Cypher Ransomware

The Cypher Ransomware is a file-locking Trojan that's capable of barring your access to digital media, such as pictures or text documents. Its attacks include additional alterations to the names of anything it 'locks,' as well as creating ransom instructions asking you to pay for a recovery solution. Malware experts emphasize availing yourself of other means of recovery, such as restoring from your last backup and having anti-malware software able to delete the Cypher Ransomware from your computer before it causes any harm.

The Simple Cipher that Stands Between You and Your Files

Windows PCs are under fire, again, by another campaign of file-locking Trojans that use their data-sabotaging attacks for the collection of cryptocurrency. The current Trojan under malware experts' analysis, the Cypher Ransomware, is levying ransoms of high value that would be most appropriate if it compromises corporate or government networks. Whether or not any files that the Cypher Ransomware blocks are recoverable, in the long term, is unknown.

The Cypher Ransomware uses still-unknown methods for infiltrating the Windows systems. Once there, the Cypher Ransomware encrypts media (images, documents, spreadsheets, et al.) in a variety of locations, such as the My Pictures or the Downloads folders. The users can search for the added '.cypher' extensions for identifying any files that the Trojan locks.

This threat also creates a simple, HTML ransom note and a more detailed, Notepad-based note, which instruct you to pay via the threat actor's TOR website. The site, in turn, asks for one Bitcoin to give you a working link to the decryption program for unlocking your files. Since this payment equals over ten thousand USD in value, malware experts strongly expect further attacks from the Cypher Ransomware campaign of targeting the servers of well-financed, business entities.

Taking the Mystery out of Data-Enciphering Software

Threat actors fitting the profile for the Cypher Ransomware's campaign often use one of two, primary means of compromising a business, government or an NGO network:

• Disguised e-mail content can include installers for threats like the Cypher Ransomware, usually, as attachments. These attached files can be mislabeled executables or documents with exploitable content such as damaged macros. Examples of the usual disguises include fake UPS package notices or automated messages from the target's office equipment, such as a printer.
• Networks using imperfectly secure passwords also are at a heightened state of risk versus brute force tools that the con artists can leverage for cracking a login combination. Once they access the network, they can drop file-locking Trojans, or other threats, personally.

So far, having backups and monitoring network security protocols is the best defense that malware experts can recommend for mitigating any damages from the Cypher Ransomware. Since it's a threat to your PC's data that will try to avoid detection, you always should have dedicated anti-malware programs handle uninstalling the Cypher Ransomware from an infected computer.

The popularity of an OS platform often coincides with its prominence as a security risk against a variety of harmful activities, including data-based sabotage and ransoming. Windows users may always need to take a little more care than others to make sure that their files are safe from the latest outcropping of expensive Trojans like the Cypher Ransomware.