Bitcoin Ransomware Education – PadCrypt

Some of the lesser known versions of Bitcoin ransomware always have something interesting to offer. PadCrypt was the first type of this malware which introduced a live support chat and uninstaller to “help” its victims.

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PadCrypt Is A Unique Crayon In The Box

Very few people will have heard of PadCrypt, but that doesn’t mean the threat isn’t real. In fact, this is one of the most recent types of Bitcoin ransomware to attack computers all over the world in recent times, as it was discovered by security experts in early 2016. As one would come to expect from every new strain of ransomware, this malware brought something entirely new to the table.

Live Support Chat was never a part of Bitcoin ransomware, until PadCrypt came along. Many people might be wondering why this would be even remotely useful. This Live Chat feature would allow for direct communication between the ransomware developers and their victims, which could be helpful if they have more questions on how to pay the ransom or where to get Bitcoin.

One of the main reasons why very few people have heard of PadCrypt so far is because the malware’s c&c servers were shut down quite some time ago. This does not mean users are safe from infection, though, but there will be no file encryption taking place, despite what the warning on one’s computer screen might say.

But there was more to PadCrypt than just the Live Chat feature, as the ransomware also made it easy to remove the infection. Every infected computer had a separate uninstaller downloaded by the malware, However, don’t be mistaken in thinking this would have gotten rid of the file encryption itself, as all it did was remove ransom notes and the files associated with the infection.

Last but not least, PadCrypt offered a flash to the past as far as its decryption method was concerned. The decryption program itself is presented in flashy colors and retro outlook. Somebody clearly has put a lot of work into developing this Bitcoin ransomware, albeit it is a shame they didn’t spend that time building something constructive.

Source: Bleeping Computer

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