Fargo ransomware group
Fargo 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.
Who they are
Fargo is a ransomware variant that surfaced in 2022, primarily targeting Microsoft SQL Server (MSSQL) systems. Believed to be a variant of the TargetCompany ransomware family, Fargo uses brute-force or credential-stuffing attacks on exposed MSSQL instances to gain access, then executes payloads via SQL Server commands. Once deployed, it encrypts files using a combination of symmetric and asymmetric algorithms, appends the .Fargo3 (or similar) extension, and drops a ransom note directing victims to contact operators via email. It also attempts to delete system backups and shadow copies to prevent recovery. Fargo has been observed targeting organizations in multiple sectors, with a concentration of victims in South Korea and other parts of Asia.
Current status
Fargo'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.
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 Fargo 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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