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Ransomware Recap: BrainLag, Ransed, and a "Kind" Ransomware Take the Spotlight

July 21, 2017

The open-source ransomware Hidden Tear continues to spawn more variants, and entries from other ransomware families also appeared this week. One variant describes itself as a “kind” ransomware, an MSIL-compiled ransomware displays a colorful Comic Sans ransom note, while the other, a newly-discovered variant, claims to be able to challenge Windows protection.

BrainLag and Oxar

BrainLag (detected by live casino online as Ransom_HiddenTearLag.A) is a variant of the Hidden Tear open-source project that uses the AES algorithm to encrypt files in the following Windows 7 directories: ‘\Public’, ‘\Desktop’, ‘\Contacts’, ‘\Documents’, ‘\Downloads’, ‘\Pictures’, ‘\Music’, ‘\OneDrive’, ‘\Saved Games’, ‘\Favorites’, ‘\Searches’, ‘\Videos’, and ‘\Links.’

BrainLag notably has a simple but stylish black and white lock screen, with a Grim Reaper graphic located in the upper right corner. It also has ‘Infected By BrainLag’ and ‘Venao – 2017’ written on it.

Figure 1. BrainLag lock screen

The Oxar?ransomware (Ransom_HiddenTearOXAR.A) is another Hidden Tear variant that adds the?.OXR file extension?to files it encrypts.? The variant's ransom note outlines three steps for affected users to follow to get their files back. The first step is to follow a link that will allow the victim to create a Bitcoin (BTC) wallet, followed by an instruction to buy US$100 worth of BTC. The last step involves sending the ransom payment to the specified URL.


Figure 2. Oxar ransom note

Ransed

Ransed (Ransom_RANSED.A) is an MSIL-compiled ransomware variant that arrives in the system as an Win32.exe file. The ransomware to store victims’ data. It encrypts a variety of file types that include Microsoft Office documents, as well as audio and video file formats.

Its ransom note, which is written in colorful Comic Sans font, demands a ransom of $25 in BTC to recover the encrypted files.

Figure 3. Ransed ransom note

Blackout

Blackout?(Ransom_FANTOMCRYPT.F117GJ) is a that claims to be a free open-source software in its ransom note. The variant was supposedly designed to test the protection of Windows OS.

Blackout encrypts files using the AES encryption algorithm and could be set to erase all the?Shadow Volume Copies?from the hard drive with the ‘vssadmin.exe delete shadows /all /Quiet’ command.

Figure 4. Blackout ransom note

Purge

Describing itself as a "kind ransomware" that will not delete files, Purge (Ransom_STUPURGE.A) demands a ransom of US$250 for a decrypt key. If by kindness, it meant easily decrypting files using an already available unlock code, which is ‘TotallyNotStupid’, then the irony will be lost.

The ransomware spreads mostly that contain malicious attachments posing as legitimate files.


Figure 5. Purge ransom note

Fakeglobe

First detected early this year, the re-emerging Fakeglobe ransomware (RANSOM_FAKEGLOBE.F117BE) appends the .crypt extension to affected files using the AES encryption algorithm. It is posing as legitimate invoices or automated responses.

In exchange for a decryptor and how-to guidelines, Fakeglobe demands victims to send a screenshot of their 0.5 BTC payment to an email address indicated on the lock screen.


Figure 6. Fakeglobe ransom note

A?multi-layered approach?is key to defending all possible gateways from threats like ransomware. IT administrators should not turn a blind eye on keeping employees aware and educated of these varying attack tactics.?On the other hand, a solid back-up of important files can mitigate possible damages caused by a ransomware infection.

live casino online Ransomware Solutions

Enterprises can benefit from a multi-layered, step-by-step approach in order to best mitigate the risks brought by these threats. Email and web gateway solutions such as?live casino online? Deep Discovery? Email Inspector?and?InterScan? Web Security?prevent ransomware from ever reaching end users. At the endpoint level,?live casino online Smart Protection Suites?deliver several capabilities like high-fidelity machine learning, behavior monitoring and application control, and vulnerability shielding that minimizes the impact of this threat.?live casino online Deep Discovery Inspector?detects and blocks ransomware on networks, while?live casino online Deep Security??stops ransomware from reaching enterprise servers–whether physical, virtual or in the cloud.?

For small businesses,?live casino online Worry-Free Services Advanced?offers cloud-based email gateway security through Hosted Email Security. Its endpoint protection also delivers several capabilities such as behavior monitoring and real-time web reputation in order detect and block ransomware.?

For home users,?live casino online Security 10?provides strong protection against ransomware by blocking malicious websites, emails, and files associated with this threat.?

End users and enterprises can also benefit from multilayered mobile security solutions such as ? ? (available on ), and ? for Apple devices (available on the ). ? provide device, compliance and application management, data protection, and configuration provisioning, as well as protect devices from attacks that leverage vulnerabilities, preventing unauthorized access to apps, as well as detecting and blocking malware and fraudulent websites.?

Users can likewise take advantage of our?free tools?such as the?, which is designed to detect and remove screen-locker ransomware; as well as?, which can decrypt certain variants of crypto-ransomware without paying the ransom or the use of the decryption key.

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Posted in Cybercrime & Digital Threats, Ransomware

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