Genobot Ransomware

The Genobot Ransomware is a new release of Hidden Tear, a Trojan whose development showcased encryption-based data attacks for non-threatening purposes. Since the hijacking of its code by various threat actors, variants of the HT family, like the Genobot Ransomware, are engaging in attacks that block their victims' media until they pay a ransom. Malware experts always suggest trying other recovery choices beforehand, along with deleting the Genobot Ransomware, and all Hidden Tear-based threats, with a specialized anti-malware program.

A Bright Red Notice of Files under Attack

Because of its portability and ease of implementation against different systems, Hidden Tear is staying credible as a 'freeware' contender against the Ransomware-as-a-Service marketplace. The next version that malware experts are identifying live, working samples of is a Trojan that employs a slightly unorthodox and highly-visual means of dropping its ransom message and, like most campaigns of its kind, traffics in Bitcoins. Users without previously prepared backups may or may not be able to save their files after an infection.

Although malware experts have yet to identify the means of the Genobot Ransomware's installation, all Trojans of its family are of small file sizes, making them suitable with e-mail attachment-based infection vectors. Further information in the Genobot Ransomware's ransoming message implies that the threat actor isn't targeting corporations or other entities with the capacity of paying expensive fees; instead, random and recreational PC users are most likely under attack.

The Genobot Ransomware launches an AES-based data-enciphering attack that blocks different formats of media on your computer automatically and preserves the unlocking key generated from this activity by uploading it to another server. The '.encrypted' extension the Trojan uses for marking this data is non-unique to this campaign.

The Trojan's payload concludes by replacing the desktop's wallpaper with a custom image, which carries a large red font explaining the threat actor's demands: paying ten USD to his Bitcoin wallet and e-mailing afterward for getting the data-unlocking code. Paying doesn't guarantee acquisition of the decryptor necessarily, and malware experts do find most versions of Hidden Tear's family as being compatible with the equivalent, free solutions that the AV sector provides for all users.

The Trojan That Isn't Very Hidden Anymore

The Genobot Ransomware, unlike the implications of its familial name, doesn't include any additional protection against detection by standard AV products. However, some cybercrooks may disguise it by misnaming it to look like a legitimate download, such as a movie, gaming executable or document. The small-scale operations of file-locking Trojans often use torrents and software piracy-based infection techniques, although e-mail is the preferred vector for more ambitious (and profitable) campaigns. Scanning all downloads before opening them should identify this threat before the Genobot Ransomware locks any files.

Unlocking data that the Genobot Ransomware encrypts may be viable, as it is with other Hidden Tear programs like the Barrax Ransomware, the ViiperWare Ransomware, the Balbaz Ransomware, the OXAR Ransomware's branch, and the offline-oriented USBR Ransomware. Users should create copies of any content before attempting to decrypt it with freeware due to the chance of data corruption causing further data loss. Allowing your anti-malware programs to uninstall the Genobot Ransomware, while safest for your computer, can't unlock your files.

The Genobot Ransomware has a minimum of advancements in comparison to other Hidden Tear branches but is no less efficient at harming media for their lack. Until all users learn to back their files up to safe places and enact protections against low-tech infection exploits, cybercrooks like the Genobot Ransomware's authors will continue making Bitcoins, one file at a time.