Do you know what PetrWrap Ransomware is?
PetrWrap Ransomware is one of those ransomware infections that can be purchased at Darknet. Darknet is a specific overlay network that can be accessed using particular software and configurations. For instance, Tor could be part of a Darknet. Users who know how to connect to these secret networks can engage in illegal file sharing via a peer-to-peer connection. They can also purchase malware programs that they can later on use to attack innocent users. It might be rather hard for ordinary computer users to remove PetrWrap Ransomware from their computers because the infection successfully takes over the affected system.
This seems to be a rather new infection because it was first detected in March 2017. This infection can be considered a new version of the previously released Petya Ransomware. This program gets its name from the technique that was used to create it. The people behind this program took the base of the binary system from the Petya Ransomware infection and then modified it to work independently from the main Petya RaaS back-end system. This technique is called “wrapping,” and that is why this new ransomware is called PetrWrap Ransomware. It can work independently from the original Petya Ransomware, and it makes it just as dangerous because it might be hard to foresee what this program could do.
This infection may find its way into personal user’s computers, but it does not seem to be their main target. Security research suggests that PetrWrap Ransomware mainly targets corporate computer systems, thus trying to rip various organizations off. Since this program is based on Petya Ransomware, we can assume that the newly tweaked infection will damage the system’s Master Boot Record (MBR), and the machine will not start the Windows OS, but display the ransom note on your screen even before the system loads.
Another thing we have noticed is that PetrWrap Ransomware is a bit of a Frankenstein of an infection because it is based on one program, and it exhibits behavioral symptoms of another. The thing is that Petya Ransomware is usually distributed via spam email campaigns, when users download and open malicious attachments themselves. However, this new program employs a direct distribution method, in a way that the people behind it drop the malicious file onto the target systems manually. They do it through insecure Remote Desktop connection servers, as corporate computers are more likely to employ this service.
So for PetrWrap Ransomware to enter a target computer, the group that spawned this program is constantly looking for vulnerable Remote Desktop Protocol connections that could be exploited. So for that, the ransomware engages in brute-force attacks, trying to compromise the target server and get into the system.
When the ransomware finally enters the target system, it displays the ransom note way before the computer even loads. Computer security experts can recognize that the message is based on the Petya Ransomware’s template, yet regular users probably would not realize it. To tell you the truth, it does not help much to know where PetrWrap Ransomware comes from because the bottom line is the same: you are infected, and this program demands money. It says the following:
All your file system has been encrypted.
Any revers engineering attemps wont help you to recover your data.
In order to recover all your data contact us by email and pay the ransom.
As you can see, PetrWrap Ransomware does not indicate the ransom fee in the message. The fee can actually vary depending on what organization was infected. Of course, computer security experts will tell you that paying the ransom is not an option, but if an organization has lots extremely important files, they might think that they have no other choice.
Not to mention that PetrWrap Ransomware employs a powerful encryption algorithm that was also used by the Petya Ransomware infection, and there is no public decryption tool available as of yet. The program has independent servers that issue the key distribution, so it might seem that the people behind this infection will give users their files back, but by paying these criminals, you would help them reach their goals.
It is a lot better to relay on a system backup and a legitimate antispyware application to deal with PetrWrap Ransomware. Most of the organizations should have an external drive where they save most of their files, and that is where you can look for your data. As for the infection, please contact professionals to help you remove it.
In non-techie terms:
PetrWrap Ransomware is a dangerous computer infection that targets corporate computers. This program can paralyze and compromise business without any second thought. The main reason this program infects target systems is money, so it will not be successful if you refrain from paying the ransom fee. Please address professionals for the PetrWrap Ransomware removal, and then take all the measures necessary to protect your system from similar intruders in the future.