---
title: Ransomware-as-a-Service Just Got Worse—Are You Ready?
description: DragonForce’s new affiliate model signals rising ransomware risk. Learn how AppGuard stops attacks with isolation and containment.
---

[Prevent Ransomware Blog](https://prevent-ransomware.com/blog)

# [Ransomware-as-a-Service Just Got Worse—Are You Ready?](https://prevent-ransomware.com/blog/ransomware-as-a-service-just-got-worse-are-you-ready)

 Written by [Tony Chiappetta](https://prevent-ransomware.com/blog/author/tony-chiappetta) | Jun 4, 2025, 9:00:00 AM

Cybercrime is evolving—again. According to a [new report from Secureworks](https://www.secureworks.com/blog/ransomware-groups-evolve-affiliate-models), threat actor group **DragonForce** has introduced a disturbing twist to the Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) model: a **distributed affiliate branding approach** that decentralizes ransomware operations, increases operational resilience, and accelerates the pace of attacks.

This evolution is a stark warning for business owners: traditional cybersecurity approaches centered on *detection and response* are no longer enough. It’s time to shift strategies—and fast.

### The Evolution of Ransomware: DragonForce’s Dangerous Innovation

DragonForce is leveraging a model where **multiple sub-groups**, each under distinct brands, work independently to infiltrate, encrypt, and extort. These affiliates appear to share **common infrastructure** and tools, but not necessarily tactics or targets. The result is a **fragmented and resilient ransomware campaign** that’s harder to track, attribute, or disrupt.

Secureworks notes that DragonForce’s affiliates use:

- **Known vulnerabilities and RDP brute force** to gain initial access
- **Tools like Cobalt Strike and AnyDesk** to maintain persistence
- **Living-off-the-land binaries** to evade endpoint detection
- **Double extortion tactics**, combining encryption with data leaks

In other words, these attackers don’t just lock your systems—they make sure the pressure to pay is excruciating.

### The Cybersecurity Catch-Up Game Is Failing

The DragonForce model exposes a critical truth: most businesses are relying on tools and strategies that are **always one step behind**. Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR), antivirus, and SIEM systems aim to *identify and respond* to suspicious behavior—but by the time they do, the attacker may have already deployed malware or exfiltrated sensitive data.

With DragonForce’s affiliates acting quickly and unpredictably, the **"detect and respond" paradigm simply can’t keep up**. And this isn’t just a large enterprise problem. Small and midsize businesses (SMBs) are particularly vulnerable, often lacking the staff or budget to respond effectively once a breach occurs.

### The Solution: Isolation and Containment with AppGuard

It's time to change the game—by adopting a proactive approach centered on **prevention, not detection**. That’s where **AppGuard** comes in.

AppGuard is a **proven endpoint protection solution** with over **10 years of success**—first in government and now available for commercial use. Unlike traditional tools that try to detect malicious behavior, AppGuard **isolates and contains** applications, stopping malware from executing in the first place—even if it's never been seen before.

With AppGuard:

- Applications are **prevented from launching unauthorized processes**
- Malware—even zero-day exploits—**can’t detonate**, even if it reaches your system
- There’s **no need for signature updates or continuous monitoring**
- Endpoint protection works **without impacting performance or user experience**

This approach **neutralizes threats at the point of entry**, rendering the tactics used by DragonForce affiliates—living-off-the-land attacks, remote tools, script-based malware—completely ineffective.

### Final Thoughts: It’s Time to Get Ahead

DragonForce’s affiliate model is a wake-up call. Ransomware is now **decentralized, faster, and harder to stop**. Businesses that continue relying on detection-based strategies are playing a losing game.

Instead of chasing shadows, what if you could **stop ransomware before it even starts**?

At CHIPS, we believe that cybersecurity should be **preventative, not reactive**. That’s why we advocate for AppGuard—a military-grade solution now ready for businesses of all sizes.

### Let’s Talk

If you're a business owner concerned about ransomware, now is the time to act.

[👉 **Talk with us at CHIPS**](https://prevent-ransomware.com/getting-started)about how AppGuard can protect your business by **isolating and containing threats—before damage occurs**.

Don't wait for an incident. **Move from detect and respond to isolation and containment.**

Let’s make your business unbreachable.

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[View full post](https://prevent-ransomware.com/blog/ransomware-as-a-service-just-got-worse-are-you-ready)

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