Petya ransomware is now double the trouble

The Petya ransomware now bundles a second file-encrypting program for cases where it cannot replace a computer’s master boot record to encrypt its file table.

Petya is an unusual ransomware threat that first popped up on security researchers’ radar in March. Instead of encrypting a user’s files directly, it encrypts the master file table (MFT) used by NTFS disk partitions to hold information about file names, sizes and location on the physical disk.

Before encrypting the MFT, Petya replaces the computer’s master boot record (MBR), which contains code that initiates the operating system’s bootloader. Petya replaces it with its own malicious code that displays the ransom note and leaves computers unable to boot.

To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

Network World Security