Home Malware Programs Ransomware '.protected File Extension' Ransomware

'.protected File Extension' Ransomware

Posted: June 6, 2016

Threat Metric

Threat Level: 10/10
Infected PCs: 65
First Seen: June 6, 2016
OS(es) Affected: Windows

The '.protected File Extension' Ransomware is a Trojan that holds the files of your computer hostage by running them through an encryption routine, with the decryption process requiring a private key held by its administrators. A '.protected File Extension' Ransomware infection also deposits instructions for purchasing that decryption service, although the remote attacker simply may take the money and not reciprocate. Like other threats of its kind, the '.protected File Extension' Ransomware is vulnerable to backups circumventing its payload's intended damages, as well as anti-malware products that could delete the '.protected File Extension' Ransomware proactively.

The Most Expensive File Protection You can Download

The '.protected File Extension' Ransomware is a threatening file encryption program that uses its features to hold its victims' data for ransom. While its overall features are very similar to those of other file encryptors not derived from the Rakhni familial kit, the '.protected File Extension' Ransomware isn't identifiable as a variant of past threats. That fact especially is pertinent in the face of the '.protected File Extension' Ransomware's claim of being a new version of the semi-infamous Cryptowall Ransomware.

Besides these questionable claims, malware experts find the '.protected File Extension' Ransomware conforming to the traditional payload options of such threats. The '.protected File Extension' Ransomware conceals its primary file in a default Windows folder and then launches automatically. Symptoms worth noting include:

  • The '.protected File Extension' Ransomware scans all local drives for files that are within appropriate formats for ransoming, including audio types such as MP4, text-based documents, spreadsheets, other database information, and image formats like JPG.
  • After isolating this data, the '.protected File Extension' Ransomware encrypts it using an algorithm estimated of conforming to 256-bit AES standards currently. However strong or weak the encryption process may be, an encrypted file becomes unreadable without being decrypted again.
  • The '.protected File Extension' Ransomware makes identifying this content straightforward through providing a new extension, the '.protected' string, which the '.protected File Extension' Ransomware appends on top of any preexisting extensions.
  • The '.protected File Extension' Ransomware's last act is to place ransom messages for purchasing the decryptor on your PC while inserting the notes into the Windows startup process. You may find HTML Web pages, images, and plain text files all within any encrypted directory.

The Only Protection Needed Against the '.protected File Extension' Ransomware

The '.protected File Extension' Ransomware spreads itself with the same hopes of making easy money from victims who have no options preferable to paying for a decryptor that they may not receive. Although various PC security institutions do carry out research on developing new, free decryption utilities, no such tool is yet available for most new threats, including the '.protected File Extension' Ransomware. However, lacking decryption solutions doesn't necessarily prevent you from using other data protection tactics.

Barely any file encrypting Trojans up to the present day have made any effort to compromise cloud-based backup servers. Just as importantly, an ordinary, detached USB drive also can provide a haven from attacks like the '.protected File Extension' Ransomware's file encryption payload as long as you remember to make backups regularly. Restoring your content from the last good source and deleting the encrypted content is one of the most cost-effective ways of dealing with a '.protected File Extension' Ransomware attack.

Attending to the safety of your infected PC before recovering data will guarantee the future integrity of your files. Although some file encryptors include personal self-deletion routines, malware experts always encourage using anti-malware products for removing the '.protected File Extension' Ransomware, which could include other threats in the same attack easily.

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