Fifteen Ransomware Groups Announce Sudden Retirement

Several notorious ransomware crews say they are disbanding, though experts doubt the silence will last.

Hackers claim mission accomplished

In a surprising announcement on the underground forum Breachforums, 15 ransomware groups, including Scattered Spider and Lapsus$, declared they are ceasing operations. The threat actors insisted their campaigns were never about extortion but rather about exposing insecure systems.

The cybercrime groups even left a message pointing to their “retirement,” suggesting that their objectives have been met:

“Silence will now be our strength.”

In their farewell, the groups claimed they had amassed considerable wealth during their malicious operations. They described their exit as a chance to “enjoy our golden parachutes,” while some members supposedly plan to focus on security research rather than attacks.

High-profile targets and recent arrests

These groups were behind several headline-making breaches, including attacks on MGM Resorts and Marks & Spencer. The scale of their crimes made them frequent subjects of law enforcement investigations across multiple countries.

The announcement also referred to members already in custody, vowing to retaliate against authorities and work toward their release. This pledge raises concerns that the supposed retirement may be more of a temporary rebranding than a true disbandment.

Skepticism from security analysts

Observers point out that such “retirement” statements are a common tactic among cybercrime gangs. By abandoning their names, hackers try to avoid prosecution while regrouping. The Register and other observers warn that the people behind these operations are unlikely to simply walk away from lucrative criminal enterprises.

Experts expect future attacks under different banners, particularly given the enormous profits these groups admit to having secured. The possibility of pre-planned attacks still surfacing adds another layer of uncertainty.

What comes next

For businesses and consumers, the announcement offers little comfort. Cybercriminal gangs have a long history of resurfacing under new guises, often with increasing levels of sophistication. Security professionals caution that organizations must remain vigilant, treating this “retirement” as a pause rather than an end.

Whether the hackers’ silence holds or merely masks a shift in tactics remains to be seen. To protect your devices and digital assets, dedicated software like Bitdefender Ultimate Security can be your frontline defense. It offers multi-layered ransomware protection, including ransomware remediation, which blocks attacks and restores encrypted files automatically.

Its all-in-one suite also includes robust malware detection, secure backup, VPN, password manager, identity-protection tools and features designed to monitor and respond to threats in real time.