'audrey.b@aol.com' Ransomware

The ‘audrey.b@aol.com’ Ransomware is a new variant of the infamous Phobos crypto-virus that appends the ‘.phoenix’ extension to every encrypted file. By the time the encryption has finished, Phoenix generates the ransom note in the form of a text document dubbed ‘info.txt.’ Here is the text of the note:

'All your files have been encrypted!
All your files have been encrypted due to a security problem with your PC. If you want to restore them, write us to the e-mail audrey.b@aol.com
Write this ID in the title of message {random characters]
In case of no answer in 24 hours write us to this e-mail: klemens.stobe@aol.com
If there is no response from our mail, you can install the Jabber client and write to us in support of phobos_helper@xmpp.jp
You have to pay for decryption in Bitcoins. The price depends on how fast you write to us. After payment we will send you the decryption tool that will decrypt all your files.
Free decryption as guarantee
Before paying you can send us up to 5 files for free decryption. The total size of files must be less than 10Mb (non archived), and files should not contain valuable information. (databases,backups, large excel sheets, etc.)
How to obtain Bitcoins
The easiest way to buy bitcoins is LocalBitcoins site. You have to register, click ‘Buy bitcoins’, and select the seller by payment method and price.
Hxxps://localbitcoins.com/buy_bitcoins
Also you can find other places to buy Bitcoins and beginners guide here:
Hxxp://www.coindesk.com/information/how-can-i-buy-bitcoins
Jabber client installation instructions:'

Apart from the new contact emails and the new .phoenix file extension (full extension pattern: [id].[contact email].[phoenix]), Phoenix is identical to each previous Phobos Ransomware variant in terms of its infection vectors and damage level. In this respect, Phoenix is very likely to take advantage of flawed Remote Desktop Protocols since this is the primary infection vector utilized by earlier incarnations of the Phobos Ransomware. However, that does not mean that other conventional methods such as spam campaigns and malvertising are out of the equation, either. That is why the main tips for avoiding ransomware threats are valid for this particular Phobos variant, as well.

PC users suspecting a Phoenix infection should head over to ID Ransomware to compare their ransom note with the site’s database for confirmation. At present, the only people likely to have a working decryption tool are the malware actors themselves. That is evident by the text in the ransom note which prompts the victim(s) to send up to five files totaling less than 10 megabytes for sample decryption.

The ‘audrey.b@aol.com’ is the umpteenth contact email address associated with a tweaked Phobos Ransomware infection. So far, researchers have identified dozens of emails featured in all Phobos-related ransom notes they have come across. In this respect, there may be many new Phobos Ransomware variants down the road.