CYBERBIVASH

Inside the New LockBit, Qilin, and DragonForce Alliance Targeting Critical Global Infrastructure

A new and dangerous phase of global cybercrime is unfolding.

What we are witnessing is no longer isolated ransomware gangs operating independently — but the rise of a ransomware cartel model, where groups share infrastructure, tooling, affiliates, and intelligence to scale attacks faster and hit harder.

At the center of this shift are three major players: LockBit, Qilin, and DragonForce.

What Has Changed: From Gangs to Cartels

Historically, ransomware groups competed with each other.
Today, collaboration is replacing competition.

This emerging alliance shows signs of:

• Shared initial access brokers (IABs)

• Reused payload loaders and encryption modules

• Overlapping affiliate networks

• Coordinated double and triple extortion tactics

• Common targeting of critical infrastructure and high-value enterprises

This cartel-style operation mirrors organized crime syndicates, not random threat actors.

 The Players Behind the Cartel

LockBit

Once considered the most dominant Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) operation, LockBit set the standard for:

• Highly automated affiliate models

• Fast encryption routines

• Aggressive data leak tactics

Even after multiple law-enforcement disruptions, LockBit’s tactics and affiliates have not disappeared — they have dispersed and re-emerged through alliances.

Qilin (a.k.a. Agenda)

Qilin represents the next-generation ransomware group, known for:

• Sophisticated encryption

• Targeting healthcare, manufacturing, and energy sectors

• Heavy use of double extortion and legal pressure on victims

Qilin has increasingly absorbed experienced affiliates, many previously linked to dismantled RaaS platforms.

DragonForce

DragonForce acts as a strategic enabler:

• Providing tooling, infrastructure, and staging environments

• Operating as a backend support layer

• Facilitating cross-group collaboration

Rather than mass publicity, DragonForce focuses on operational depth and resilience.

 Primary Targets: Critical Global Infrastructure

This cartel is not chasing small victims.

Observed and reported targets include:

• Healthcare systems & hospitals

• Energy grids & utilities

• Manufacturing & logistics chains

• Government-linked service providers

• Financial and insurance platforms

The intent is clear:

Maximize disruption, pressure governments, and force high-ransom payouts.

 Why This Is Extremely Dangerous

This alliance introduces:

• Faster attack cycles (shared access = faster compromise)

• Higher success rates (tested payloads + experienced affiliates)

• Resilience against takedowns (no single point of failure)

• Global-scale impact rather than regional operations

Taking down one group no longer stops the operation.

 What Organizations Must Do — Now

This threat model requires defensive maturity, not reactive security.

Immediate priorities:

• Zero Trust access controls

• Hardened identity and MFA enforcement

• EDR + XDR correlation, not siloed tools

• Continuous threat intelligence monitoring

• Incident response playbooks tested against ransomware + data exfiltration scenarios

Security teams must assume pre-compromise already exists.

 CyberDudeBivash Insight

At CyberDudeBivash, we assess this development as a turning point in modern cybercrime.

The ransomware ecosystem is evolving into a federated crime economy — and traditional perimeter-based security is no longer sufficient.

This cartel model will likely:

• Inspire copycat alliances

• Increase attacks on public services

• Push ransomware into nation-state-level impact zones

 Stay Ahead with CyberDudeBivash

• In-depth threat intelligence

• Ransomware attack-chain analysis

• Defensive playbooks & response strategies

• Security tools & consulting support

https://cyberdudebivash.com

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