TapPIF Ransomware

The TapPIF Ransomware is a file-locking Trojan that stops users from opening media files such as pictures and documents. The TapPIF Ransomware attacks include a multi-language, interactive ransom note that recommends downloading additional instructions from a Dropbox link. Users should avoid criminal-endorsed downloads and ransom demands, have their anti-malware services remove the TapPIF Ransomware, and retrieve any files through unaffected backups.

Trojan Developers with Enthusiasm for Victims around the World

One can tell much of a Trojan's campaign by how it speaks to its victims, and the TapPIF Ransomware says a great deal with relatively few words. This file-locker Trojan is independent of the usual families, such as Hidden Tear or the Dharma Ransomware. Many of its features stray from competing Trojans in the same threat space minimally, but the TapPIF Ransomware has at least one factor in its favor: its language support.

The TapPIF Ransomware is a .NET Framework Trojan for Windows that uses encryption as its bludgeon against users without backups. Its secure data-encrypting feature targets usually-valuable files, such as Word's DOCs, JPG pictures, or archives like ZIP and prevents them from opening. The TapPIF Ransomware also tags each file's name with an extension (currently, malware experts only see 'ehre' in use) without taking off any preexisting extensions. These features make the TapPIF Ransomware almost indistinguishable from past Trojans with similar aims.

The ransom note that the TapPIF Ransomware creates for making money off these attacks provides most of the Trojan's personality and uniqueness. The TapPIF Ransomware doesn't use a typical HTA pop-up, HTML page or TXT file. The author prefers a secondary, stand-alone executable that creates an interactive pop-up, which cycles through Chinese, Spanish, and English versions of its instructions. Atypically, the TapPIF Ransomware also tells victims that they should download a file from its Dropbox link for more directions, asserting that the pop-up can't accommodate more text.

Although malware experts have yet to analyze the secondary Dropbox download, users should remember that threat actors may not honor ransom-related agreements and can use these opportunities for dropping other threats onto a computer.

Trojan Assertiveness Falling Flat in the Face of Questionable Expertise

Although the TapPIF Ransomware has several gimmicks of interest, it also is a less-professional product than, for instance, most Ransomware-as-a-Services. Its notes' grammar is highly-suspect to the point of potentially damaging the clarity of the instructions. The Trojan also may encrypt itself (some samples of its executable possess the same extension as the 'locked' files) unintentionally. Furthermore, the .NET dependency also limits the Trojan's operational environments without installing additional software and risking drawing attention.

Although its encryption has no freeware solutions, malware experts see no Restore Point-deleting features in its payload. Users may roll their system back to the last Restore Point as a possible recovery option. Since most Trojans of this type will delete that data, the availability of a non-local backup as a last-ditch restoration avenue remains valuable. For avoiding infections, malware experts recommend turning off Flash and JavaScript features, scanning downloads (particularly, torrents and e-mail attachments), and making careful password choices.

Anti-malware services may identify the TapPIF Ransomware by generic or behavioral methods, and users should update their security solutions for improving detection chances routinely. Removing the TapPIF Ransomware from infected computers, even with dedicated anti-malware tools as recommended, will not restore or unlock the victim's files.

While the TapPIF Ransomware speaks in broken English, it breaks files, too, and that's true whether the target is a company or a Web surfer. Downloading external files from criminals' accounts also may complicate the already naturally complex matter of data extortion into a truly-untenable problem.