R00t Ransomware

The R00t Ransomware is a file-locker Trojan that belongs to the Paradise Ransomware family. Its most significant hazard is the ability to block your digital media, such as documents, with secure encryption. Windows users can protect themselves with an appropriate backup failsafe and qualified anti-malware tools for catching and removing the R00t Ransomware promptly.

Paradisical Trojans Rooting Around in Your Files

With years of proliferation under its belt, the Paradise Ransomware family is maintaining a steady, if understated presence in the threat landscape. Although it lacks the raw numbers of the biggest Ransomware-as-a-Services, like the Dharma Ransomware, it does boast various, credibly-threatening members over time, such as the racially-charged Sambo Ransomware, the Recognizer Ransomware, the Yourencrypter@protonmail[.]ch Ransomware and the Kiss Ransomware possibly. With a final variation ending out 2019, the R00t Ransomware, it seems likely that the family will remain a problem going into 2020.

The R00t Ransomware and its fellow relatives use RSA-1024 encryption as their chosen method of blocking digital media, which is somewhat slower than the most widely used alternative of AES. However, the encryption routine keeps all of the usual advantages, such as not showing any noticeable symptoms while it's ongoing and keeping file data from being readable. Formats that malware analysts note as being at risk include most media types, such as documents, pictures, music, or even space-compressed archives, especially.

Some of the less concerning but identifiable features of the R00t Ransomware include a text ransom note and the addition of a compound extension to filenames, which consists of the Trojan's name, a randomly-generated ID, and the 'njkwe' string. While malware researchers have yet to verify it, it also is probable that the R00t Ransomware is hijacking the desktop with a ransom-themed image and wiping out the Windows Restore Points through the Shadow Volume Copy deletion, as is traditional with the Paradise Ransomware. The ransoming message is well-organized, notably, and includes some ASCII art and an online chat feature as stand-out characteristics.

Getting Down to the Roots of a File-Ransoming Crime

Although negotiating ransom payments with criminals offers a somewhat tenuous possibility of unlocking one's files, malware researchers always encourage testing every other recovery method before resorting to it. A typically-safe backup on another device, one with unique password protection or other security protocols, particularly, should offer smooth data restoration to anyone. Only Windows users are at risk from the Paradise Ransomware's family and the R00t Ransomware, although equivalent competitors exist on other operating systems.

Server and network administrators can render their systems immune to remote attacks by using passwords that aren't brute-force-vulnerable, as well as by running on updated software without publicly-known vulnerabilities. For individuals, security guidelines include being careful around e-mail attachments that are common infection vectors and avoiding illicit or questionable download sources like updates through advertising networks or torrents. Pirated software also has a close connection with some file-locker Trojans, although malware experts have yet to denote the R00t Ransomware's distribution tactics specifically.

Anti-malware products are highly capable of deleting most file-locking Trojans traditionally, which don't invest much effort in advanced self-defense. This truism applies just as well to the current Paradise Ransomware variant, and most users should remove the R00t Ransomware easily as long as the appropriate security software is present.

Since its family continues running a profit, there's no reason one should expect its growth's slowing anytime over the next year. As long as people put off their backup schedules, enemies like the R00t Ransomware will be there to take advantage of them.