Ransomware

Being part of the ByteLocker family, JanusLocker is a ransomware infection that blocks access to files stored on a system. By doing so, developers blackmail victims into paying a so-called ransom in exchange for the data. Both payment and decryption instructions are located inside of a text note, which is created after all files end up encrypted. JanusLocker assigns the .HACKED extension to each file piece. For instance, 1.pdf or any other file attacked on your PC will change to 1.pdf.HACKED and become no longer accessible. It is written that all-important data has been encrypted using AES-256 algorithms. To erase the appended cipher, users are guided to pay for unique decryption software. The software price equals roughly 0.018 BTC, which is about 618 USD at the moment of writing this article. After users complete the money transfer through the attached crypto address, they should notify cyber criminals with their transaction ID using e-mail (TwoHearts911@protonmail.com). Soon afterward, users should get the promised decryption tools purchased from cybercriminals. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Many ransomware developers fool their victims even after receiving the payment. This is why trusting JanusLocker by monetary means is quite a huge risk.

BiggyLocker is a ransomware-type virus that makes most files stored on a system totally inaccessible. This process is more known as data encryption. It involves strong AES and RSA algorithms meant to assign military-grade ciphers, which make self-decryption next to impossible. Alike other malware of this type, BiggyLocker assigns the .$big$ to each encrypted piece of data. For instance, a file like 1.pdf will be changed to 1.pdf.$big$ and reset its original icon. Then, as soon as this part of encryption is done, the virus moves on to creating a text note called read_me.txt. It is dropped on a desktop and contains ransom instructions. As developers claim, it is impossible to recover the blocked files without their help. To do this, victims are requested to pay for the social decryption software held by cybercriminals themselves. The price for such is 120$ to be transferred in Bitcoin. Once victims have paid the demanded ransom via the crypto address, they should therefore contact extortionists using their e-mail address (cyberlock06@protonmail.com). After this, victims should supposedly get the promised decryption tools to regain access to their data.

Haron is one of many ransomware infections that target encryption of personal data to demand paying the so-called ransom. Such malware makes sure most of the data stored on your device is locked out from regular access. Put differently, users affected by ransomware are no longer permitted to access the files. To learn if they have been encrypted, it is enough to look at their appearance. Haron adds the .chaddad extension to each of the files and forces the reset of icons as well. For example, a file named 1.pdf will be changed to 1.pdf.chaddad and drop its icon to blank. After this part of infection gets to a close, victims receive two notes (RESTORE_FILES_INFO.txt and RESTORE_FILES_INFO.hta) with decryption instructions. These instructions are meant to inform users about encryption. In addition to that, they claim cybercriminals to be the only figures able to recover your data. For this, users are asked to purchase unique decryption software held by extortionists themselves. Victims have to access a link via the Tor browser to complete the required payment. Sometimes frauds forget to put the contact or payment links, which makes recovery via cybercriminals automatically impossible.

Pay Us Ransomware seems to be a by-product of Vn_os Ransomware, which we discussed on our blog already. It acts exactly the same way - running data encryption and pushing victims to pay a so-called ransom. The only difference stands for different names of extensions and notes. Pay Us appends the .pay us extension to each file encrypted. To illustrate, a file like 1.pdf will be changed to 1.pdf.pay us and reset its original icon after encryption. Then, once this process gets to a close, the virus springs into creating a text note (read_me.txt) that contains decryption instructions. As developers state, victims are having the only option to recover the data - that is to pay for decryption tools sold by the extortionists. The price for decryption is set at 1,500$ to be paid in BTC. The Bitcoin rate differs constantly, this is why the price tag can soar up any time in the future. It is quite uncertain how victims will be getting the promised tool after sending the money. There are no e-mail addresses attached for establishing contact with the fraudulent figures. Considering this, obtaining decryption instruments from cybercriminals is full of uncertainty. Therefore, we do not recommend you to do so as there is a risk to lose your money.

AvosLocker is one of the most recent ransomware infections that encrypt personal files using both AES-256 and RSA-2048 algorithms. Along with this, the virus adds new .avos extension to each file that got encrypted. To illustrate, a sample file like 1.pdf will change to 1.pdf.avos and reset its original icon at the end of encryption. After all files have been configured with the new extension, users will see a text note called GET_YOUR_FILES_BACK.txt explaining how to recover the data. To do this, victims are instructed to visit the onion link via Tor browser, enter their personal ID, and therefore get the price for decryption suite to return their data. For now, this looks to be the only option available to recover your data completely. There is no third-party tool that has been successfully tested in decrypting AvosLocker files. It is worth noting that paying the monetary ransom may bear the risk of losing your money as well. This is why the best-case scenario in this situation is using backup copies of data.

Gru Ransomware blocks access to personal data to earn money on demanding a so-called ransom. Such malware runs file encryption with strong algorithms that prevent users from approaching free decryption. The virus adds the .gru extension to each encrypted file. To illustrate, 1.pdf or any other similar file will change to 1.pdf.gru and reset its original icon. Such changes will be applied to most types of data stored on your system. To regain access to your data, victims are asked to follow instructions outlined inside of the read_it.txt text note, which is created after encryption. Cybercriminals state there is no way to decipher your data without buying special software. The price of such software is established at 1,500$ to be paid in BTC. The payment address can be found at the very bottom of the text note. Unlike other ransomware programs, Gru developers do not ask their victims to establish any sort of contact with them (by e-mail or Tor link). Therefore, It is uncertain how are they going to send you the decryption software once you deliver the money. Thus, trusting Gru Ransomware in terms of paying the ransom is quite a huge risk. Even though its developers might be the only figures able to decrypt your entire data, we recommend against sending your money.

Vn_os is a ransomware-type virus that encrypts personal data to demand money in exchange for the blocked files. Such virus type also assigns new file extensions. Vn_os makes sure all encrypted files are changed with the .vn_os extension. This is meant to visually separate encrypted from original files. For instance, 1.pdf and other files stored on your system will be changed to 1.pdf.vn_os, or similarly, right after encryption. As soon as this stage of infection is done, the virus displays a pop-up window with instructions on how to recover your data. The same can also be found inside of a text note called ___RECOVER__FILES__.vn_os.txt which is dropped into each folder containing infected data.

Discovered by a malware researcher named Glacius_, Babuk Locker (a.k.a. Vasa Locker, Babyk Locker, Babuk Locker) is a ransomware-type virus that targets commercial organizations including business ventures with turnovers equal to 4.000.000$. All because it demands a ransom of 60000-85000$ in BTC to be paid in exchange for the encrypted data. To make sure their victims are unable to decrypt them independently, cybercriminals use a combination of SHA252, ChaCha8, and ECDH algorithms to run secure encryption. Babuk Locker developers run extensive distribution campaigns to cover as many victims as possible. This is why users are also likely to witness other versions derived from Babuk Locker (e.g. Babyk, Vasa, etc). Depending on which version attacked the compromised network, victims will see different extensions applied to encrypted files. Normally, it is .__NIST_K571__; .babyk, or .babuk assigned to each data piece. For instance, a file like 1.pdf stored on a malware-affected device, will change its look to 1.pdf.__NIST_K571__, 1.pdf.babyk, or 1.pdf.babuk at the end of encryption. Then, as soon as this stage of infection is done, the virus creates a text note called "How To Restore Your Files.txt" to each folder with encrypted data.