‘.mp3 File Extension’ Ransomware

Posted: February 15, 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.

Threat Level:	10/10
Infected PCs:	7

First Seen:	February 16, 2016
Last Seen:	June 12, 2022
OS(es) Affected:	Windows

The '.mp3 File Extension' Ransomware is an updated variant of TeslaCrypt and includes some superficial changes to its ransom note and payload name structures. Besides these revisions, the '.mp3 File Extension' Ransomware continues employing the same data-barricading encryption attacks as its predecessor, and can prevent you from opening or reading files from a wide range of formats. Anti-malware products and protocols can help you remove the '.mp3 File Extension' Ransomware, while having backups is your best recourse against its attacks.

The Last Sound You Want to Hear

Threat authors often utilize prior templates for generating new threats, and in 2016, TeslaCrypt arguably has been the most prolific of these foundations. The '.mp3 File Extension' Ransomware is a new variant of this threat but includes all of the past features already seen in this Trojan, such as scanning your hard drive for files of specific formats, and running suitable data through a personalized encryption routine automatically. This RSA encryption is effectively unbreakable without the key also generated by the '.mp3 File Extension' Ransomware, and prevents any affected files from opening or being read.

Victims should note that although the '.mp3 File Extension' Ransomware takes the relatively unusual step of renaming its affected files with the preexisting 'mp3' format, your files don't experience a full conversion to that format. As is usually true, malware experts warn that renaming your files or removing the fake extension will not reverse the encryption changes.

Besides its text, PNG image and Web document-based ransom notes, some sources also have reported the '.mp3 File Extension' Ransomware using audio-based supplements to its ransom messages, such as playing real mp3 files. These attacks can coincide with attempts to convince the victims that the targeting of their PCs is a consequence of intervention by local law enforcement against some broad or embarrassing crime (such as downloading illegal forms of erotica).

Muting a Ransom there's No Need to Pay

Because of its close relationship to previously-examined threats, solutions for resolving the '.mp3 File Extension' Ransomware attacks are very similar to the same techniques against TeslaCrypt, '.ecc File Extension' Ransomware, and other members of this family. Keeping backups in non-local storage, such as a cloud server, can help restore any encrypted files with no need to pay the '.mp3 File Extension' Ransomware's fees.

Currently, no verified decryptors for the '.mp3 File Extension' Ransomware are in circulation, although third parties have reported fraudulent decryptors on the market. Always use well-known and reputable PC security companies and related resources when downloading software for dealing with threats like the '.mp3 File Extension' Ransomware.

Anti-malware scans launched from Safe Mode, along with rigorous analyses of your startup settings, Registry entries, and Hosts file can help with removing the '.mp3 File Extension' Ransomware rapidly. The '.mp3 File Extension' Ransomware does conduct some network interactions that could assist future attacks; however, the '.mp3 File Extension' Ransomware also lacks the full spread of anti-security features that are common to rootkits, backdoor Trojans, and control-oriented threats of a similar mold.

‘.mp3 File Extension’ Ransomware

Threat Metric

The Last Sound You Want to Hear

Muting a Ransom there's No Need to Pay

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