Cerber Ransomware

The Cerber Ransomware is a file encryptor that takes your data hostage for the sake of selling it back in return for Bitcoin currency. The general unreliability of this means of saving your files causes it to be discouraged as a solution when, instead, a sufficiently sound backup strategy can make the Cerber Ransomware's attacks relatively ineffectual. Due to the danger that the Cerber Ransomware poses to your system, data, and Web browser, malware analysts rate the Cerber Ransomware as a significant threat that should be uninstalled by dedicated anti-malware tools.

Making Deals with Con Artists for What's Yours

The Cerber Ransomware is a Trojan that uses file encryption (a data rearranging process often utilized in programs like file compressors) as a method of taking work and information hostage. Although the Cerber Ransomware's attacks are very similar to past threats like the Buddy Ransomware or the HydraCrypt Ransomware, this threat does exemplify the continued reliance fraudsters have on specific ransom techniques and technology. Like most threats the Cerber Ransomware is installed through non-consensual methods, including e-mail attachments, Web page-based exploits or even other Trojans, such as Zlob.

The Cerber Ransomware scans for non-OS files on any accessible hard drives and puts them through an encryption routine, with the key for decrypting them being specific to each infection. Besides attacking media formats like DOC, MP4, AVI, or HTML, the Cerber Ransomware also targets work-oriented ones, such as SQL databases, Excel spreadsheets and PowerPoint presentations. The Cerber Ransomware also inserts the '.cerber' file extension after each encrypted file name, and then places no less than three formats of ransom instructions in the same directory.

The Cerber Ransomware emphasizes time restrictions as an additional factor in forcing its victims to pay its ransom, and even includes a countdown timer in one of its ransom messages. While malware experts saw no cases of the Cerber Ransomware attacks deleting the encrypted files, the Cerber Ransomware does claim that its ransom cost will increase after a set amount of time. Like many file encryptors previous to it, the Cerber Ransomware hinges on demanding the victim's use of both TOR (an anonymous Web browsing application) and Bitcoin transactions for selling the decryption to you.

The Cheapest Cost of Getting Your Files Back

While threatening file encryptors often circumvent any local backups, such as Windows restore points, all PC users have other methods of saving their files from threats like the Cerber Ransomware. Con artists have no compulsion to follow through on providing any decryption services or applications after taking payments, and, in at least some cases, a threat even can be coded in such a way as to render conventional decryption impossible. Considering all of these factors, malware analysts always suggest that you use multiple, remote backups as an easy and efficient way of stopping the Cerber Ransomware from causing long term damage to your information.

Even without any risks to your data, the Cerber Ransomware always should be removed from your PC, and assumed to be a security breach equivalent to that presented by other, invasive Trojans. Common side effects unrelated to ransom tactics reported in conjunction with the Cerber Ransomware attacks include browser hijackings and disabled Web downloads, particularly in association with attempts to install new security programs. Accordingly, your pre-installed anti-malware products are the easiest solutions for deleting the Cerber Ransomware. Rebooting your PC with the additional protection of Safe Mode, or booting from a safe USB drive, are two tactics that can help you regain access to any blocked security tools.

However, for the time being, the Cerber Ransomware's con artists will continue profiting off of less cautious PC owners who don't protect their data from easily-implemented attacks.

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