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The Hacker News

VECT 2.0 Ransomware Irreversibly Destroys Files Over 131KB on Windows, Linux, ESXi

[email protected] (The Hacker News) · 2026-04-28 · Read original ↗

ATT&CK techniques detected

8 predictions
T1486Data Encrypted for Impact
99%
"##ypted. " the malware encrypts four independent chunks of each ' large file ' using four freshly generated random 12 - byte nonces, but appends only the final nonce to the specific encrypted file on disk, " check point explained. " the first three nonces, each required to decryp…"
T1486Data Encrypted for Impact
96%
"at further lowering the barrier to entry for ransomware operators and incentivizing affiliates to launch attacks by weaponizing previously stolen data. " the convergence of large - scale supply chain credential theft, a maturing raas operation, and mass dark web forum mobilizatio…"
T1485Data Destruction
80%
"vect 2. 0 ransomware irreversibly destroys files over 131kb on windows, linux, esxi threat hunters are warning that the cybercriminal operation known as vect 2. 0 acts more like a wiper than a ransomware due to a critical flaw in its encryption implementation across windows, linu…"
T1486Data Encrypted for Impact
80%
"be handed over, not because the attackers are unwilling, but because the information required to build one was destroyed the moment their software ran. the focus has to be on resilience : offline backups, tested recovery procedures, and rapid containment – not negotiation. " vect…"
T1486Data Encrypted for Impact
77%
"vect 2. 0 ransomware irreversibly destroys files over 131kb on windows, linux, esxi threat hunters are warning that the cybercriminal operation known as vect 2. 0 acts more like a wiper than a ransomware due to a critical flaw in its encryption implementation across windows, linu…"
T1486Data Encrypted for Impact
72%
"if it ' s running in a cis country, and if so, exits without encrypting the files. this behavior, per check point, is rather unusual as most raas programs removed ukraine from the cis countries list following russia ' s military invasion of the country in early 2022. " during rec…"
T1490Inhibit System Recovery
48%
"vect 2. 0 ransomware irreversibly destroys files over 131kb on windows, linux, esxi threat hunters are warning that the cybercriminal operation known as vect 2. 0 acts more like a wiper than a ransomware due to a critical flaw in its encryption implementation across windows, linu…"
T1679Selective Exclusion
36%
"##ypted. " the malware encrypts four independent chunks of each ' large file ' using four freshly generated random 12 - byte nonces, but appends only the final nonce to the specific encrypted file on disk, " check point explained. " the first three nonces, each required to decryp…"

Summary

Threat hunters are warning that the cybercriminal operation known as VECT 2.0 acts more like a wiper than a ransomware due to a critical flaw in its encryption implementation across Windows, Linux, and ESXi variants that renders recovery impossible even for the threat actors. The fact that VECT's locker permanently destroys large files rather than encrypting them means even victims who opt to