A newly identified ransomware strain called Sicarii has raised serious concern in the cybersecurity world. Security researchers have confirmed that files encrypted by this ransomware cannot be decrypted, even if victims pay the ransom. This makes Sicarii different from many traditional ransomware attacks. Once the damage is done, the data is effectively locked forever.
Ransomware normally works by encrypting files and then offering a decryption key in exchange for payment. In most cases, attackers at least provide a working decryptor after receiving money. However, Sicarii breaks this pattern completely. Its decryption mechanism is flawed, meaning victims receive no usable solution even after paying.
Investigators found that Sicarii was promoted as part of a ransomware-as-a-service model. This allows other criminals to use the malware easily, even without deep technical skills. During analysis, experts discovered that the ransomware mishandles its encryption keys. The key used to encrypt files is discarded and never stored.
Because the encryption key is lost, decryption becomes impossible. Not even the attackers themselves have access to the correct key once encryption is complete. This appears to be a serious coding error rather than an intentional design. As a result, Sicarii permanently destroys access to the encrypted data.
Experts believe this flaw may be the result of “vibe-coding,” a term used for poorly reviewed or AI-assisted code generation. While AI tools can speed up development, they can also introduce critical mistakes if not properly checked. Sicarii shows how such errors can turn ransomware into pure data-destruction malware.
This situation changes how victims should respond to such attacks. In the past, some organizations considered ransom payment as a last option. With Sicarii, paying the ransom is pointless because files will not be restored. Paying only supports criminal activity without any recovery benefit.
Cybersecurity professionals strongly advise focusing on prevention rather than negotiation. Regular offline backups, strong system patching, network isolation, and rapid incident response are now more important than ever. Once Sicarii encrypts a system, recovery is only possible through clean backups.
The Sicarii case highlights a growing risk in modern cybercrime. As attackers rely more on automated and AI-assisted tools, malware quality becomes unpredictable. Bugs do not make ransomware harmless they make it more dangerous in different ways. Sicarii is a clear warning that strong backups are no longer optional, but essential.
Stay alert, and keep your security measures updated!
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