$ucyLocker Ransomware

Posted: June 9, 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:	4,073

First Seen:	June 9, 2017
Last Seen:	March 7, 2023
OS(es) Affected:	Windows

The $ucyLocker Ransomware is a Trojan that locks your files by using Hidden Tear-based encryption features. Even though its attacks include a ransoming message for purchasing a data-decrypting service, malware experts warn against paying since the Trojan omits features that are integral to the recovery process. Keep backups to prevent this Trojan from causing irreversible damage, and use anti-malware protection to block or uninstall the $ucyLocker Ransomware.

The All-Important Missing Molecules in a Drop of Hidden Tear

Threat actors without the drive to make anything better resort to creating minor modifications of very well-explored threats with code that's subject to easy plundering frequently. This fact is a point of origin for file-encrypting Trojans particularly, which con artists can create in a matter of minutes, after getting access to the widely-circulated code of Hidden Tear. However, their editing to that baseline code, sometimes, causes more troubles for the people they attack, as malware experts assert with the $ucyLocker Ransomware.

The $ucyLocker Ransomware, referred to by some sources as theVapeHacksLoader Ransomware, searches an infected PC for documents, pictures, and equally non-essential, but personally valuable, formats of media. It targets every file fitting its definitions with an AES cipher that locks them from opening. The $ucyLocker Ransomware's threat actor also chose to add the '.WINDOWS' extension onto their names, which is a unique string not shared with other Hidden Tear revamps.

The usual profit-generating features also are in evidence, such as text messages and HTML pop-ups asking the user to pay Bitcoins to get access to the decryption feature. Victims doing so will not be able to restore their files; the $ucyLocker Ransomware doesn't save the decryption data and doesn't check to verify the transaction. Malware experts also emphasize that, since the $ucyLocker Ransomware uses Bitcoin ransoms, refunds will not be available without the threat actor's highly unlikely consent.

Keeping a File-Locker from Taking You for a Sucker

The $ucyLocker Ransomware is a valuable example of how threat actors can take a given definition of a threat and modify it just enough to make it even worse for the people it attacks. Even when these changes consist of nothing more than deleting previous features, the result is an encryption attack that can damage your files permanently. Decryptors for Hidden Tear may unlock some of the files that the $ucyLocker Ransomware attacks, but malware analysts also encourage keeping backups as a fallback position for when decryption isn't possible.

While malware analysts can't corroborate any ongoing distribution models in the $ucyLocker Ransomware campaign, its threat actor could install it through traditional methods, like documents attached to e-mail spam, free software bundles, or a website's drive-by-download scripts. Disabling macros, scanning downloads before you open them, and disabling content like JavaScript and Flash will help you block these attacks. Many anti-malware products also remove the $ucyLocker Ransomware and other Hidden Tear variants without any issues.

Stopping a Trojan like the $ucyLocker Ransomware from gaining a foothold on your computer is more than just a convenience, it's a defensive position to protect your files from attacks. Just as in real warfare, recovering from losses will cost the defending party more than drawing a line in the sand.

$ucyLocker Ransomware

Threat Metric

The All-Important Missing Molecules in a Drop of Hidden Tear

Keeping a File-Locker from Taking You for a Sucker

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