Ransom.Win32.HKITTY.C
Windows
Threat Type: Ransomware
Destructiveness: No
Encrypted:
In the wild: Yes
OVERVIEW
This Ransomware arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.
It drops files as ransom note. It avoids encrypting files with the following file extensions.
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Arrival Details
This Ransomware arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.
Other Details
This Ransomware does the following:
- Empty Recycled Bin
- It uses WQL to delete shadow copies
- It uses the Windows Restart Manager API to close processes or shut down Windows services that may be keeping a file open and preventing encryption.
It accepts the following parameters:
- -p | --path → Specify the path to encrypt
Ransomware Routine
This Ransomware avoids encrypting files with the following strings in their file name:
- unlock_info.txt
- ntldr
- ntdetect.
- desktop.ini
- autorun.inf
- iconcache.db
- bootsect.bak
- boot.ini
- bootfont
- thumbs.db
- licencse.txt
- ntusers.
It avoids encrypting files found in the following folders:
- windows
- programdata
- $recyclebin
- all users
- winnt
- appdata
- application data
- local setting
- boot
It appends the following extension to the file name of the encrypted files:
- .crypt
It drops the following file(s) as ransom note:
- {Encrypted Directory}\unlock_info.txt
It avoids encrypting files with the following file extensions:
- .sys
- .exe
- .dll
- .ico
- .iso
- .cab
- .cat
- .msi
- .chm
SOLUTION
Step 1
Trend Micro Predictive Machine Learning detects and blocks malware at the first sign of its existence, before it executes on your system. When enabled, your Trend Micro product detects this malware under the following machine learning name:
- TROJ.Win32.TRX.XXPE50FFF078
Step 2
Before doing any scans, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows 10 users must disable System Restore to allow full scanning of their computers.
Step 3
Note that not all files, folders, and registry keys and entries are installed on your computer during this malware's/spyware's/grayware's execution. This may be due to incomplete installation or other operating system conditions. If you do not find the same files/folders/registry information, please proceed to the next step.
Step 4
Search and delete these files
- {Encrypted Directory}\unlock_info.txt
Step 5
Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as Ransom.Win32.HKITTY.C. If the detected files have already been cleaned, deleted, or quarantined by your Trend Micro product, no further step is required. You may opt to simply delete the quarantined files. Please check the following Trend Micro Support pages for more information:
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