'_csp File Extension' Ransomware
Ransomware threats are becoming increasingly more common. These threats operate by taking the victims' files hostage and then demanding a ransom payment in exchange for rehabilitating access to the victim's data. The '_csp File Extension' Ransomware is an encryption ransomware Trojan, which carries out a typical version of these attacks. An attack involving the '_csp File Extension' Ransomware has claimed one victim in Germany and may start to receive wider distribution.
How the '_csp File Extension' Ransomware Carries Out Its Attack
The '_csp File Extension' Ransomware is distributed like most other encryption ransomware Trojans, through corrupted spam email attachments with embedded macro scripts that download and install threats like the '_csp File Extension' Ransomware onto the victims' computers. The '_csp File Extension' Ransomware then uses a strong encryption algorithm to encrypt the victim's files, targeting the user-generated files, which may include a wide variety of file types, including some of the following:
.jpg, .jpeg, .raw, .tif, .gif, .png, .bmp, .3dm, .max, .accdb, .db, .dbf, .mdb, .pdb, .sql, .dwg, .dxf, .cpp, .cs, .h, .php, .asp, .rb, .java, .jar, .class, .py, .js, .aaf, .aep, .aepx, .plb, .prel, .prproj, .aet, .ppj, .psd, .indd, .indl, .indt, .indb, .inx, .idml, .pmd, .xqx, .xqx, .ai, .eps, .ps, .svg, .swf, .fla, .as3, .as, .txt, .doc, .dot, .docx, .docm, .dotx, .dotm, .docb, .rtf, .wpd, .wps, .msg, .pdf, .xls, .xlt, .xlm, .xlsx, .xlsm, .xltx, .xltm, .xlsb, .xla, .xlam, .xll, .xlw, .ppt, .pot, .pps, .pptx, .pptm, .potx, .potm, .ppam, .ppsx, .ppsm, .sldx, .sldm, .wav, .mp3, .aif, .iff, .m3u, .m4u, .mid, .mpa, .wma, .ra, .avi, .mov, .mp4, .3gp, .mpeg, .3g2, .asf, .asx, .flv, .mpg, .wmv, .vob, .m3u8, .dat, .csv, .efx, .sdf, .vcf, .xml, .ses, .qbw, .qbb, .qbm, .qbi, .qbr , .cnt, .des, .v30, .qbo, .ini, .lgb, .qwc, .qbp, .aif, .qba, .tlg, .qbx, .qby , .1pa, .qpd, .txt, .set, .iif, .nd, .rtp, .tlg, .wav, .qsm, .qss, .qst, .fx0, .fx1, .mx0, .fpx, .fxr, .fim, .ptb, .ai, .pfb, .cgn, .vsd, .cdr, .cmx, .cpt, .csl, .cur, .des, .dsf, .ds4, , .drw, .eps, .ps, .prn, .gif, .pcd, .pct, .pcx, .plt, .rif, .svg, .swf, .tga, .tiff, .psp, .ttf, .wpd, .wpg, .wi, .raw, .wmf, .txt, .cal, .cpx, .shw, .clk, .cdx, .cdt, .fpx, .fmv, .img, .gem, .xcf, .pic, .mac, .met, .pp4, .pp5, .ppf, .nap, .pat, .ps, .prn, .sct, .vsd, .wk3, .wk4, .xpm, .zip, .rar.
The '_csp File Extension' Ransomware attack will change and mark the files with a new file extension, '._csp,' which is added the files' names. After encrypting the victim's files, the '_csp File Extension' Ransomware distributes its ransom demand as a text file named 'HOW TO DECRYPT[1T0tO].txt.' The '_csp File Extension' Ransomware's ransom note asks that the victim contact the criminals via email. Once the victim establishes contact with the criminals, they will demand a ransom payment, typically through Bitcoin or other digital currencies.
Dealing with the '_csp File Extension' Ransomware Threat
Security researchers strongly advise computer users to avoid paying the '_csp File Extension' Ransomware ransom or contacting the criminals responsible for these attacks. Criminals carrying out ransomware attacks like the '_csp File Extension' Ransomware may not restore the victim's data even if they make a payment. Furthermore, after establishing contact with the victim, they may target the victim for additional malware attacks and other hoaxes. With the '_csp File Extension' Ransomware and most encryption ransomware Trojans, the best course of action is to take preventive steps, to limit the scope of the damage of the '_csp File Extension' Ransomware attack before it happens.
Protecting Your Computer from Threats Like the '_csp File Extension' Ransomware
The best protection against threats like the '_csp File Extension' Ransomware is to have backup copies of your data. Apart from file backups, computer users are strongly advised to use a dedicated security program to intercept the '_csp File Extension' Ransomware before it manages to cause any damage to the computer users' files.
