Deadlock

DeadLock is an emerging ransomware operation first observed in July 2025, distinguished by its use of decentralized infrastructure combining Session messaging network with blockchain-backed services for victim communications and data leak operations. The encryptor implements double extortion tactics, encrypting files while threatening to leak exfiltrated data, with over 80 organizations published on their leak site as of July 2026. The malware features a resource-aware throttling mechanism to maintain system responsiveness during encryption, language-based geofencing to avoid former Soviet and CIS countries, and hybrid cryptography using Curve25519 and XChaCha20. Its recovery ecosystem leverages Polygon blockchain for configuration storage, Session network for encrypted communications, and Wasabi file hosting, creating resilient infrastructure resistant to traditional takedown efforts. Multiple groups have deployed DeadLock, including affiliates of Lynx and INC ransomware ecosystems, targeting organization...