‘.xyz File Extension’ Ransomware

Posted: January 20, 2016

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.

Ranking:	17,264
Threat Level:	8/10
Infected PCs:	82

First Seen:	January 20, 2016
Last Seen:	August 13, 2023
OS(es) Affected:	Windows

The '.xyz File Extension' Ransomware is a recent file encryptor that may be an update of TeslaCrypt. The '.xyz File Extension' Ransomware scans for files on your PC, uses an encryption routine to block them from opening and sells a decryption service to its victims. Since there is a significant degree of unreliability in paying file decrypting ransoms, preferable countermeasures include using robust backups and having anti-malware tools capable of identifying and removing the '.xyz File Extension' Ransomware (or its installer) before its payload can initiate.

The ABCs of an XYZ Ransom Hoax

The '.xyz File Extension' Ransomware is part of a handful of new threats emerging from updates to TeslaCrypt, which may be identifying itself incorrectly as the CryptoWall Ransomware to slow the work of PC security researchers. Besides the '.xyz File Extension' Ransomware, new variants our malware analysts can confirm include the '.ecc File Extension' Ransomware, the '.xxx File Extension,' and the '.ttt File Extension' Ransomware. Because of updates affecting how the file encryptor's key stores itself, the '.xyz File Extension' Ransomware has no known decryptor available that could reverse its attacks directly.

The '.xyz File Extension' Ransomware's campaign is similar to that of other file encryptors and involves scanning for non-essential data that it can encrypt. The encryption process prevents other applications from launching them, and any attempts at doing so will deliver generic error messages. The '.xyz File Extension' Ransomware also places ransom instructions in HTML and TXT formats inside the folders holding any encrypted files, recommending paying its administrators for the privilege of restoring your files.

Currently, the '.xyz File Extension' Ransomware campaign only can be confirmed for targeting Windows systems. Windows restore point data may be deleted in the process of a '.xyz File Extension' Ransomware infection, which keeps any victims from rolling back their OS to an earlier, safe state.

How to Extend Your Files Beyond the Reach of the '.xyz File Extension' Ransomware

The '.xyz File Extension' Ransomware represents a significant attempt by its developers at modernizing a ransomware campaign and blocking previous security solutions offered by different PC security researchers. However, due to its reliance on tricking victims into transferring their money intentionally, malware analysts still have found the '.xyz File Extension' Ransomware vulnerable to good file storage practices and basic education about ransomware. Files protected by high-quality backup standards, such as being backed up to a removable device that is unplugged regularly, can be restored over encrypted data, instead of trying to reverse the encryption.

The '.xyz File Extension' Ransomware and other variations of the TeslaCrypt Ransomware don't install themselves, but usually are parts of the payloads of other threats, such as a Trojan dropper. While removing the '.xyz File Extension' Ransomware, PC users should incorporate solutions that let professional anti-malware tools analyze the compromised system for other threats of all types. However, even the most in-depth anti-malware scans can't provide file-decrypting services, which are the purview of specialized utilities, often designed for threats such as the '.xyz File Extension' Ransomware on a case-by-case basis.

‘.xyz File Extension’ Ransomware

Threat Metric

The ABCs of an XYZ Ransom Hoax

How to Extend Your Files Beyond the Reach of the '.xyz File Extension' Ransomware

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