CryptoBlock Ransomware

Posted: December 19, 2016

Threat Metric

The Threat Meter is a malware assessment that SpywareRemove.com's research team is able to give every identifiable malware threat. Our Threat Meter includes several criteria based off of specific malware threats to value their severity, reach and volume. The Threat Meter is able to give you a numerical breakdown of each threat's initial Threat Level, Detection Count, Volume Count, Trend Path and Percentage Impact. The overall ranking of each threat in the Threat Meter is a basic breakdown of how all threats are ranked within our own extensive malware database. The scoring for each specific malware threat can be easily compared to other emerging threats to draw a contrast in its particular severity. The Threat Meter is a useful tool in the endeavor of seeking a solution to remove a threat or pursue additional analytical research for all types of computer users.

The following fields listed on the Threat Meter containing a specific value, are explained in detail below:

Threat Level: The threat level scale goes from 1 to 10 where 10 is the highest level of severity and 1 is the lowest level of severity. Each specific level is relative to the threat's consistent assessed behaviors collected from SpyHunter's risk assessment model.

Detection Count: The collective number of confirmed and suspected cases of a particular malware threat. The detection count is calculated from infected PCs retrieved from diagnostic and scan log reports generated by SpyHunter.

Volume Count: Similar to the detection count, the Volume Count is specifically based on the number of confirmed and suspected threats infecting systems on a daily basis. High volume counts usually represent a popular threat but may or may not have infected a large number of systems. High detection count threats could lay dormant and have a low volume count. Criteria for Volume Count is relative to a daily detection count.

Trend Path: The Trend Path, utilizing an up arrow, down arrow or equal symbol, represents the level of recent movement of a particular threat. Up arrows represent an increase, down arrows represent a decline and the equal symbol represent no change to a threat's recent movement.

% Impact (Last 7 Days): This demonstrates a 7-day period change in the frequency of a malware threat infecting PCs. The percentage impact correlates directly to the current Trend Path to determine a rise or decline in the percentage.

Ranking:	17,338
Threat Level:	2/10
Infected PCs:	44

First Seen:	December 20, 2016
Last Seen:	July 19, 2023
OS(es) Affected:	Windows

The CryptoBlock Ransomware is an in-development Trojan that may lock your files with encryption or rename them to make them look as if they're encrypted. Most installation exploits for this threat misrepresent it as third-party software, such as an Adobe product or update. After seeing any of the symptoms from this article, you should eliminate the CryptoBlock Ransomware with your preferred anti-malware product before restoring it from a backup.

A Trojan Timing Your Ransom Response

One rising fad in the file-encrypting segment of the threat industry is the use of timers to force a victim into responding with a minimum of time provided to think about the consequences. Although malware experts have yet to see it in a 'finished' release, the CryptoBlock Ransomware is one of the many Trojans showing how this strategy works in practice. Its attacks include copying and renaming your files while deleting the originals currently, along with displaying in-depth money-extorting pop-ups.

Different installers for the CryptoBlock Ransomware use a flexible range of disguises, although malware experts note that their themes tend to center around third-party freeware. Variants of the CryptoBlock Ransomware have wildly varying detection rates, but, if your security software fails to block it, the Trojan begins scanning for various file formats, focusing on finance-oriented ones like MNY (Microsoft Money content) and Bitcoin wallets. It copies these files, deletes the original versions, and renames the copies with random strings. While malware experts have yet to see encryption attacks in its payload, the Trojan is still in its development stages and may include such an attack in the future.

The CryptoBlock Ransomware also creates a pop-up window for relaying its ransom demands. The window includes a timer that increments the price of the ransom for recovering your data, and an overarching time limit before the threat actor deletes your decryption key. The same interface also provides access to a Bitcoin payment mechanism, after which the con artist supposedly will give you your key code and restore all files.

Defying a Scheduled Shakedown

Since the CryptoBlock Ransomware has limited capacity for damaging your files currently, victims may wish to try renaming them back to their original filenames or using advanced recovery software to reverse its attacks. If the CryptoBlock Ransomware's authors do implement a legitimate file-encoding attack, restoring from a non-local backup will be the most reliable way of reversing any damages the Trojan causes. Since the CryptoBlock Ransomware uses a Bitcoin-based payment structure that prevents payment cancellations or identifying fraudulent transactions, rushing to capitulate to its ransom may result in no data recovery at all.

Malware experts see different versions of the CryptoBlock Ransomware distributing themselves with names referencing Adobe Flash updates, Instagram plugins, and VIP (Virtual Internet Protocol) applications. Accordingly, potential victims can expect infection vectors associated with compromised websites offering such software for download. Most professional anti-malware products have good detection rates against these threats and should remove the CryptoBlock Ransomware without giving it the opportunity to damage your files.

Time limits and misnamed installers are just two of the many ways Trojan campaigns often exploit the ignorance and emotions of those that they attack to make money. In light of attacks like the CryptoBlock Ransomware's, malware experts emphasize that protecting your PC is as much about not taking untrustworthy content at its word as it is about having the right security software.

CryptoBlock Ransomware

Threat Metric

A Trojan Timing Your Ransom Response

Defying a Scheduled Shakedown

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