Threat Database Ransomware Hidden-Peach Ransomware

Hidden-Peach Ransomware

By GoldSparrow in Ransomware

The Hidden-Peach Ransomware is an encryption ransomware Trojan. Con artists use the Hidden-Peach Ransomware to force computer users to pay large sums. These threat infections carry out their attacks by taking the victims' computers hostage, demanding that the victim pays a ransom to restore access. There are different approaches that ransomware Trojans can take to lock computers users out of their machines. For example, some ransomware Trojans will use a lock screen that prevents computer users from accessing their Desktop. Encryption ransomware Trojans like the Hidden-Peach Ransomware are among the most threatening ransomware since the damage they cause may be irreversible. Threats like the Hidden-Peach Ransomware are designed to encrypt the victim's files using a strong encryption algorithm, making the files inaccessible. The victim is forced to pay a large ransom in exchange for the decryption key, which is needed to access the encrypted files.

The Hidden-Peach Ransomware is Another Hidden Tear-Based Threat

It is clear that the Hidden-Peach Ransomware is still under development and the Hidden-Peach Ransomware name is a placeholder until all of the features of the Hidden-Peach Ransomware have been implemented. The name of this threat suggests that the Hidden-Peach Ransomware is based on the Hidden Tear ransomware engine. Hidden Tear is an encryption ransomware engine that was released to the public for 'educational purposes.' Unfortunately, the release of Hidden Tear put a powerful threat source code into the hands of numerous con artists, who were then capable of creating fully functional encryption ransomware Trojans without requiring the technical knowledge that may be needed to deploy a threat of this magnitude. There are countless encryption ransomware Trojans based on Hidden Tear, and the Hidden-Peach Ransomware is only one of the most recent additions to a threat family that includes hundreds of different variants currently. The Hidden-Peach Ransomware attack is similar to most Hidden Tear infections, encrypting the victim's files and then demanding the payment of a ransom.

How the Hidden-Peach Ransomware Attacks Your Machine

Currently, the Hidden-Peach Ransomware does not carry out a fully fleshed out ransomware attack on the victim's computer. The Hidden-Peach Ransomware will only find and encrypt one folder named 'hidden-gay' located on the victim's Desktop. Since no computer user is likely to have this folder on their desktops virtually, the Hidden-Peach Ransomware will not do anything on the targeted computer. This quirk in the Hidden-Peach Ransomware's attack is likely because the Hidden-Peach Ransomware is still unfinished, meaning that the version of the Hidden-Peach Ransomware that has been observed by PC security researchers has this encryption method as a remnant of a test routine used by its creators.

However, it would be very simple to alter the Hidden-Peach Ransomware so that it may encrypt the victim's entire hard drive. All it would take is to change the code of the Hidden-Peach Ransomware so that instead of targeting this lone folder, it would target more directories on the infected computer. A full version of the Hidden-Peach Ransomware capable of carrying out a full ransomware attack is likely to be released eventually (if it hasn't already been released, possibly under a different name).

Dealing with the Hidden-Peach Ransomware

Fortunately, the Hidden Tear encryption method has vulnerabilities. Because of this, PC security researchers have released a decryption utility that can help victims of this attack recover their files without having to pay a ransom. It is likely that the Hidden-Peach Ransomware, based on the Hidden Tear engine, will be vulnerable to this decryption utility as well, giving computer users an option to recover their files for free. However, in most attacks of ransomware Trojans, computer users can recover their files rarely. Because of this, computer users should take steps to protect their files. Malware analysts strongly advise computer users to establish backups of all files on the cloud or an external memory device to facilitate recovery in the event of an attack.

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