Advisories

Ransomware is a type of malicious software (malware) that infects a computer and restricts access to it until a ransom is paid to unlock it. This type of malware, which has now been observed for several years, attempts to extort money from victims by displaying an on-screen alert. These alerts often state that their computer has been locked or that all of their files have been encrypted, and demand that a ransom is paid to restore access. This ransom is typically in the range of $100–$300 dollars, and sometimes the cybercriminal demanded the ransom in Bitcoin.


2.0    Impact
The authors of ransomware put fear and panic into their victims, causing them to click on a link or pay a ransom, and inevitably become infected with additional malware, including messages similar to those below:

• “Your computer has been infected with a virus. Click here to resolve the issue.”
• “Your computer was used to visit websites with illegal content. To unlock your computer, you must pay a $100 fine.”
• “All files on your computer have been encrypted. You must pay this ransom within 72 hours to regain access to your data.”

Ransomware doesn’t only target home users; businesses can also become infected with ransomware, which can have negative consequences, including:

• Temporary or permanent loss of sensitive or proprietary information;
• Disruption to regular operations;
• Financial losses incurred to restore systems and files; and
• Potential harm to an organization’s reputation.

Paying the ransom does not guarantee the encrypted files will be released; it only guarantees that the malicious actors receive the victim’s money, and in some cases, their banking information. In addition, decrypting files does not mean the malware infection itself has been removed.


3.0    Recommendation

Infections can be devastating to an individual or organization, and recovery can be a difficult process that may require the services of a reputable data recovery specialist.
It is recommended that users and administrators take the following preventive measures to protect their computer networks from ransomware infection:
 

• Perform regular backups of all critical information to limit the impact of data or system loss and to help expedite the recovery process. Ideally, this data should be kept on a separate device, and backups should be stored offline.
• Maintain up-to-date anti-virus software.
• Keep your operating system and software up-to-date with the latest patches.
• Do not follow unsolicited web links in email. Refer to the Security Tip Avoiding Social Engineering and Phishing Attacks for more information on social engineering attacks.
• Use caution when opening email attachments. For information on safely handling email attachments, see Recognizing and Avoiding Email Scams.
• Follow safe practices when browsing the web. See Good Security Habits and Safeguarding Your Data for additional details.

For further enquiries, please contact MyCERT through the following channels:
E-mail: [email protected] or [email protected]
Phone: 1-300-88-2999 (monitored during business hours)
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4.0    References

[1]    US CERT: Crypto Ransomware [online], https://www.us-cert.gov/ncas/alerts/TA14-295A