NazCrypt Ransomware

Posted: February 21, 2018

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.

Ranking:	23,347
Threat Level:	2/10
Infected PCs:	90

First Seen:	June 26, 2024
Last Seen:	December 20, 2024
OS(es) Affected:	Windows

The NazCrypt Ransomware is a Trojan that uses the 7-Zip file-archiving program to block different media types on your PC, which can include both workplace-related information and recreational content. Because the encryption process could make the recovering of any files impossible, possessing backups and preventative security protocols are primary recommendations for countering this Trojan's campaign. Anti-malware utilities also may delete the NazCrypt Ransomware upon detecting it.

Encryption Misdeeds with a Freeware Basis

Efficient reuse of programming resources can help any threat actor cut the work required from designing a payload that delivers the intended degree of harm to an infected computer. With file-locking Trojans like the newly-verifiable NazCrypt Ransomware, the solution often lies in exploiting free software, such as file-compressing archivers. Other Trojans using similar methods include the WinRarer Ransomware, the RaRuCrypt Ransomware, and the '.7zipper File Extension' Ransomware, although none of these are direct relatives.

Malware experts are seeing versions of the NazCrypt Ransomware targeting well-financed, corporate networks, such as the systems of oil companies operating in the Middle East. The Trojan applies its encryption routine to files of indeterminate formats and locations automatically, and gives their names '.NAZCRYPT' tags for ease of identifying. The NazCrypt Ransomware bundles the 7-Zip utility with its payload for accomplishing this data-blocking attack and uses an algorithm of the AES-256.

These infections also include text messages that ask for a relatively low, three hundred USD ransom, that the victim pays in Bitcoins, for decrypting any files. However, malware experts can't, yet, confirm whether or not decryption is possible. As always, anything that a file-locking Trojan like the NazCrypt Ransomware blocks runs the risk of permanent damage.

Keeping Your Servers' Data out of a Hostage Situation

Attacks that use encryption to block valuable content, with a ransom cost attached, often are the direct result of a user undertaking non-secure actions on the Web previously. Out of these possible infection vectors, malware analysts note that e-mail is a primary danger routinely, and can include drive-by-downloads either as attachments or embedded Web links. Some threat actors also compromise a network directly without needing the user to make any upfront mistakes other than utilizing an unsafe password (such as 'admin1' or 'password123').

Backing up content can eliminate any necessity for paying the ransom that the NazCrypt Ransomware demands, which, in any case, has no certainty of facilitating any recovery of your files. Most anti-malware products are capable of detecting file-locking threats to various degrees and stopping them before their encryption features can launch. Since this Trojan's components are likely of using obfuscating names and file locations intentionally, any victims should have their anti-malware equipment uninstall the NazCrypt Ransomware, instead of doing so via the Control Panel or other, standard channels.

The importance of the energy sector hasn't blown by threat actors like the NazCrypt Ransomware's administrators. The coal, oil, solar power, and related industries are just as much in danger of file-locking extortion attempts as any average computer owner.

Technical Details

Additional Information

The following URL's were detected:

news-xhexopo.cc