Introduction
AstraLocker first appeared in 2021, likely as a fork of Babuk ransomware using leaked source code. It follows a single-extortion, smash-and-grab approach: distributed directly via phishing Microsoft Word documents containing embedded OLE objects. Once executed, it kills security and backup processes, deletes shadow copies, and encrypts files using modified HC-128 and Curve25519 algorithms, appending extensions like .Astra or .babyk. A “smash-and-grab” style attack, it’s less methodical than more sophisticated campaigns—deploying ransomware immediately upon user action rather than conducting prolonged network reconnaissance. In mid-2022, the operator ceased ransomware operations, releasing decryptors and announcing a pivot to cryptojacking.
Activities and Tactics
Information pending cataloguing.
Notable Campaigns
Information pending cataloguing.
Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTPs)
Information pending cataloguing.
Notable Indicators of Compromise (IOCs)
No curated IOCs are currently published for this actor. This section will be updated when stable, attributable indicators are available.
Malware and Tools
Information pending cataloguing.
Attribution and Evidence
Information pending cataloguing.
References
References pending cataloguing.