Pedro Ransomware

The Pedro Ransomware is a file-locking Trojan that encrypts media so that it will not open before selling the victim its unlocking service. Since criminals don't hold to their word in these negotiations necessarily, users should avoid paying for their help and use alternatives from appropriate cyber-security organizations, if necessary. A combination of anti-malware protection for removing the Pedro Ransomware and offsite, secure backups will keep your data safe from this threat.

The Free Software License that Takes the License of Destroying Your Files

New versions of the STOP Ransomware are anything but surprising since, like most Ransomware-as-a-Service families, this threat produces variants for its renting threat actors daily to weekly. A look at the infection trail for the Pedro Ransomware gives clues on just how this threat is making its rounds between victims: pirated software. The trend is typical to the RaaS family of the STOP Ransomware, which ranges from members like the Argentinian Coharos Ransomware to the older Dotmap Ransomware, Rectot Ransomware and the Egyptian Todarius Ransomware.

The Pedro Ransomware is scrambling onto victims' PCs through a fake Windows license activator, which claims that it will unlock an updated version of the OS without a charge. Other versions of this family of Trojans use similar disguises, emphasizing torrenting for access to random victims, instead of targeting specific demographics. True to this shotgun-style approach, malware experts see cases of the Pedro Ransomware attacks in both the United Kingdom and India – although the STOP Ransomware usually appears in Southeast Asia preferentially.

The infection tactic is the Pedro Ransomware means of getting access to a Windows PC before targeting its most-used and valuable types of media with an encryption routine. This attack blocks documents, photos, music, and similar content from opening until the user can run a compatible decryptor. It also may use a variable or a built-in securing key and defaults to the latter if it can't connect to its server.

Taking the Threat Out of International Trojan Travellers

Although the Pedro Ransomware is capable of installing additional threats, such as the password-collector, AZORult, its encryption is more than ample cause for concern among anyone with a compromised server or PC. Free decryption solutions for the Pedro Ransomware family depend on the Trojan's using an offline RSA-securing method and could be inadequate for some versions of the Pedro Ransomware attacks. Recovery of any encrypted media, therefore, requires the threat actor's uncertain help, or a previously-saved backup.

This family contains limited obfuscation or anti-detection features. Users can protect themselves, both by scanning files before opening them and avoiding any download resources related to illicit content. Besides Windows activators, key generators and other forms of game cracks, as well as popular movies and music, are likely disguises for a file-locking Trojan of the Pedro Ransomware's genealogy.

Most anti-malware programs will delete the Pedro Ransomware safely and are idea disinfection methods for the average Windows user.

Although the Pedro Ransomware uses the name of a person, it's less of an individual than it is a money-sucking, data-destroying mechanism or tactic. Victims placing themselves in a vulnerable, compromised situation can only ask themselves afterward if it was worth the price – and the answer always is 'no.'