Five Variants of Ransomware and Their Impacts

Ransomware is a type of the malicious software which basically threatens to publish the data of the victim or completely blocks the access to the data unless a ransom is paid off.  The thought process in ransomware attacks is almost always money related, and dissimilar to different kinds of attacks. The victim is usually given a hint than an exploit has taken place and the set of the instructions are also given to recover from the attack. In case of the simplest ransomware the systems get locked and it is not that difficult for the person to reverse the same, on the contrary, the advanced malware utilises the technique such as cryptoviral extortion in which the confidential data of the victim is kept in the form of the file and the file is encrypted, disabling the data and making it inaccessible. In order to decrypt the file, a ransom is paid in huge amounts [1].

The major impact of the Ransomware is not restricted to the home users but it also affects the business, leading to the high level of the negative consequences. Basically, it is one of the basic problems that create havoc in the organization. The data of the user is hacked at first and the encryption is done through the coding so that it can become inaccessible to the users. Later on, the monetary demands are raised to decrypt the file and the confidential data of the user. If the ransom is not paid on time or if the user tries to attempt the program directly, the decryption key is deleted and all the files become inaccessible on the permanent basis [2].

There are certain variants of the ransomware in the information industries which are as follows

• Cerber ransomware
• Crypto wall ransomware
• Locker ransomware
• Mac ransomware
• Crypto ransomware

It is the popular kind of ransomware which is mainly used to dispose of the data. The ransomware is using dot scramble the information or the data in the PC frameworks. The hassle that is created by the Cerber Ransomware is not mainly regarded as the encryption of the file according to the Malware Bytes researches report. Once the computer starts the ransomware starts to send the error messages and then reboots the computer into the safe mode zone. Unfortunately, the virus shuts down the computer at once and restarts it again [3].

Crypto Wall is a family of file encrypting Ransomware that first entered in the year 2014. It is known for AES encryption, unique CHM infection and robust C2 activity. There are various versions of the crypto divider, for example, Crypto bit, crypto divider, and crypto safeguard. The importance was gained by the Crypto Wall after the downfall of the Crypto Locker which was later taken down by the operation Tovar [11].

Steps Involved in the Ransomware Attacks

Locker ransomware is a virus that is used to infect the PC of the user and locks the file so that it becomes difficult for the user to open the file and any other type of data. It has the capacity to infect over 250000 computer systems. Out there are the numerous associations that are suffering from this problem. Without the permission of the attackers, the client is not allowed to access the data unless stated by them [4].

Karger is a type of the Mac ransomware which was established in the year 2016 and it is one of the rare ransomware compared to the tuff targets Windows but Apple computers are far from immune. Other examples of the Mac ransomware involve OSX/File code-K and OSX/ File code-L. This was infused into the computer of the user and which can affect the ransomware. This type of ransomware is not wild and the data file waits for the three days [12].

Crypto ransomware is a type of the harmful program that encrypts the user files stored in the database of the computer or mobile device so that the money can be exported. Encryption scrambles the file so that the data even if is accessible is not able to be read. A decryption key is required in order to unscramble the file. The conventional reason is followed by the variety of the users and the gadget holders [5].

Ransomware is termed as a cyber-attack which is basically used to hack the data of the personal data and blocks the human-computer system. There are many attacks which have been observing in the last 10 years and according to the financial times, the rate of the cybercrimes have been increased by the 30% as compared to the previous year [6].

The following steps which are involved in this process are as follows.

• The software which threatens the user produces a mail and sends the mail to the person whose computer has been hacked [10].
• The malware software generates the algorithm to hack the systems of the computers to get into the data of the person.
• Secondly, the process follows when the data is collected for the purpose of the encryption and blocking all the data of the computer.
• The user gets the notification either in the form of the mail or through the messages and the hacker communicates the relevant ransom which needs to be paid to unlock the data and the files

The concept of the ransomware has emerged drastically over a couple of years. It stands out as a core concept amongst the known issues. In general, the basic threat posed by the ransomware.

Ransomware is a booming and increasing underground industry and there has been an upside in the attacks in the recent years. In 2015 Ransomware infections grew by 114% over the previous year which also resulted in the increase of the demand of the money by the perpetrators to over $350 to give back the files according to the Symantec Internet Security Threat Report [6].

Mitigation Tools and Prevention Measures

The criminals hardly care about the victim and they do not fall for the dangers posed by their operations rather they are willing to victimize anyone regardless of how dangerous it might be. For example, the hospital declared news of the ransomware attack gripped the critical machines which are responsible for the work of the CT scans [7].

While Windows PC users are the basic targets of the ransom wares, the epidemic is still worse and has been popularised on the mobile phone sand the smartphones and tablets. Additionally, the Android and the Linux users are suffering the most.

This case study belongs to the year 2017 and is recognized as one of the most typically danger ransomware as it expanded at a great pace. Wanna cry was one of the major security assaults occurred in the month of May 12, 2017 [8]. There were thousands of frameworks which were influenced due to the attacks of the WannaCry ransomware. The attack was unbeatable and all the PC’s and the gadgets were susceptible to the attack of the WannaCry. The motive of the WannaCry ransom is was to establish the long URL so that the user clicks on the spam link and then enters the computer in order to build the pressure on the victim to pay the ransom for the release of the data. WannaCry was hacking the numerous PC’s around the world and captures the data and scrambles it.

Though the ransomware is the serious threatening object that is a critical issue for all the organizations and the individuals as it not only acquired the information and the database, rather it scramble and hinders the most qualitative as well as the quantitative information.

Encryption is one of the tools that can save the data from being going into the wrong hands. The data is encrypted via a unique key which cannot be accessed by anyone else and it acts as a data cover that protects the private data.

 The technique apart from the basic encryption and the security measures is the robust filtering. It is mainly used to block the data and keeps the fraud and the spam emails. This technique also uses the methodology of the cloud computing to boot the systems and prevent from the malware. To eradicate this kind of the problem there are several other campaigns and the training available, which the IT managers can join to avoid the future possibility of the attacks and at least can be reduced in the number [13].

Conclusion

Conclusion

Ransomware is the most concerning issue which all the nations need to be aware of and shall be protective of against it. There are different procedures through which the issues that can create a hassle can be reduced in the number. The assault created by the ransom is of such a concern that it not only affects the computer and the user but also affects the entire confidential data of the business. However it can be recommended that the attacks can remain too few from more if the user uses the distributed computing framework and the process to spam or entirely block the messages that create the link. The moderation method is also useful to settle the hazard of the company.

References

Chen, C., Wang, Z., Zhao, K., Chen, R. Du and G.J., Ahn, “Uncovering the face of Android ransomware: Characterization and real-time detection.” IEEE Transactions on Information Forensics and Security, vol. 13, no. 5, pp.1286-1300, 2018.

Jung and Y., Won, “Ransomware detection method based on context-aware entropy analysis.” Soft Computing, vol. 12, pp.1-10, 2018.

Kamat and A.S., Gautam, “Recent Trends in the Era of Cybercrime and the Measures to Control Them.” In Handbook of e-Business Security, vol. 18, pp. 243-258, 2018.

Wirth, “The Times They Are a-Changin’: Part One.” Biomedical instrumentation & technology, vol. 52, no. 2, pp.148-152, 2018.

Wolf, “Strategies against being taken hostage by ransomware.” ATZelektronik worldwide, vol. 13, no. 2, pp.44-47, 2018.

“What is ransomware? – Definition from WhatIs.com”, SearchSecurity, 2018. [Online]. Available: https://searchsecurity.techtarget.com/definition/ransomware. [Accessed: 24- Aug- 2018].

Fruhlinger, “What is ransomware? How it works and how to remove it”, CSO Online, 2018. [Online]. Available: https://www.csoonline.com/article/3236183/ransomware/what-is-ransomware-how-it-works-and-how-to-remove-it.html. [Accessed: 24- Aug- 2018].

“Ransomware – What Is It & How To Remove It”, Malwarebytes, 2018. [Online]. Available: https://www.malwarebytes.com/ransomware/. [Accessed: 24- Aug- 2018].

König, A., Gouglidis, B. Green and A., Solar, “Assessing the Impact of Malware Attacks on Utility Networks.” In Game Theory for Security and Risk Management, vol. 11, pp. 335-351, 2018

Wirth, “The Times They Are a-Changin’: Part One.” Biomedical instrumentation & technology, vol. 52, no. 2, pp.148-152, 201

Kamat and A.S., Gautam, “Recent Trends in the Era of Cybercrime and the Measures to Control Them.” In Handbook of e-Business Security, vol. 18, pp. 243-258, 2018

Zimba, Z. Wang and H., Chen, “Multi-stage crypto ransomware attacks: A new emerging cyber threat to critical infrastructure and industrial control systems.” ICT Express, vol. 4, no. 1, pp.14-18, 2018.

Caporusso, S., Chea and R., Abukhaled, “A Game-Theoretical Model of Ransomware.” In International Conference on Applied Human Factors and Ergonomics, vol. 14, pp. 69-78, 2018.