‘PacMan’ Ransomware

Posted: March 27, 2015

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:	40

First Seen:	March 26, 2015
Last Seen:	January 21, 2022
OS(es) Affected:	Windows

The 'PacMan' Ransomware is a file encryption Trojan that recently saw distribution in targeted e-mail attacks focused on European chiropractors. In addition to locking your files in exchange for a ransom fee, the 'PacMan' Ransomware also conducts other attacks, such as collecting personal information and disabling standard security solutions. Paying the 'PacMan' Ransomware's ransom has no certainty of restoring your files, and malware specialists advise using anti-malware tools to disable the 'PacMan' Ransomware alongside file backup protocols that can render your data immune to its attempted extortion.

The Ransomware Turning Your Files into Ghosts

Although the 'PacMan' Ransomware is a high-level threat including many functions that would make the 'PacMan' Ransomware useful to a broad range of cybercrooks, its only distribution to date has been tightly controlled by its apparent developer. A single e-mail campaign was identified targeting specific chiropractors in the nation of Denmark, with the spearhead e-mails using well-formulated Danish text implying fluency on the part of the person. Victims who mistakenly install the 'PacMan' Ransomware from the provided e-mail links experience a range of different, negative results of varying degrees of visibility.

The 'PacMan' Ransomware's primary payload can be said to be its file-encrypting attack, which scrambles file data according to an advanced algorithm. Although the data technically is intact, the files are unable to be read without decryption reversing the process. The 'PacMan' Ransomware uses the infected PC's desktop to host an image demanding the purchase of a decryption key within twenty-four hours, supposedly before the Trojan deletes the key.

In their research, malware specialists also found some other functions originating from the 'PacMan' Ransomware, not all of which have any relation to the ransomware extortion. Some of these may include:

Keylogging, which allows the 'PacMan' Ransomware to gather typed information, including passwords.
The 'PacMan' Ransomware also contains a routine that monitors the programs currently in memory on the infected PC. A small blacklist of specific security tools operates in conjunction with this feature, which lets the 'PacMan' Ransomware disable utilities like the Task Manager or Registry Editor.

Stopping the 'PacMan' Ransomware from Feasting on Your File Data

The 'PacMan' Ransomware may not be in widespread distribution to the general public, but its current campaign is heavily indicative of the 'PacMan' Ransomware being a notable threat to European businesses and NGOs. The sophisticated of the social engineering in its e-mail messages could allow victims to install the 'PacMan' Ransomware without any realization that the attack's occurred – until their files fail to open. As usual, secure backup strategies such as cloud storage are the simplest means of blocking the 'PacMan' Ransomware's file-ransoming attack. Victims also should consider changing passwords and monitoring any online accounts for potential symptoms of hijackings.

The 'PacMan' Ransomware is a sophisticated threat that includes features typical to both ransomware and advanced spyware Trojans. As a consequence of this functionality, malware specialists recommend only the use of proper anti-malware products or the assistance of PC security professionals for deleting the 'PacMan' Ransomware. If your anti-malware products are blocked by one of the 'PacMan' Ransomware's functions, rebooting your PC through an uninfected drive (such as any USB device) should allow you to disrupt its attacks before proceeding.

‘PacMan’ Ransomware

Threat Metric

The Ransomware Turning Your Files into Ghosts

Stopping the 'PacMan' Ransomware from Feasting on Your File Data

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