What is Exactly Ransomware and How to Remove It | Complete Security

Ransomware

Ever wonder why ransomware is making so much noise? You've probably heard about them in the office or read in the newspapers. Perhaps, right now, a pop-up window has appeared on your computer screen with a warning about a ransomware attack. If you want to know everything about ransomware, you've come to the right place. We will tell you about the different forms of ransomware, how they get into the system, where they come from, who they target, and what needs to be done to protect against them.

What is Ransomware?

Ransomware is malware that blocks users' computers or personal files, demanding a ransom to restore access. The earliest variants of ransomware were developed in the late 1980s, when the ransom was proposed to be sent by regular mail. Today, ransomware authors demand to pay a ransom in cryptocurrency or transfer a certain amount to a credit card.

Ransomware Infection

There are several ways that ransomware can use it to infiltrate your computer. One of the best known methods is malicious spam , which is unsolicited email messages used to distribute malware. These messages often include malicious attachments disguised as PDF files or Word documents. In addition, the text of these messages may contain links to fraudulent websites.

Malicious spam uses social engineering techniques to trick users into believing that a message came from a friend or an organization they know and then open seemingly harmless attachments or links. Cybercriminals also use social engineering techniques to plan other types of ransomware attacks. So, they can turn to users, allegedly on behalf of the FBI, in order to intimidate them and force them to pay a certain amount to unlock the files.

Another common method of infecting computers is malicious advertising , which peaked in 2016. Malicious advertising is advertising on the Internet that aims to distribute malware with minimal or no user interaction. While browsing websites, including quite reliable resources, the user can be redirected to the cybercriminals' servers without even clicking on the advertising banner. These servers collect information about victims' computers and their locations, and then select the malware that is easiest to deliver to those computers. And ransomware is not uncommon .

Malicious Ads and Ransomware Infographics.

To accomplish this task, malicious ads often use an infected embedded frame or invisible element of a web page. The embedded frame redirects the user to a fraudulent landing page, after which the malicious code begins to attack the system using a special set of exploits . All of these actions are performed without the user's knowledge, so they are often referred to as shadow loading attacks.

Types of Ransomware

There are three main types of ransomware, which vary in their severity: some simply make it difficult for the user, while others pose a serious threat. Briefly about each of these types:

Pseudo-antiviruses

Usually, pseudo-antiviruses are not so much a source of danger as a cause of inconvenience. They are rogue programs disguised as security applications that allow attackers to impersonate technical support representatives. A pop-up window may appear on your computer screen with a warning that malware has been detected in the system and the only way to remove it is to pay a certain amount. If you do not take any action, the annoying pop-ups will most likely continue to appear, but nothing will threaten your files in general.

A real antivirus program will not annoy users in this way. If you are not using the antivirus mentioned in the pop-up window, it cannot inform you about ransomware because it is not installed on your system. If you use this particular security program, you do not need to pay to remove the virus, since you have already paid for the license.

Screen Blocking Viruses

These viruses correspond to the orange level of danger. If a program that locks the screen has entered the system, you will not be able to continue working with the computer. After starting the computer, a full-screen window appears on the monitor, usually bearing the official emblem of the FBI or Department of Justice. The window contains a warning that illegal activity is allegedly detected on your computer and that you need to pay a fine. It is important to understand that the FBI will not block your computer or demand a fine for "illegal activity." If you are suspected of piracy, distribution of child pornography, or other computer crimes, law enforcement agencies will act in accordance with a different procedure established by law.

Ransomware That Encrypts Files

These viruses are a real threat. Their authors seek to steal or encrypt your files in order to then demand a ransom for their decryption or return. The particular danger of this type of ransomware is that if cybercriminals take over your files, neither antivirus nor System Restore will be able to return those files to you. And if you do not pay cybercriminals, then in most cases the data disappears forever. However, there is no guarantee that cybercriminals will keep their promise and get your files back after you pay the ransom.

Who is Being Attacked by Ransomware?

When ransomware first appeared (and in subsequent cases), ordinary users became their main victims. Gradually, however, cybercriminals began to realize the full potential of their weapons and develop ransomware against businesses. Over time, viruses for enterprises have shown unprecedented efficiency: they caused interruptions in production, led to loss of data and lost profits. Therefore, the authors of the malicious code have concentrated their main efforts in this area.

Report on Ransomware Threats to Small and Medium Enterprises.

The geography of ransomware attacks is such that most of them still occur in Western countries, with the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada occupying the first three places in the ranking of countries most vulnerable to attacks, respectively. Like other cybercriminals, ransomware authors have a primary goal of getting money. Therefore, they are looking for relatively wealthy businesses where computers are widely used. Growing economies in Asia and South America are also about to face the problem of ransomware (and other forms of malware).

What to Do If Your Computer is Infected

If a virus has entered your computer system, you should remember the first and most important rule - never pay a ransom (we authoritatively declare: this is what the FBI advises to do ). After all, by paying the ransom to cybercriminals, you are only convincing them that the next attack against you or another user will also be successful. You can try to restore access to some encrypted files using free descriptors.

Note, however, that not all ransomware families have descriptors, since in many cases ransomware uses sophisticated encryption algorithms. In addition, even if a descriptor exists, it is not always possible to reliably determine whether it is suitable for a particular version of malware. You don't want to aggravate the situation and encrypt your files again using the wrong decryption script. Therefore, before taking any action, you should carefully study the message itself displayed by the ransomware, or seek the help of an IT or cybersecurity expert.

You can also resist the virus by downloading a special program to neutralize it, and then running a scan on the infected computer. You may not be able to regain access to files, but this way you can clean the computer from the virus. A full system restore is usually sufficient to eliminate the screen-locked ransomware. If this method does not work, you can run the scan from a bootable disk or USB drive.

If you want to interfere with a ransomware program that has already infiltrated your computer and may encrypt your files, you need to proceed very carefully. If you notice that the system starts working slowly for no apparent reason, turn off your computer and disconnect it from the Internet. If malware is still active after restarting the system, it cannot send data or receive instructions from the C&C server. This means that without a key or a specified method to extract payment information, malware can still remain in standby mode. Having gained time in this way, download and install an antivirus software on the infected computer, and then run a full system scan.

How to Protect Yourself From Ransomware

Computer security experts agree that the best way to defend against ransomware is to prevent it from entering your computer .

There are many ways to counter ransomware, but they all have their drawbacks and often require a lot more specialized skills than the average user. Therefore, we have prepared for you some recommendations to help you prevent unwanted consequences of ransomware attacks.

• The first thing to do to prevent ransomware attacks is to acquire a reliable antivirus program that provides real-time cyber protection and is able to withstand the most advanced malware, including ransomware. When choosing an antivirus, you should pay special attention to its features that can protect vulnerable programs from threats (for example, complete security), as well as block attempts by ransomware to encrypt files (for example, technology to neutralize ransomware).
• The second step can cause you a number of inconveniences, but it is equally important: you need to regularly back up your data. We recommend using cloud storage with high encryption and multiple authentication for this. An alternative is to purchase a large USB stick or external hard drive where you can store new or updated files. Of course, the devices must be physically disconnected from the computer after the backup is written, otherwise they may also be infected with ransomware.
• Third step: timely install system and software updates. The outbreak of WannaCry virus infection. We understand that the list of updates is getting longer day by day, and keeping all the daily used applications up to date can be challenging. Therefore, we recommend that you change the application settings and enable the automatic update function.
• Finally, you need to be aware of events. One of the most common ways to infect computers with ransomware is through social engineering . Learn to identify malicious spam, spot suspicious websites and other fraudulent schemes ( and educate your employees if you are a business owner). And most importantly: be reasonable and reasonable. If something is suspicious, it probably won't do you any good.