Ransomware accidentally destroys all files larger than 128KB, preventing decryption — VECT code likely partly vibe coded with AI or used an old code base, security researchers suggest

The VECT ransomware, discovered in December 2025, contains a critical bug that turns it into a wiper, destroying files larger than 128KB and preventing decryption. Check Point Research found that the ransomware's flawed programming causes irreversible damage to encrypted files, rendering payment to unlock data ineffective. The ransomware's code also exhibits various other issues, leading researchers to speculate that it may have been partly generated with AI or based on outdated code. Despite these flaws, the group behind VECT appears sophisticated, with multi-platform capabilities and partnerships with other threat actors. The researchers warn that the group could potentially fix these issues and release a more effective version in the future, leveraging its existing distribution system to infect more systems.