Freeworld ransomware group
Freeworld 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
FreeWorld is a ransomware variant first observed in September 2023, and is believed to be derived from the Mimic ransomware family. It is deployed through coordinated campaigns dubbed DB#JAMMER, which exploit poorly secured Microsoft SQL (MSSQL) servers exposed to the internet. Attackers gain initial access via brute force, leverage the xp_cmdshell feature to execute shell commands, disable defenses, deploy remote access tools like Cobalt Strike and AnyDesk, and eventually deliver the FreeWorld payload. The ransomware encrypts files using hybrid encryption and appends the .FreeWorldEncryption extension. Victims receive a ransom note titled FreeWorld-Contact.txt, directing them on payment and data recovery steps.
Current status
Freeworld'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 Freeworld 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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