Ransomware

MATILAN belongs to the category of ransomware infections. It uses strong encryption algorithms to lock privately stored databases. The main target of MATILAN Ransomware is business networks that store important financial, customer, contact, and other types of data subject to getting abused by cybercriminals for reputational damage in the future. Once data encryption occurs, all affected files are changed with the .MATILAN extension. For instance, a file like 1.pdf will change to 1.pdf.MATILAN and lose its original icon as well. Then, ransomware creators urge victims to pay the so-called ransom using instructions presented in the RESTORE_FILES_INFO.txt note. It is said that the only way to decrypt files and avoid the public leakage of important data (which will happen within 3 days of inaction) is to collaborate with cybercriminals. Victims are guided to contact developers via the anonymous qTox messenger and follow guidelines on how and how much should be paid to revert the ransomware damage. Unfortunately, there is no way to avoid all the possible damage should victims refute working with cybercriminals. Although encrypted files may be recovered if there is a backup stored on another machine, it does not ensure the publication of data will not happen eventually.

WINKILLER is a disruptive ransomware infection recently reported by MalwareHunterTeam. Instead of encrypting specific types of data, WINKILLER blocks access to the entire computer making users unable to use it. After successful penetration, the virus starts displaying a console window with instructions on what should be done to restore access. Cybercriminals say performing manual shut down or restart will deliver permanent damage to the Master Boot Record (MBR), which is a sector responsible for loading the system. After this, users will no longer be able to load their system and will most likely lose their entire data stored on a PC. To avoid this and successfully recover the compromised system, developers demand victims to pay a monetary ransom of 100 Renminbi (about 15$). Payment instructions can be obtained by contacting the diskkiller@winkiller.cf e-mail address. Unfortunately, recovering access to the PC might be almost impossible without paying the ransom. The infection makes it difficult due to limited room for action as any misstep can lead to irreversible loss of data. Although paying the ransom is usually not recommended, it could be considered in this case to avoid the above-mentioned effects.

Bozon is one of many ransomware infections. This type of malware uses strong encryption algorithms to encipher system-stored data and make victims pay money for its return. To highlight the no longer accessible data, cybercriminals use the .bozon extension added at the end of the files while also making original icons change blank. After the encryption process is done, swindlers start extorting money from users. This is done through the FILE RECOVERY.txt text note.

RED TEAM is a ransomware infection tightly connected with the Babuk malware group. The virus operates like many other file-encryptors - by enciphering data with military-grade algorithms and modifying the names of encrypted files. For instance, a file named 1.pdf will most change to 1.pdf.REDTM and reset its original icon to blank. The .REDTM extension is only used to change the appearance of all encrypted data in the way shown above. Once the process with file encryption is finished, RED TEAM Ransomware creates a text file named HowToDecryptYourFiles.txt to guide victims through the recovery terms.

Unlocker is a ransomware infection capable of encrypting system-stored data. Victims infected with this ransomware variant will also see a visual change in encrypted files according to this pattern .[e-mail of cybercriminals].[personal ID].lock. For instance, a file named 1.pdf will change to something like 1.pdf.[unlocker@onionmail.org].[5MKlY].lock and reset its original icon. Unlocker Ransomware may look similar to another file-encryptor called Unlock, which assigns the .unlock extension instead. Despite this, they are still different ransomware infections and should not be put under the same ceilling. Once file encryption gets to a close, the virus creates a text file named either README_WARNING.TXT or ALL_YOUR_FILES_ARE_ENCRYPTED.TXT. This depends on what version of Unlocker Ransomware penetrated your system. Both ransom notes are almost identical having some minor differences.

DeezNuts Crypter is a type of virus usually categorized as ransomware. It uses the .deeznuts-crypter extension to rename successfully encrypted data. For instance, a file named 1.pdf will change to 1.deeznuts-crypter.pdf becoming no longer accessible. While this is incredibly rare for ransomware attacks, files affected by DeezNuts Crypter can be in fact decrypted for free. Cybercriminals demand literally zero Bitcoin to buy a special decryption key. The key is already publicly known and it is 123. Victims have to simply enter these digits into the pop-up window that opens automatically after users' data ends up encrypted.

Recent forum discussions have shown some users got a ransomware attack on PCs connected to NAS (Network Attached Storage). The virus encrypts NAS-stored data, wraps it in archives, and puts up a password on them. This prevents victims from accessing artificially created archives and viewing what files have been affected by the infection. Unlike many other ransomware infections, 7even Security does not use any extension to modify file appearance. It does though create a text note called Please Read Me !!!.txt containing instructionы on how to return the encrypted data. According to the above-mentioned note, cybercriminals demand 0.04 BTC for file decryption. This amount has to be sent to the attached crypto address. Victims are also guided to notify swindlers about successful payment through their e-mail address (team.seven@zohomail.eu) and include a personal ID. Should victims refuse or ignore to pay the demanded ransom, cybercrooks threaten to sell all important data to interested figures. Because the infection is recent, there is not a lot of information on whether files can be decrypted or not. At the moment, the only best way to recover data completely is via backup copies of files. Otherwise, attempts to decrypt data alone are likely to turn in permanent damage of data and therefore loss.

Explus is a common file-encrypting virus. It assigns strong encryption keys to render files inaccessible until a ransom is paid. Software with such capabilities is often referred to as ransomware. During encryption, Explus Ransomware adds the .explus extension to the end of filenames. This is done to draw victims' attention to recognizing their files have been encrypted. For instance, a file like 1.pdf will change to 1.pdf.explus, and so forth with other affected files. After all data becomes no longer usable, the virus starts its attempts to blackmail victims into paying money for data return. Developers do it through the RECOVERY INFORMATION.txt text file that is created immediately at the end of encryption.