RANSOM_JANLOCKER.A

April 17, 2017
 Analysis by: John Anthony Banes
 ALIASES:

Ransom.Winlock (MalwareBytes); MSIL/LockScreen.SO!tr (Fortinet); a variant of MSIL/LockScreen.SO (ESET-NOD32)

 PLATFORM:

Windows

 OVERALL RISK RATING:
 DAMAGE POTENTIAL:
 DISTRIBUTION POTENTIAL:
 REPORTED INFECTION:
 INFORMATION EXPOSURE:

  • Threat Type: Ransomware

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: No

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

Infection Channel:

Dropped by other malware, Downloaded from the Internet

This Ransomware arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

41,472 bytes

Memory Resident:

No

Initial Samples Received Date:

02 Apr 2017

Payload:

Locks screen, Displays graphics/image

Arrival Details

This Ransomware arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.

Autostart Technique

This Ransomware adds the following registry entries to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
CurrentVersion\Run
DeutschlandRansomware = {malware path}\{malware filename}.exe

NOTES:

This ransomware does not encrypt any file on the infected computer. It displays the following lockscreen:

If the button Wo bekomme ich das Passwort is pressed, it displays the following message:

If the user enters a wrong password, it displays the following message:

The password to unlock the screen and exit the program is 1234.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.850

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

13.336.02

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

12 Apr 2017

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

13.337.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

13 Apr 2017

Step 1

Before doing any scans, Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7 users must disable System Restore to allow full scanning of their computers.

Step 2

Note that not all files, folders, and registry keys and entries are installed on your computer during this malware's/spyware's/grayware's execution. This may be due to incomplete installation or other operating system conditions. If you do not find the same files/folders/registry information, please proceed to the next step.

Step 3

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

Step 4

Delete this registry value

[ Learn More ]

Important: Editing the Windows Registry incorrectly can lead to irreversible system malfunction. Please do this step only if you know how or you can ask assistance from your system administrator. Else, check this Microsoft article first before modifying your computer's registry.

 
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\CurrentVersion\Run
    • DeutschlandRansomware = {malware path}\{malware filename}.exe

Step 5

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as RANSOM_JANLOCKER.A. If the detected files have already been cleaned, deleted, or quarantined by your Trend Micro product, no further step is required. You may opt to simply delete the quarantined files. Please check this Knowledge Base page for more information.


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