BugsFighter

CryLock Ransomware literally forces users to cry about their data that has been encrypted after sudden penetration. Being a variation of Cryakl Ransomware, this is one of the viruses of such type use cryptographic algorithms to ensure strong encryption and demand paying a ransom. Unlike other ransomware, that use one mutual extension for each file, this specific program assigns a new name to affected files that consist of cybercriminal's e-mail, victim's personal ID, and random three-digits extension. For instance, non-infected 1.mp4 will be retitled to 1.mp4[grand@horsef***er.org][512064768-1578909375].ycs, 2.mp4[grand@horsef***er.org][512064768-1578909375].wkm, and similarly. Some victims experienced a change like this 1.mp4[reddragon3335799@protonmail.ch][sel1].[7478ECA4-42759A9D]. Once the process has finished, CryLock will display a window in front of victims that contains ransom details.

If your browser started acting weird by changing the homepage and search engine, then your PC is possibly infected with Finding Forms Pro browser hijacker. Browser hijackers are categorized as a potentially unwanted program (PUA) which are ostensibly meant to enhance browsing by adding new features and generating "smarter" results. Unfortunately, none of these is true. Finding Forms Pro changes the original search engine to hp.hformshere.com or remove search.hfindingformspro.com and adds a couple of widgets like weather, news, e-mail, etc. Hence, users are forced to encounter the page each time they boot a browser. Moreover, search.hformshere.com does not generate unique results, instead, it replicates them from legitimate Yahoo.com. It is also worth mentioning that browser hijackers are capable of gathering browsing-related data (passwords, IP-addresses, geolocations, etc.) which is therefore sold to cybercriminals.

Receiver Helper is one of those rogue applications that modify browser preferences on Mac. Such programs are often categorized as adware or browser hijackers because they incessantly display unwanted advertisements and intrusive pop-ups whilst browsing. To illustrate, Receiver Helper shows an annoying message saying that "helper" will damage your computer and needs to be moved to the Trash. Weirdly, clicking on a shortcut leads to nothing, sometimes such messages may redirect users to dangerous websites that run executable scripts for infecting the PC. It is also necessary to mention that Receiver Helper is covering multiple websites like Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Safari as well. After infiltration, it customizes the default homepage and search engine. By doing so, developers add ostensibly useful features that improve users' experience. However, the entered queries are not uniquely-generated, instead, they are taken from legitimate Bing or Yahoo. By altering settings, extortionists are able to spy on your personal data (e.g. passwords, messages, history, IP-addresses, geolocations, etc.) and share it with third-parties.

Idle Buddy is a potentially unwanted application that causes various privacy problems and slows down your PC significantly. It is worth mentioning that Idle Buddy is neither adware nor browser hijacker. It has not been classified in any of these categories just yet. Although, it is created for exactly the same purpose - collecting personal details such as passwords, credentials, IP-addresses, and other units that can be sold to third-parties. Apart from that, the application can be detected running in Task Manager and pressuring the system by loading a lot of resources. Unfortunately, even if you close the app, it will reboot itself numerously until it is installed on your PC.

If you did not have the appropriate software to fend off ColdLock Ransomware in time, then your files might be already encrypted with the .locked extension. For example, the original 1.mp4 has been changed to 1.mp4.locked once ransomware stroke its configuration with RSA algorithms. Most of the time, decrypting files with third-parties tools is impossible and may be dangerous for them. This is why extortionists force you to buy their software by following the instructions mentioned in a file called How To Unlock Files.txt that is created after encryption. Unfortunately, buying the decryption key may put your finances under risk because cybercriminal activity cannot be trusted. Instead, delete ColdLock Ransomware to prevent further encryption and try to decrypt the affected data through the instructions below.

Translated as Cipher in French, LeChiffre is a relatively old ransomware-type virus discovered in 2015. Unlike other programs, it encrypts users' data by using Blowfish algorithms (instead of AES). After penetration, LeChiffre does a pure classic, it scans your disk for available files (like images, documents, etc.) stored on the system and encrypts them by changing extensions to .lechiffre. For example, the original 1.mp4 will be transformed into 1.mp4.lechiffre. Newer variations also add a random alphanumerical sequence to this suffix. Thereafter, the program creates an HTML file (_How to decrypt LeChiffre files.html) that is automatically opened in a browser or text file (_LeChiffre_BACKUPVO.txt). The note contains information on how to restore your data. To decrypt your files right now, you should contact frauds via the attached e-mail to get further instructions about the payment. Amazingly, but LeChiffre developers break all standards of typical ransomware and claim that they do not need your files and, if you want, you can retrieve them for free within 6 months. Luckily, LeChiffre has been known for a very long time meaning that the blocked data can be unlocked by up-to-date tools.

Search Maven is an adware-type program that enhances online-shopping by adding various features. The application employs algorithms to display exclusive offers, coupons, and other content based on users' shopping habits. On the first hand, the program is absolutely legitimate and indeed improves your browsing experience by generating better and cheaper deals from other shops compared to rivals. Of course, it can save a lot of time searching for the same products on multiple platforms in favor of a more satisfying price. Basically, It collects the deals and combines them into a structured window. Despite all of this useful functionality, Search Maven can promote dubious ads that redirect users to questionable or malicious domains. These manipulations can push inadvertent infections and put your data under risk of getting hijacked by cybercriminals.

Traffic Junky is a legitimate advertising network that is used by website holders for displaying ads and generating profit. However, if your browser is cluttered with dubious ads without your consent, then more likely it is because adware infected your system and modified certain settings. Most extortionists abuse legitimate networks by inserting malicious banners that contain redirects to dangerous domains, especially those running executable scripts to penetrate computers. They bundle customized software into freeware that plagues your browser with multiple ads, surveys, pop-ups, and other intrusive content. If you think that adware-type does not endanger your privacy, then you are totally wrong. Besides spreading deceptive advertisements, adware-type programs can lead to serious privacy issues since they are often capable of collecting personal data (e.g. credentials, IP-addresses, geolocations, passwords) and transferring them to cybercriminals.