Li Ransomware

Malware experts have located a new file-encrypting Trojan. It is called the Li Ransomware, but it also is known under another name – Scarab-Li Ransomware. Like most ransomware threats, if the Li Ransomware manages to infiltrate your system, it will scan your files, encrypt them, and then ask you for cash in exchange for a decryption key.

The majority of cyber crooks who engage in the creation of ransomware threats are not as technically capable as most regular users tend to believe they are. Most file-locking Trojans are not unique projects but are rather variants of another. This is the case with the Li Ransomware too. This ransomware threat is based on the wildly popular Scarab Ransomware. This infamous threat caused a lot of trouble in 2018, as it was one of the most popular and widely spread ransomware families.

The Propagation Method

Researchers are not entirely sure which propagation methods are being used in the spreading of the Li Ransomware. It is likely that fake software updates, alongside spam emails containing infected attachments and bogus pirated copies of popular applications, may be among the infection vectors involved in the propagation of the Li Ransomware. The Li Ransomware targets a very long list of file types. All the targeted files will undergo the encryption process of this data-locking Trojan. Once the Li Ransomware locks a file, it also changes its name by adding a ‘.li’ extension at the end of the filename. The attackers have taken the file renaming a step further as they also encode the names of the affected files by applying the base64 encoding scheme.

The Ransom Note

In the next phase of the attack, the Li Ransomware drops its ransom note called ‘DECRYPT YOUR FILES.txt.’ In the note, the attackers demand to be contacted via email – ‘liweixin888@protonmail.com’ and ‘firstmaillog@protonmail.com.’ The authors of the Li Ransomware claim that if the victims pay up the ransom fee, a decryption key will be sent to them, which will unlock all the affected files.

It is not recommended to get in touch with cyber crooks. They will try to trick you into giving them money but will likely never deliver on their promises to give you the decryption tool you need. Instead, you should download and install a legitimate anti-virus software suite, which will help you wipe off the Li Ransomware from your computer. Then, you can look into using a third-party recovery application, which may be able to help you get some of your data back.