Victims of ransomware that has infected machines and prevented access to data may now be able to regain access to those files, thanks to an unidentified developer that managed to crack the malware.
The programmer, who is only known by their Twitter handle Leo_and_Stone, released the tool via code-sharing site Github. They developed the code to help their father-in-law, who's machine was infected by the malware.
The malware, which has been in circulation since March, locks up data and demands a ransom of 0.9 bitcoins (264). It arrives hidden in emails purporting to come from people looking for employment.
The malware replaces the hard drive's legitimate Mast Boot Record code. It encrypts the master file table (MFT) and display a ransom note.
What is novel about this malware is that the files are not encrypted. It is the MFT that has been changed so the operating system cannot locate data. Data recovery tools can reconstruct files, but this is not always successful.
The code developed by Leo_and_Stone means that data recovery or paying a ransom is no longer necessary. Experts from BleepingComputer.com confirmed that the method works, but it entails extracting some data from an affected hard drive.
Tim Stiller, senior systems engineer at Rapid7, told IT Pro that what is unique about Petya ransomware and this new decryption tool is the ability to recover files without paying bitcoins.
"Many ransomware variants go to great lengths to thwart the user from decrypting the files without paying the ransom. In Petya's case, the disk was encrypted with just a single key. While the description technique for decryption can be a bit complex for some, it works," he said.
"For victims infected with Petya, this tool is very helpful at recovering their data. From the malware author's perspective, this particular decryption tool will likely prompt them to either change how the encryption functions, or shift over to a file-by-file level encryption, thus patching the ability to recover data.
"For organisations dealing with threats such as this, it is recommended that they maintain recent backups of their data and avoid opening any emails and attachments that they are unsure about. If they have any concerns, they should forward suspect emails to the security team for triage," he added.
-
New chapter, same partners: Keeping the channel aligned with changeIndustry Insights How to maintain strong channel partnerships amid evolving strategies and market change
-
Palo Alto Networks snaps up CyberArk in identity security pushNews The acquisition marks the latest in a string for Palo Alto Networks
-
The Scattered Spider ransomware group is infiltrating Slack and Microsoft Teams to target vulnerable employeesNews The group is using new ransomware variants and new social engineering techniques - including sneaking into corporate teleconferences
-
Hackers breached a 158 year old company by guessing an employee password – experts say it’s a ‘pertinent reminder’ of the devastating impact of cyber crimeNews A Panorama documentary exposed hackers' techniques and talked to the teams trying to tackle them
-
The ransomware boom shows no signs of letting up – and these groups are causing the most chaosNews Thousands of ransomware cases have already been posted on the dark web this year
-
Everything we know about the Ingram Micro cyber attack so farNews A cyber attack on Ingram Micro severely disrupted operations and has been claimed by the SafePay ransomware group.
-
A prolific ransomware group says it’s shutting down and giving out free decryption keys to victims – but cyber experts warn it's not exactly a 'gesture of goodwill'
News The Hunters International ransomware group is rebranding and switching tactics
-
Swiss government data published following supply chain attack – here’s what we know about the culpritsNews Radix, a non-profit organization in the health promotion sector, supplies a number of federal offices, whose data has apparently been accessed.
-
Ransomware victims are getting better at haggling with hackersNews While nearly half of companies paid a ransom to get their data back last year, victims are taking an increasingly hard line with hackers to strike fair deals.
-
LockBit data dump reveals a treasure trove of intel on the notorious hacker groupNews An analysis of May's SQL database dump shows how much LockBit was really making
