Deal Ransomware

Cybersecurity researchers keep spotting more and more ransomware threats lurking on the Web. Among the most recent data-locking Trojans is the Deal Ransomware. When experts studied this threat, it quickly became evident that this is another variant of the infamous Phobos Ransomware. Ransomware threats are seen as a relatively safe method of generating some quick cash on the backs of innocent users, and it is likely that this trend will not die out any time soon.

Propagation and Encryption

It has not yet been divulged what the infection vectors utilized in the spreading of the Deal Ransomware are. Some suppose that the attackers may be using spam emails to propagate this Trojan. Such emails often contain a corrupted attachment, which, once opened, would hijack the targeted system. To induce the user to launch the attached files, the authors of ransomware threats tend to use various social engineering tricks. There are other methods of propagating ransomware threats such as bogus software updates, torrents trackers, and fake pirated variants of legitimate applications. When the Deal Ransomware corrupts a system, it will scan its data to locate the files of interest. The Deal Ransomware is likely targeting a very long list of file types to ensure maximum damage. When the threat has located the targeted data successfully, it will begin its encryption process. When the Deal Ransomware encrypts a file, it will add a new extension at the end of its filename - '.id[VICTIM ID].[butters.felicio@aol.com].deal.'

The Ransom Note

In the next phase of the attack, the Deal Ransomware drops a ransom note. The note is stored in two files – ‘info.hta’ and ‘info.txt,’ and it reads:

’ Your computer is infected with a virus.
Files are locked* but not corrupted.

Send an email butters.felicio@aol.com and you will definitely be helped to recover.

*you can send us a couple of files and we will return the restored ones to prove that only we can do it

IMPORTANT:
1. the infection was due to vulnerabilities in your software
2. if you want to make sure that it is impossible to recover files using third-party software, do this not on all files, otherwise you may lose all data.
3. only communication through our email can guarantee file recovery for you. We are not responsible for the actions of third parties who promise to help you – most often they are scammers.
4. if we do not respond to you within 24 hours, send a message to the email ezequielanthon@aol.com
5. if you need an alternative communication channel – write a request by e-mail
6. our goal is to return your data, but if you do not contact us, we will not succeed’

The authors of the Deal Ransomware do not mention what the ransom fee is. However, they insist that the victim gets in touch with them via email. They have provided a main email address, which is ‘butters.felicio@aol.com’, and a backup email address if the user does not receive a reply within 24 hours, which is ‘ezequielanthon@aol.com.’ There have been several other email addresses linked to this variant, which are as follows - 'harlin_marten@aol.com,' 'lewisswaffield.a@aol.com' and 'relvirosa1981@aol.com.'

We recommend strongly to stay away from the creators of the Deal Ransomware and avoid any contact with them. You never know if they will provide you with the promised decryption key even if you pay up. This is why you should look into obtaining a legitimate anti-malware tool and use it to remove the Deal Ransomware from your system safely.

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Can you help in recovering encrypted files due to Deal Ransomware?

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