In the last few years, we have seen a drastic rise in ransomware attacks. Ransomwares, in simple terms, are malwares that encrypt data for ransom. The attack software has grown sophisticated over the years to be a major crisis.
Here are the worst types of ransomware attacks:
- CryptoLocker
CryptoLocker paved a way for the age of ransomware after coming into scene in late 2013. The ransomware Trojan spread across the internet by infecting email attachments and used RSA 2048 bit encryption to lock files on Windows PCs.
Between late 2013 and 2014, over 500,000 people were affected by the CryptoLocker.CryptoLockeralso led to origin of other ransomware Trojans, including TorrentLocker, Crypt0L0cker, and CryptoWall.
- SimpleLocker
As more data migrate to mobile devices, ransomware scammers capitalize the trend. SimpleLocker is a type of ransomware that encrypts SD cards slotted into smartphones and tabletsthat run Android operating system. The Trojan malware locks certain types of files stored in the SD card and demand cash for decrypting the data.
SimpleLocker was first detected in 2014 and was the first file-encrypting ransomware for Android.
- TeslaCrypt
Detected in 2015, TeslaCryptuses AES encryption to encrypt users’ document files such as PDFs and text. Like every other types of ransomware, it demands ransom for decrypting the locked files. The ransomware enters users’ system through a compromised website that further redirects victims to Angler Exploit Kit.
TeslaCryptcan also spread through spam emails and malicious links. TeslaCrypt accounted for 48.81% of ransomware by 2016.
- WannaCry
WannaCry is dubbed as one of the most sophisticated type of ransomware. In mid-2017, the ransomware worm spread across a network of computers and exploited a Windows vulnerability. The ransomware encrypts files on Windows PCs’ hard drive and demands a ransom payment too decrypt them.
WannaCry targeted a number of high-profile systems, including Britain’s National Health Service. The WannaCry ransomware affected more than 200,000 computers across 150 countries.
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