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In-depth analysis of the Conti ransomware gang based on their leaked internal Jabber chat logs. Includes organizational structure, operational tactics, key actors, and negotiation strategies.

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๐Ÿงจ Conti Ransomware Leak Analysis

This repository presents a deep-dive analysis of the Conti ransomware gang, based on the leaked internal Jabber chat logs from early 2022. The report outlines the groupโ€™s internal structure, operational tools, communications, and monetization strategies. It demonstrates how Conti functioned more like a structured criminal enterprise than a loose hacker collective.

๐Ÿ“„ Included

๐Ÿ•ด๏ธ Organizational Breakdown

Conti employed a layered organizational model with clear operational silos. Key members such as Stern, Bentley, Mango, and Target oversaw development, infrastructure, affiliate coordination, and OSINT-driven extortion targeting. Their structure included:

  • Coders, crypters, and testers
  • OSINT analysts for victim profiling
  • Admins for system and comms maintenance
  • Dedicated ransomware negotiators

๐Ÿ›  Tools & Techniques

Analysis of chat logs and related findings revealed the use of:

  • Cobalt Strike for post-exploitation and lateral movement
  • Google Dorking for reconnaissance
  • Native Windows tools like net.exe, nltest.exe, tasklist, and sc
  • Credential dumping via Mimikatz and custom scripts
  • Exploitation of accessibility features and scheduled tasks for persistence

๐Ÿ’ฐ Extortion Strategy

Conti's approach to victim engagement blended OSINT profiling with social engineering. Tactics included:

  • Proof-of-life samples to pressure victims
  • Timed leaks and staged releases
  • Monitoring for cyber insurance or financial capacity
  • Multi-tier ransom pricing depending on perceived organization wealth

๐Ÿ”„ Threat Landscape Relevance

The Conti leak has become a goldmine for understanding the business operations behind ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS). This report draws parallels between Conti and traditional enterprisesโ€”highlighting HR practices, recruitment, developer task tracking, and internal politics.

๐Ÿ‘ค Author

Michael Twining
Cybersecurity Researcher | Malware & Threat Intelligence | GitHub: @usrtem
๐Ÿ“ซ Contact: michael.twining@outlook.com
๐ŸŒ Portfolio: LinkedIn | YouTube

๐Ÿ” License

This project is released under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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In-depth analysis of the Conti ransomware gang based on their leaked internal Jabber chat logs. Includes organizational structure, operational tactics, key actors, and negotiation strategies.

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