Understanding the Threat: How GoZone Ransomware Accuses and Intimidates its Victims
GoZone Ransomware Accuses and Threatens Victims
In a peculiar trend in the cybersecurity landscape, a new ransomware known as GoZone has emerged, taking a significantly different approach.
Unlike conventional ransomware that demand high ransom sums from their victims, the operators of GoZone ransomware are demanding a comparably lower fee for the decryption of infected files— merely a $1,000 in Bitcoin.
Yet, the low ransom demand is not the only distinguishing feature of the GoZone ransomware.
In an escalated intimidation technique, the operators of the ransomware claim to have found child sexual abuse material on the targeted systems.
The accusation is conveyed through the ransom note and is likely aimed at instilling fear and panic, thus motivating the victims to pay up promptly.
Technical Analysis
Threat analysts at SonicWall, who discovered the malware, reported that once the GoZone ransomware infiltrates a system, it encrypts user data and then displays a threatening HTML ransom note.
The ransom note details the accusation and offers the alleged evidence of the illegal material as an added incentive for payment.
The note ends with a BTC address for the payment to be made to along with instructions on using Bitcoin for the uninitiated.
It’s important to note that while the ransomware does encrypt the files, there’s currently no evidence to suggest that it actually can or does scan for illegal content on a compromised machine.
This strategy appears to be nothing more than an intimidation ploy designed to pressure the victims into complying with the criminals’ demands.
Industry Implications
If successful, the approach embraced by GoZone ransomware could signify a dangerous shift in the tactics used by cybercriminals.
These new tactics go well beyond monetary extortion and evolve into negative social engineering methods which include slander and public shaming.
Practical Advice for Organizations
Amidst this rising threat, organizations are advised to strengthen their digital defense by consistently updating their systems and applications, educating their users about ransomware and the ways of not falling for them, regularly backing up their critical files, and implementing an integrated security solution.
Also, it is important to reiterate, from a legal perspective, users subject to such threats should report them to local authorities and not succumb to cybercriminals.
