HappyLocker Ransomware

Posted: November 14, 2016

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.

Threat Level:	10/10
Infected PCs:	37

First Seen:	November 14, 2016
OS(es) Affected:	Windows

Users infected by the HappyLocker Ransomware may assume that their computers have been infected by the Locky Ransomware falsely. This is because the author of the HappyLocker Ransomware has crafted a payment page that is the same as the one used by the notorious Locky Ransomware. However, you can rest assured that the only similarity between both threats is that they use the same payment interface. The good news is that unlike the Locky Ransomware, the HappyLocker Ransomware is a threat that may be decrypted for free due to the flaws present in the HiddenTear's encryption routine. However, because of the low number of infections with the HappyLocker Ransomware, malware researchers have not released a dedicated decryption utility to help victims of this threat. Regardless of this, if you suspect that your files have been encrypted by the HappyLocker Ransomware, you should search for the HappyLocker decryption tool online, or attempt to use any other decryption utility that works for HiddenTear variants.

Another interesting thing about the HappyLocker Ransomware is the way it is being distributed. Usually, ransomware developers rely on classic distribution methods such as spam e-mail or exploit kits. However, the authors of the HappyLocker Ransomware have undertaken a different approach by using fake Bitcoin faucets to distribute their threatening software. Bitcoin faucets are small services or pieces of software that allow users to make minimum amounts of Bitcoins by completing small tasks (such as filling-in CAPTCHA codes, solving surveys, reviewing videos or products, etc.). When the user launches the fake Bitcoin faucet, they may be presented with a legitimate interface that gives them instructions what they need to do to generate Bitcoins for their wallet address. However, what these users might not know is that by executing the seemingly safe file, they also unleash the HappyLocker Ransomware and give this threat the opportunity to encrypt many of the files found on their hard drive.

When the encryption operation is done, the HappyLocker Ransomware displays a short ransom message stored in two newly created files - 'READDDDDDD.txt' & 'READ.jpeg.' The ransom note redirects users to a public domain address, which displays a website that is an obvious copy of the Locky Ransomware's payment page. The HappyLocker Ransomware demands a ransom fee of 0.1 Bitcoin and tells victims that this is the only guaranteed way they can get their files back. We assure you that this statement is untrue, and the HappyLocker Ransomware is decryptable just like many other HiddenTear-based crypto-threat. Paying the ransom fee is not the correct way to approach the problem, and we advise all victims of the HappyLocker Ransomware to kickstart the recovery process by using an anti-malware tool to get rid of the HappyLocker Ransomware infection.

HappyLocker Ransomware

Threat Metric

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