DotZeroCMD Ransomware

The DotZeroCMD Ransomware is a fake encryption ransomware Trojan. The DotZeroCMD Ransomware carries out a hoax where it will pretend to be an encryption ransomware Trojan, but it doesn't take the victim's files hostage or carry out an encryption attack onto the victim's computer. The DotZeroCMD Ransomware, like real encryption ransomware Trojans, is delivered mostly using spam email attachments. The victims of the DotZeroCMD Ransomware will receive a spam email message containing an attached DOCX file with corrupted embedded macros that download and install the DotZeroCMD Ransomware onto the victim's computer. Once the DotZeroCMD Ransomware is installed, it will carry out its attack, which consists of trying to convince the victims that a harmful encryption ransomware Trojan has been installed and has taken the victim's files hostage.

How the DotZeroCMD Ransomware may Enter a Computer

The DotZeroCMD Ransomware does not have the capability to encrypt victim's files. The DotZeroCMD Ransomware also does not remove the System Restore points or the Shadow Volume Copies of the victim's files. However, its developers may update the DotZeroCMD Ransomware to create more threatening variants of the DotZeroCMD Ransomware, which may be used to carry out more substantial attacks on computer users. The DotZeroCMD Ransomware and threats like it are considered 'scareware' since they rely on scaring computer users entirely, making them believe that a more threatening attack than the one that occurred is happening on the victim's computer.

The DotZeroCMD Ransomware Tries to Scare Victims Into Paying a Ransom

Once the DotZeroCMD Ransomware has been installed, the DotZeroCMD Ransomware will deliver its 'ransom' note in the form of a command line message. The following screens have been associated with the DotZeroCMD Ransomware attack:

• Screen 1:

'Dot Zero CMD.Ransom - v1.2
Powered by Rekt-Cheats.ML DigitalGroup LLC
This is a ransonware virus!
You need to pay to get your files back!
Q: What happened?
A: All your files have been ecnrypted!
Q: How nuch i need to pay?
A: 13? via with a cryptocurrency!
@: cmdransom@rekp-cheats.ml
xxxxs://cmdh5gz4ku7kop4l[.]onion
Files will be encrypted in [ 12 ] seconds.
Copyright (c) 2003-2015 All rights reserved.'

• Screen 2:

'Status: Completed
Encrypted 100/100 files.
All files have been encrypted!
You need to buy a key to get your files back!
15? via cryptocurrency! (BTC, LTC, TH, RPL ..etc)
@: cmdranson@rekt-cheats.ml
Press any key to continue to the decryption screen...'

• Screen 3:

'DotZero CMD.Ransom - v1.2 - RaaS RansomWare!
Public-Key: 3xd8ZmAQ2V9zW PersonalID: d7:16:ae
You need to buy a key to get your files back?
15? via cryptocurrency! (BTC, LTC, TH, RPL ..etc)
@: cmdransom@rekt-cheats[.]ml
Enter private-key: 0xjh8tXH
Valid key!
Starting de-crypting...
Decrypting was successfully!
Your files have been recovered successfully! BB
Press any key to exit...'

PC security researchers warn that the messages displayed by the DotZeroCMD Ransomware are merely for show, and nothing resembling an encryption routine will happen on the victim's computer. The above messages are designed to appear as scary as possible to inexperienced computer users, to trick them into believing that their data has been compromised by the attack. Computer users should ignore the messages delivered by the DotZeroCMD Ransomware and take precautions to protect their data.

Protecting Your Data from Threats Like the DotZeroCMD Ransomware

Although the DotZeroCMD Ransomware itself will not take your files hostage, there are numerous encryption ransomware Trojans active currently that will take the victims' data hostage. Because of this, computer users must take steps to protect their data preemptively. While the DotZeroCMD Ransomware itself will not encrypt the victim's data, ransomware Trojans that will take victim's files hostage are spread in ways that are identical to the DotZeroCMD Ransomware. Therefore, learning to handle spam email messages and attachments safely and having file backups stored on the cloud is a crucial measure that computer users can take to ensure that their data is safe from this threat.