Skip to content According to Russian security site [Dr.Web], there’s a new malware called Linux.MulDrop.14 striking Raspberry Pi computers.In a separate posting, the site examines two different Pi-based trojans including Linux.MulDrop.14.That trojan uses your Pi to mine BitCoins some form of cryptocurrency.The other trojan sets up a proxy server.According to the site: Linux Trojan that is a bash script containing a mining program, which is compressed with gzip and encrypted with base64.Once launched, the script shuts down several processes and installs libraries required for its operation.It also installs zmap and sshpass.It changes the password of the user “pi” to “\$6\$U1Nu9qCp\$FhPuo8s5PsQlH6lwUdTwFcAUPNzmr0pWCdNJj.p6l4Mzi8S867YLmc7BspmEH95POvxPQ3PzP029yT1L3yi6K1”.In addition, the malware searches for network machines with open port 22 and tries to log in using the default Raspberry Pi credentials to spread itself.Embedded systems are a particularly inviting target for hackers.

Sometimes it is for the value of the physical system they monitor or control.In others, it is just the compute power which can be used for denial of service attacks on others, spam, or — in the case — BitCoin mining.We wonder how large does your Raspberry Pi botnet needs to be to compete in the mining realm?We hope you haven’t kept the default passwords on your Pi.In fact, we hope you’ve taken our previous advice and set up two factor authentication.You can do other things too, like change the ssh port, run fail2ban, or implement port knocking.Of course, if you use Samba to share Windows files and printers, you ought to read about that vulnerability, as well.At midnight on May 25th a dormant strain of ransomware awoke and began to wreak havoc on the systems and networks it had infected.The ransomware, known as Locker, was continuing in the footsteps of its ancestors, (Cryptolocker, CTB Locker, Cryptowall, and others) infecting systems, encrypting files, and then extorting money from people, businesses, and organizations to decrypt the affected files.

For anyone who received the following message on May 25th, it was very bad day.The first known ransomware attack was in 1989 using the AIDS Trojan/PC Borg malware.An infected computer would display a message to the user that one of their programs had expired and they needed to pay $189 to have it restored.The creator was eventually caught and the ransomware genre went underground for several years, though it reappeared briefly in 2005 and 2006.bitcoin miner hubIt wasn’t until 2013 with the introduction of Cryptolocker and its subsequent variants and copycats, that ransomware became widely known.open source bitcoin posLocker was unusual in that it was “sleeper” ransomware, having been dormant on the infected systems and devices until May 25th.litecoin exchange rate

The malware could have been installed anytime in the previous weeks, while it waited to be activated.For this reason it was difficult to pin down the attack vector, although a compromised Minecraft installer was suspected.The “cost” to recover the files encrypted by Locker was 0.1 Bitcoins (about $24 USD), a modest amount when compared with previous ransomware attacks that demanded 5 to 10 times as much to recover the files they encrypted.bitcoin dojOn the bright side, according to security experts nearly everyone who made the proper payment had their files decrypted.bitcoin kiosk near meAttack Vectors: How Do You Get Infected in the First Place?bitcoin for vccThere are several different ways for malware to get on a computer.bitcoin value in 2020

For example, Java- and Adobe-based vulnerabilities are often utilized to create exploits that can be used by ransomware builders.Anti-virus vendors are in a constant battle with these hackers, trying to stop the malware they create from being successfully downloaded and installed in your computer.This is a never-ending job, but there are ways you can help.One of the most common attack vectors is a phishing email.bitcoin zar chartHere’s an example below that our CEO received.bitcoin 4chan threadPhishing emails came to prominence in 2003 and have been a staple of attackers since then.A good attack will look just like an email you could receive, whether at your business or at home.The email above is likely to be what is known as spear phishing, meaning the attacker tailored the attack in some way towards the person or organization receiving the email.

In this case, Gleb, as our CEO, would be a reasonable person to receive such a document, if it were real.It should be noted that the FTC does not send such emails, but I don’t think it’s possible for the average American to know exactly what the government doesn’t do!That is the social engineering paradox of phishing emails—you often don’t know what you don’t know.Let’s look at the example of your password to an online account: your Bank, Amazon, iTunes, etc.What is the policy for how often you are required to change your password?If a change is required how are you notified, email perhaps?What happens if you forget your password?What information do you have to enter to change/recover your password?Can it be done online (very convenient) or will they send you an email?Now multiply these questions times the number of your online accounts that have a password.The answer equals the challenge you face in knowing whether an email from one of those online accounts is real or fake.

Ignoring every email could mean losing access to a site you enjoy or need, clicking on every link is certain disaster.Obviously we recognized this email as a phishing attack, but imagine what could happen if an intern or a new employee received such an email.Would they click the link just trying to be helpful?What about a curious employee?The thing we do know is that once the link is clicked, the malware’s wheels are set in motion.As an example of how ransomware works, let’s take a look how Cryptolocker does its work.Options to Avoid Paying the Ransom If there is nothing of value on your system, be it at home or at work, then the obvious thing to do is ignore the ransom message and have the system completely reinitialized.All your data will be gone, but you will still have your money.Assuming that you have something of value on your computer, you could ignore the ransomware message and restore your data from a backup copy.You may have a personal local external drive or your organization may utilize a file server.

In either case, you can recover your files from these sources.Trouble is, newer versions of ransomware, CTB Locker for example, are one step ahead of you.When installed and activated, this type of ransomware will not only encrypt the files on your computer, but it will also attempt to encrypt anything else connected to the computer such as external hard drives and file servers.Such ransomware can reach out across the network to encrypt any files in nearly any location you have permission to store files.This includes the files stored in cloud-based directories and folders on your desktop by applications such as Dropbox.Sometimes single sign-on is a bitch.While there are no guarantees, here are some tips on how to keep your computer from getting infected with ransomware.You don’t have to do all of these, but the more you do, the better off you are.During the first half of this year, the number of incidents of ransomware has steadily increased.In early June, the security researchers at McAfee discovered “Tox” which provides neophyte cybercriminals (aka script kiddies) with everything they need to run a ransomware campaign.

We’ve seen this “malware-as-a-service” model before as spam, phishing, spyware, and virus packages are available for sale on the black market.The malware developers do this not only to monetize their work, but also to reduce their risk of being caught.With script kiddies getting involved, you can expect a continued increase in the number of ransomware attacks for the next several months as the hacker community tries to wring as much cash out of ransomware as possible.As long as ransomware continues to generate cash for its purveyors, you can expect even more virulent strains of Cryptolocker and its variants to rear their ugly heads.Your goal is to make ransomware unprofitable by never having to pay the ransom.You can accomplish this by having a good off-site backup of your files, keeping your applications and operating system up-to-date, and remaining vigilant as you use your computer.Sites consulted: – /ransomeware – /technology/2015/jun/02/ransomware-as-service-discovered-on-darknet – /2015/06/01/what-is-ransomware/ – /blog/how-does-ransomware-work-the-ultimate-guide-to-understanding-ransomware-part-ii-11856.html Preserving the Music of Austin City Limits Backup Awareness Survey, Our 10th Year Hard Drive Stats for Q1 2017