Muslat Ransomware

The Muslat Ransomware is a file-locking Trojan from the STOP Ransomware family. This Ransomware-as-a-Service Trojan uses third-party criminals for distributing itself and will block your media files as an incentive for paying its ransom. Careful Web-browsing habits, as well as having preexisting backups and anti-malware programs for removing the Muslat Ransomware in emergencies will protect your computer and files from any attacks.

Version Control Finally Pays Off for a Trojan Family

Throughout noted, long-term development of the RaaS family throughout 2019, the STOP Ransomware's version iteration has progressed steadily, as readers can re-confirm with its variants like the Roldat Ransomware, the Dutan Ransomware, the Fordan Ransomware, and the Norvas Ransomware. Finally, that iterative development has hit a pay-off in the form of the 'official' 1.0 release, whose first example is the Muslat Ransomware. Unlucky residents of Morroco stand as witnesses of the continuing dangers of these Ransomware-as-a-Service attacks.

The landmark of the Muslat Ransomware's update hasn't shown itself in changes to the characteristics that any victims would find most observable, such as the shared Bitmessage account of its threat actors or its use the AES + RSA encryptions for locking files. The Muslat Ransomware does create a new filename extension for the content that it keeps hostage, as per its name, but this trait is one that's true of every version of the STOP Ransomware family virtually. Most of the Muslat Ransomware's feature benefits likely focus on evading AV services or delivering additional QoL features for the criminals that are renting it.

While the blocking of local files is the keystone of any file-locker Trojan, the Muslat Ransomware's family includes other capabilities that individuals variants may or may not deploy. Malware researchers, rarely, see instances of these infections incorporating spyware that can collect confidential credentials. The Muslat Ransomware also may block your access websites (especially Microsoft or AV vendor domains) by changing your Windows Hosts file.

Outdoing a Trojan that Gets as Many Patches as Windows

Infection prevention is a strong recommendation for any file-locking Trojan, but malware analysts see additional reasons for justifying preventative security with the Muslat Ransomware's family. The STOP Ransomware's recent releases default to a non-crackable method of blocking files, and only identifying the attack and disrupting the Internet connection in time can prevent this encryption routine's success. In that case, the Muslat Ransomware, still, can lock files but uses a static code for securing it that may be breakable by free software.

Since its victims aren't offering samples of infection vector-related content, users will have to maintain overall strong security for countering any the Muslat Ransomware attacks. E-mail attachments with disguised Trojan droppers are a possible delivery mechanism for the Muslat Ransomware, but it could install itself through torrents, browser-run Exploit Kits, or a brute-force attack, as well. At best, ant anti-malware services can delete the Muslat Ransomware, but can't decrypt or restore your files.

What the Muslat Ransomware's long-awaited 1.0 means for the STOP Ransomware is an item that, like Schrodinger's cat, is in a temporary state of fluctuation. What's more reliable than monitoring the state of Trojan development in the Black Market is keeping your files secure with long-proven methods like cloud services, USBs or other backup alternatives.