CCord SystemLocker

Posted: October 16, 2017

Threat Metric

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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:	9

First Seen:	October 16, 2017
OS(es) Affected:	Windows

The CCord SystemLocker is a Trojan that blocks the Windows desktop with a pop-up asking you to purchase a key. Although this threat also claims that it can erase files, malware analysts haven't identified any variant of this program that includes data-deleting features of note, and they recommend ignoring its key-buying demands. Have your anti-malware products detect and delete the CCord SystemLocker automatically, or remove it with such software after following this article's steps to restore the UI accessibility.

The Thin Line Between a Pop-Up and a System Locker

Even the straightforward nature of programming encryption-based attacks that lock files for pay is, sometimes, too much work for up and coming threat actors. Ill-minded coders without the time or interest in holding individual files hostage sometimes target the user's interface, instead. For instance, a payload like that of the recently-identified the CCord SystemLocker Trojan can be efficient at bargaining for unearned money from victims who lack the knowledge to override them similarly.

The CCord SystemLocker's author, MaxBe, has yet to distribute the Trojan in any direct attacks or non-targeted exploits, such as email attachments or fake torrents. While the CCord SystemLocker doesn't appear to be complete and may close with errors after encountering network communication problems, the Trojan's screen-locking feature is functional theoretically. This attack loads a pop-up window displaying a form with the threat's name, placeholder information asking the victim to purchase a screen-unlocking key from an unspecified website, and an extra warning claiming that the Trojan may delete your files if you refuse to pay falsely.

This Trojan has no encryption or deletion features and doesn't make any attacks against specific formats of media, such as documents. However, the CCord SystemLocker's pop-up window will prevent the user from accessing the desktop and other applications. Malware analysts also identified a simple exploit in use that could let the CCord SystemLocker's key-downloading connection avoid detection by network security features, such as a firewall.

Cutting the Cord Tying a Trojan to Your Desktop

The CCord SystemLocker is bereft of most of the features that malware researchers find in most Trojans that try to sell their systems or file-unlocking services to the users they attack. However, without a network interruption precipitating a crash, the CCord SystemLocker can keep other programs from opening and block your use of core interface necessities like the TaskBar. Users can regain access to the UI by:

Booting a portable recovery OS from an uninfected drive, such as any USB-based peripheral, will launch the operating system without also loading the CCord SystemLocker or its pop-up attack.
Most OSes, including most versions of Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux, also include Safe Mode features that let the system load without any additional, unwanted programs. Different operating systems include various shortcuts to load the appropriate menu while rebooting; for example, most versions of Windows require tapping the F8 key before the Windows logo appears. While in Safe Mode, your access to non-default and potentially unsafe programs will be limited.
Finally, the CCord SystemLocker also may terminate its pop-up from the user inputting an appropriate password. Current builds use the 'cracked:cracked' string, but this is modifiable by its threat actor easily.

These means of disabling the CCord SystemLocker's pop-up can help the users regain access to their security products and features. Malware experts always recommend using dedicated anti-malware products for uninstalling the CCord SystemLocker, which may use its network connection to download other threats that also require detection. Reboot your computer and commit a second system scan for threats before assuming that your PC is no longer infected.

Compared to the file-locking Trojans wielding sophisticated encryption ciphers or even Trojans with full, disk-wiping features, the CCord SystemLocker may not seem like a significant security risk. However, letting a Trojan hold the keys to your ability to interact with your OS never is anything more than a fast trip to disaster.

Technical Details

File System Modifications

Tutorials: If you wish to learn how to remove malware components manually, you can read the tutorials on how to find malware, kill unwanted processes, remove malicious DLLs and delete other harmful files. Always be sure to back up your PC before making any changes.

The following files were created in the system:

dir\name.exe

File name: name.exe
Size: 186.36 KB (186368 bytes)
MD5: 1a81e3ca90211746583705f6b8dcd1d5
Detection count: 72
File type: Executable File
Mime Type: unknown/exe
Path: dir
Group: Malware file
Last Updated: October 16, 2017