Rhysida Ransomware Gang Attacks Ramtha's School of Enlightenment

Introduction to Ramtha's School of Enlightenment

Ramtha's School of Enlightenment (RSE) is based in Yelm, Washington, and it offers various workshops, seminars, and retreats that claim to provide spiritual insights and personal growth through the teachings of Ramtha. These teachings cover a wide range of topics, including metaphysics, quantum physics, consciousness, self-empowerment, and the nature of reality. Critics of the RSE have raised concerns about the organization's practices, the high costs associated with attending its events, and the level of influence that JZ Knight has over her followers. Some former members have reported experiencing manipulation, isolation from friends and family, and financial strain as a result of their involvement with the organization.

Rhysida's Attack on RSE

Rhysida posted Ramtha to its data leak site on August 16th but provided no further details. The Rhysida ransomware group emerged in May 2023 and introduced a victim support chat portal on the TOR network. They present themselves as a "cybersecurity team" and claim to be helping their victims by targeting their systems and exposing potential security issues. Rhysida deploys its ransomware through various methods, including Cobalt Strike or similar frameworks, as well as phishing campaigns. Analysis of Rhysida ransomware samples suggests that the group is still in the early stages of development. The ransomware lacks certain standard features in contemporary ransomware, such as VSS removal. However, the group follows the practices of modern multi-extortion groups by threatening to distribute the stolen data publicly.

Impact and Response

Upon execution, Rhysida displays a cmd.exe window and scans all files on local drives. Victims are instructed to contact the attackers using the TOR-based portal and their unique identifier provided in the ransom notes. The group only accepts payment in Bitcoin (BTC) and provides victims with instructions on purchasing and using BTC through the victim portal. Victims are also given an additional form on the payment portal to provide authentication and contact details to the attackers. The Rhysida ransom notes are written as PDF documents and placed in the affected folders on the targeted drives.