Surge in Ransomware Likely Due to Bitcoin
Ransomware is a form of malware that hijacks the user's computer and restricts access to most parts of it. For the restriction to be removed, the user must pay the malware creator a ransom. The malware might encrypt all the files on the computer, making them unaccessible, or simply lock down the computer and display annoying messages. Many times, ransomware will display official-looking messages claiming to be from law enforcement authorities to frighten the user into paying. Seems legit? It's not. In the past, hackers demanded payment vouchers such as MoneyPak, but Bitcoin has become a....
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One thing seems certain: it will become harder to detect this malicious software in the future. One of the most popular trends in 2016 has been the surge in ransomware deployment. Over the coming 12 months, this situation will only get worse. Enterprises and users are advised to take the necessary precautions to nip these attacks in the bud. In the first week of the new year, new types of ransomware have made their presence known already. KillDisk is a type of malware that has been around for some time already. A new version of this ransomware strain has security researchers concerned,....
Over the course of 2015, many individuals and companies have been affected by ransomware. While this may have nothing to do with Bitcoin at first glance, there have been a few cases where the ransomware could only be removed by paying a certain fee in Bitcoin. But those days may be over now, as a decryption toolkit for various types of ransomware has been made publicly available, free of charge. CryptoLocker and CoinVault Ransomware. Two types of ransomware making headlines all across the world in recent months are called CryptoLocker and CoinVault. Both types of ransomware operate, in the....
In a ransomware attack, it is assumed that the hackers prefer the ransom being paid in bitcoin due to the anonymous nature of its transactions. It might not be true as the hackers are probably interested in bitcoin for entirely different reasons. Bitcoin and Ransomware, these words appear more frequently in a single sentence these days than we wish for. Ransomware attacks have become a common occurrence these days. We had earlier reported the use of Advertising network by cyber criminals to propagate ransomware to the computers belonging to the readers of some of the leading news websites.....
A surge in ransomware in 2021 has also resulted in a surge in Monero usage as the method of payment as more criminal groups want only XMR. A new report by blockchain analytics firm CipherTrace highlights the growing role that privacy-focused cryptocurrencies such as Monero are playing in the rising tide of ransomware.“Current Trends in Ransomware” delves into trends observed during 2021 but was only released this week. The firm revealed there was almost a 500% increase in “double extortion” ransomware attacks from 2020 to 2021. These are cyber attacks in which malicious actors steal a....
The new GoldenEye ransomware poses as a resume to infect computers belonging to HR departments. James Bond, the fictional spy, has met his match when it comes to deception. A new ransomware named after one of the Bond movies, GoldenEye infects work computers by posing as a job application. According to cybersecurity researchers, the GoldenEye ransomware is a variant of previously known Petya ransomware. The ransomware targets the HR departments of the companies as they receive hundreds if not thousands of emails from unknown people applying for job positions. A well-crafted mail delivers....