Beast Ransomware Targets Active SMB Connections to Infect Entire Networks

A sophisticated ransomware operation known as Beast has emerged as a significant cybersecurity threat, employing aggressive network propagation tactics that leverage Server Message Block (SMB) port scanning to infiltrate and encrypt systems across enterprise environments.

The threat group, which evolved from the Monster ransomware strain, has been actively targeting organizations worldwide since its official launch in July 2025, with 16 publicly disclosed victims spanning the United States, Europe, Asia, and Latin America.

Beast ransomware operates as a Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) platform, enabling multiple threat actor partners to conduct independent campaigns under the same infrastructure.

The group first appeared in February 2025 but gained notoriety after establishing a Tor-based data leak site in mid-2025, where stolen victim data is published to pressure organizations into paying ransom demands.

The affected organizations represent diverse sectors including manufacturing, construction, healthcare, business services, and education, demonstrating the indiscriminate nature of these attacks.

Each ...