In rare occasions and for high profile targets ransomware might be planted by more sophisticated methods in a direct, targeted attack. Ransomware propagates via the same channels like other kinds of malware, like via phishing email, water holing – and other drive-by attacks. Some groups even offer helpdesk functionality for victims facing problems with bitcoins, payment or the application of the key. Not only the act of intrusion into a victims system is done with utmost precision and elaborate tools, but also the act of 'supporting' the victim in restoring their systems receives more and more attention by the criminals. It is reported that criminals, their tools and their back office structure gets more and more sophisticated and (in a distorted way) more 'user friendly'. In the case of Cryptolocker the victim, after payment, receives the key and the method to decrypt their files again and regain full access. The already mentioned Cryptolocker accepts payments in the digital currency Bitcoins, which gives the attacker an additional layer of anonymity. How is it used?Ī user of a system infected with ransomware is usually confronted with an extortion message (in many cases a windows popup) asking the victim to pay a ransom fee to the attacker in order to regain access to their system and files. Another type of ransomware (like Winlocker) simply blocks access to the system but leaves the files untouched. One type of ransomware, like the notorious and sophisticated Cryptolocker encrypts the user's files with a key only known to the attacker. How does it work?Īttackers resort to different types of tactics to achieve their goals. The victim usually shortly after receives a blackmail note by pop-up, pressing the victim to pay a ransom (hence the name) to regain full access to system and files. Ransomware depicts a type of malware (like Viruses, Trojans, etc.) that infect the computer systems of users and manipulates the infected system in a way, that the victim can not (partially or fully) use it and the data stored on it.

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