Aptlock ransomware group
Aptlock is one of the extortion operations we watch continuously. This page covers what is known about the group and the current state of its leak site, which we last saw change 2y ago.
Who they are
Aptlock surfaced in early 2025 and is characterized by a single-extortion model combined with threats of data leakage. The ransomware encrypts files on Windows systems, appending the extension .aptlock, and then changes the victim’s desktop wallpaper. Victims receive a ransom note named read_me_to_access.txt informing them that their critical company data has been exfiltrated and will be deleted or leaked if they don’t act. They are given 72 hours to initiate contact via Tor-based chat access (using credentials provided in the note), with further warnings issued if no engagement occurs within 5 days. Specific details about intrusion vectors, encryption algorithms used, or known affiliate operators remain undisclosed in public threat intelligence. No reliable evidence links Aptlock to Ransomware-as-a-Service operations or lists any known affiliates.
Current status
Aptlock's leak site is not answering. Sites go dark for infrastructure trouble, a deliberate quiet period, or a takedown, and a good number return weeks later under the same name, so the entry stays on the list either way.
The last change we recorded on it was 2y ago (24 Mar 2025 19:33 UTC).
Which organisations this group has named, and when, is part of the SINON platform rather than this page. Create an account to search it, or to be told automatically if a name you care about turns up.
Sectors targeted
This group does not state an industry on its site, so we have nothing reliable to report. Most crews are opportunistic rather than sector-specific in any case — they hit what they can reach.
Watching for your name
If Aptlock posts your company, a supplier or a subsidiary, you want to hear it from us rather than from a journalist. SINON checks these sites continuously and alerts on the names you give it.
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