The year 2016 really seems to be the year of Linux ransomware, which has come into the limelight since a couple of months. Malware coders are making progress and it looks like they are here to stay, which is evident from the fact that the ransomware has already passed more than one development lifecycle.
Linux ransomware works in the same way as its Windows counterpart by encrypting local files on the victim’s system and then demanding bitcoin payment for restoring access to the victim. However, Linux threats, unlike Windows, haven’t been continuous and are comparatively easier to identify and remove. It is very uncomplicated to remove all four versions of the Linux ransomware- Linux.Encoder.
Why is Linux Ransomware a Major Threat?
Here’s the problem. Most of the internet is run by Linux machines, as most of the hosting companies use Linux-powered systems for hosting websites for clients. Even cloud storage businesses depend on Linux, and organizations use Linux often for performance, maintenance, and financial reasons.
So as we said, Linux is a major part of the internet right now, and it is a huge security threat to think that Linux ransomware can bring the whole system to its knees. Vulnerable or unpatched systems can get compromised easily and get infected with ransomware without the victim user clicking on any URL or infected email attachment, because the whole process is automated completely.
For example, if your hosting service provider gets infected by ransomware, then all the sites hosted on the server including yours will get affected. All the data will get encrypted, and you won’t be able to do anything unless the service provider pays the attackers.
Linux Ransomware is Spreading, But There’s a Cure Too
Windows operating system has been plagued by ransomware since years, and the attackers have generated millions in revenue. The ransomware is expanding to Mac, Android, and Linux now. It is being said that this year is a critical one in terms of ransomware, and all major operating systems are predicted to get affected. Also, the attackers are constantly working on improving the ransomware, making it harder to deal with.
However, even the cyber criminals make mistakes, and there is a Linux.Encoder decryption tool for all those who got infected. We hope the tool keeps developing so that we can tackle the ransomware properly, now and in the future.