RANSOM_BLACKOUT.A
Ransom:Win32/Genasom (Microsoft); Ransom.BlackOut (Malwarebytes); Troj/Fantom-C (Sophos AV)
Windows

Threat Type: Ransomware
Destructiveness: No
Encrypted: No
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 deletes itself after execution.
It drops files as ransom note.
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.
Installation
This Ransomware drops the following files:
- %User Temp%\backup\BACKUP_{7 random Numbers}.txt
(Note: %User Temp% is the user's temporary folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista (32- and 64-bit), Windows 7 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8.1 (32- and 64-bit), Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2012.)
It drops and executes the following files:
- %Application Data%\delback.bat
- {Malware Path}\update.bat
(Note: %Application Data% is the Application Data folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming on Windows Vista (32- and 64-bit), Windows 7 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8.1 (32- and 64-bit), Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2012.)
Other System Modifications
This Ransomware adds the following registry entries:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
System
DisableTaskMgr = 1
Process Termination
This Ransomware terminates processes or services that contain any of the following strings if found running in the affected system's memory:
- taskmgr
- sqlagent
- sqlbrowser
- sqlservr
- sqlwriter
- oracle
Other Details
This Ransomware does the following:
- It terminates and deletes itself if the Language Culture Name of the affected machine has the following strings: ru, uk, kk, ky, hy and ka.
It deletes itself after execution.
Ransomware Routine
This Ransomware avoids encrypting files with the following strings in their file name:
- .lnk
- README_
It avoids encrypting files with the following strings in their file path:
- WINDOWS
- RECYCLER
- Program Files
- Program Files (x86)
- Windows
- Recycle.Bin
- RECYCLE.BIN
- Recycler
- TEMP
- APPDATA
- AppData
- Temp
- ProgramData
- Microsoft
- Burn
It renames encrypted files using the following names:
- {Base64-Encoded Filename and Extension}
It drops the following file(s) as ransom note:
- {Encrypted File Path}\README_{7 Random Numbers}_{5 Random Numbers}.txt
SOLUTION
Step 1
Before doing any scans, Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7 users must disable System Restore to allow full scanning of their computers.
Step 2
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 3
Restart in Safe Mode
Step 4
Delete this registry value
Important: Editing the Windows Registry incorrectly can lead to irreversible system malfunction. Please do this step only if you know how or you can ask assistance from your system administrator. Else, check this Microsoft article first before modifying your computer's registry.
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System
- DisableTaskMgr = 1
- DisableTaskMgr = 1
Step 5
Search and delete these files
- %User Temp%\backup\BACKUP_2450318.txt
- %Application Data%\delback.bat
- {Encrypted File Path}\README_{7 Random Numbers}_{5 Random Numbers}.txt
Step 6
Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as RANSOM_BLACKOUT.A. 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 this Knowledge Base page for more information.
Step 7
Restore encrypted files from backup.
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