Danielthai Ransomware
The Danielthai Ransomware is a file-locking Trojan that's a variant of the RIP Lmao Ransomware. The Danielthai Ransomware attacks the user's media files by encrypting them so that they can't open and generates a ransom-themed pop-up similar to the previous Trojan. Users should have backups of their files on other devices for restoring without a ransom and let dedicated security services remove the Danielthai Ransomware as they detect it.
More Laughter from a Poor Joke on Files
Although it was mostly-notable as an independent threat without relationships to previous ones originally, the RIP Lmao Ransomware's status is changing more and more. After the last Daddycrypt Ransomware sample – the first example of a variant of RIP Lmao Ransomware – malware researchers are finding a potential opening of floodgates. A second release, demonstrating a clear trend towards proliferation, is available in threat databases, under the name of the Danielthai Ransomware.
The Danielthai Ransomware, whose name appears to be a random alias unrelated to any real person, still is a Windows threat with a .NET Framework dependency. It continues the standardized attacks of its threat type by encrypting the user's files with an encryption algorithm of still-unknown strength and stopping most documents, databases, spreadsheets, pictures, audio or video content from opening. The Danielthai Ransomware also adds a 'locked' extension to their names.
The ransom note of this new family uses an HTA pop-up that asks for Bitcoins and provides negotiating data such as the wallet and e-mail addresses. For the Danielthai Ransomware, the ransom request is much more reasonable than Daddycrypt Ransomware's, at a single Bitcoin. Malware experts still recommend against paying. File-locker Trojans' threat actors ask for cryptocurrency as a means of taking the money without having any obligations towards helping with recovery.
Sparing Files the Trouble of a Data Lock Ahead of Time
The Danielthai Ransomware may still be in its testing phase; malware researchers point to names on current samples implying that the distribution phase of the campaign is half-baked. Users still should assume that the threat is in circulation in the wild and do their part to protect their files and Windows devices. Fortunately, most cyber-security utilities identify the Danielthai Ransomware and block it accordingly.
As common-sense safety standards, all Windows users should turn off Flash, Java, and JavaScript when they're not in use, update their software, use secure passwords, and avoid enabling macros on suspicious documents or spreadsheets. Malware experts also recommend examining e-mail attachments, social message links, torrents, and updates from unofficial sources for possible attacks. Although government and business entities pay the greatest ransoms, the Danielthai Ransomware's relatively small demands are compatible with attacks against the home user demographic entirely.
Anti-malware tools can provide an effective defense against this threat and should remove the Danielthai Ransomware from compromised machines easily. Still, even the best security solution isn't a replacement for an intelligent backup for file recovery.
The Danielthai Ransomware isn't as much of a surprise as Daddycrypt Ransomware but shows a distinct pattern in threat development. With more and more remixes of RIP Lmao Ransomware on the Web, Windows users have more dangers to dodge – and it's no a laughing matter.
