1. Can Deep Freeze Prevent Ransomware Attack
2. How Do You Prevent Ransomware
3. Will A Vpn Prevent Ransomware
4. Can Deep Freeze Prevent Ransomware Attacks

Yet another caveat (also previously discussed) is that once the drive is set as writable, ransomware could spread to it. This can be mitigated by storing backups in another location (NAS, central storage) and restricting access to the backup folder in order to prevent the ransomware from spreading across the entire drive. Backing up data is often overlooked, but remains a very important aspect of data protection. Ransomware is a type of attack where hackers hold your data hostage for a ransom. There are cloud-based services that offer backup, or you can opt for Norton Security Premium, which includes backup capabilities. Anti-theft your device. Yet another caveat (also previously discussed) is that once the drive is set as writable, ransomware could spread to it. This can be mitigated by storing backups in another location (NAS, central storage) and restricting access to the backup folder in order to prevent the ransomware from spreading across the entire drive. Ransomware is not your fault After last week’s newsletter about “ransomware” attacks, in which criminals freeze organizations’ computer systems and demand a payment to unlock them, a number of readers asked about ways to prevent these hacks. Ken Gruberman in Altadena, Calif., told us an orthopedics practice he used was locked out of its computer.

Deep ransomware removal instructions

As ransomware runs rife the threat of extortion and disruption looms large. Find out what practical steps you can take to prevent ransomware from gaining a foothold and to detect it when your.

What is Deep?

First discovered by MalwareHunterTeam, Deep is a high-risk ransomware-type virus that originates from the Scarab malware family. After successfully infiltrating the system, Deep encrypts most stored files and appends filenames with the '.deep' extension. For instance, 'sample.jpg' is renamed to 'sample.jpg.deep'. Compromised data immediately becomes unusable. Following successful encryption, Deep changes the desktop wallpaper and generates a text file (named 'HOW TO RECOVER ENCRYPTED FILES.TXT'), placing a copy in every existing folder.

The desktop wallpaper and text file contain similar messages stating that data is encrypted and encouraging victims to contact developers if they want to restore it. No additional information regarding the encryption is provided. Therefore, it is currently unknown whether Deep uses symmetric or asymmetric cryptography, however, each victim receives a unique key necessary to restore their data. These keys are hidden on a remote server controlled by Deep's developers. After contacting these people, users are asked to pay a ransom. The cost is also currently unconfirmed - all details are provided via email, however, in most cases, size of ransoms fluctuate between $500 and $1500. Victims are also allowed to attach up to three selected files (less than 10Mb, non-compressed), which then be restored and returned to the victim as a 'guarantee' that data can be restored. Regardless of the cost, do not pay. Research shows that cyber criminals often ignore victims, once payments are submitted. Therefore, paying typically gives no positive result and users are scammed. You are advised never to contact these people or pay any ransoms. Unfortunately, there are no tools capable of cracking Deep's encryption and restoring data free of charge. Therefore, the only solution is to restore everything from a backup.

Screenshot of a message encouraging users to pay a ransom to decrypt their compromised data:

The Internet is full of ransomware-type viruses that share similarities with Deep. The list of examples includes (but it is not limited to) SHRUG, Predator The Cipher, and CryptoLite. Although these viruses are developed by different cyber criminals, their behavior is identical - all encrypt data and make ransom demands. There are typically just two major differences: 1) size of ransom, and; 2) type of encryption algorithm used. Unfortunately, these viruses commonly use algorithms that generate unique decryption keys. Therefore, unless the virus is not fully developed or has certain bugs/flaws (e.g., the key is hard-coded, stored locally or similar), restoring data manually without involvement of developers (contacting these people is not recommended) is impossible. Ransomware is one of the main reasons why you should maintain regular data backups, however, remember to store them on a remote server (e.g., Cloud) or unplugged storage device, otherwise backups are encrypted together with regular files.

How did ransomware infect my computer?

To proliferate ransomware, cyber criminals often use spam emails (malicious attachments), peer-to-peer (P2P) networks (eMule, torrents, etc.), unofficial software download sources (freeware download websites, free file hosting sites), fake software updates, and trojans. Infectious attachments typically come in the format of JavaScript files or MS Office documents. Once opened, these files stealthily download and install malware. P2P networks and other third party download sources sources proliferate malware by presenting it as legitimate software. Users are simply tricked into downloading and installing malware. Fake updaters infect the system by exploiting outdated software bugs/flaws or simply downloading and installing malware rather than software updates. Trojans open 'backdoors' for other viruses to infiltrate the system. Ultimately, the main reasons for computer infections are careless behavior and lack of knowledge.

How to protect yourself from ransomware infections?

To prevent ransomware infections, be very cautious when browsing the Internet and downloading/installing/updating software. Carefully analyze each received email attachment. Files that seem irrelevant or have been received from suspicious/unrecognizable email addresses should never be opened. Furthermore, select 'Custom/Advanced' settings and carefully analyze each window of the download/installation dialogs. Opt-out of all additionally-included programs. Software should be downloaded from official sources only, using direct download links. Third party downloaders/installers are used to proliferate rogue apps, and thus should never be used. Furthermore, keep installed applications up-to-date and use a legitimate anti-virus/anti-spyware suite. Bear in mind, however, that apps should be updated using implemented functions or tools provided by the official developer only. The key to computer safety is caution. If your computer is already infected with Deep, we recommend running a scan with Malwarebytes for Windows to automatically eliminate this ransomware.

Text presented in Deep ransomware text file ('HOW TO RECOVER ENCRYPTED FILES.TXT'):

Your files are now encrypted!
Your personal identifier: -
All your files have been encrypted due to a security problem with your PC.
Now you should send us email with your personal identifier.
This email will be as confirmation you are ready to pay for decryption key.
You have to pay for decryption in Bitcoins. The price depends on how fast you write to us.
After payment we will send you the decryption tool that will decrypt all your files.
Contact us using this email address: mrdeep@protonmail.com
Free decryption as guarantee!
Before paying you can send us up to 3 files for free decryption.
The total size of files must be less than 10Mb (non archived), and files should not contain
valuable information (databases, backups, large excel sheets, etc.).
How to obtain Bitcoins?
* The easiest way to buy bitcoins is LocalBitcoins site. You have to register, click
'Buy bitcoins', and select the seller by payment method and price:
hxxps://localbitcoins.com/buy_bitcoins
* Also you can find other places to buy Bitcoins and beginners guide here:
hxxp://www.coindesk.com/information/how-can-i-buy-bitcoins
Attention!
* Do not rename encrypted files.
* Do not try to decrypt your data using third party software, it may cause permanent data loss.
* Decryption of your files with the help of third parties may cause increased price
(they add their fee to our) or you can become a victim of a scam.

Screenshot of Deep desktop wallpaper:

Screenshot of files encrypted by Deep ('.deep' extension):

Deep ransomware removal:

Instant automatic malware removal:Manual threat removal might be a lengthy and complicated process that requires advanced computer skills. Malwarebytes is a professional automatic malware removal tool that is recommended to get rid of malware. Download it by clicking the button below:
▼ DOWNLOAD MalwarebytesBy downloading any software listed on this website you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Malwarebytes. 14 days free trial available.

Quick menu:

• STEP 1. Isolating the infected device.
• STEP 2. Identifying the ransomware infection.
• STEP 3. Searching for ransomware decryption tools.
• STEP 4. Restoring files with data recovery tools.
• STEP 5. Creating data backups.

Isolating the infected device:

Some ransomware-type infections are designed to encrypt files within external storage devices, infect them, and even spread throughout the entire local network. For this reason, it is very important to isolate the infected device (computer) as soon as possible.

Step 1: Disconnect from the internet.

The easiest way to disconnect a computer from the internet is to unplug the Ethernet cable from the motherboard, however, some devices are connected via a wireless network and for some users (especially those who are not particularly tech-savvy), disconnecting cables may seem troublesome. Therefore, you can also disconnect the system manually via Control Panel:

Navigate to the 'Control Panel', click the search bar in the upper-right corner of the screen, enter 'Network and Sharing Center' and select search result:

Click the 'Change adapter settings' option in the upper-left corner of the window:

Right-click on each connection point and select 'Disable'. Once disabled, the system will no longer be connected to the internet. To re-enable the connection points, simply right-click again and select 'Enable'.

Step 2: Unplug all storage devices.

As mentioned above, ransomware might encrypt data and infiltrate all storage devices that are connected to the computer. For this reason, all external storage devices (flash drives, portable hard drives, etc.) should be disconnected immediately, however, we strongly advise you to eject each device before disconnecting to prevent data corruption:

Navigate to 'My Computer', right-click on each connected device and select 'Eject':

Step 3: Log-out of cloud storage accounts.

Some ransomware-type might be able to hijack software that handles data stored within 'the Cloud'. Therefore, the data could be corrupted/encrypted. For this reason, you should log-out of all cloud storage accounts within browsers and other related software. You should also consider temporarily uninstalling the cloud-management software until the infection is completely removed.

Identify the ransomware infection:

To properly handle an infection, one must first identify it. Some ransomware infections use ransom-demand messages as an introduction (see the WALDO ransomware text file below).

This, however, is rare. In most cases, ransomware infections deliver more direct messages simply stating that data is encrypted and that victims must pay some sort of ransom. Note that ransomware-type infections typically generate messages with different file names (for example, '_readme.txt', 'READ-ME.txt', 'DECRYPTION_INSTRUCTIONS.txt', 'DECRYPT_FILES.html', etc.). Therefore, using the name of a ransom message may seem like a good way to identify the infection. The problem is that most of these names are generic and some infections use the same names, even though the delivered messages are different and the infections themselves are unrelated. Therefore, using the message filename alone can be ineffective and even lead to permanent data loss (for example, by attempting to decrypt data using tools designed for different ransomware infections, users are likely to end up permanently damaging files and decryption will no longer be possible even with the correct tool).

Another way to identify a ransomware infection is to check the file extension, which is appended to each encrypted file. Ransomware infections are often named by the extensions they append (see files encrypted by Qewe ransomware below).

This method is only effective, however, when the appended extension is unique - many ransomware infections append a generic extension (for example, '.encrypted', '.enc', '.crypted', '.locked', etc.). In these cases, identifying ransomware by its appended extension becomes impossible.

One of the easiest and quickest ways to identify a ransomware infection is to use the ID Ransomware website. This service supports most existing ransomware infections. Victims simply upload a ransom message and/or one encrypted file (we advise you to upload both if possible).

The ransomware will be identified within seconds and you will be provided with various details, such as the name of the malware family to which the infection belongs, whether it is decryptable, and so on.

Example 1 (Qewe [Stop/Djvu] ransomware):

Example 2 (.iso [Phobos] ransomware):

If your data happens to be encrypted by a ransomware that is not supported by ID Ransomware, you can always try searching the internet by using certain keywords (for example, ransom message title, file extension, provided contact emails, cryptowallet addresses, etc.).

Search for ransomware decryption tools:

Encryption algorithms used by most ransomware-type infections are extremely sophisticated and, if the encryption is performed properly, only the developer is capable of restoring data. This is because decryption requires a specific key, which is generated during the encryption. Restoring data without the key is impossible. In most cases, cyber criminals store keys on a remote server, rather than using the infected machine as a host. Dharma (CrySis), Phobos, and other families of high-end ransomware infections are virtually flawless, and thus restoring data encrypted without the developers' involvement is simply impossible. Despite this, there are dozens of ransomware-type infections that are poorly developed and contain a number of flaws (for example, the use of identical encryption/decryption keys for each victim, keys stored locally, etc.). Therefore, always check for available decryption tools for any ransomware that infiltrates your computer.

Finding the correct decryption tool on the internet can be very frustrating. For this reason, we recommend that you use the No More Ransom Project and this is where identifying the ransomware infection is useful. The No More Ransom Project website contains a 'Decryption Tools' section with a search bar. Enter the name of the identified ransomware, and all available decryptors (if there are any) will be listed.

Restore files with data recovery tools:

Depending on the situation (quality of ransomware infection, type of encryption algorithm used, etc.), restoring data with certain third-party tools might be possible. Therefore, we advise you to use EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard Pro. This tool supports over a thousand data types (graphics, video, audio, documents, etc.) and it is very intuitive (little knowledge is necessary to recover data).

By downloading any software listed on this website you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Trial version of EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard Pro is capable of scanning drives and listing recoverable files - to restore them, you must purchase a license.

Step 1: Perform a scan.

Hover your mouse over the partition you wish to scan and select 'Scan'. You can also select a specific folder, or click shortcut icons to scan the Desktop or Recycle Bin:

Wait for EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard Pro to complete the scan. The scanning duration depends on the volume of files (both in quantity and size) that you are scanning (for example, several hundreds gigabytes could take over an hour to scan). Therefore, be patient during the scanning process. We also advise against modifying or deleting existing files, since this might interfere with the scan. If you add additional data (for example, downloading files/content) while scanning, this will prolong the process:

Step 2: Recover data.

Once the process is complete, select the folders/files you wish to restore and simply click 'Recover'. Note that some free space on your storage drive is necessary to restore data. Note also that the trial version of EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard Pro is only capable of scanning drives and listing recoverable files - to restore them, you must purchase a license:

Can Deep Freeze Prevent Ransomware Attack

Step 3: Save the scan session (optional).

We recommend that you save the scanning session once you have completed recovery, in case you decide to recover additional files later. Simply click the 'Save Scan Session' icon in the upper-right corner of the screen and choose the location for the file to be saved. This will save a lot of time, since you will not need to re-scan the storage drive the next time you wish to restore something. Bear in mind, however, that data removed after the scanning session has finished will not be listed:

Create data backups:

Proper file management and creating backups is essential for data security. Therefore, always be very careful and think ahead.

Partition management: We recommend that you store your data in multiple partitions and avoid storing important files within the partition that contains the entire operating system. If you fall into a situation whereby you cannot boot the system and are forced to format the disk on which the operating system is installed (in most cases, this is where malware infections hide), you will lose all data stored within that drive. This is the advantage of having multiple partitions: if you have the entire storage device assigned to a single partition, you will be forced to delete everything, however, creating multiple partitions and allocating the data properly allows you to prevent such problems. You can easily format a single partition without affecting the others - therefore, one will be cleaned and the others will remain untouched, and your data will be saved. Managing partitions is quite simple and you can find all necessary information on Microsoft's documentation web page.

Data backups: The most reliable backup method is to use an external storage device and keep it unplugged. Copy your data to an external hard drive, flash (thumb) drive, SSD, HDD, or any other storage device, unplug it and store it in a dry place away from sun and extreme temperatures. This method is, however, quite inefficient, since data backups and updates need to be made regularly. You can also use a cloud service or remote server. Here, an internet connection is required and there is always the chance of a security breach. Therefore, you should consider using an application to create data backups locally.

By downloading any software listed on this website you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for EaseUS Todo Backup. 30 days free trial available.

We recommend using the EaseUS Todo Backup application. The 'Home' edition of EaseUS Todo Backup is usually more than adequate for regular users, however, the 'Business' edition is more suitable for companies and large computer networks. The EaseUS Todo Backup application provides extensive data protection features. You can easily create backups, and encrypt and compress them for enhanced protection and storage saving purposes. It also allows you to set backup schedules, create bootable devices, and restore the system if a crash occurs. You can easily choose where to store the created backup: locally; uploaded to an external drive; FTP; cloud storage, or elsewhere. In summary, EaseUS Todo Backup is an all-in-one tool, which provides all features required to properly backup your data.

Creating a data backup:

The backup process is virtually identical regardless of the item (file, partition, entire system) you wish to backup. Taking the File Backup feature as an example:

Step 1: Choose which item to backup.

Click on the 'Menu' icon in the upper-left corner of the screen to reveal the menu and select 'File Backup':

Select the files you want to backup. You can also enter a name and description of the backup that will be created:

Step 2: Change the default settings.

The EaseUS Todo Backup application provides a variety of additional options that can be added/modified while creating the backup. For example, you can encrypt data (add a password), select the compression rate (how much the backup should be compressed), performance (how many system resources should be allocated), add an email notification (you receive an email once the process is complete) and so on.

To open the options window, click the 'Backup options' button in the lower-left corner of the screen:

Select the settings you want to change and click 'Save'. You can also reset your changes by clicking 'Reset to initial settings':

Step 3: Select the backup destination.

How Do You Prevent Ransomware

As mentioned above, EaseUS Todo Backup allows you to choose where backups are saved - locally or externally.

Click the 'Browse...' button and select the location you want the backup to be saved:

Step 4: Safety measures and process completion.

Depending on the location you have chosen, there are a number of measures you should or should not take. If you are uploading to an internet-connected location (for example, Cloud storage, FTP, etc.), be sure to maintain your internet connection, otherwise you will have to start again. The same applies to external storage devices - do not unplug them until the process is complete.

The progress bar displays estimated time remaining until completion. Large backups (hundreds of gigabytes) can take hours to create (depending on storage device speed, internet connection, etc.). Therefore, the application also allows you to optionally choose what the system should do (shut down, sleep or hibernate) once the process has finished:

The best way to avoid damage from ransomware infections is to maintain regular up-to-date backups.

Will A Vpn Prevent Ransomware

Ransomware is not your fault

After last week’s newsletter about “ransomware” attacks, in which criminals freeze organizations’ computer systems and demand a payment to unlock them, a number of readers asked about ways to prevent these hacks.

Ken Gruberman in Altadena, Calif., told us an orthopedics practice he used was locked out of its computer system for months because of a ransomware attack:

Can Deep Freeze Prevent Ransomware Attacks

“The attack was enabled because a new employee clicked on a pop-up window which then allowed the thieves in … I learned that the IT staff at the practice never created simple guidelines for all employees on what to do when confronted with a bogus pop-up, message, web page or other anomaly.”

While I don’t know what happened at this practice, it’s true that ransomware attacks tend to start when someone in an organization clicks on an email attachment or web link that gives the criminals a route into the computer network.

But the security expert I spoke with, Charles Carmakal of FireEye Mandiant, said attacks should not be blamed on people who make a mistake. (Still, here are tips to avoid falling for hackers on your work account or your home computer.)

Just because criminals were able to trick their way into one person’s computer doesn’t mean they can take over the entire organization’s network. Hackers usually take days or weeks to get access to the right parts of an organization’s computer network for a ransomware attack, Carmakal said. That gives the organization many opportunities to spot and stop the criminals.

The key, Carmakal said, is for organizations to think and plan ahead for potential attacks and invest in technology that can help spot unusual computer activity. My colleague Brian X. Chen had useful advice for businesses in a 2017 column.

So, yes, Carmakal said, it’s important for workers to learn how to spot potential malicious emails or documents, but ransomware is never one person’s fault.

Me: I use a program called Deep Freeze which effectively locks my “C” drive and then if I get a Ransomeware attack, I simply pull the plug and reboot my computer, which resets my hard drive to how I originally set it up and the Ransomeware is gone – just like that.
3 problems for you however – I am using Windows 7 which is no longer supported by Microsoft and I’m not sure if Deep Freeze is available with Windows 10, the latest format, that is – I guess you might have to search in Google for it, or a similar program, which does the same thing, for your Operating System’s protection and supporting software and finally I Partition my hard drive, so my OS etc is in “C” and I download to “D” which is “unfrozen” and keeps downloads away from my “C” drive and partitioned there, for any viruses or malware I might also have downloaded.