{"id":55137,"date":"2016-11-08T20:04:46","date_gmt":"2016-11-08T20:04:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pcmatic.com\/blog\/?p=55137"},"modified":"2016-11-08T20:04:46","modified_gmt":"2016-11-08T20:04:46","slug":"new-locky-ransomware-14m-emails","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pcmatic.com\/blog\/new-locky-ransomware-14m-emails\/","title":{"rendered":"New Locky Ransomware Campaign Sends 14M Emails In Five Hours"},"content":{"rendered":"

14M Emails Infected With Locky Ransomware<\/h4>\n

Another ransomware campaign was sent out on October 24th, distributing 14 million emails with Locky ransomware attached.\u00a0 The email included a “complaint letter”, which of course was really ransomware.\u00a0 Upon opening the attachment, the ransomware went to work encrypting user’s files.\u00a0 The typical ransom demand made with Locky infections is .5 Bitcoin, or $340 USD.<\/p>\n

A decryption key for the Locky ransomware has not been found.<\/p>\n

Staying Protected<\/h4>\n

Ransomware, the malware that locks your files until payment demands are met, targets your most important data.\u00a0 How can you stay protected?<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Use an antivirus that includes application whitelisting technology.\u00a0 Instead of the traditional blacklist approach, using a whitelist allows for only trusted programs to run.\u00a0 PC Matic<\/a> is available for home use.\u00a0 PC Matic Pro<\/a> is available for business use.<\/li>\n
  2. Update your applications and operating system.\u00a0 Many times our applications and OS have security vulnerabilities that are patched through updates.\u00a0 If you are not installing updates as they become available, you could be leaving the door open for cyber criminals.<\/li>\n
  3. Backup your data.\u00a0 Use an external device to backup all of your critical data.\u00a0 Also, be sure to unplug this external device once the backup process is completed.<\/li>\n
  4. Increase your awareness.\u00a0 Gaining insight on current cyber security threats such as ransomware and viruses, can help prevent users from falling victim to the hacker’s attempts.\u00a0 PC Matic<\/a> subscribers are offered a free cyber security training<\/a> through our partners at KnowBe4<\/a>.<\/li>\n
  5. Think before you click!\u00a0 Are you expecting this email?\u00a0 Do you know the sender?\u00a0 Does the attachment make sense?\u00a0 Take this most recent Locky campaign for example.\u00a0 Are you expecting a “complaint letter”?\u00a0 Probably not.\u00a0 Sent to businesses however, this “letter” could be quite successful.\u00a0 We all know the saying curiosity killed the cat…don’t be a cat!<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

     <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    14M Emails Infected With Locky Ransomware Another ransomware campaign was sent out on October 24th, distributing 14 million emails with Locky ransomware attached.\u00a0 The email included a “complaint letter”, which of course was really ransomware.\u00a0 Upon opening the attachment, the ransomware went to work encrypting user’s files.\u00a0 The typical ransom demand made with Locky infections […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":54,"featured_media":55140,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[4949,5000,5090],"tags":[4900,4363],"class_list":["post-55137","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ransomware","category-ransomwarewar","category-slider","tag-locky","tag-ransomware"],"yoast_head":"\nNew Locky Ransomware Campaign Sends 14M Emails In Five Hours<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"New Locky ransomware campaign was distributed through 14 million emails in a matter of five hours. 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