to cybersecurity. As DragonForce consolidates its infrastructure and recruits affiliates with powerful incentives, the world watches closely — for good reason.

Global Campaign Summary: Inside DragonForce’s Cyber Onslaught (40 Lines)

Since its explosive debut in late 2023, DragonForce has established itself as one of the most aggressive ransomware groups in operation. Their campaigns have targeted over 120 organizations across the globe, particularly in the United States, Italy, and Australia. Victims span critical industries including manufacturing, healthcare, construction, technology, and retail. What sets DragonForce apart is its methodical approach. Rather than focusing on mass infection, the group targets high-value entities using well-coordinated, high-impact techniques.

Initial signs pointed to Southeast Asia due to the existence of a Malaysian hacktivist group by the same name, but analysts now believe the operation is more aligned with Russian interests. Evidence includes the use of Russian cybercriminal forums for recruitment and infrastructure linked to Russian-speaking networks. Unconfirmed claims even suggest possible ties to Russian intelligence agencies, though no definitive proof has surfaced.

DragonForce’s technical playbook is sophisticated. Early ransomware strains bore resemblance to LockBit 3.0, but the group has since shifted toward custom-built encryptors and even Conti variants. Their attack methods involve exploiting exposed credentials, phishing schemes, and critical vulnerabilities like CVE-2024-21412, CVE-2024-21887, and CVE-2024-21893. Once inside, the attackers use legitimate system tools — a tactic known as “Living Off the Land” — for persistence and lateral movement. Tools such as Schtasks.exe and SimpleHelp are common in their campaigns.

The ransomware adds a “.dragonforce_encrypted” extension to files and delivers ransom notes with demands ranging from hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars. Each ransom is customized based on detailed reconnaissance of the victim’s financial status. If victims refuse to pay, stolen data is posted publicly, leveraging a mix of file-sharing platforms and leak sites to amplify pressure.

By mid-2024, DragonForce had transformed into a full ransomware cartel. It offers affiliates automation tools, admin panels, blogs, and even round-the-clock monitoring. This infrastructure mimics a legitimate tech enterprise, but its purpose is far more sinister. DragonForce has also launched strategic takeovers and defaced competing leak sites, directly challenging rival groups like LockBit and RansomHub.

Cybersecurity professionals warn that the rise of DragonForce signals a new era of ransomware cartelization. Defending against them requires a multilayered strategy: updated patch management, endpoint protection, vigilant monitoring of lateral movement, and strong user training. Their rapid evolution, combined with a highly organized cartel structure, makes DragonForce one of the most formidable threats in the ransomware world today.

What Undercode Say: (Analytical Deep Dive – 50 Lines)

DragonForce’s emergence is more than just another ransomware story. It’s the textbook evolution of a cybercrime outfit into an industrial-scale operation. What began as a RaaS initiative has now morphed into a hybrid cartel — blending automation, affiliate support, advanced encryption, and aggressive branding. This kind of business-like growth isn’t new to the ransomware world, but DragonForce is taking it to extremes. By positioning itself as a one-stop-shop for affiliates and providing dedicated infrastructure, it mirrors the sophistication of Silicon Valley firms, albeit in the criminal underground.

One of the more unsettling aspects is their adoption of cartel-like behavior. Much like drug cartels consolidating power by absorbing or wiping out competition, DragonForce is actively working to dominate the RaaS market. This includes hijacking and defacing rival leak sites, forming partnerships, and creating a loyalty-based affiliate ecosystem. These moves hint at a long-term strategy: full control over the ransomware economy.

Their technical tactics are equally advanced. From leveraging zero-day vulnerabilities to repurposing existing ransomware frameworks, DragonForce exhibits flexibility and technical prowess. The progression from LockBit-based strains to customized Conti variants reflects rapid adaptation. Infiltration methods like phishing and exploiting vulnerabilities are standard, but DragonForce raises the bar with tools like SimpleHelp for remote management, DLL hijacking, and timestomping — tactics that blur the lines between system processes and malware actions.

Their use of Living Off the Land techniques also shows a calculated approach. Instead of deploying exotic malware that triggers alarms, they repurpose system tools like Taskkill.exe and Schtasks.exe. This not only helps them stay undetected longer but also complicates forensic analysis. Once inside, they spread laterally across networks with minimal noise, building persistence quietly.

Perhaps the most alarming trait is their adaptability. DragonForce isn’t just reacting to cybersecurity efforts; it’s evolving in anticipation. Their reconnaissance efforts are meticulous, often used to tailor ransom demands that reflect the victim’s financial capacity. They’re also integrating leak threats as a psychological tool, using public shaming and data exposure as pressure points. It’s not just encryption-for-money anymore — it’s about total control.

DragonForce’s infrastructure is arguably its greatest strength. With dedicated blogs, affiliate dashboards, encrypted file servers, and even customer support for their partners, they’ve created an ecosystem that scales. Few ransomware groups have managed this level of operational maturity. This setup also means that any attempts to dismantle DragonForce will need to go beyond just arresting core members — the infrastructure itself is decentralized, resilient, and powered by many hands.

In the broader picture, DragonForce could mark the beginning of a more corporate-like ransomware age. The concept of “cybercrime cartels” could replace the fragmented RaaS model we’ve seen over the past decade. And with DragonForce clearly aiming for dominance, other groups may either band together, go underground, or be absorbed.

The industry must prepare not just for individual ransomware attacks, but for coordinated campaigns carried out by highly organized cyber cartels. The game has changed — and DragonForce is leading that transformation.

Fact Checker Results ✅🔍

Is DragonForce linked to Russia? 🇷🇺 ✅ Evidence suggests Russian alignment, though not officially confirmed.
Are ransom demands personalized? 💰 ✅ Yes, tailored based on victim profiles.
Has DragonForce targeted critical sectors globally? 🌍 ✅ Confirmed attacks in healthcare, tech, retail, and more.

Prediction 📊🔮

DragonForce is poised to become the dominant cartel in the ransomware ecosystem if current growth continues. With its expanding infrastructure, calculated technical evolution, and aggressive affiliate recruitment, the group could surpass legacy players like LockBit and BlackCat by the end of 2025. Expect more targeted attacks, deeper infiltration methods, and increasing attempts to monopolize the underground ransomware economy.