Enigma Ransomware

Posted: May 10, 2016

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Threat Level:	10/10
Infected PCs:	7,844

First Seen:	May 11, 2016
Last Seen:	November 24, 2021
OS(es) Affected:	Windows

The Enigma Ransomware is a Trojan that tricks its victims into installing it through JavaScript, and then encrypts their files, such as documents or images. After the encryption process, the Enigma Ransomware loads a ransom message asking for Bitcoin money for the safe return of the data, although malware experts still note the likely viability of free data-restoring techniques. After identifying the symptoms of this threat, a victim should uninstall the Enigma Ransomware with their anti-malware software, and then conduct any appropriate backup restoration actions.

The Shallow Mystery Behind a New Russian Trojan

The Enigma Ransomware (most likely borrowing its naming conventions from 'the Enigma' rotor cipher machines of the early twentieth century) is a file encryptor with a payload very similar to other ransom-based malware campaigns. However, the Enigma Ransomware also includes some unusual choices in structure most likely implemented for ease of use on the part of the malware developer. While not being a sophisticated threat of its category, the Enigma Ransomware does include basic region-filtering options, and currently only finishes its full payload on PCs located in Russia.

That payload includes scanning available hard drives for non-system files, which the Enigma Ransomware encodes with an AES encryption algorithm. Just as with most file encryptors seen in malware experts' analyses, the Enigma Ransomware also tags the affected content with an identifying text string ('.the Enigma'). As per usual, victims can't open the encrypted content, but the threat's automatically-loaded ransom message includes 'proof' of its decryption capabilities while trying to sell its full decryption services via Bitcoin payments.

The Enigma Ransomware uses a relatively in-depth ransom format based on HTA (a program built from HTML). The ease of use and its unambitious cash demand (roughly 200 dollars) may convince some victims to pay the Enigma Ransomware's fee upfront, although doing so would be a costly mistake with no certainty of data recovery.

The Solution to an Enigma that will not Cost You a Thing

While examining the Enigma Ransomware, malware experts saw some noteworthy limitations and inconsistencies that indicate its likely creation by an inexperienced developer. Although the Enigma Ransomware uses file attachments for installing itself, they require being launched by the victim manually. The Enigma Ransomware's Trojan droppers also utilize JavaScript, which you may block by default as a simple security measure.

Far more damningly than that, the Enigma Ransomware also shows potential for having a buggy payload that does not always delete any local backup data. Windows users may find success in restoring encrypted content from their Shadow Volume Copies. Since this solution is not always available, and other threats tend to account for it, malware experts continue recommending non-local backup defenses against file encryption attacks, such as a cloud storage service.

The Enigma Ransomware is a limited-scope threat whose executable is created dynamically when its JavaScript launches. Although good anti-malware programs should have no issues with removing the Enigma Ransomware, not opening it at all is a safer course of action for the contents of your computer. Until this campaign spreads to other regions, Russian-speaking PC users should take the greatest precautions against the Enigma Ransomware's known infection vectors: HTML file attachments that aren't what they say they are.