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Welcome to another _secpro!
The threat landscape continues to evolve, and few adversaries illustrate this reality more clearly than Cl0p. Known for high-impact ransomware and data extortion campaigns, Cl0p has repeatedly demonstrated an ability to exploit systemic weaknesses rather than rely solely on traditional malware delivery. Its operations have targeted organizations across sectors by abusing trusted software, leveraging zero-day vulnerabilities, and accelerating data theft prior to encryption. The result is a dual-pressure attack model that combines operational disruption with reputational and regulatory risk.
Defending against Cl0p is therefore not a matter of deploying a single control or reacting after an incident has begun. It requires a deliberate shift toward resilience, visibility, and proactive risk management. Organizations must understand how modern ransomware groups operate, how supply-chain and file-transfer platforms have become attractive entry points, and why legacy perimeter assumptions are no longer sufficient. Cl0p’s campaigns underscore the importance of reducing attack surface, validating trust continuously, and detecting abnormal behavior early in the intrusion lifecycle.
This newsletter explores the strategic and operational measures that can materially reduce exposure to Cl0p-style attacks. It focuses on defensive principles that align with real-world threat activity, including vulnerability governance, third-party risk awareness, identity protection, and incident readiness. Rather than emphasizing fear or sensational outcomes, the goal is to translate adversary behavior into actionable defensive insight.
By examining how Cl0p achieves initial access and monetizes compromise, security leaders can better prioritize controls that matter most. Effective defense is not about predicting the next exploit, but about building an environment where exploitation is difficult, lateral movement is constrained, and extortion loses its leverage.
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Cheers!
Austin Miller
Editor-in-Chief
This week’s article
Batten Down the Hatches: Cl0p
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Clop is a well‑known cybercrime group that has operated since at least 2019. The group, sometimes spelled “Cl0p” and is characterised by highly organised ransomware and extortion operations that target large organisations globally. Clop does not rely solely on traditional encryption of victim systems. Instead, it often focuses on data theft and extortion.
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