A new bread of ransomware is beginning to do damage to users around the world. While the threat originally appeared a while back, it’s just recently beginning to have an impact.
In this article we’ll break down the history of DeathRansom, explain what it is, and tell you how you can prevent it.
What is DeathRansom?
When cyber experts initially got wind of DeathRansom, it was an ominous but mostly harmless form of ransomware. At first, DeathRansom was able to gain access to users’ systems, but it wasn’t actually encrypting any data. As a result, the threat was, for the most part, discarded.
But as of recently, the harmless nature of the ransomware changed. It did, in fact, begin to encrypt user information, making it impossible for users to access their information. The amount of DeathRansom infections also increased significantly.
The mysterious nature of these attacks, combined with their effectiveness, have earned them the “DeathRansom” horror movie type name. No one is entirely sure how the attacks are being distributed, and there hasn’t been too much on progress on combating them at their source.
What do we Know About the Attacks?
Whoever is behind these attacks are including ransom messages along with their attacks.
Typically, the messages are demanding the victim send them bitcoin, which is a valuable and difficult to track cryptocurrency.
If the user complies with the hackers demands, the encrypted information will be released, and the victim will again have access to their information. If they don’t, they will lose access to their information all together.
How Can I Prevent It?
DeathRansom is similar to most other ransomwares when it comes to the process of infecting computers.
Downloading files from untrustworthy sources or spam campaigns can often lead to the download of malware and ransomware. Once downloaded and opened, the ransomware begins infecting the system and encrypting information. In the opened file, text will appear outlining the demands of the criminals.
Prevent DeathRansom the same way you would prevent any other virus or malware. Don’t click unfamiliar links, don’t open strange emails, and browse with caution.
If you are currently infected by DeathRansom, follow these steps to remove the attack.