As if encrypting your files wasn’t enough, Petya ransomware is now going the extra mile to ensure your files are locked…
The first version of Petya was intense. It encrypted your files and locked up your hard drive, causing all kinds of havoc once your PC became infected. However, in order for Petya to worm its way into your system, you had to allow it administrator rights through the UAC security feature. If you were to deny administrator rights, Petya could not infect your computer.
Unfortunately, the makers of Petya have updated the ransomware to now activate “Mischa”, another form of ransomware, if administrator rights are not granted. So, you’re damned if you do, damned if you don’t.
According to Neowin, Mischa encrypts several file extensions, including .exe files. By encrypting the .exe files, Mischa is going the extra mile to ensure you cannot run any executable files. The ransom demand associated with Mischa is reported to be 1.93 bitcoins, or $875 USD.
Our security experts commented on this issue to Global Security Magazine and IT Business Edge. Click here to read the full article.
