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Zelta Free Ransomware

Posted: May 15, 2017

The Zelta Free Ransomware is a variant of the Stampado Ransomware, a Trojan that uses the 256-bit AES encryption to keep you from opening files such as pictures or documents. Although different groups of con artists may distribute the Zelta Free Ransomware in various ways, it always will display symptoms that include changes to your files' extensions and a pop-up message. Use anti-malware products for deleting the Zelta Free Ransomware before an infection happens, and free decryption solutions or backups for further data recovery, if you need it.

Extortionist Trojans Given Away for Free

While the prices paid by their victims are often exorbitant, file-encoding Trojans of various types may be affordable to up-and-coming threat actors surprisingly. The Zelta Free Ransomware is, perhaps, the cheapest of all, as a new version of the Stampado Ransomware that its authors are giving away at no charge whatsoever. It's unknown whether or not they're using a ransom-splitting method of profiting from their Trojan project, regardless of who's distributing it. However, the practical effects felt by any victims are negative and potentially costly consistently.

The Zelta Free Ransomware continues using AutoIT as the language basis for its code and encrypts files on your PC according to either their formats or locations. The operating system's folder and other, critical components are exclusions from its encryption list and media is the traditional target. Every blocked file is identifiable from its '.locked' extension, which the Zelta Free Ransomware shares with the first Stampado Ransomware and a range of other Trojan campaigns.

The Trojan finishes its payload by placing several files on your desktop (one copy of the victim's ID number and two duplicates of its ransoming instructions), as well as creating an interactive pop-up. Along with its traditional ransom payment for a decryptor strategy, the Zelta Free Ransomware also continues with the file-deleting features of the original Trojan and erases one encrypted file at random every few hours.

Free Solutions to Freeware Trojan Infections

Regardless of any requests shown through the Zelta Free Ransomware's pop-up or accompanying links, paying ransoms for a decryptor may be unnecessary. For the Stampado Ransomware family, in particular, malware experts can confirm a high likelihood of free decryption solutions being practical. Anyone without the patience to seek help from appropriate security researchers for extra assistance with unlocking their files should resort to backing up their content regularly, for access to an easy recovery option.

The Zelta Free Ransomware is a free Trojan but operates in the threat marketplace similarly to most Ransomware-as-a-Service products. Different threat actors could use different infection strategies, such as spam e-mails, targeting a server with brute-force attacks, or seeding downloads of the Zelta Free Ransomware within a compromised website. Basic safety protocols for computer usage, combined with updated anti-malware protection, can catch and delete the Zelta Free Ransomware, preventing its encryption from happening at all.

Out of dozens of major brands of anti-malware solutions, a majority can identify the Zelta Free Ransomware and threats related to it. However, even the best PC security program can't protect users uninterested in defending themselves or their files.

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