Description
-- Update November 3, 2009 -- The risk assessment of this threat has been updated to Low-Profiled due to media attention at:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/11/03/ransomware_ruse/
--
Ransom-N is a Trojan that on execution encrypts all the recently used files on the user's system.The user has to pay for the attackers' software to decrypt and recover their files.
Indication of Infection
Presence of files with the ".vicrypt" extension on the user's system.
Methods of Infection
Trojans are not viruses, and as such do not contain any method to replicate by themselves. However they may be downloaded by other viruses and/or Trojans to be installed on the user's system. Alternatively they may be installed by visiting a malicious web page (either by clicking on a link, or by the website hosting a scripted exploit which installs the malwares).
Aliases
Trojan.Ramvicrype (Symantec)