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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
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