Skip to main content

Nixon Peabody LLP

  • People
  • Capabilities
  • Insights
  • About
Trending Topics
    • People
    • Capabilities
    • Insights
    • About
    • Locations
    • Events
    • Careers
    • Alumni
    Practices

    View All

    • Affordable Housing
    • Community Development Finance
    • Corporate & Finance
    • Cybersecurity & Privacy
    • Entertainment & Media
    • Environmental
    • Franchising & Distribution
    • Government Investigations & White Collar Defense
    • Healthcare
    • Intellectual Property
    • International Services
    • Labor, Employment, and Benefits
    • Litigation
    • Private Wealth & Advisory
    • Project Finance
    • Public Finance
    • Real Estate
    • Regulatory & Government Relations
    Industries

    View All

    • Aviation
    • Cannabis
    • Consumer
    • Energy
    • Financial Services
    • Healthcare
    • Higher Education
    • Infrastructure
    • Manufacturing
    • Nonprofit Organizations
    • Real Estate
    • Sports & Stadiums
    • Technology
    Value-Added Services

    View All

    • Alternative Fee Arrangements

      Developing innovative pricing structures and alternative fee agreement models that deliver additional value for our clients.

    • Continuing Education

      Advancing professional knowledge and offering credits for attorneys, staff and other professionals.

    • Crisis Advisory

      Helping clients respond correctly when a crisis occurs.

    • DEI Strategic Services

      Providing our clients with legal, strategic, and practical advice to make transformational changes in their organizations.

    • eDiscovery

      Leveraging law and technology to deliver sound solutions.

    • Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG)

      We help clients create positive return on investments in people, products, and the planet.

    • Global Services

      Delivering seamless service through partnerships across the globe.

    • Innovation

      Leveraging leading-edge technology to guide change and create seamless, collaborative experiences for clients and attorneys.

    • IPED

      Industry-leading conferences focused on affordable housing, tax credits, and more.

    • Legal Project Management

      Providing actionable information to support strategic decision-making.

    • Legally Green

      Teaming with clients to advance sustainable projects, mitigate the effects of climate change, and protect our planet.

    • Nixon Peabody Trust Company

      Offering a range of investment management and fiduciary services.

    • NP Capital Connector

      Bringing together companies and investors for tomorrow’s new deals.

    • NP Second Opinion

      Offering fresh insights on cases that are delayed, over budget, or off-target from the desired resolution.

    • NP Trial

      Courtroom-ready lawyers who can resolve disputes early on clients’ terms or prevail at trial before a judge or jury.

    • Social Impact

      Creating positive impact in our communities through increasing equity, access, and opportunity.

    • Women in Dealmaking

      We provide strategic counsel on complex corporate transactions and unite dynamic women in the dealmaking arena.

    1. Home
    2. Insights
    3. Articles
    4. Would you like fries with that ransomware? Cybercriminals embrace the franchise model

      Articles

    Article

    Would you like fries with that ransomware? Cybercriminals embrace the franchise model

    June 16, 2021

    LinkedInX (Twitter)EmailCopy URL

    By Jason Kravitz

    Cybercriminals are using the ransomware as a service (“RaaS”) model, sometimes called ransomware affiliate schemes, to effectively license the ransomware software developed by hacking “masterminds". DarkSide, the ransomware software purportedly responsible for the recent attack on Colonial Pipeline, is said to be provided to “customers” on a subscription basis.

    Franchises are as American as apple pie, and franchise businesses account for hundreds of billions of dollars of economic output into the U.S. economy each year. So perhaps it should come as no surprise that cybercriminals have figured out that the franchise model can be very lucrative for them.

    While cybercriminals are not signing template franchise agreements to allow them to sell branded burgers and shakes, they are using the ransomware as a service (“RaaS”) model, sometimes called ransomware affiliate schemes, to effectively license the ransomware software developed by hacking “masterminds”—thereby avoiding the need to develop their own hacking software. These transactions take place in the dark web.

    DarkSide, the ransomware software purportedly responsible for the recent attack on Colonial Pipeline, is said to be provided to “customers” on a subscription basis under the RaaS model. Under this arrangement, hackers who may lack the skills to develop their own ransomware software, can pay for their use of DarkSide, and the owners of DarkSide collect a share of the ransom payments collected by the hackers. It’s a win-win for the cybercriminals and has lowered the barrier of entry for would-be ransomware hackers.

    Nixon Peabody’s Cybersecurity and Privacy Team will continue to monitor the surging level of ransomware activity.

    Practices

    Cybersecurity & Privacy
    The foregoing has been prepared for the general information of clients and friends of the firm. It is not meant to provide legal advice with respect to any specific matter and should not be acted upon without professional counsel. If you have any questions or require any further information regarding these or other related matters, please contact your regular Nixon Peabody LLP representative. This material may be considered advertising under certain rules of professional conduct.

    Subscribe to stay informed of the latest legal news, alerts, and business trends.Subscribe

    • People
    • Capabilities
    • Insights
    • About
    • Locations
    • Events
    • Careers
    • Alumni
    • Cookie Preferences
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use
    • Accessibility Statement
    • Statement of Client Rights
    • Purchase Order Terms & Conditions
    • Nixon Peabody International LLC
    • PAL
    © 2025 Nixon Peabody. All rights reserved