TurkStatik Ransomware

The TurkStatik Ransomware is a file-locking Trojan targeting Turkish Windows users. Infections can lock files on your computer through encryption, along with creating messages that demand ransoms for unlocking them. You should back any work of value up securely for preventing this extortion and rely on traditional anti-malware applications for removing the TurkStatik Ransomware installations.

The New Static Interfering with Your Files

Turkey is a region of both geographical and political importance, and that emphasis also bleeds over into the cyber-security sphere. File-locking Trojan campaigns explicitly targeting the nation's residents are a semi-regular occurrence, as malware experts confirm through attacks like those of the Scarab-Turkish Ransomware, the '.cryptoid File Extension' Ransomware and the '.combo File Extension' Ransomware. However, most of these Trojans belong to families like the Dharma Ransomware and the Scarab Ransomware, whereas the newest example, the TurkStatik Ransomware, is by all appearances, completely independent.

Some security products identify the TurkStatik Ransomware as the Globe Imposter Ransomware Trojan incorrectly, which is unsurprising, due to structural and symptom-based similarities to that Ransomware-as-a-Service. It also is a small Windows program and uses the .NET Framework. The symptoms that malware experts are verifying at this early stage are typical for this kind of threat, such as:

• The TurkStatik Ransomware encrypts files using a (currently) non-secure algorithm so that they can't open and attacks content such as text documents and visual/audio media.
• The TurkStatik Ransomware appends 'ciphered' extensions onto each blocked file's name.
• The TurkStatik Ransomware creates multiple, Notepad ransom notes that provide Turkish-language instructions, such as an e-mail address and ID, for negotiating over the criminal's ransom-based unlocking service. The text gives a one or two-day deadline, much shorter than competitors, such as most Ransomware-as-a-Service families.

Also of note is the TurkStatik Ransomware's preference for a Russian e-mail address, which points at a likely home region for the author.

Recovering from Turkish Ransomware Schemes without Paying a Cent

Campaigns like the TurkStatik Ransomware's aren't uncommon, although they face increasing competition from alternative, illicit revenue sources, such as cryptocurrency miners. There is a free decryption service for restoring any files that the TurkStatik Ransomware attacks. However, since this encryption is made impenetrable easily, malware experts recommend storing additional backups on other devices for the most reliable recovery of damaged files.

Samples of the TurkStatik Ransomware are pretending that they're Java applet-viewing software, with appropriately falsified description information. Attacks taking advantage of this tactic could arrive through compromised Web ad-serving networks or hostile websites, particularly ones displaying streaming media. Users should always reject downloads of software from illicit or threatening sources, which make up a notable portion of file-locker Trojans' installers.

Anti-malware programs of most brands can thwart and remove the TurkStatik Ransomware effectively, although, as malware experts noted previously, there are a few cases of improper familial identification.

It's a lucky break for any victims that a cure to the TurkStatik Ransomware isn't out of the cyber-security industry's reach. However, like real diseases, Trojans are adaptable, and no one should depend too much on reversing harm, instead of preventing it.