Mcafee Ransomware

The Mcafee Ransomware is a part of the Xorist Ransomware family, which threat actors generate variants of by using a Trojan-fabricating kit. Some of the symptoms the users can expect from infections include having their files encrypted and locked, as well as appended with 'Mcafee' extensions, and the presence of a ransom note. A proper response should consist of either quarantining or deleting the Mcafee Ransomware with your local anti-malware tools before restoring through backups or free decryptor for this family.

Not the First Threat that Hijacked the McAfee's Brand

Some threat actor is using an especially misleading name for his file-locking Trojan, which is, otherwise, a normal byproduct of the Xorist Ransomware's builder kit. The Mcafee Ransomware, the new release, is joining the rogue AV program of McAfee Enhanced Protection Mode as being a threat to Windows PCs that hides with the famous cyber-security company's name. However, initial research by malware experts has yet to confirm whether the Mcafee Ransomware's tactic extends to how it's circulating and infecting users.

The Mcafee Ransomware is a Windows program whose installer is under a megabyte, and the available samples include no certificates or other credentials that could trick someone into opening them. Some versions of the Mcafee Ransomware do possess bugs that cause crashes when the program runs, but a successful payload will encrypt media files throughout the computer. Which files the Mcafee Ransomware blocks is detectable by the 'mcafee' extensions it appends, and removing the extension or changing it will not affect the encryption that keeps your files from opening.

The Mcafee Ransomware is very similar to the other members of its family, such as the very recent Vaca Ransomware, the slightly older Cryptedx Ransomware, and theXorist-XWZ Ransomware and the Xorist-Frozen Ransomware branches. However, malware experts are finding new text messages within its payload. The Notepad files include a Spanish sentence that points out the irony of a 'Mcafee' Trojan launching these attacks but has no ransoming instructions.

Don't Be Lulled by a Name that Any Program can Misappropriate

Using fake anti-virus installers or updaters for delivering threats is a technique that malware experts find happening semi-frequently, albeit not as often with file-locking Trojans. While the Mcafee Ransomware may attack your PC through such methods, it's more likely of arriving through infected torrents or e-mail-based attacks. Network administrators, also, should be aware of the vulnerability of poorly-maintained logins to brute-force attacks that could let a remote attacker gain access to a server.

Malware experts recommend keeping backups on other devices for the maximum security of your media, such as documents, spreadsheets, databases and audio formats. However, there are free solutions for the Mcafee Ransomware's family for victims without other choices. Most anti-malware packages, as well, can block and delete the Mcafee Ransomware and other Xorist Ransomware members without needing any special assistance.

The 'joke' behind the Mcafee Ransomware is a short-lived one. While it may seem funny to its author, this is a file-locking Trojan whose humor can come at the expense of what's most important on your computer.