WinBamboozle Ransomware

The WinBamboozle Ransomware is a ransomware Trojan that is used to entrap inexperienced computer users. Malware researchers who uncovered a ZIP file named ‘full.zip’ first detected the WinBamboozle Ransomware. Inspection of this file revealed that it contained a corrupted component used to carry out a ransomware attack on its victims. It is likely that the file associated with the WinBamboozle Ransomware will be used to attack computer users by releasing it along with a software plug-in or through torrent networks disguised as harmless files. The WinBamboozle Ransomware was first observed on an online anti-virus platform monitored by malware researchers. Con artists will often use these platforms to test whether their ransomware Trojans are capable of evading detection, uploading unfinished versions of their threats (such as the version of the WinBamboozle Ransomware analyzed by PC security researchers, which is still unfinished clearly). PC security analysts will monitor these platforms as a way to detect early versions of threats and uncover new threat tactics before they become widespread. The WinBamboozle Ransomware does not have a valid digital certificate associated with its attack yet. This means that opening the WinBamboozle Ransomware will result in a Windows alert that prevents the victim from executing the program without confirmation.

Don’t be Bamboozled by the WinBamboozle Ransomware

In its current form, the WinBamboozle Ransomware does not have an encryption engine that could be used to encrypt the victim's files. This is because the WinBamboozle Ransomware is still unfinished. The WinBamboozle Ransomware is still under development, and it is likely that once released it will integrate a ransomware engine, such as one of the open source ransomware engines used by many of these attacks currently. The WinBamboozle Ransomware does not encrypt the victim's files but will rename them, making it seem as if the file was compromised. The WinBamboozle Ransomware will alter the affected files' names by appending a string of five random characters to the end of the file name in the form of a file extension. This is a tactic that was observed in other ransomware Trojans released in 2016 and earlier this year. However, there is nothing indicating that the WinBamboozle Ransomware is part of a larger ransomware campaign. In many cases, the con artists will simply copy code from other ransomware Trojans without having a connection between the attacks necessarily.

The Results of a WinBamboozle Ransomware Infection

Although the WinBamboozle Ransomware does not encrypt the victim's files, many computer users may be fooled into thinking that the WinBamboozle Ransomware has carried out an encryption attack. The renamed files, due to the changed extensions, will often appear as generic white icons on Windows, making it seem that the files were encrypted. Once the WinBamboozle Ransomware is fully functional, it is possible that the files will be encrypted in the attack, making the WinBamboozle Ransomware more threatening substantially. The WinBamboozle Ransomware saves its ransom note as a file named '_README.txt,' which contains no message currently. Once the WinBamboozle Ransomware is functional, it is likely that the message will alert the victim of the attack and demand a payment of several hundred dollars, usually including instructions on how to purchase BitCoin or carry out the payment in a similar anonymous manner.

Protecting Your Computer from the WinBamboozle Ransomware

Although in its current form the WinBamboozle Ransomware is more of an annoyance than a serious threat, computer users should take precautions against the WinBamboozle Ransomware and other encryption ransomware Trojans, especially since there is no shortage of functional attackers today. The main way for computer users to protect themselves from these attacks is to install a reliable security program and have backup copies of all files. File backups are important especially since they are the only sure-fire ways to ensure that the files are protected from these and other ransomware attacks in case of an infection.