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Unlock26 Ransomware

Posted: February 24, 2017

Threat Metric

Threat Level: 10/10
Infected PCs: 9
First Seen: February 24, 2017
Last Seen: January 8, 2020
OS(es) Affected: Windows

The Unlock26 Ransomware is a Trojan that may lock your files by encrypting them and creates Web pop-ups to demand data recovery payments in Bitcoins. Because of the natural liabilities around paying extortionists for reversing their attacks, most victims should attempt other ways of restoring their media, such as loading their most recent backups. Although this threat uses semi-randomized file names, most anti-malware products should detect the Unlock26 Ransomware and be capable of removing it from your PC.

A Scientific Trojan with Mundane Goals

Although their financial goals are all too similar, different threat authors can be expressive individually in how they choose to deliver a ransom demand through their Trojans. The Unlock26 Ransomware, while a straightforward sample of file-encrypting software from late February, also favors some unusual choices in extortion that could make its threat actors easier to identify in future attacks. Since these personal traits are parts of the Unlock26 Ransomware's website infrastructure, the majority of its payload is unchanged from that of its competition.

The Unlock26 Ransomware locks the digital media of your PC according to an encryption method malware experts still are investigating. Typical data types subject to such attacks include documents, PDFs, images, audio, compressed archives, slideshows and spreadsheets. Many file-encryptor Trojans will exclude executable files and applications, and there are no reports of the Unlock26 Ransomware damaging the operating systems of any infected PC. Symptoms can consist of changes to file names, including their extensions (such as appending '.locked').

The Unlock26 Ransomware utilizes a domain-based proxy service to establish a connection with its ransoming website, which it displays for the victim in a browser pop-up. This site uses the highly unusual method of displaying its ransom demands in scientific notation, equal to 0.06 Bitcoins (71 USD). The cryptocurrency format guarantees that, once the money is transferred, the con artists will be able to hold it, even if they don't help you unlock your files.

Objective Ways of Keeping Your Files Free Scientifically

The Unlock26 Ransomware is a Trojan that operates off of poor data preservation practices from the individuals it attacks. Although full decryption services often are unavailable for a variety of reasons, whether or not you pay the ransom, the Unlock26 Ransomware can't prevent a PC user from restoring external backups. Malware researchers also often see Trojans of this category distributing themselves through e-mail attachments, which you should scrutinize with anti-malware tools when appropriate.

The potential for achieving full data recovery through the Bitcoin payments the Unlock26 Ransomware endorses is theoretically present, albeit slim. For most cases of otherwise unrecoverable, locked files, malware experts suggest that any victims first seek help from cyber security researchers with experience in developing free decryption software. When decryption isn't possible, stopping the Unlock26 Ransomware with your anti-malware solutions beforehand can be the only realistic means of saving the local copies of your files.

Portions of the Unlock26 Ransomware's domain-side do display some non-characteristic choices by this Trojan's threat actors. On the other hand, for anyone whose files become locked, the practical differences between the Unlock26 Ransomware and its competition are minor differences in Bitcoins.

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