What if all your data, images, videos, songs and every other file on your system gets locked and can’t be opened with any measure. This is what Ransomware will do to you if it gets on your computer. You may be locked out of your computer and lose access to all your data.
Ransomware is a depraved malware, which locks a computer/file/web browser and asks for money to unlock it. It uses highly authentic means like FBI’s logo or legal warnings to confuse people with its credibility.
What is a Malware?
Malware is software, designed to infect and harm a computer. It is a form of virus. Other popular malwares are Spyware, Keyloggers, Worms and alike.
How viruses affect your data?
Virus is a harmful program, which makes your computer work indifferently. Your PC may run extremely slow or any file may not open because of it.
How will Ransomware affect your data?
Ransomware is the strongest and most powerful malware so far. It either, locks the computer or encrypts the files. Its high security is hard to breach and there is no way to get rid of it, other than making payment.
How Ransomware infects?
Ransomware has found many ways to pollute your computer. These come through links attached in emails or messages on social networks, pay per install, or software download.
Once it is on your computer, it will claim that you have illegal content on your computer and it is locked for security reasons. Paying the demanded amount will help you unlock your system. But your system is not locked, it is hacked!
Types of Ransomware
There are many types of Ransomware, having different ways of attacking a system. These are listed below:
- Reveton: It locks the system altogether and displays a window with a message, saying, “Your Computer has been Locked”. The window will have a FBI logo or system’s IP address or even footage from user’s webcam. Ransomware hackers use these just to ensure that victim believes in their false identity. It then asks for a big amount, which is encashable via an anonymous voucher. User Alert- FBI never asks for money to unlock a computer, rather it would investigate and resolve the issue.
- CyrptoLocker: This is a serious threat because no security software can get through it. CyrptoLocker encrypts (convert files into codes) all files and decrypts (convert back in the original form) them only after the victim has paid the said amount. Decryption needs a key, obtainable only after submitting the money. It is not certain that you will get the decryption key even after making the payment. This is because of the wavier nature of hackers. Ransomware gives a time period say 24 hours or 72 hours, within which victim has to submit Bitcoins often via Paypal or Tor. If the victim fails to do so, Ransomware will still provide the key but this time will demand 10 fold of the original Bitcoins. A real big sum!
- CryptoLocker F. and TorrentLocker: This Trojan inflicts a computer through links attached in emails, and usually has an authorized name mentioned. Emails, these days, cater security for all links and attachments that are attached in it. To avoid being suspected in this process, Ransomware is designed with a Captcha Code. As soon as the user enters the code, he’ll be directed to the payload and hence gets converted into a victim.
- CyrptoWall: CycrptoWall first appeared in 2014 and used fake downloading mediums to attack a computer. Most common tactic used by cybercriminals here was, directing the user to a rogue website with the help of ads. As soon as user downloads the link, it pops up a message saying: the files are encrypted and demand a ransom to decrypts them. Again, it limits the time within which victim has to submit the payment and get the decryption key.
- KeRanger: This is the latest and most sophisticated Ransomware so far. Reason- it has been able to breach Mac’s security and threatened it recently. It comes through Transmission. Transmission is a common peer-to-peer files sharing platform. KeRanger affected Transmission Version 2.90, which has been taken down now by Apple and is replaced with Version 2.92.
Must Read: How to keep your Mac safe from virus ?
- RSA4096: RSA4096 is a stronger encryption method, which makes files unreadable. When a computer is hacked with this Ransomware, it only shows RSA4096 file encryption message on the screen. Hence, victim is helpless and needs to pay the said amount.
This was the most basic info of Ransomware. Read our other articles to know more about this newest and sophisticated malware. Also learn what precautions you should take to avoid getting into its trap.