MindLost Ransomware

The MindLost Ransomware is an encryption ransomware Trojan. These ransomware threats are designed to take the victims' files hostage to demand a ransom payment from their owners. To do this, threats like the MindLost Ransomware will use strong encryption algorithms to make the victims' files inaccessible to everyone except those possessing the decryption key. As ransomware such as the MindLost Ransomware is becoming more common increasingly, computer users must take steps to protect their data from these infections with the help of a security tool that is fully up-to-date and have reliable backups of all data on an external memory device or the cloud.

Beware of Your Credit Card Data

There are countless encryption ransomware Trojans that are being used to carry out attacks on computer users today actively. The MindLost Ransomware, first detected in January of 2018, seems to be delivered to its victims through the use of corrupted email attachments. The attackers will use phishing email messages to trick computer users into opening the bad file attachment, which itself will use compromised scripts to download and install the MindLost Ransomware onto the victim's computer. The MindLost Ransomware, rather than encrypting most of the victims' files, seems to target projects and programs in development in the software industry primarily. The MindLost Ransomware seems to search actively for resources that are used by programmers creating software using Java, Python= and C#.

How the MindLost Ransomware Attack Works

The file that may be targeted in the MindLost Ransomware attacks include:

.TXT, .JPG, .PNG, .PDF, .MP4, .MP3, .C, .PY

While most encryption ransomware Trojans target dozens of file types, the MindLost Ransomware's attack seems limited to only a handful of file types, and this also points to the idea that the MindLost Ransomware was created with a specific purpose and target type. The MindLost Ransomware is being promoted on the open Web and, unlike many other encryption ransomware Trojans, the MindLost Ransomware does not seem to encrypt various video types and other document types, such as presentations or spreadsheets. However, once the MindLost Ransomware attack corrupts a file, it will become unreadable and inaccessible, meaning that the most reliable protection against the MindLost Ransomware, as with most encryption ransomware Trojans that are currently active, is to have backup copies of your files stored out of reach of the MindLost Ransomware and other encryption ransomware Trojans.

Old Tactic, New Victims

Victims of the MindLost Ransomware attack are asked to purchase a tool named 'MindLost Decryptor' at the MindLost Ransomware's website. Victims are asked to contact the cybercrooks via a Gmail email address (which will probably be shut down after it is reported as being associated with harmful activities). While most ransomware Trojans demand a ransom payment to be paid in Bitcoins (due to the anonymous nature of this cryptocurrency), victims of the attack are asked to make the payment using their credit card on the MindLost Ransomware's website. Needless to say, computer users should refrain from allowing the people responsible for the MindLost Ransomware to have access to their credit card information. Not only will this expose them to the ransomware tactic, but it also may place them at risk for identity theft and other potential issues.

Protecting Your Data from the MindLost Ransomware

It is likely that the MindLost Ransomware is still under development, and a payment amount is not listed on the MindLost Ransomware's website. It is possible that the people responsible for the MindLost Ransomware are simply trying to gain the computer users' credit card information to steal money from the victims directly. As is the case with other encryption ransomware Trojans, the best protection against these threats is to have the ability to restore the files from a backup copy, undoing the cybercrooks' attack strategy and tactic completely.