What Is Ransomware And How To Remove Malware From Computer

What is ransomware?

Ransomware is a type of malicious software that jeopardizes the victim’s data and perpetually blocks users access to his/her data on his/her computer, unless a ransom fee is paid.  Ransomware often infiltrates a PC as a computer worm or Trojan horse that takes advantage of one of the open security vulnerabilities.

Ransomware Malware Virus

Most of the Ransomware attacks are a result of clicking an infected email attachment, spam emails, visiting hacked or malicious websites like pornographic sites, betting sites or random hookup sites. While some simple ransomware may lock the system in a way which is not difficult for a knowledgeable person to reverse, more advanced malware uses a technique called cryptoviral exaction. In this technique the Ransomware encrypts the victim’s files, making them inaccessible and demands a ransom payment to decrypt them. This ransomware also gives a timer in which you have to pay that amount or else they will increase the ransom amount. These days ransomware doesn’t just affect desktop machines or laptops; it also targets mobile phones.

There are two types of Ransomware?

1. Encrypting Ransomware: It incorporates advanced encryption algorithms.It is designed to block your access to system files and demands ransom to provide you with the key that can decrypt the blocked content.
2. Locker ransomware: – Itlocks the victim out of the operating system, making it impossible to access the desktop and any apps or files. The files are not encrypted in this case, but the attackers of ransomware still ask for a ransom amount to unlock your infected computer. Some locker versions can even taint the Master Boot Record (MBR). The MBR is the section of a PC’s hard drive which enables the operating system to boot up and keeps a track of the files on the hard drive. When MBR ransomware strikes, the boot process can’t complete as usual and prompts a ransom note to be displayed on the screen.

How does a ransomware infect your system?

1. Spam emails is a most common way to sneak into your system. It contain malicious links or attachments.
2. Redirects to malicious websites.
3. Drive by downloads: A drive-by download refers to the unintentional download of a virus or malicious software (malware) onto your computer or mobile device. A drive-by download will usually take advantage of (or “exploit”) a browser, app, or operating system that is out of date and has a security flaw.
4. Visiting Websites that have malicious code injected in their browser or web pages.
5. Security exploits in vulnerable software.
6. Dropbox links, advert on web pages or by clicking hyperlink.

It uses an anti-sandboxing mechanism so that the antivirus won’t detect it.
Ransomware mainly targets on big organisation groups and business individuals and to know the reason you can read Why Ransomware criminal target businesses?

Top targets of ransomware developers:

They attack the most profitable users or companies like:

1. Police stations
2. Schools
3. Businessmen
4. City councils
5. Government agencies

Traits of Ransomware:

1. Unbreakable encryption
2. Ability to encrypt all kind of files like pictures, audio, video and anything on your PC.
3. Scrambles your file names so you won’t know what data was effected.
4. Image or message will display on your screen indicating your data has been hacked/encrypt.
5. Payment in bitcoins: they demand for ransom fee in the form of bitcoins.
6. The ransom payments have a time limit. Going over the line means ransom amount will increase or data will be destroyed or lost for forever.
7. It also spreads to other PC’s that are connected to the infected pc on a local network.

Why ransomware criminals target home users?

1. Home Users have less cyber security education on such ransomware virus.
2. Lack of safety awareness makes home users an easy target.
3. Missing baseline cyber protection i.e. no antivirus or internet security installed.
4. Home users don’t keep their system up to date.
5. Home users don’t have backup and criminals take benefit of that.
6. Home users population is higher and thus probability of people paying up the ransom increases.

Why Ransomware criminal target businesses:

1. That’s where the money is.
2. Every minute is important for business, thus pay ups are faster.
3. Cyber criminals know that businesses would rather not report an infection for fear or legal consequences and brand damage.
4. Smaller businesses are not often ready for these attacks.
5. Attackers know that a successful infection can cause major business disruptions, which will increase their chances of getting paid.
6. Files and Folders are very important for every businessman and that is what these attackers keeps in mind. Attackers take advantage of this fact and demand for high ransom to be paid.

A list of most deadly Ransomware attacks till now:

1. WANNACRY: The latest virus which currently spread all across the world at a rapid rate is Wannacry, It originated from NHS in UK on 15 may 2107. On this date, this ransomware took the world by surprise. It affected hospitals, police stations, schools etc. all around the world. At least 200,000 computers in more than 74 countries all over the globe including India, were infected. “Pay a ransom fee of 300$ in form of bitcoins to get back the complete access of your system and admin rights” is one of the ransom note examples used.
   
2. PETYA: Petya global ransomware has come a little after the “month of Wanna Cry” got over and has already shown its wrath in the countries like Ukraine, Netherlands, Romania, France, Norway, Britain, Russia, and, Spain. Not taking more than some cloudy hours, the petya cyber-attacks have affected some of the major companies in USA and India as well.
   
3. CRYPTOGOD: CryptoGod Ransomware is a newly discovered file encrypting ransomware. It is a highly advanced ransomware virus. CryptoGod ransomware is a new iteration of the Hidden Tear malware that encrypts data with the. payforunlock
   
4. LOCKY:  Locky is ransomware distributed via malicious .doc files attached to spam email messages. Each word document contains scrambled text, which appear to be macros. This ransomware changes the desktop wallpaper. Both text files and wallpaper contain the same message that informs users of the encryption. All have identical behavior – they encrypt files and demand a ransom.
   For more information on Locky, click on the given link : Locky Ransomware

Source : http://www.howtoremoveit.info/
Source : http://www.howtoremoveit.info/ransomware-removal-tool-and-guide/

What Is Clickjacking and How To Prevent It

What is clickjacking on Facebook?

A senior technology consultant at Sophos Graham Cluley, said that millions of users had fallen victim to the "clickjacking" or "likejacking" scam. What is Clickjacking? Clickjacking is majorly used on Facebook. It is a security threat similar in nature to the code injected attacks. This is achieved by cyber-punks using transparent techniques to lure the Facebook users to click on a button or a link. Clickjacking is done by using a variety of links, both image and text to achieve the desired results.

The creation of the word “clickjacking” can be attributed to the nature of the attacks. The attack is intended to direct as many clicks as possible to a particular page by the means of fake news or video clips. Thus hijacking the clicks or “clickjacking”. The click then wither get the user to download something or are diverted to another page. Malicious content is cloaked under legitimate pages where cybercriminals make use of iframes and java script to load malicious content from a third party site.

Facebook, defines clickjacking in its own terms as "certain malicious websites that contain code to make your browser take action without your knowledge or consent". Posts on the user’s wall create curiosity and lures the users to click on them.  These links lead to third party sites which then through code injection spread the infected posts to that user’s contacts on Facebook.

How do users encounter this threat?

Such threats are majorly eminent on social networking sites with the features of like and share.  The posts are designed to create curiosity which instigates the users to click and share them.  Thus knowingly or unknowingly we as users to these sites become a medium for their propagation.

Use of Social engineering for Clickjacking?

Wall posts and other techniques used for clickjacking are designed in such a way that they do not look suspicious. Some of the methods used are as under:

Exclusive video and image Clips. Dome post claim to have the pics or videos of an event or about someone that are exclusive. Such luring content pulls the users to read this content thereby falling a victim to clickjacking.

Latest Updates on existing News. 

We all want an update on the current news and events. Hiding under the mask of such events Clickjacking takes advantage of such users on social networking sites. The most recent example of this was Rowan Atkinson died in a car crush.

Latest Breaking News & Gossips. News regarding celebrities and showbiz events including but not limited to hoaxes are used to trick users.

Offers, Promotions & Win a something Contests. Users are usually attracted to offers, posts and advertisements on social networking sites where content like, “click here to win an iPhone 7”. Click them leads to a survey form and asking the user to like or share the post.

Consequences of liking or click such content?

Social networking sites are now act as the mother ship to such attacks. Once you have clicked on them you are directed to third party sites. These sites generate revenue from these organic visits. Moreover these clicks are harvested to gain the information about the user’s geo location, machine, IP address etc. Some sites ask the user to like and/or share the post to be able to see the exclusive content or enter a contest to win a car or an IPhone..

Source : http://www.howtoremoveit.info/

Source : http://www.howtoremoveit.info/clickjacking-a-detailed-overview/

Ecosia | Ecosia Virus Removal Tool | Virus Remover

Ever noticed that your chrome, firefox, IE or Edge browsers homepage has been changed or having a new search engine as homepage? If yes then your browser is definitely infected by some kind of browser hijacker or by a browser virus which most likely have entered in your system by bundling itself with any third party software which you might have downloaded from a website. Ecosia Virus is classified as a browser hijacker which comes from the family of malware. It adds various pop-ups, plug-ins , extensions and ads to your browser. 

Ecosia HomePage

The makers of this malicious program, published or launched this as a browser virus which will infect your browsers default settings and in turn will apply an anonymous homepage as your default homepage. As per the sources this virus have already infected more than 9 million users but they have helped Indonesia, madagascar, peru and tanzania by planting trees in enormous number with the help of their 5.5 million active users but still this is considered as a virus and a Potentially unwanted program (PUP).

Targeted Browsers of this virus:

1. Google Chrome 
2. Mozilla Firefox
3. Internet Explorer

     What will Ecosia.org do to malfunction the system:

1. It will install and will automatically download various malicious extensions that in turn will bring spam ads, deals and fake alert everywhere on your browser.
2. Over consumption of CPU will slow down your PC performance and this over consumption is done because of this virus.
3. It downloads various infections in the background.
4. It exploits bugs of your system to help hacker get inside your computer remotely.
5. It also tracks users' searches, visited sites, IP address, and similar information. Collected data helps in setting the behavioral marketing strategy.

How Ecosia infects on your PC?

1. Bundling / Freeware - This virus bundles itself with other third party software and enters in your PC and is installed as a PUP.
2. Malicious links/websites - Always be very cautious in surfing on internet and on clicking on any link or site as some sites always offer useful extensions but in turn will install malicious browser hijackers.
3. Spam Email- Double-check any new emails and text messages before you respond to them, especially if they have files attached with them or if they contain shady-looking links. If you think that the new message might be spam, make sure to avoid it and delete it if you can.

How to remove Internet Ecosia? 

 If you want to know the removal steps on how to remove Ecosia virus then do check the link given.
It also has a free malware removal tool to remove all kinds of malware and virus.

Ecosia Virus Removal Tool

CopyCat | CopyCat Virus For Android Affecting Zygote Android

CopyCat, A new adware has infected about 14 million of Android devices around the world, with the majority hitting Asia (55%), followed by Africa (18%), and then the Americas (12%). This malware is believed to be spreading to Android devices in Southeast Asia, but certain reports confirmed that this Adware has already hit more than 280,000 handsets in the US. This malware attacked one of the enterprise of Check point researchers and then check point researchers ran across copycat virus in march of this year. The security company believes the CopyCatVirus campaign hit its peak between April and May of 2016.

CopyCat virus

How does it work into your mobile?

CopyCat virus, A malware with very well planned capabilities which includes rooting of devices, establishing persistency and injecting code into Zygote OS for Android.
Zygote Android is a daemon which is always responsible for launching of apps in Android OS which allows the malware to control any kind of activity on the device. A classic kind of technology is used by CopyCat virus to conduct all kinds of ad fraud. Copycat hijacks the roots in the user’s device once infected and then allowing the attackers to gain complete access of the infected device. This leaves the user defenseless against the infection. 

Damaging Effects of CopyCat-

1.       Code sharing with hacking community - the sophisticated capabilities developed by adware developers can be adopted by other malware developers, and used to commit bigger crimes.

2.       Theft of sensitive information – Some adware, such as Gooligan, steal sensitive information from their victims, which can later be sold to third parties for monetary gains

3.       Device rooting or jailbreaking – Adware frequently roots or jailbreaks devices, thereby breaking the built-in security mechanisms of Android or iOS, leaving victims defenseless to even the lowest level kind of hacks.