Researchers released a decryptor for the FunkSec ransomware
July 31, 2025 
Researchers have released a decryptor for the ransomware FunkSec, allowing victims to recover their encrypted files for free.
Researchers at Avast developed a decryptor for the FunkSec ransomware. Gen Digital researchers released a decryptor for the FunkSec ransomware after cooperating with law enforcement to neutralize the threat.
“Researchers at Avast developed a decryptor for the FunkSec ransomware. We have been cooperating with law-enforcement agencies to help victims decrypt files for free. Because the ransomware is now considered dead, we released the decryptor for public download.” reads Gen Digital’s report.
The experts decided to publicly release the decryptor because the ‘ransomware is now considered dead’.
The ransomware group has been active since at least December 2024 and the gang leak site listed 113 victims. The first victim appeared before the initial source was available, suggesting FunkSec started with data exfiltration and extortion before adding encryption. The timeline shows the first victims on December 4, 2024, the initial source uploaded to VirusTotal on December 15, 2024, the first ransomware sample on December 31, 2024, and the latest victim recorded on March 15, 2025.
According to a report published by CheckPoint early this year, the group likely used AI-based systems to quickly develop advanced tools, blending hacktivism and cybercrime. However, many datasets leaked by the group are recycled, raising authenticity doubts. FunkSec has no known ties to prior ransomware groups, with limited details available.
“Our analysis of the group’s activity indicates that the impressive numbers of published victims may mask a more modest reality both in terms of actual victims as well as the group’s level of expertise. Most of FunkSec’s core operations are likely conducted by inexperienced actors. In addition, it is difficult to verify the authenticity of the leaked information as the group’s primary goal appears to be to gain visibility and recognition.” reads the report published by Check Point. “Evidence suggests that in some instances, the leaked information was recycled from previous hacktivist-related leaks, raising questions about its authenticity.”
Unlike other ransomware groups, FunkSec demanded low ransoms, in some cases as low as $10,000. The group sells stolen data to third parties at reduced prices.
Check Point’s analysis revealed that FunkSec ransomware was under active development by an inexperienced author, likely in Algeria, with variants referencing FunkSec and Ghost Algeria.
The ransomware is written in Rust and was uploaded to VirusTotal from Algeria. Its prototype encrypts files, creates ransom notes, modifies environments, and checks for admin privileges.
The group extensively uses AI to enhance capabilities, with tools and scripts featuring polished, AI-generated code comments, including in their Rust ransomware source code.
“In some of their published messages, the group specifically linked the development of their ransomware to AI-assisted agents, likely providing it with the source code for the ransomware and simply shared the output on their site.” continues the report. “The use of such tools aligns closely with the group’s public claims, as they also released an AI chatbot based on Miniapps to support their operations. Miniapps is a platform that facilitates the creation and use of AI applications and chatbots, often without the restrictions found in more popular systems like ChatGPT. The bot developed by FunkSec is specifically designed to support malicious activities.”
FunkSec emerged in October 2024, introduced by a threat actor using the handles Scorpion and DesertStorm. Later, the RaaS was promoted by other threat actors named El_Farado. XTN, Blako, and Bjorka are likely linked to the group.
Once executed, FunkSec ransomware disables security features, including Windows Defender, logging, PowerShell restrictions, and shadow copy backups during execution.
The malware adds the ‘.funksec’ extension to the filenames of encrypted files, then it drops a ransom note to the disk.
The RaaS operation aligns with the Free Palestine movement, targeting India and the US, and associates with defunct hacktivist groups like Ghost Algéria and Cyb3r Fl00d.
“FunkSec’s operations highlight the role of AI in malware development, the overlap between hacktivism and cybercrime, and the challenges in verifying leaked data. It also raises questions about how we assess the threat posed by ransomware groups, as we often rely on the groups’ own claims.” Check Point concludes. “These findings reflect a changing threat landscape, where even low-skill actors can make use of accessible tools to cast a very large shadow.”
The decryptor can be downloaded via the No More Ransom project.
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