Methods each Ransomware uses to fool us

Ransomware quite often targets businesses rather than individuals. Corporations have more valuable data and more money for ransom. The IT experts at The Computer Guyz examined different variants of ransomware to help users get an idea of what might be coming down the Internet pipeline.

So keep an eye out for these characteristics before your network is taken hostage…

# Jigsaw

Deleting files at regular intervals to increase the urgency to pay ransom faster. Jigsaw ransomware operates like this: for every hour that passes in which victims have not paid the ransom, another encrypted file is deleted from the computer, making it unrecoverable even if the ransom is paid or files decrypted via another method. The malware also deletes an extra 1,000 files every time victims restart their computers and log into Windows.

# Petya

Encrypting entire drives, Petya ransomware encrypts Master File Table. This table contains all the information about how files and folders are allocated.

# RansomWeb, Kimcilware

Encrypting web servers data. RansomWeb, Kimcilware are both families that take this unusual route - instead of going after users’ computers, they infect web servers through vulnerabilities and encrypt website databases and hosted files, making the website unusable until ransom is paid. 

# DMA Locker, Locky, Cerber and CryptoFortress

Encrypting data on network drives, even on those that are not mapped. DMA Locker, Locky, Cerber and CryptoFortress are all families that attempt to enumerate all open network Server Message Block (SMB) shares and encrypt any that are found.

# Maktub

Maktub ransomware compresses files first to speed up the encryption process.

# Not safe in the cloud

Deleting or overwriting cloud backups. In the past, backing up your data to cloud storage and file shares was safe. However, newer versions of ransomware have been able to traverse to those shared file systems making them susceptible to the attack.

# SimpleLocker

Targeting non-Windows platforms. SimpleLocker encrypts files on Android, while Linux.Encode.1 encrypts files on Linux, and KeRanger on OSX.

# Cerber

Using the computer speaker to speak audio messages to the victim. Cerber ransomware generates a VBScript, entitled “# DECRYPT MY FILES #.vbs,” which allows the computer to speak the ransom message to the victim. It can only speak English but the decryptor website it uses can be customized in 12 languages. It says “Attention! Attention! Attention!” “Your documents, photos, databases and other important files have been encrypted!”

# Tox

Ransomware as a service is a model offered on underground forums networks. It will provide the malicious code and infrastructure to facilitate the transfer of funds and the encryption key for the victim to be able to access their information. Tox ransomware does this.

Use this information to keep to keep track of what each ransomware does to hold unsuspecting victims' data hostage.