New malware targeting gamers
A new ransomware has been discovered and it is targeting gamers as well as PC users in general. McAfee is calling the threat Anatova, and it's a sophisticated piece of ransomware deployed by experienced hackers. Anatova uses the icon of either a game or application in order to get users to double click it.
McAfee discovered the threat lurking on a peer-to-peer file sharing network, and it's also built with modular extension in mind and boast strong protection techniques to defeat analysis. With this tool, hackers can easily add new malware capabilities to the strain. It could evolve quickly, and spread further online as multiple different threats. McAfee also notes that Anatova is sophisticated enough to render typical anti-ransomware tactics ineffective. I cleans up after itself, including taking measures to prevent dumping memory code that could assist in creating a decryption tool.
Anatova encrypts as many files as it can on the target PC or connected network shares before demanding the payment. Victims are expected to pay up in the form of cryptocurrency, 10 Dash is required to unlock files, which is about about $700. Anatova ransomware has been discovered mainly in the US, but also in the UK, and across Europe.
Use common sense when downloading files to your PC, and try to avoid any suspect looking sources. Stick to official stores where possible and stay away from ads that seem too good to be true. You should also also have a backup strategy such as Accordion to protect your data. When it comes to cure rather than prevention, you should keep regular backups of all your data, so if the worst happens and some kind of ransomware strikes or indeed even a critical hardware failure you have a fall-back solution.