'.BlackHat File Extension' Ransomware

The '.BlackHat File Extension' Ransomware is a file-locker Trojan or a threat that blocks your work through such means as encryption standards like XOR and AES-256. These attacks can occur without showing symptoms on the screen and prevent you from opening documents, pictures and other forms of media. Save additional backups on other devices for their long-term preservation, and counter infections by removing the '.BlackHat File Extension' Ransomware with suitable anti-malware programs.

Donning the Hat that's Hiding Ransoms Beneath

A recent case of a file-locker Trojan's activity is showing India under attack by data-sabotaging threat actors. Although it's likely that the new '.BlackHat File Extension' Ransomware is part of a Ransomware-as-a-Service or RaaS operation statistically, malware analysts can't yet confirm this theory, and the Trojan could be 'freeware' like Hidden Tear, or an 'indie' project. However, its attacks are live as of this month and blocking files for the sake of collecting unknown ransoms.

The '.BlackHat File Extension' Ransomware is compromising Windows systems and locking their media with an unknown algorithm that may or may not combine with the current decryption services that are being hosted by the AV industry. It's also appending the extension readers can see in its name to their filenames, which is a potential mismatch with some of its other symptoms (see below). A traditional encryption target by threats of the '.BlackHat File Extension' Ransomware's classification includes documents and pictures, but nearly anything that's not critical to the OS may become blocked.

The only other feature of its payload that malware researchers are confirming, for now, is the '.BlackHat File Extension' Ransomware's creating a ransom note in Notepad. A configuration issue raises the possibility of the '.BlackHat File Extension' Ransomware's locking this message by mistake. However, if it's legible, the 'ReadME' file tells the victim to negotiate over Telegram or e-mail for the decryption service. The text is a copy-paste from an old version of the Crysis Ransomware family, and the Arena Ransomware, although that family uses a different renaming format.

Keeping the Fashion of Data Piracy at Bay

Like the RansomWarrior 1.0 Ransomware or even threats of other classifications, such as the Trojan.Milicenso, the '.BlackHat File Extension' Ransomware is targeting Indian residents, but may not limit its attacks to them. Harmful data encryption is a feature that's present in nearly all file-locker Trojans, the majority of which have no means of disabling themselves after compromising targets in areas that aren't their region of interest. Other than being limited to the Windows environment, malware analysts can't confirm any restrictions on the '.BlackHat File Extension' Ransomware's compatibility with different PC setups.

Backups are mandatory for a complete recovery from most file-locker Trojans, which have no decryption solutions that the public can use for free. Since many details about the '.BlackHat File Extension' Ransomware's campaign are missing, victims may offer samples and additional information to cyber-security researchers who specialize in this category of threat. Always remove the '.BlackHat File Extension' Ransomware or quarantine it safely with anti-malware software before taking the steps required for unlocking or restoring your media.

The '.BlackHat File Extension' Ransomware attacks may owe themselves to such varied roots as Utku Sen's EDA2 or Hidden Tear, the Ransomware-as-a-Service industry's Crysis Ransomware, or even GitHub resources. Wherever it comes from, a file-locker Trojan is moving towards your files, and it's up to you to protect them appropriately.