Ransomware

Phobos Ransomware is a virus, that encrypts user files using AES encryption algorithm and demands ~$3000 for decryption. Ransomware adds .phobos, .mamba, .phoenix, .actin, .actor, .blend, .adage .acton, .com, .adame, .acute, .karlos or .Frendi extensions to encoded files and makes them inaccessible. In order to confuse users and researchers Phobos Ransomware uses file-modification patterns and ransom notes similar to very wide-spread Dharma Ransomware. Especially after design change in January 2019, when they started to look like identically. However, there are certain differences in file-markers and appearance. After contacting the developers via one of the provided e-mails, they demand $3000 in BitCoins for decryption to be paid in 6 hours. Otherwise, the cost of decryption will increase up to $5000. At the moment automated decryptors for Phobos Ransomware do not exist. There is no proof, that malefactors send decryptors to the victims, that is why we do not recommend paying the ransom. Instead, try using instructions on this page to recover encrypted files. File-recovery software can restore some files from your hard-drive.

Discovered in February 2020, Nomikon is a malicious piece classified as ransomware. Ransomware is a type of virus that encrypts users' data after penetration and demands paying a ransom. After installation, Nomikon will block all of the files stored on your system by changing their extensions to a random 5-letter set, for example, .cnmhr or .jrmcu. For instance, 1.mp4 will be replaced with 1.mp4.cnmhr or other randomly generated extension. They also intimidate that if you do not pay a ransom within the allocated period of time, the price will be doubled. In addition, victims are also offered to use trial decryption by sending one file (less than 5MB) to the attached e-mail. Extortionists warn you to not use third-party decryptors, otherwise, this may result in a permanent data loss. Unfortunately, most of the time, the locked files are unrecoverable, however, it does not mean that you should pay a ransom unless you have a lot of money.

Ransomware has been one of the most abused infections that endanger unprotected user's data. DecYourData developers did not trail behind and released their own piece as well. Using AES-256 algorithms it stalwartly ciphers multiple files found on your device. The range may vary from images, videos, music to simple text documents. Once encrypted, it, therefore, makes files inaccessible by appending new id-{random-set} [decyourdata@protonmail.com]_all-files-encrypted extensions to each file. For example, the original 1.mp4 file will be renamed into 1.mp4.id-{random-set} [decyourdata@protonmail.com]_all-files-encrypted meaning that the data is blocked. After the encryption, the ransom note will automatically appear on the screen with all the necessary information on how to decrypt your data. You will then realize that extortionists demand mind-blowing 5000$ for getting a unique decipher key that will unlock your data. The payment has to be processed solely in BTC and therefore sent to their Bitcoin wallet address that is mentioned in the note. They made everything possible to speed up the process and even presented a list of platforms where people can convert money into bitcoin. On top of that, they can also prove their integrity by decrypting one non-important file that can be sent through e-mail.

Ransomware has contributed to the fraudulent scheme base immensely and has become one of the most effective ways that hackers use to flush the finances out of innocent victims. Woefully, It is blooming up rapidly across the entire internet with the fact that all of the fraud's actions remain unpunished because of internet inaccessibility allowing to hide their atrocious activity so that nobody can detect them. And Afrodita Ransomware has also entered the game. It is used to encrypt user's files and other data with AES-256 and RSA-2048 encryption algorithms. Simply said, it totally restricts access to user's files until you pay a so-called ransom to get the files back to your legitimate ownership. After it is installed on your computer it immediately rushes down through your computer encrypting all of the images, videos, text files and other types of data that can make value for users. It, therefore, creates the __README_RECOVERY_.txt text document on the desktop with ransom note including the details on how to get a decrypting key to remove the blocking algorithm from your files. They can also offer you to decrypt a file by sending it via an email mentioned in the note to prove their integrity and be sure that your files will be delivered back in safety after you pay a specific fee. If you do not pay the ransom they might start threatening you that your files will be spread across the internet and utilized badly.

Ako Ransomware is one of the fraudulent tools that is aimed to encrypt valuable files on user's computers and force them into paying a ransom. Ako Ransomware's activity was detected at the beginning of 2020 and has already been spread around Windows users. When it infiltrates your device, it raptly goes through every single folder offline consecutively restricting access to files like images, videos, PDFs, and others. Hackers use sophisticated methods to negate any interference from file decrypting tools by assigning unique cipher to each file which makes it almost impossible to decrypt them. Besides that, Ako Ransomware creates id.key file and puts it into the folder with encrypted data, that randomly changes the extension to a random set of letters and numbers, so it looks like this: 1.jpg.2mzWmb. After all, it generates the ransom note on your desktop with the necessary information to help you decrypt the files.

DCRTR-WDM Ransomware is encryption virus, endangering unprotected user's data on Windows computers. It is a successor of DCRTR Ransomware and uses the AES encryption algorithm to cipher information and demand ransom of $1270 in BTC (BitCoins). The virus was allocated to a separate subspecies in November 2018 and continued its activity in 2019 and 2020. DCRTR-WDM developers have been hiding their malware under fake "Windows Defender Monitor" updaters that can be downloaded from the web. Regrettably, once installed, it breaks all expectations because, instead of defending your PC, it instantly starts running scripts to encrypt the data stored on your computer. Currently, several generations of malware are active and distributed in the web. Besides that, frauds offer to decrypt one low-weight file that can be sent through the e-mail. This is just a trick to prove integrity and fool users into paying a ransom. However, you should never rely on their promises, because their main purpose is to deflate money and continue hunting for other victims. Unfortunately, bypassing the encryption often brings no fruits whatsoever, because developers use intricate AES-256 algorithms to encipher the data. However, with the help of our instructions, you will be able to remove it from your computer to prevent further data loss.

BitPyLock was discovered by MalwareHunterTeam and therefore categorized as ransomware. The penetration of this kind of malware leads to instant encryption to all of the files stored on your computer. BitPyLock primarily attacks photos, videos, databases and office projects which appear to be most valuable for regular users. The program uses strong military-grade encryption algorithm, RSA-4096 to be exact, thereafter changing each file extension to .bitpy. For example, 1.mp4 will be transformed into 1.mp4.bitpy which makes it impossible to open any of those. There are also other forms of this ransomware that exploit data with .domain_name or .andradegalvao extensions. BitPyLock Ransomware makes everything possible to restrict you from manual recovery by deleting backup files from the system as well. By the end of encryption, it creates an HTML note with ransom payment details.

We have already deconstructed lots of ransomware like Ouroboros, Ako, NEMTY, and others. Today, we are topping up our list with MedusaLocker Ransomware. This dreadful software is known to be encrypting the files of innocent users, therefore, making them unretrievable until a ransom is paid. Virus got its name because of the name of the project file, that says: MedusaLocker.pdb. Also, the "Medusa" section is created in the registry. Once installed on a computer, it rapidly blocks off the access to your data by assigning a unique .encrypted or .readtheinstructions or .readinstructions extensions to each file. This way, 1.jpg changes itself to 1.jpg.readtheinstructions. Unfortunately, any manipulations are useless because of the strong cipher that is hard to break manually. When encrypting files, AES encryption will be used to encrypt each file, and then the AES key will be encrypted with the RSA-2048 public key included in the Ransomware executable. Depending on ransomware edition, extensions may also look like .bomber, .boroff, .breakingbad, .locker16, .newlock, .nlocker, and .skynet as well. After successful encryption of data, extortionists add an HTML or text file, called ransom note, that contains the necessary information on how to recover your data.