Step-by-Step: How to Identify if You Were Hit by the Akira Megazord or STONETOP Variant (2025 Deep Dive)
The 2025 evolution of Akira ransomware, primarily manifesting as the “Megazord” encryptor payload delivered by the “STONETOP” loader, represents a significant leap in stealth and sophistication. Moving beyond simple PowerShell scripts and full-file encryption, this variant targets hypervisors (Nutanix AHV, VMware ESXi 8.x) with specialized tools, employs intermittent encryption for speed, and establishes kernel-level persistence…