Fog Ransomware

Ransomware is a particularly harmful malware threat that can cause severe disruption by encrypting critical data and demanding a ransom for its release. Victims often face significant financial loss, data breaches, and prolonged downtime, making ransomware one of the most feared cyber threats.

Fog is a type of ransomware specifically designed to encrypt a wide range of files and data on infected devices. It appends either a '.FOG' or '.FLOCKED' extension to the filenames of encrypted files. For example, a file originally named '1.doc' will be renamed to '1.doc.FOG' or '1.doc.FLOCKED', and '2.pdf' will be renamed to '2.pdf.FOG' or '2.pdf.FLOCKED'. This renaming process makes it immediately apparent which files have been compromised.

The Fog Ransomware Seeks to Extort Victims for Money

The Fog Ransomware issues a ransom note to its victims, notifying them that their files have been encrypted and some of them have been copied to 'internal resources.' The note urges victims to contact the attackers immediately to resolve the issue and restore their files. It includes a link and a code for communication.

The Fog Ransomware has the capability to disable the Windows Defender, the built-in anti-malware tool in Windows. This allows the malware to operate undetected and unhindered. In addition, the Fog Ransomware specifically targets Virtual Machine Disk (VMDK) files, which are used to store virtual machine data.

Furthermore, the Fog Ransomware deletes backups created by Veeam, a widely-used backup and recovery solution, as well as the Shadow Volume Copies, which are backup versions of files or volumes created by Windows.

Ransomware is a type of threatening software designed with the specific purpose of blocking access to files by encrypting them until a ransom is paid. After encryption, victims receive a ransom note demanding payment, typically in cryptocurrency. However, it is strongly advised not to pay the ransom or follow the instructions of the attackers, as there is no guarantee that cybercriminals will provide the decryption tools.

Ransomware could also cause further encryption and spread across local networks. Therefore, it is crucial to remove ransomware from infected computers as quickly as possible to prevent additional damage.

Take No Chances with the Security of Your Devices and Data

To protect devices from malware and ransomware threats, users should implement the following essential security measures:

• Regular Software Updates: Keep operating systems, software, and applications up-to-date to ensure all security updates are applied promptly.
• Reliable Anti-malware Software: Install reputable anti-malware software to detect and block malicious threats. Ensure real-time protection is enabled and keep the software updated.
• Firewalls: Use built-in or third-party firewalls to monitor and control the network traffic based on predetermined security rules.
• Regular Backups: Regularly back up important data to an external drive or cloud storage service. Ensure backups are kept separate from the main system to prevent ransomware from accessing and encrypting them.
• Email Security: Be cautious with email attachments and links, especially from unknown senders. Implement email filtering to block suspicious emails and phishing attempts.
• User Education and Training: Educate users about the risks of malware and ransomware and how to recognize suspicious activities. Promote safe browsing habits and the importance of not accessing unknown links or downloading untrusted files.
• Strong Passwords and Authentication: Use strong, unique passwords for all accounts and change them regularly. Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) wherever possible to add an extra layer of security.
• Disable Macros and Scripts: Disable macros in Office documents by default, as they can be exploited to deliver malware. Disable unnecessary scripts in browsers and applications to reduce vulnerability.
• Network Segmentation: Segment networks to limit the spread of malware. Critical systems should be isolated from the rest of the network.
• Access Controls: Implement strict access controls to restrain user permissions depending on their roles and responsibilities. Use the rule of least privilege to minimize the access rights of users to only what is necessary for their tasks.

By putting into practice these security measures, users can diminish the risk of malware and ransomware infections and defend their devices and data from cyber threats.

Victims of the Fog Ransomware are left with the following ransom note:

'If you are reading this, then you have been the victim of a cyber attack. We call ourselves Fog and we take responsibility for this incident. We are the ones who encrypted your data and also copied some of it to our internal resource. The sooner you contact us, the sooner we can resolve this incident and get you back to work.
To contact us you need to have Tor browser installed:

Follow this link: xql562evsy7njcsnga**xu2gtqh26newid.onion

Enter the code:

Now we can communicate safely.

If you are decision-maker, you will

get all the details when you get in touch. We are waiting for you.'