Negozl Ransomware

The Negozl Ransomware is a threat that attacks local content with an encryption algorithm with the intention of blocking the files from opening. The Negozl Ransomware also generates ransom messages with static sums not taking into account the nature of the encrypted information or providing proof of functioning decryption services. Immediately deleting the Negozl Ransomware with traditional anti-malware strategies and restoring your files from a backup is the most direct solution to this Trojan's attacks.

A King's Ransom for Your Hard Drive

The different tactics threat authors employ for profiting from their products are always in a state of fluctuation that can mean incredible expenses to their victims. The Negozl Ransomware is one of the most extreme samples of a Trojan trying to strong-arm PC users into willingly transferring enormous amounts of money to its admins. Despite those expectations, the Trojan provides all the same attacks that one would expect of any threat of a similar classification and is noteworthy more for its social engineering qualities than its code.

Con artists most likely launched the Negozl Ransomware's campaign in the middle of June. Although its distribution remains a subject of speculation, malware analysts have seen evidence of the Negozl Ransomware relying on a secondary threat for installing itself. This Trojan dropper could be sent through e-mail attachments, and lacks the large distribution numbers of indiscriminate methods (such as a website watering hole-based drive-by-download).

The Negozl Ransomware enciphers your content with an encryption algorithm that makes the associated data unusable and extends each file name with the '.evil' string. The Negozl Ransomware also opens a ransom message asking for Bitcoin transactions to decrypt the content automatically. Scrutiny by malware experts noted the possibility of the Negozl Ransomware being a branch or variant of the previous Sanction Ransomware, which uses an almost identical piece of text. In at least a single, other respect, the Negozl Ransomware also is unusual for asking for five Bitcoins (over three thousand USD) before its author provides any help.

The instructions currently also include other, blatantly falsifiable content, such as warnings that all the victim's activities are under observation and that third-party data recovery attempts will cause permanent data loss.

A Free Coupon for Getting the Evil out of Your Files

Whether or not the Negozl Ransomware has any harder links to the Sanction Ransomware than their shared notes, its authors shouldn't be rewarded with ransoms in exchange for a decryption service. Besides the usual warnings of lack of accountability in these transactions, malware experts also note that the Negozl Ransomware's e-mail communications currently are down, leading to a lack of a way to procure decryption even if you do pay. Also of note is the fact that research into free decryption possibilities currently is promising. Providing samples on request to PC security organizations can facilitate this investigation.

The Negozl Ransomware may be exactly as '.evil' as its extension of choice implies, but, in most respects, the Negozl Ransomware is guilty of lying blatantly about its capabilities. Victims should withhold ransom payments whenever possible and use backups for restoring any encrypted content. Note that the changes to extension names are potentially beneficial for initially identifying the scope of the Negozl Ransomware's attacks, and don't have a hard correlation with the encryption changes that make each piece of data unusable.

Some types of threatening file encryptors may self-delete, while others seek a state of long-term system persistence. Use your anti-malware programs to determine whether or not removing the Negozl Ransomware is required, and continue scanning until all associated threats, including related Trojan installers, can be found. Until that time, the biggest price you pay is not the raw cost in Bitcoins, but the cost of your PC's security.