Tactical RMM

VantaCore Ransomware Group Targets Russian Businesses with Custom Toolkit and Triple Extortion

Security researchers at F6 have identified a new ransomware operation called VantaCore that is actively attacking small and medium-sized Russian companies. The group employs a custom set of tools including VantaCoreLoader, VantaCoreRAT, and its own encryption malware to conduct double and triple extortion campaigns. Initial access is gained through poorly secured RDP and VPN services, vulnerable public applications, and compromised partner accounts. Once inside the network, attackers move laterally using SMB and RDP with legitimate credentials, deploy Tactical RMM, and install their backdoor before disabling security products with an AV/EDR killer. Victims face data theft, backup destruction, and encryption, followed by threats to publish or sell stolen information if ransom demands in the millions of dollars are not met. F6 assesses that VantaCore may be a rebranded version of the previously known pro-Ukrainian group Thor, based on similar Tor negotiation chat design and a THOR rune icon on the leak site that appeared no later than June 7, 2026.