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PureLocker Ransomware Targets Enterprise Servers

Posted: November 14, 2019 to Cybersecurity.

Tags: Ransomware, Cryptocurrency, Bitcoin, Malware

PureLocker, an unusual form of ransomware that attacks enterprise servers, has gone undetected for some time but has recently been revealed by cybersecurity analysts at Intezer and IBM X-Force.  What makes PureLocker so unique is that it’s written in PureBasic programming language.  Malicious software written in PureBasic is difficult for most security systems to detect.  It is also transferable amid different platforms like Windows, Linux, and OS-X. Aimed to strike the most valuable databases, the attackers hold the victims’ servers hostage until ransom is paid, usually in six-figure amounts of dollars or bitcoin.  The decryption key is promised reward for payment.  Non-payment of the fee within seven days threatens complete destruction of the decryption key, rendering the entire server’s critical data useless. According to Michael Kajilot, a security researcher at Intezer, there is no current figure on the number of victims affected by the PureLocker campaign.  Both Intezer and IBM X-Force have confirmed the campaign is active and being offered as a bespoke tool which limits criminal use to only those who can afford its dark web hefty price tag.  Cobalt Gang and FIN6 have launched previous campaigns with similar coding, and PureLocker does contain strings from ‘more_eggs’ backdoor malware.  Though the exact delivery method for PureLocker remains uncertain, its similarity with the ‘more_eggs’ malware suggesting phishing emails may be the entry point.

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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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