{
  "family": "datakeeper",
  "sample_count": 7,
  "category": "ransomware",
  "description": "Ransom:Win32/Datakeeper is a destructive ransomware family that targets both individual users and enterprise networks, utilizing strong cryptographic algorithms to encrypt valuable files and demand payment for their release. Like many modern ransomware variants, it is designed to cause maximum operational disruption to force swift payment from the victim.<br><br><b>Understanding Datakeeper Ransomware</b><br>To an infected user, the outcome is catastrophic: documents, databases, and critical files are suddenly inaccessible, their filenames often appended with a specific extension (e.g., `.datakeeper`). A ransom note (usually an HTML or TXT file dropped in every directory) demands cryptocurrency. For a security operations center (SOC), a Datakeeper detonation often represents the final stage of a prolonged network compromise, indicating that attackers have successfully bypassed endpoint defenses and potentially moved laterally across the network.<br><br><b>Execution and Encryption Mechanics</b><br>Datakeeper is distributed via various vectors, including spear-phishing (`T1566`), malicious spam attachments, or manually deployed by attackers via compromised Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) (`T1133`). Upon execution (`T1204.002`), it often attempts to terminate critical database and backup services (like SQL Server or Veeam) (`T1489`) to ensure those files are unlocked and vulnerable. It executes commands to delete Windows Volume Shadow Copies (`T1490`) using `vssadmin.exe` to prevent easy restoration. It then traverses the file system and mapped network drives, encrypting files using a combination of AES and RSA cryptography (`T1486`).<br><br><b>Indicators of Compromise & Impact</b><br>The impact is severe operational downtime and potential permanent data loss. The primary IoC is the massive, rapid modification of files across the hard drive and network shares. Host-based IoCs include EDR alerts for the mass deletion of shadow copies (`vssadmin delete shadows`) and the sudden termination of critical services. Network logs may show the initial command-and-control (C2) check-in to exchange the public encryption keys.",
  "cta": "Published by the SystemHelpdesk team.",
  "aliases": [],
  "enrichment_level": "expert-seo",
  "faq": [],
  "faq_count": 0,
  "mitre_attack": [
    "T1489",
    "T1490",
    "T1204.002",
    "T1486"
  ],
  "cisa_advisory": null,
  "last_updated": "2026-06-09",
  "mitre_attack_detail": [
    {
      "id": "T1486",
      "name": "Data Encrypted for Impact",
      "tactic": "Impact"
    },
    {
      "id": "T1490",
      "name": "Inhibit System Recovery",
      "tactic": "Impact"
    },
    {
      "id": "T1489",
      "name": "Service Stop (Terminating databases and backups)",
      "tactic": "Impact"
    },
    {
      "id": "T1204.002",
      "name": "User Execution: Malicious File",
      "tactic": "Execution"
    }
  ],
  "containment_steps": [
    "Instantly isolate the infected endpoint from the network to halt the encryption process, explicitly disconnecting it from mapped network shares.",
    "Do NOT reboot the machine immediately; capture a live memory dump (RAM) first, as forensic analysis may recover the encryption keys from memory.",
    "Check for publicly available decryption tools on 'No More Ransom'; some older versions of Datakeeper have known cryptographic flaws.",
    "Wipe the infected systems and restore data from secure, immutable offline backups."
  ],
  "what_to_avoid": [
    "Do not pay the ransom. Paying funds criminal enterprises, and there is no guarantee the attackers will provide a working decryption tool.",
    "Avoid reconnecting the machine to the network until a full forensic investigation has identified the initial entry vector (e.g., compromised RDP)."
  ],
  "target_industries": [
    "Global / Opportunistic"
  ],
  "motivation": "Opportunistic",
  "threat_actors": [
    "Unknown / Cybercriminal"
  ],
  "target_geographies": [
    "Global"
  ]
}