Petya Ransomware

Ransomware, a type malware that restricts access in computer system and requires a ransom for removing the restriction, is currently a big problem in digital world. New member to this family is Petya. Instead of encrypting just some file types Petya prevents user from accessing all the files on the hard drive by encrypting Master File Table. The user is asked to pay a ransom in order to get the hard drive decrypted.

Petya targets mostly business users as it is being distributed in spam emails that are targeting the human resources departments. First spam messages contained a Dropbox link to a malicious file. Since Dropbox removed the malicious archives the bad guys will likely use other way of distribution.


More information can be read in Kaspersky's blog here.