Qilin Ransomware: What Businesses Should Know About This Adaptable Attack Group
- Neil Hare-Brown
- Apr 15
- 2 min read
Qilin (also known as Agenda ransomware) is a ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) operation known for its high degree of customisation, making it especially dangerous for large and complex organisations.
With tailored payloads, configurable ransomware builds, and targeted extortion tactics, Qilin enables affiliates to adapt attacks to different industries, systems, and environments.
At STORM Guidance, we help businesses respond to threats like Qilin by containing the attack, recovering safely, and building long-term cyber resilience.
How Qilin Ransomware Works
Qilin provides affiliates with a ransomware toolkit that allows them to tailor each attack.
This includes:
Custom payloads to match the target's operating system (Windows and Linux supported)
Optional features for process termination, file exclusion, and encryption speed control
Unique extensions and ransom notes for each victim
Exfiltration of sensitive data and publication on the Qilin leak site if ransoms are not paid
Affiliates typically gain access through phishing, compromised credentials, or vulnerable remote access tools before deploying Qilin ransomware across the network.
Who Does Qilin Target?
Qilin is often used in attacks against:
Large enterprises with distributed infrastructure
Healthcare, manufacturing, education, and finance sectors
Organisations with legacy systems or misconfigured remote access
Its flexibility makes it ideal for targeting diverse environments, including those with mixed operating systems or regional subsidiaries.
Why Qilin Is a High-Risk Threat
Fully customisable ransomware builds
Support for multiple operating systems, including Linux servers
Affiliate-driven model, meaning varied techniques and tactics across attacks
Professional leak site, with staged data dumps and public exposure strategies
These factors make Qilin harder to predict and defend against without layered, proactive security measures.
How to Protect Your Business from Qilin Ransomware
✅ Conduct regular security audits and patch management
✅ Implement strong authentication and restrict remote access
✅ Segment networks and limit lateral movement opportunities
✅ Monitor endpoints for unusual behaviour and new processes
✅ Back up business-critical data and isolate backups from the network
✅ Maintain and test an incident response and recovery plan
If You’ve Been Hit by Qilin
If your business is under attack:
Disconnect compromised systems immediately
Preserve all ransom notes, logs, and related evidence
Do not contact or pay attackers without professional guidance
Activate your incident response plan and notify key stakeholders
STORM Guidance offers:
✔ Fast technical response and containment
✔ Support for secure system restoration
✔ Data breach risk assessment and legal guidance
✔ Ransom negotiation expertise and reputation management
Qilin: A Customisable Threat for a Complex Cyber Landscape
Qilin’s ability to adapt to different organisations and IT environments makes it one of the more dangerous and versatile ransomware operations active today.
It’s a reminder that threat actors are becoming more flexible—so your defences must be too.
STORM Guidance is here to help your business respond decisively, recover quickly, and prepare for what’s next.
