DeathNote Ransomware

The DeathNote Ransomware is a Visual Basic-based Trojan that holds your files hostage by encrypting them with an archive-compression program and a password. The DeathNote Ransomware also creates a Command Prompt window for showing a ransoming message that asks you to pay money for the unlocking code. Users may use several free data-recovering methods, instead, and always should protect their PCs by uninstalling the DeathNote Ransomware with anti-malware software.

The Abuse of Japanese Media for More Personalized Media Attacks

The cybercrooks can be arbitrary in how they choose to separate a threatening software campaign from its many lookalikes and competitors visually. One of the most whimsical 'brand' choices that malware researchers see uses the name of Japanese comic and cartoon properties, such as the DNRansomware variant of the DeathNote Hackers Ransomware. However, the latter no longer is the only one of its kind; as a unique threat, the DeathNote Ransomware is leveraging the same theme and attacks.

The DeathNote Ransomware is just as much a file-locking Trojan as the DeathNote Hackers Ransomware but uses a much more straightforward locking mechanism than the older threat's AES cipher. The DeathNote Ransomware is one of the relatively few Trojans of its type to use the WinRAR data-compressing application for encrypting files, with a password for securing the data from its owners. This attack keeps content such as pictures, audio, movies, documents, and other media from being able to open. Since it uses an archive-storing function, the DeathNote Ransomware doesn't include the usual name edits or extensions that malware analysts see in most, similar Trojans.

Although the majority of this Trojan's payload uses Visual Basic scripts, the DeathNote Ransomware also has a batch file for creating a message to the user. This Command Prompt pop-up carries the DeathNote Ransomware's media theme and gives the user instructions for paying a ransom for restoring any files. Malware analysts can't determine the ransoming amounts or currencies, for now, but recommend avoiding these payments, if at all possible.

Dealing out Death to Anime-Inspired Trojans

Although almost any file-locking threat has the theoretical chance to damage your files beyond the hope of reparation, the DeathNote Ransomware is not a highly-sophisticated Trojan. Users with no other choices should contact appropriate cybersecurity experts for their help in recovering the DeathNote Ransomware's unlocking password, which is hard-coded and, therefore, relatively vulnerable. Backing files up also is an optimal way of protecting any digital content from both the DeathNote Ransomware and almost any other Trojan of its sub-category.

The DeathNote Ransomware stores its components in a 'hitler' folder inside of AppData, but its encryption may damage your files without displaying a visible cue until the ransom warning appears afterward. Although malware analysts can't confirm the DeathNote Ransomware's active distribution channels, spamming e-mails and brute-forcing network logins are two of the ways that threat actors often spread these Trojans. Because this threat's rate of detection in the AV industry remains non-ideal, users should update their security solutions and have modern, comprehensive anti-malware programs active for removing the DeathNote Ransomware.

The DeathNote Ransomware uses an almost laughably primitive way of 'locking' content but still is a danger to your files. The easiest way to keep your pictures or documents from having their names written in a digital book of death is to back them up elsewhere.