Reetner Ransomware

Posted: June 27, 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:	77

First Seen:	June 27, 2017
OS(es) Affected:	Windows

The Reetner Ransomware is a module-based Trojan that attacks your PC by encrypting your files and loading a variety of messages asking for money to decrypt them. The responsible use of backups can eliminate most risks of permanent damage to your saved content, and malware experts also recommend attempting free decryption services, in appropriate circumstances. However, there's no guarantee of decryption being possible, and users should try to protect themselves proactively with anti-malware products for deleting the Reetner Ransomware by default.

An Extortion that's Organized Module by Module

Many of the simplest Trojans using file-encrypting features are little more than a single executable file and a ransom message. However, the greater a threat actor's aspirations, the more complex and configurable the parts of his threatening software may need to be. One of the common factors malware experts are seeing in new families with significant effort, particularly those in the RaaS sector, is the use of modules, as readers now are seeing in the Reetner Ransomware.

The Reetner Ransomware installs itself with multiple executable files dedicated to different attacks, such as locking the victim's desktop with a ransom-themed image, creating an HTML file containing more ransoming information, and the motive for the ransom: a non-consensual encryption function. The Reetner Ransomware locks the files using an unknown algorithm, although, like many Trojans, it claims to use an unbreakable AES and RSA asymmetric combination that's equivalent to high-level US military encoding. Malware experts have yet to obtain data on whether the Reetner Ransomware is configurable for changing the names of any of the locked media.

Regardless of whether or not the Reetner Ransomware's assertion is a bluff, the affected data is encoded and made illegible until you decrypt it. Current versions of the Reetner Ransomware also operate with multiple language support for Spanish and English and probably are targeting private servers in the business sector.

Rooting out all the Files of a Single Infection

By isolating its features into separate files, the Reetner Ransomware's authors are giving other threat actors the potential to reconfigure the Trojan with little chance of breaking other features of its intended payload. They also complicate the disinfection routine by providing multiple targets for removal. Since current attacks, so far, are only delivering samples of the Reetner Ransomware's note-dropping modules, the con artists may be using other components to 'clean up' and remove the executable that's locking your files.

The Reetner Ransomware's circulation may be benefiting from such common infection vectors as e-mail spam, exploit kits (which use passive vulnerabilities to infect your PC while you browse the Web) and bundled downloads. Using anti-malware products to block drive-by-download attacks or scan incoming files, as well as blocking scripts and other, exploitable web content, can help keep your media safe. Since this threat consists of multiple components, most of which are in concealment, malware experts recommend using automated system analyses from your anti-malware programs to find and remove the Reetner Ransomware.

Ransomware-as-a-Service is a business model ripe for misuse by individuals who may use different exploits or demand various kinds of payments. However, even a RaaS Trojan like the Reetner Ransomware can profit without decrypting your files, which is why users should be careful not to put all their valuable data in one place.

Technical Details

File System Modifications

Tutorials: If you wish to learn how to remove malware components manually, you can read the tutorials on how to find malware, kill unwanted processes, remove malicious DLLs and delete other harmful files. Always be sure to back up your PC before making any changes.

The following files were created in the system:

dir\Noter.exe

File name: Noter.exe
Size: 6.92 MB (6922240 bytes)
MD5: a136cbb34942575feb5949c32086aa99
Detection count: 69
File type: Executable File
Mime Type: unknown/exe
Path: dir
Group: Malware file
Last Updated: June 27, 2017