MindSystem Ransomware

Posted: August 29, 2017

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:	10

First Seen:	August 29, 2017
OS(es) Affected:	Windows

The MindSystem Ransomware is a file-locking Trojan that uses encryption to block content that can include documents, spreadsheets, pictures and additional media. Although the MindSystem Ransomware claims to be for 'educational purposes,' this Trojan remains capable of causing data loss and also may change UI settings or disable software automatically. Free decryption tools and backups can protect your local data from these attacks and anti-malware programs can identify and remove the MindSystem Ransomware heuristically.

Trojans Minding Your System's Software Along with Its Files

Trojans that use file-encoding attacks have the option of stopping with just the bare minimum of encryption and a ransom message, or including other features that can help communicate with the victim and impede the recovery process. The MindSystem Ransomware, a supposedly 'educational' Trojan in the vein of Hidden Tear, accomplishes all of the above while blocking your files. Although malware analysts have yet to connect any extortion campaigns to it, by itself, the Trojan is an immediate threat to the PC's media.

The MindSystem Ransomware encodes the files on the victim's PC using an AES or Rijndael cipher initially and also includes the standard characteristic of inserting personal modifications into their names. Other functions malware experts took notice of in the Trojan's payload include a feature for resetting the desktop (which may display its non-extortionist decryption message), as well as disabling different Windows utilities, including the Registry Editor and the Command Prompt. The majority of its support features modify the Registry directly to eliminate the operating system's standard security features.

The MindSystem Ransomware's accompanying instructions don't ask for payment and recommend using the provided decryption module to restore your files. However, other aspects of its payload do raise various security implications, and other threat actors could edit the MindSystem Ransomware to become a profit-oriented threat easily.

Educating Yourself on a Trojan's Limitations

Due to its lack of presence in any extortion-related attacks, the MindSystem Ransomware may be a genuine example of a file-encoding Trojan created for 'practice' purposes that allow interested researchers to test and hone their skills. However, as Hidden Tear and EDA2 show, third parties having access to an already-working Trojan can create variants with more ill-minded intent than the original program. In case the decryption software is excluded from some builds of the MindSystem Ransomware or fails to work as intended, malware experts recommend that all users keep remote backups that can turn the breaking of the MindSystem Ransomware's cipher into an optional luxury.

The MindSystem Ransomware also isn't particularly evasive, even compared to other families of file-blocking Trojans with open sources. Although few AV brands have threat entries specific to this Trojan, the majority of them should detect it generically and prevent it from causing any file damage. Having anti-malware products that are active and capable of scanning new files as you download them can help with removing the MindSystem Ransomware without giving its payload any time to work.

Con artists have plentiful options to choose from when looking for a pre-built Trojan with options for extorting money, damaging files, or terminating baseline security processes. The MindSystem Ransomware's addition to that pile is unlikely of causing any real harm but does emphasize the need to stay updated on one's backup schedule and security habits.

MindSystem Ransomware

Threat Metric

Trojans Minding Your System's Software Along with Its Files

Educating Yourself on a Trojan's Limitations

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