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Locky Ransomware Evolves: New Egyptian-Themed Variants

Posted: December 8, 2016 to Cybersecurity.

Tags: Ransomware, Malware, Data Breach

Locky, a popular strain of ransomware, has used the names of Norse gods like Odin and Thor as their file extensions up to now.  They've switched to Egyptian gods with the new .osiris extension.  What else is going on with Locky these days? Osiris is mostly being spread with a phishing technique where an Excel file is sent as an email attachment under the auspices of being an invoice.  The file is blank when opened, and a user is prompted to enable macros in order to read the content.  When the macros run, the computer becomes infected with Locky. A ransom note appears with a demand of 2.5 Bitcoins to be regain access to your computer's files.  2.5 Bitcoins may not sound like much, but as of this writing, 2.5 Bitcoins is equal to $1930.55 USD. There's currently no known cure to decrypt your files for this strain of Locky.  Backups are one possible solution, but Locky also attempts to erase copies, but it might work.  Outside of that, the best solution is to not fall for the phishing scheme.  If you receive an email attachment from someone you don't know, don't open it.  If you're not sure whether or not it's legit, contact us to discuss it.

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About the Author

Craig Petronella, CEO and Founder of Petronella Technology Group
CEO, Founder & AI Architect, Petronella Technology Group

Craig Petronella founded Petronella Technology Group in 2002 and has spent more than 30 years working at the intersection of cybersecurity, AI, compliance, and digital forensics. He holds the CMMC Registered Practitioner credential (RP-1372) issued by the Cyber AB, is an NC Licensed Digital Forensics Examiner (License #604180-DFE), and completed MIT Professional Education programs in AI, Blockchain, and Cybersecurity. Craig also holds CompTIA Security+, CCNA, and Hyperledger certifications.

He is an Amazon #1 Best-Selling Author of 15+ books on cybersecurity and compliance, host of the Encrypted Ambition podcast (95+ episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Amazon), and a cybersecurity keynote speaker with 200+ engagements at conferences, law firms, and corporate boardrooms. Craig serves as Contributing Editor for Cybersecurity at NC Triangle Attorney at Law Magazine and is a guest lecturer at NCCU School of Law. He has served as a digital forensics expert witness in federal and state court cases involving cybercrime, cryptocurrency fraud, SIM-swap attacks, and data breaches.

Under his leadership, Petronella Technology Group has served 2,500+ clients, maintained a zero-breach record among compliant clients, earned a BBB A+ rating every year since 2003, and been featured as a cybersecurity authority on CBS, ABC, NBC, FOX, and WRAL. The company leverages SOC 2 Type II certified platforms and specializes in AI implementation, managed cybersecurity, CMMC/HIPAA/SOC 2 compliance, and digital forensics for businesses across the United States.

CMMC-RP NC Licensed DFE MIT Certified CompTIA Security+ Expert Witness 15+ Books
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