{"id":57716,"date":"2017-08-17T10:58:07","date_gmt":"2017-08-17T15:58:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pcmatic.com\/blog\/?p=57716"},"modified":"2017-08-17T10:58:07","modified_gmt":"2017-08-17T15:58:07","slug":"locky-makes-yet-another-return","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pcmatic.com\/blog\/locky-makes-yet-another-return\/","title":{"rendered":"Locky Makes Yet Another Return"},"content":{"rendered":"

Locky Ransomware is Back<\/h4>\n

Locky, a ransomware variant that was once upon a time one of the most popular types of ransomware, is back. \u00a0This return is not surprising. \u00a0Cyber criminals would rather make slight alterations to existing malware and reuse it, then have to create it from scratch. \u00a0By making even the simplest changes, a known threat can become an unknown file. \u00a0This is exactly what the hackers want, and here’s why.<\/p>\n

Most security programs utilize a blacklist as their primary method of malware detection. \u00a0A blacklist is a list of all known threats. \u00a0If an unknown file tries to execute on a computer with a security program that uses a blacklist — it will run. \u00a0Why? \u00a0Because it is not a known threat. \u00a0See the issue?<\/p>\n

How They’re Getting You…<\/h4>\n

The latest version of Locky is being distributed through a malicious email campaign. \u00a0The emails are meant to entice the user to download a particular file. \u00a0This could be a .pdf, .docx, or .jpg, just to name a few. \u00a0Whichever file type the user downloads, the ransomware is then triggered to encrypt all of the user’s files of that same type. \u00a0Therefore, if they download a .docx attachment, all of the .docx files on the PC will then be encrypted and held for ransom.<\/p>\n

Too bad there’s not a way to stop this. \u00a0Wait, there is. \u00a0MSPMentor reports<\/a>,<\/p>\n

“Experts recommend adopting a \u201cdefault deny\u201d security posture, which calls for blocking all unknown files from an IT infrastructure until they\u2019re verified as safe.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Sound familiar? \u00a0Application whitelisting<\/a>, or a “default deny” approach, is the only way to fully protect data and end-points from these emerging threats. \u00a0PC Matic<\/a>, PC Matic Pro,<\/a> and PC Matic MSP<\/a> use a globally, automated whitelist as their primary method of malware detection. \u00a0Trying to keep up with today’s consistently changing threat landscape is impossible. \u00a0However, knowing what programs are safe and secure, is far more manageable.<\/p>\n

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

Locky Ransomware is Back Locky, a ransomware variant that was once upon a time one of the most popular types of ransomware, is back. \u00a0This return is not surprising. \u00a0Cyber criminals would rather make slight alterations to existing malware and reuse it, then have to create it from scratch. \u00a0By making even the simplest changes, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":54,"featured_media":55436,"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 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