What is Ransomware?

Ransomware is malware made to refuse a user or organization from accessing the files on the computer. Encrypting the files and asking for a ransom payment for the description is what the cyber attackers do. The cyber attackers put the organization into place that paying the ransom is the only and cheapest way to regain access to the files. Some have added more functionalities like data theft to provide more provocation for ransomware victims to pay the ransom.

Ransomware has become the most well-known and visible type of malware. Most recent ransomware has affected the hospitals that give crucial services, giving crippled public services in the cities, and has made lots of damage to many organizations.

Why Are Ransomware Attacks coming up?

The present ransomware vogue started with the WannaCry outbreak of 2017. This large and highly broadcasted attack revealed that ransomware attacks were possible and likely profitable. After that many ransomware variants have been made and used in different kinds of attacks.

The COVID – 19 pandemic also is a reason for the latest flow of ransomware. As the organizations moved to remote work, some gaps were made in the cyber defenses. These burdens are used by cybercriminals to spread ransomware, and it has resulted in a surge of ransomware attacks.

What are the most popular ransomware alternatives?

Lots of ransomware exist with unique features. Some ransomware variants have been more creative and successful when compared with others. They are standing out from other variants.

Ryuk

Ryuk is a targeted ransomware alternative. It is commonly spread through spear phishing emails or by using compromised user credentials. They are used to log into enterprise systems using the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP). When a system is affected. Some file types are encrypted by Ryuk and provide ransom demand.

Ryuk is known as a very expensive ransomware. Their average demand is over $1 million. So the Ryuk cybercriminals mainly focus on the enterprises that are meeting the necessary demands.

Maze

The Maze is the most popular ransomware variant that links file encryption and data theft. When the target refuses to pay the ransom Maze collects the sensitive data from the victim's computer before the encryption. If the ransom demands are not considered the data is exposed or sold to the bidders. The possibility of an expensive data breach is an additional reason to pay.

The group behind the Maze has finished its operations. This doesn’t mean that the risk of ransomware has been lost. Some Maze affiliates have moved to use Egregor ransomware, and the Egregor, Maze, and Sekhmet variants. It's believed that they have got common sources.

REvil (Sodinokibi)

The REvil or the Sodinokibi is another kind of ransomware that targets large organizations

REvil is among the most popular ransomware in the collection. This ransomware has been controlled by a group of Russian speaking since 2019. They have been in control of many large violations like ‘Kaseya’ and ‘JBS’

The REvil has competed with Ryuk for the last few years. They have tried to obtain the title of the most expensive ransomware variations. It's reported that REvil has demanded an $800,000 ransom payment.

Though REvil started as a conventional ransomware variant, it has developed over time. They use Double Extortion techniques to steal data while encrypting the files in the business. Moreover demanding a ransom to decrypt data, attackers may release the stolen data if they do not get a second payment.

Lockbit

This is a data encryption malware that exist since September 2019. This ransomware was made to encrypt large organizations to prevent detection fastly by the security devices and IT/SOC teams.

DearCry

In march 2021, Microsoft revealed patches for four burdens in the Microsft Exchange servers. DearCry is a new ransomware made to get the benefits of four recently reported issues in Microsoft Exchange.

This DearCry encrypts some kind of files. When the encryption is completed, DearCry will notify the users to send an email to the ransomware operators to learn the methods of decrypting the files.

Lapsus$

Lapsus$ is a South American ransomware group that is linked with cyberattacks on high-profile targets. The cyber group is famous for extraction, terrifying the releasing of sensitive information if the victims don’t make the demands. This group has declared in breaking into Nvidia, Samsung, Ubisoft, and some others. The stolen source code is used to impersonate the malware files as reliable.

How does the Ransomware work?

To be successful the ransomware has to get access to the target system, encrypt the files, and ask for ransom from the victims. While the execution details get changed from one kind of ransomware to another, there are common three stages.

1 Infection and Distribution Vectors

2. Data Encryption

3. Ransom Demand

Infection and Distribution Vectors

Ransomware can access any organization's system in many different methods. However, ransomware operators like some particular infection vectors.

One is phishing emails. This kind of email can contain a link to a website with a malicious download or an attachment that has to be downloaded. If the email recipient gets caught for phishing, the ransomware is downloaded and executed on the computer.

Another famous ransomware infection vector uses services like Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP). Using RDP if an attacker has got or stolen the login credentials, they can authenticate and access a computer in a specific network. With this method attacker directly download the malware and executes it on the machine. This will be done under their control.

Others will try to affect the system directly like WannaCry made use of the EternalBlue vulnerability. The ransomware variants belong to various infection vectors.

Data Encryption

When the ransomware gains the access to the system, it starts encrypting the files. As the encryption process is made into an operating system, it involves accessing the files, encrypting the files using an attacker-controlled key, and replacing the original files with the encrypted ones. Most kinds of ransomware are guarded in selecting files to encrypt to ensure system safety. Some ransomware deletes the backups and shows copies of files to recover without the decryption key.

Ransom demand

Once file encryption is finished, the ransomware will be ready to demand the ransom. Different ransomware follows different methods. Anyhow it's not unusual for the display background to be changed for a ransom note or any text file located in the encrypted directory. Frequently they demand an amount of cryptocurrency for exchange and to get the lost files. If the ransom is paid, the ransomware operator will give a copy of the private key used to secure the symmetric encryption key itself. After entering the information into a decryptor program and revere the encryption and regain access to the files.

While these three key steps are available in all ransomware variants, they can also include various implementations or more additional steps. As an example, ransomware like Maze scans the files, registry information, and data theft before the data encryption. Meanwhile, the WannaCry ransomware scans the rest of the devices at risk to infect and encrypt.

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