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Kut Ransomware

Posted: October 30, 2020

The Kut Ransomware is a file-locking Trojan that's part of a Ransomware-as-a-Service, Dharma Ransomware. The Kut Ransomware deletes local backups and encrypts digital media for forcing victims into paying ransoms for restoring their files. Users should emphasize backup security for their work and have anti-malware solutions updated for removing the Kut Ransomware effectively.

A Fraction of the Footprint of a Trojan Gang

Updates to Ransomware-as-a-Services show both ongoing trust by other threat actors in the profit margins of the RaaS, as well as a business-like attitude of continuing service by the black hat programmer-maintainers. Since this is the case, Dharma Ransomware's next version, the Kut Ransomware, is far from a surprise but bodes poorly for unprotected Windows users. After an initial look at its payload, malware researchers confirm this Trojan's ability to harm data without much hope left for the injured parties.

The Kut Ransomware can block files on Windows users' computers by using the long-established standard of encryption, AES, with RSA security. It targets media formats, such as Word or Adobe PDF documents, JPG or GIF pictures, audio like MP3, spreadsheets, archives, and similar 'personal' or work content. It also adds extensions that include an ID and a bracketed e-mail, as well as the 'kut' string. Victims should note that removing the extension doesn't affect the file-blocking encryption.

The Kut Ransomware's attack's extortionist side comes through family-generic HTA ransom notes and threat actor-customized TXT text files. These messages give the victim e-mails for negotiating over the decryptor or unlocker and 'customer' IDs, but little in the way of other useful information. The recovery of files through paying extortionists tends to be highly-unreliable. Unfortunately, the Kut Ransomware has no free decryption service. Malware experts fail to see any vulnerabilities that might lead to its development after examinations of close relatives like the Eur Ransomware, the HCK Ransomware, the YKUP Ransomware and the YUFL Ransomware.

Shrinking Shadows Cast by Trojan Businesses

The Kut Ransomware is as much a business as any other offspring of a Ransomware-as-a-Service. It requires sufficient interest from threat actors for 'hiring' and distributing it, as well as victims paying into the family's ransom coffers. However, paying the ransom doesn't load any automated decryption or recovery process, and malware experts recommend against it for users with any other options.

Besides some other family-shared features, the Kut Ransomware also will erase the user's Restore Point-based backups. Users should overcome such attacks by saving their backups to either removable drives or cloud storage with adequate security measures. Free decryption for any well-designed file-locking Trojan, including the Kut Ransomware's family of the Dharma Ransomware, is relatively unlikely and should never be the assumed best or even possible solution.

Dedicated PC security programs should block drive-by-download exploits, corrupted document-embedded macros, Exploit Kits, and other attacks that might drop this threat onto the computer. Windows users also should do their parts and update their security software databases to flag and remove the Kut Ransomware expediently.

Few readers need reminders that the Dharma Ransomware is still out there in the wild, whether it's a holiday or a regular workday. The more users back their files up for stopping the Kut Ransomware's profits from materializing, the less likely it is to continue the chain of data destruction and extortion.

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