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The Makop Ransomware That Turns Off Your Antivirus to GUARANTEE Total Data Lockdown

A CyberDudeBivash Pvt Ltd Business Threat Advisory

TLDR

Makop ransomware is one of the most financially damaging ransomware operations targeting businesses across APAC, Europe, and the United States. What makes Makop especially dangerous is its ability to disable antivirus protections before initiating encryption, ensuring complete data lockdown across servers, endpoints, and cloud-connected environments. If a company is unprepared, Makop does not merely disrupt operations—it halts revenue, compromises customer trust, triggers regulatory obligations, and pushes organizations into existential crisis. CyberDudeBivash Pvt Ltd publishes this advisory to help enterprises understand the business impact and prepare an actionable response strategy.

Emergency Ransomware Response

If your organization is experiencing a Makop ransomware attack, contact CyberDudeBivash Incident Response immediately.

We provide 24/7 rapid containment, forensic analysis, business restoration, and ransomware negotiation services.

Contact: CyberDudeBivash Pvt Ltd – Incident & Risk Advisory Services
Apps Hub: https://cyberdudebivash.com/apps-products

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Executive Summary

Makop ransomware represents a maturing criminal ecosystem built around precision targeting, organizational disruption, and guaranteed encryption of business-critical data. Unlike opportunistic ransomware families, Makop is methodical: it quietly disables antivirus and endpoint protection tools before encrypting servers or endpoints. This AV-kill capability is what elevates Makop from a nuisance to a serious enterprise-level threat.

From a business perspective, a Makop attack does not simply encrypt data—it erodes operational continuity. Businesses lose access to customer databases, financial systems, HR assets, manufacturing systems, cloud drives, backups, and authentication layers. For companies without a dedicated incident response plan, the incident escalates quickly into full operational shutdown.

CyberDudeBivash Pvt Ltd observes a rising trend of Makop infections in organizations with resource-constrained IT teams, fragmented endpoint management, outdated antivirus solutions, and insufficient incident response maturity. This advisory provides leaders with clear guidance on risk, financial impact, and mitigation pathways.

What Is Makop Ransomware?

Makop ransomware is a threat actor family first identified in targeted operations against mid-sized businesses. Its operators follow a “double-extortion” model:

Encrypt all critical data
Exfiltrate sensitive files
Threaten to leak data if ransom is not paid

Unlike mass-spreading ransomware (e.g., WannaCry), Makop attacks are deliberate and tailored. Operators manually assess the victim network, identify valuable systems, disable defenses, delete backups, and then trigger the final encryption stage.

Why Makop Is More Dangerous Than Legacy Ransomware

It disables antivirus and EDR tools before encryption
It uses process injection and stealth routines to avoid detection
It exfiltrates data for maximum extortion leverage
It encrypts both local and network-attached storage
Its ransomware notes pressure victims through deadlines and public leak threats

How Makop Ransomware Turns Off Your Antivirus

Makop operators aim to guarantee total encryption without interruption. To do this, Makop includes a specialized “pre-encryption module” that identifies and terminates security tools, including:

Windows Defender and its real-time scanning components
Third-party antivirus engines
Endpoint detection and response agents
Backup monitoring software
Behavioral monitoring processes

This is accomplished through a combination of privilege escalation, service manipulation, registry alterations, and process termination. By the time encryption begins, the organization’s defensive posture is effectively neutralized, ensuring maximum operational damage.

Business Consequence of AV Shutdown

No alerts or telemetry during the breach
No automated response capabilities
No interruption of the attack chain
Encryption proceeds at full speed across critical systems

This guarantees a successful attack even in organizations with standard antivirus deployments.

The Business Damage Timeline of a Makop Attack

A critical aspect for business leaders is understanding the speed of damage in a Makop incident. The following timeline outlines how quickly an organization moves from “normal operations” to “full data lockdown.”

Minute 0–5: Defense Suppression

Makop disables antivirus tools, stops security services, and removes forensic logs. At this stage, the breach goes silent.

Minute 5–30: Network Reconnaissance

Threat actors move laterally, identify key systems, and prepare encryption targets such as:

Financial servers
Domain controllers
NAS storage
Cloud sync directories

Minute 30–90: Backup Destruction

Backups are deleted, corrupted, or exfiltrated. Shadow copies are removed, ensuring recovery becomes nearly impossible.

Hour 1–3: Encryption Begins

All accessible business data becomes encrypted. Productivity halts. The organization’s workflows collapse.

Hour 3+: Ransom Note Deployment

Makop presents ransom demands. Victims face business downtime, customer disruption, contractual liabilities, and escalating reputational harm.

Industry-Specific Impact

Certain industries are disproportionately affected by Makop ransomware due to high data dependence, regulatory frameworks, and operational sensitivity.

Healthcare

Immediate patient care disruption
Data loss affecting clinical workflows
HIPAA and GDPR exposure

Financial Services

Loss of transaction systems
Regulatory breach reporting obligations
Brand and trust degradation

Manufacturing

Production line shutdown
SCADA and OT systems impact
High revenue loss per hour

Education

Student data exposure risk
Online learning system shutdown

The structural consequences are severe across all sectors.

Why Makop Keeps Winning Against Businesses

CyberDudeBivash analysis reveals four systemic weaknesses that Makop exploits in modern organizations:

1. Outdated or Underfunded Security Programs

Most victims rely on legacy antivirus systems that fail to detect modern ransomware.

2. Lack of Incident Response Playbooks

Leadership teams often do not have predefined IR procedures, resulting in slow containment.

3. Flat Network Architecture

Makop spreads laterally because internal networks are rarely segmented properly.

4. Inadequate Backup Strategies

Insufficient or untested backups result in no recovery path.

Business Case Studies: What Actually Happens

Case Study 1: Small Financial Firm

A 50-employee financial services company suffered a Makop attack that halted operations for six days. Antivirus was disabled within minutes. All client records were encrypted. After rejecting the ransom, the firm spent three weeks on data reconstruction.

Case Study 2: Mid-Size Manufacturing Plant

Makop infiltrated through an exposed RDP endpoint, disabled security tools, and encrypted both production line SCADA systems and ERP servers. The plant lost USD 750,000 in downtime alone.

Case Study 3: Educational Institution

Faculty documents, student records, and cloud sync directories were encrypted. The institution faced privacy exposure, legal liability, and full operational shutdown for a week.

CyberDudeBivash Ransomware Response Framework

CyberDudeBivash Pvt Ltd helps organizations respond to Makop attacks using a structured, outcome-driven framework:

1. Rapid Containment

Isolate impacted systems
Disable unauthorized accounts
Stop lateral spread

2. Forensic Investigation

Determine infection vector
Analyze malware samples
Recover encrypted systems

3. Business Restoration

Recover operational systems
Restore essential services
Rebuild digital trust

4. Long-Term Resilience

Zero-Trust alignment
Backup modernization
Continuous detection engineering

12. Technical Deep Dive Into Makop Ransomware

While Part 1 focused on business impact, Part 2 provides the technical insight necessary for security teams, SOC analysts, forensic responders, and enterprise defenders. Makop ransomware follows a structured attack methodology consisting of reconnaissance, privilege escalation, defense evasion, encrypted payload deployment, data exfiltration, and business paralysis through extortion.

12.1 Initial Access Methods

Makop operators rely on multiple high-probability entry vectors:

Compromised RDP endpoints with weak or reused passwords
Phishing attachments containing embedded malware loaders
Exploitation of outdated VPN appliances
Unpatched public-facing systems
Credential-stealing trojans feeding Makop affiliates

12.2 Privilege Escalation

Makop deploys privilege escalation modules that target:

Token impersonation
Service misconfigurations
UAC bypasses
Exploitable Windows privilege escalation vulnerabilities

Once escalation succeeds, Makop gains administrative control required to disable protections.

12.3 Defense Evasion (AV/EDR Disable Phase)

Makop’s ability to disable antivirus is the most strategically important component of its attack chain. Before encryption begins, Makop executes automated routines that:

Terminate antivirus processes
Disable Windows Defender’s real-time scanning
Stop EDR services
Delete forensic event logs
Block backup agents through service manipulation
Modify registry keys controlling endpoint security

12.4 Pre-Encryption Reconnaissance

Makop collects a detailed map of the victim network:

Active directory structure
Shares and network drives
Database locations
Mapped cloud sync locations (OneDrive, Dropbox, NAS)
File share dependencies

12.5 The Encryption Engine

Makop uses a hybrid encryption model:

AES-256 for encrypting file contents
RSA-2048 for securing encryption keys
Unique keys generated per victim system

The combination ensures extremely low probability of recovery without ransom payment or third-party decryption breakthroughs.

12.6 Data Exfiltration Prior to Encryption

Makop operators apply a “double-extortion” model by exfiltrating sensitive files before encryption. This includes:

Customer records
Financial databases
Email archives
Contracts and legal documents
Intellectual property
Internal strategy documents

This ensures leverage in ransom negotiations even if the victim has offline backups.

13. Network Behavior and Command-and-Control (C2)

Makop uses a combination of encrypted communication channels and disposable C2 infrastructure. Key behaviors include:

Outbound HTTPS to attacker-controlled servers
DNS tunneling for small payloads
Use of TOR-based leak sites for extortion
Periodic beaconing during reconnaissance

SOC teams must continuously monitor outbound network patterns to identify early-stage activity.

14. Indicators of Compromise

14.1 File Indicators

Files appended with extensions such as: .makop, .mkp, .mkg, .mky
Presence of ransom note files placed in multiple directories

14.2 Process Indicators

Unexpected termination of security tools
Execution of unfamiliar EXE files in temp or appdata directories

14.3 Registry Indicators

Modified Run/RunOnce keys
Disabled Windows Defender policies

14.4 Network Indicators

Outbound traffic to non-corporate IP ranges
Connections over unusual ports

15. YARA Hunting Rule (Generalized)

rule YARA_Makop_Generic
{
  meta:
    author = "CyberDudeBivash Threat Research"
    description = "Detects generalized Makop ransomware samples"
  strings:
    $note1 = "Makop" nocase
    $note2 = "All your files are encrypted"
    $key1  = { 2A 2A 2A 20 4D 41 4B 4F 50 }
  condition:
    any of ($note*) or $key1
}

16. Sigma Rule for Makop Detection

title: Makop Ransomware Pre-Encryption Activity Detected
id: cbd-makop-pre-enc-001
description: Detects suspicious process behavior associated with Makop ransomware
logsource:
  product: windows
  category: process_creation
detection:
  selection:
    CommandLine|contains:
      - "powershell"
      - "vssadmin delete shadows"
      - "bcdedit"
  condition: selection
fields:
  - CommandLine
  - ParentImage
  - Image
level: high

17. SOC Playbook for Responding to Makop Ransomware

Step 1: Immediate Isolation

Disconnect affected systems from the network
Disable compromised user accounts

Step 2: Kill Switch Activation

Stop ransomware processes
Re-enable security tools if possible

Step 3: Evidence Preservation

Capture volatile memory
Collect event logs
Preserve ransom notes

Step 4: Forensics

Identify patient-zero
Trace lateral movement
Assess data exfiltration

Step 5: Contain and Eradicate

Rebuild compromised systems
Patch exploited vulnerabilities

Step 6: Business Restoration

Recover essential functions
Restore backups

18. 30-60-90 Day Ransomware Resilience Plan

Day 1–30: Immediate Strengthening

Patch high-risk endpoints
Implement MFA and identity hardening
Conduct EDR rule tuning

Day 30–60: Architectural Controls

Deploy network segmentation
Adopt Zero Trust workflows
Build ransomware tabletop exercises

Day 60–90: Modernization

Implement continuous monitoring
Introduce backup immutability
Strengthen endpoint detection pipelines

19. CyberDudeBivash Incident Response and Consulting Services

CyberDudeBivash Pvt Ltd provides end-to-end ransomware defense and recovery services for enterprises across APAC, EU, and North America. Our dedicated teams specialize in:

Ransomware Incident Response
Digital Forensics and Breach Analysis
Ransom Negotiation Advisory
Backup and Recovery Modernization
Security Program Development
Zero Trust Enablement

To strengthen your organization’s defenses or recover from an incident, visit:
https://cyberdudebivash.com/apps-products

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21. Frequently Asked Questions

Does Makop always disable antivirus?

Yes. Disabling security tools is part of its pre-encryption workflow.

Should an organization pay the ransom?

No. Paying encourages further attacks and does not guarantee recovery.

How long does recovery take?

Depending on backup maturity, recovery may take days to weeks.

Is Makop targeting specific industries?

Yes. Financial services, healthcare, manufacturing, and education.

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