Cheap Ransomware Takes Files Hostage

Stampado Malware – No Administrator Rights to Infect Computers

A Malware has been spottedby online security firm Heimdal on the dark web, which is a part of the World Wide Web which is not indexed by regular search engines and which needs specialists’ software or approval on access. The malware tends to give the victims 96 hours to pay a ransom before it tends to being deleting files from their PC. It is said that if the ransom is not paid, it continues to delete random file every six hours.

The newly discovered threat is known as Stampado malware and is said to be on sale for less than $50 for a lifetime licence. The difference between Stampado and the other malware alternatives is that it does not require administrator rights to begin infecting the computers. Ramsomware is malicious software which tends to ascent the data on the users’ PC and thereafter probes for payment before restoring the data to its original state.

The price of unlocking data may differ, with users usually paying a few hundred pounds and businesses a few thousand. A security firm Heimdal had mentioned in a blog that `cryptoware is a big segment of the malware economy, malware creators have to constantly release new products to keep their clients engaged and the money flowing. Researchers at Intel Security, in June, had mentioned that they had seen an alarming rise in the volume of ransomware available to hackers. They had informed that they had logged 124 individual variants of the malware.

Ransomware Attacks Doubled in Past Years

The FBI had also stated that it had envisaged ransomware attacks doubled in the past years, with over 2,400 complaints that had come up. The estimated losses from these attacks amounted to $24m within that timeframe. In recent months, banks, educational institutions and hospitals had all been affected by these attacks. Several made attempts of solving the issue internally before making the payment of any ransoms.Experts are of the opinion that the best way individuals can protect against ransomware is to back up files elsewhere outside the computers like an external hard drive or the cloud. In order to combat the cyber occurrence on a state level needs the efforts of the N.J. Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness. Dave Weinstein, New Jersey’s first chief technology officer, stated that federal departments have their focus on protecting national assets from cyber-attacks, in an effort of protecting the whole country but that could overlook several smaller objects which would only disturb state residents if disabled.

Ransomware a Serious Threat

He further added that there are a majority of assets in the state which tend to fall below the very high verge that if stuck unfavourably it would not influence the nation as a whole but would certainly affect the residents as well as the business of the state of New Jersey. The cyber security division of OSHP, earlier helmed by Weinstein also tracks dozens of well-known ransomware alternatives to inform victims on the decision of paying the attackers or not. Ransomware seems to be a very serious threat and the negative impact it tends to have on individual or corporation relates to the effort, cost and time connected in restoring the systems and devices back to its original working state. On comprehending the cost of recovery, the monetary as well as reputation, the victims are left with an option of paying or move forward with a recovery plan if one tends to exist.