Matroska Ransomware
Posted: July 25, 2017
Threat Metric
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: | 7,457 |
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Threat Level: | 8/10 |
Infected PCs: | 6,122 |
First Seen: | July 25, 2017 |
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Last Seen: | October 4, 2023 |
OS(es) Affected: | Windows |
The Matroska Ransomware is a Trojan that uses the Hidden Tear's encryption features to block the files of the PC, after which it asks for ransom payments for its recovery assistance. Hidden Tear decryptors sometimes can help victims decode their media freely, although malware experts recommend keeping backups as the most secure strategy for protecting your files. Whether you need to decrypt your data or not, removing the Matroska Ransomware with anti-malware software will eliminate ongoing security issues and prevent any file loss.
Trojans So Easy to Use that Anyone could Do It
Although one could say that almost every day finds a new con artist interested in exploiting Utku Sen's Hidden Tear, not every day gives malware experts a new Trojan with an easy-to-use interface. In a minor departure from similarly-made threats, such as the Battlefield Ransomware, the new Matroska Ransomware conducts encryption attacks with the help of a built-in administration panel. Besides allowing its admins to deploy and configure the Matroska Ransomware with almost no effort, the feature also provides readers with forewarning on its infection methods.
The Matroska Ransomware uses Hidden Tear's basis of AES encryption to block your files, including such content as documents, spreadsheets and pictures. While most variants of Hidden Tear use internal means of configuration, the Matroska Ransomware provides the user with a fake 'Windows Defender' window that offers options for the target directories and drives to encrypt. The panel also can be hidden temporarily, and especially unusually, includes an exit feature that also will uninstall the program automatically.
Most likely, threat actors are using the above feature to control the Matroska Ransomware's payload after they install it manually. Then, they uninstall the Trojan, leaving the victim with nothing more than locked files and a message containing the Matroska Ransomware's ransoming demands.
Keeping YFile Problems Down to a Soothing Zero
Although the Matroska Ransomware's encryption method isn't unique, it does use a new extension that it adds to any blocked media: the 'HUSTONWEHAVEAPROBLEM@KEEMAIL.ME' string. The misspelling appears to be a result of the original spelling of 'Houston' being taken by another user of the same e-mail service, which is doubling as the threat actor's point of communication for his ransom negotiations. Paying the ransom, if you consider it at all, always should be used as a last resort, after attempting data restoration through such methods as free decryption and any available backups.
Malware researchers are estimating that the Matroska Ransomware's installation is using Remote Desktop-based attacks, which require the threat actor having gained access through other means. Being cautious about using short or otherwise easily-cracked login information can reduce the attacks that would allow a con artist to compromise your PC remotely. Most anti-malware applications include features for blocking other infection vectors, along with uninstalling the Matroska Ransomware, like any version of Hidden Tear.
What makes life simple for a con artist can sometimes turn into a foothold or clue for the people he attacks. The Matroska Ransomware is offering a glimpse into how its author intends to use it, but, unfortunately, not all file-encrypting Trojans are as kind as this one.
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