Threat Database Ransomware 'Central Security Service' Ransomware

'Central Security Service' Ransomware

By ESGI Advisor in Ransomware

Ransomware often looks like a very dangerous problem, especially to people who haven't met such threats before, or who aren't tech-savvy. Viruses of this type are spread via a broad range of methods, so they have a long reach, and can quickly infect computers all across the world. An excellent example for such malware is the 'Central Security Service' ransomware that has been troubling the masses for a while.

This threat is capable of using advanced scare tactics that have one single goal – to trick innocent computer users into thinking that they are held responsible for illicit online activities. In order to do so, the 'Central Security Service' ransomware may display warning messages that claim to come from either the National Security Agency or the 'Central Security Service'. Apart from displaying these messages, the threat may also disable your Internet access, block a rich list of legitimate applications, and even hide your desktop. Starting Windows in Safe Mode wouldn't help either, because most variations of this ransomware may also display a lock screen when starting Windows in Safe Mode. According to the ransomware, the only way to get back the control over your computer is to pay a hefty fine, usually around $300, but the amount may vary. Whatever the case, you must remember that paying this penalty will not change anything, and you will not remove the 'Central Security Service' ransomware from your computer.
 

What Methods the 'Central Security Service' Ransomware may Use to get on Your Computer?

The ransomware is known for using a broad range of propagation methods, which have changed several times during the past couple of months. Most of the reports claim that users got infected when they were tricked into clicking on an infected link that may have appeared in their search results, on a random Web page as an advertisement or in their email inbox. In almost all of these cases, the link contains an executable file that may appear to be a legitimate software or driver update, but in truth, it contains the ransomware's malicious code.

Information about some of the emails containing this threat have surfaced on the Web, and many users that have been infected, report that the cyber crooks usually sent fake emails that seemed as if they were sent by shipping companies such as FedEx and DHL. In order to make the emails look legitimate, the authors of the threat may modify the header information of every sent message, so it really looks as if it was sent by an official email of DHL, FedEx or another shipping company. Usually, the emails contain text stating that the receiver has a pending delivery, arriving package or something else that may awaken their interest and get them to click on the infected link.

The 'Central Security Service' ransomware may even spread via peer-to-peer sharing websites. Variations of this threat may be packed in the installation files of a broad range of pirated and illegally acquired software, so this is another propagation method that the threat's authors have adopted. In short, users are advised to watch out for weird executable files, bogus driver & software updates, unknown video/audio players, and other software that doesn't come from a trustworthy source.

Scare Tactics Used by the 'Central Security Service' Ransomware

Ransomware authors usually put all their eggs in one basket. They focus on scaring infected users into paying the requested fine. In order to do so, they may implement an extensive range of scare tactics in their threatening software. In the case of the 'Central Security Service' ransomware, the authors may show additional information about the users, such as their IP address, location and Internet service provider. Apart from this, some variations of the threat may also access the user's webcam and show video or images from it, tricking the infected user into thinking that they are under surveillance. We already mentioned the warning messages that may contain information regarding the user's browsing habits, or blatantly convict them of taking part in illegal online activities such as:

  • Illegal gambling.
  • Watching forbidden pornography.
  • Downloading and using illegal or pirated software.
  • Other illicit online activities.

 
Other things that may make the threat seem legitimate is the branding that its authors have used. The warning messages and lock screens may be branded with the logos of the NSA and CSS, which may convince some users into thinking that they are actually being tracked down by the government. The final goal of the ransomware's authors is to scare you into paying the requested fine. However, even if you pay the required sum, you still not getting rid of the ransomware that has infected your computer.

Although some of the  content you'll see on the 'Central Security Service' ransomware's lock screens may make you think that the warning is legitimate, there are also some details that may tell you how fake this whole thing actually is. For example, the threat authors may request that the penalty is paid via MoneyPak, MoneyGram Xpress or Ukash. There are two things about these payment methods. First of all, respected government agencies such as the NSA and CSS will never collect fines online, let alone use payments methods such as these. The other thing is a bit more important – the common thing between these payment options is that the transaction cannot be reversed by the sender, and if the cybercrooks play their cards right, they'll also preserve their anonymity. These are the main reasons why the 'Central Security Service' ransomware may ask you to pay the fine via these payment services.

Threats such as the 'Central Security Service' ransomware may seem very scary at first, but in fact they are potentially harmless. If you ever see warning messages such as the ones shown by the 'Central Security Service', you must not pay the requested fee because it is possible that you may have become the victim of ransomware. Stay calm, analyze the warning, do some research, and you may save yourself a lot of money and troubles!

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