Cypher Ransomware

Posted: February 23, 2018

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.

Ranking:	498
Threat Level:	2/10
Infected PCs:	4,157

First Seen:	July 22, 2024
Last Seen:	March 10, 2025
OS(es) Affected:	Windows

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.

Technical Details

Additional Information

The following URL's were detected:

ewogloarge.com