Meow
Intelligence Profile
According to PCrisk, MEOW is ransomware based on other ransomware called CONTI. MEOW encrypts files and appends the ".MEOW" extension to their filenames. It also drops the "readme.txt" file (a ransom note). An example of how MEOW ransomware modifies filenames: it renames "1.jpg" to "1.jpg.MEOW", "2.png" to "2.png.MEOW", and so forth.
Threat Analysis
Meow is a malware family tracked by threat intelligence researchers and catalogued in the Malpedia dataset. It represents a distinct malicious software lineage with identifiable code characteristics, behaviors, and victimology.
Financially motivated threat actors like Meow prioritize monetary gain through methods such as ransomware deployment, banking trojans, cryptocurrency theft, BEC scams, or credential harvesting for resale on underground markets.
With high sophistication, Meow is capable of targeted intrusions using adapted commodity tools alongside custom implants, maintaining operational security and evading standard detection mechanisms.