Cyber Threat Intelligence
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Ransomware Victim Public Sector

dcd.gov.ae

Ransomware attack by Funksec · Disclosed December 30, 2024 · 🇦🇪 UAE

dcd.gov.ae

Date Disclosed
Dec 30, 2024
2024
Threat Group
Funksec
172 total victims
Country
🇦🇪 UAE
Industry
Public Sector

ThreatAI Analysis

Compiled from this incident record and the threat intelligence profile for Funksec. Figures and technique mappings are quoted from the source data, not inferred.

About the Funksec group

FunkSec is an AI-assisted ransomware-as-a-service group that launched its data leak site in December 2024 and rapidly claimed over 85 victims across government, technology, finance, and education sectors globally, demanding unusually low ransoms and using AI tooling to lower the technical bar for affiliates. Funksec has listed 172 victims since April 2023.

Incident Analysis

dcd.gov.ae was targeted by Funksec ransomware, one of the most active ransomware groups in our database with 172 confirmed victims globally. The attack was disclosed on December 30, 2024, when dcd.gov.ae appeared on the group's dark web leak site.

dcd.gov.ae is based in UAE , operating in the Public Sector sector. UAE ranks #18 globally for ransomware attacks, with 159 victims in our database.

Sector context: Organisations in this sector hold valuable data and operational systems that ransomware groups seek to exploit for financial gain through encryption and data exfiltration.

Funksec typically employs a double extortion model: first exfiltrating sensitive data from the victim's systems, then deploying ransomware to encrypt files. Victims face two simultaneous threats — paying to restore access and paying to prevent publication of stolen data. The group's leak site publishes victim names and exfiltrated data as leverage.

Data source: This incident record is sourced from public ransomware group leak site disclosures aggregated via the ransomware.live API. Disclosure date reflects when the victim was published on the leak site, which may differ from the initial date of compromise. This platform does not publish or link to stolen data. Last data update: Sep 6, 2026 20:00 UTC.

Frequently Asked Questions

Was dcd.gov.ae attacked by ransomware?

Yes. dcd.gov.ae was listed as a victim of the Funksec ransomware group on December 30, 2024. The organisation is based in UAE and operates in the Public Sector sector. The disclosure appeared on the group's dark web leak site.

Which ransomware group attacked dcd.gov.ae?

dcd.gov.ae was attacked by Funksec ransomware. Funksec is one of the most active ransomware groups, having claimed 172 victims globally. The group typically employs a double-extortion model: encrypting the victim's files and threatening to publish stolen data.

When did the dcd.gov.ae ransomware attack occur?

The ransomware attack on dcd.gov.ae was disclosed on December 30, 2024. This date reflects when the victim was published on the threat group's leak site, which may differ from the actual date of initial compromise.

What data was stolen in the dcd.gov.ae ransomware attack?

The specific data stolen from dcd.gov.ae has not been independently verified by this platform. Ransomware groups typically exfiltrate data before encrypting systems and use the threat of publication to pressure victims. As a Public Sector organisation, dcd.gov.ae likely held sensitive business data, client information, and operational records.

How can organisations protect against Funksec attacks?

To defend against Funksec and similar threat actors, organisations should: maintain regular offline backups tested for restoration; implement network segmentation to limit lateral movement; deploy multi-factor authentication on all remote access; use endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools; conduct regular phishing and security awareness training; and monitor threat intelligence feeds for indicators of compromise (IOCs) associated with active groups.