Tag: ransomware

Scareware: Fake Minecraft apps Scare Hundreds of Thousands on Google Play

May 22, 2015

ESET has discovered over 30 scareware applications available for download from the Google Play store. The malicious applications, which pretended to be cheats for the popular Minecraft game, have been installed by more than 600.000 Android users. It’s not easy to slip a malicious application into Google’s official Play Store these days. Google’s automated application … More Scareware: Fake Minecraft apps Scare Hundreds of Thousands on Google Play

Ransomware: Should you pay the cybercriminals?

April 23, 2015

Ransomware is a growing threat, threatening to take over your machine, encrypt your files and demand payment in exchange for their safe return. But, as we explore below, paying the ransom is rarely the solution. What is ransomware? Ransomware is a type of malware, or malicious software, which has exploded in notoriety in recent years. The … More Ransomware: Should you pay the cybercriminals?

CTB-Locker: Multilingual Malware Demands Ransom

January 21, 2015

As we have seen in previously published articles regarding ransomware, such as TorrentLocker targeting UK with Roya Mail phishing and ransomware in a country near you, these threats are appearing more frequently and in different regions. Starting a few days ago, we began receiving multiple reports of malware-spreading campaigns in various countries mostly in Latin … More CTB-Locker: Multilingual Malware Demands Ransom

Win32/Virlock: First Self-Reproducing Ransomware is also a Shape Shifter

December 23, 2014

Win32/VirLock is ransomware that locks victims’ screens but also acts as parasitic virus, infecting existing files on their computers. The virus is also polymorphic, which makes it an interesting piece of malware to analyze. This is the first time such combination of malware features has been observed. NOTE: Victims can restore their VirLock-infected files using … More Win32/Virlock: First Self-Reproducing Ransomware is also a Shape Shifter

TorrentLocker: Racketeering ransomware hits Ireland as well

December 16, 2014

Security experts at ESET have released their latest research into the notorious TorrentLocker malware, which has infected thousands of computer systems around the world, taking data hostage and demanding a ransom be paid to ensure its safe return. In a technical white paper, researcher Marc-Étienne Léveillé describes how the TorrentLocker family of ransomware (which is … More TorrentLocker: Racketeering ransomware hits Ireland as well