Babuk is a notorious ransomware strain first identified in early 2021. It targets organizations by encrypting their data and demanding a ransom for decryption. Babuk gained further notoriety when its source code was leaked online, allowing cybercriminals to create new ransomware variants, such as Midnight, based on its code. This has contributed to the ongoing evolution and proliferation of ransomware threats worldwide. Babuk also used double extortion tactics, threatening to publish stolen data if victims refused to pay, increasing the pressure on targeted organizations.