Positions at a glance
Supporters
Conti emerged as a successor to the Ryuk ransomware operation and became one of the most prolific cybercriminal enterprises of the early 2020s. It operated on a ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) model, in which a core team developed the malware and supporting infrastructure while affiliates carried out intrusions and split the ransom proceeds. Conti was notable for its industrialized structure, including salaried developers, HR-style recruiting, and internal management hierarchies.
Opponents
The group drew particular international attention for its attack on Ireland's Health Service Executive (HSE) in May 2021, which forced the shutdown of IT systems across the Irish public health system and disrupted patient care for months. The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency issued advisories linking Conti to hundreds of incidents against U.S. targets, including municipal governments and critical infrastructure.
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In May 2021, the Conti ransomware group attacked Ireland's Health Service Executive, crippling hospital IT systems and prompting the Irish government to refuse payment of the multi-million-euro ransom demand.
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