HARDBIT is a piece of malicious software categorized as ransomware. It is designed to encrypt data and demand payment for the decryption. Once we executed a sample of HARDBIT on our test system, it began encrypting files and modified their titles. Original filenames were appended with a unique ID
While examining thepositiveimpactnow[.]com, our team learned that this page is designed to lure visitors into allowing it to show notifications. Our other finding was that it redirects visitors to a similar deceptive website. We discovered thepositiveimpactnow[.]com while inspecting pages that use
While inspecting suspicious sites, our researchers found one promoting a browser extension called Motivational Quotes. It is endorsed as a tool that displays famous entrepreneur quotes on the Google homepage. However, our inspection of this extension revealed that it operates as adware. In other w
While examining NoteTab - Save Your Thoughts, we found that it changes the settings of a web browser to promote find.unav-web.com, a fake search engine. Apps that behave like this are called browser hijackers. In most cases, browser hijackers are promoted and distributed using shady methods. We di
While inspecting new submissions to VirusTotal, our research team came upon an application named AllocateType. After analyzing it, we learned that it is an adware-type app belonging to the AdLoad malware family. Adware operates by displaying advertisements on visited websites and/or diff
Recently, our team discovered an advertising-supported application called ManagerUpdater. We classified ManagerUpdater as adware because it generates unwanted advertisements. We also found that this app can read sensitive information. In most cases, users download and install adware inadvertentl
FBI is the name of a ransomware-type program. Malware within this classification is designed to encrypt data and demand payment for the decryption. After we executed a sample of this ransomware on our test machine, it encrypted files and appended their filenames with a ".fbi" extension. For examp
Pohj is ransomware that belongs to the Djvu family (one of the most widespread ransomware families). We discovered this ransomware while examining malware samples submitted to VirusTotal. Pohj encrypts data, appends the ".pohj" extension to filenames, and drops the "_readme.txt" file containing a
Powz is ransomware designed to prevent victims from opening their files by encrypting them. Our team discovered it while checking the VirusTotal page for recently submitted malware samples. We also found that Powz is part of the Djvu ransomware family, appends the ".powz" extension to filenames, a
Our research discovered the headcaptcha[.]live page while checking out suspicious websites. This rogue webpage pushes browser notification spam and redirects visitors to different (likely deceptive/malicious) sites. Users typically enter headcaptcha[.]live and pages akin it - through redirects cau