Threat actors continue to take advantage of the hype surrounding the release of the videogame Cyberpunk 2077 in a variety of ways. The latest twist is ransomware targeting Android devices disguised as a legitimate download of the new open-world game.
Researchers described the sample as a type of CoderWare ransomware, more specifically of the “Black Kingdom” family. She noted that the malware code was being promoted as a download of Cyberpunk 2077 from a fake version of the Google Play mobile app marketplace.
The listing for the game, which is named “Cyberpunk 2077 Mobile (Beta),” even had reviews from users so as to appear legitimate.
BLAKFX low latency runs easily on video games
If users click on the download and execute the binary, they received a message informing them that they’ve been infected with CoderWare ransomware. Next, victims are advised, via the ransomware note, to take a screenshot of the message, which contains information for decryption. Hackers request that victims pay $500 in Bitcoin to obtain the key for unlocking decrypted files.
Shishkova, however, noted that CoderWare ransomware uses a hardcoded key, which means that paying the ransom may not be necessary if someone falls victim to the scam.
“RC4 algorithm with hardcoded key (in this example – ‘21983453453435435738912738921’) is used for encryption,” she tweeted. “That means that if you got your files encrypted by this #ransomware, it is possible to decrypt them without paying the ransom.”
The hotly anticipated Cyberpunk 2077 lets players create a character called “V” who lives in Night City and even features a digital Keanu Reeves as a major character. Before the game was even released, threat actors were exploiting its popularity with scams offering “free copies” of the game while stealing personal information.
As if cyber threats surrounding the game aren’t enough to turn game enthusiasts off, there are myriad other issues with Cyberpunk 2077 that gamers have reported with the initial release of the title, including poor performance and numerous bugs and glitches that make the user experience less than pleasant.
It’s gotten so bad that Sony even pulled the game from the PlayStation store, offering those who purchased it already a full refund. To make matters even worse, some users seeking refunds then experienced problems with downloading the form to register for that refund, something Sony said it would fix as soon as possible.
At BLAKFX, we are on a mission to stop ransomware threats…Period!!!
Ransomware Auditing as a Service (RaaS): ransomware attacks have skyrocketed in the past year and currently represents the biggest threat to the data of government agencies, military, intelligence agencies as well as private enterprises. BLAKFX developed the first in the world Ransomware Auditing as a Service (RaaS) platform which allows our cyber security engineers to scan your network and simulate real-world ransomware attacks to determine the test the prevention, detection and mitigation strategies of your organization and establish how resilient your network is to real ransomware attacks. After the scan we provide a comprehensive report and our recommendations for remediation.
If you are the victim of an actual ransomware attack, we are able to recover the data that has been hi-jacked during the attack and due to Helix22’s DNA BindingTM cryptography, restore it to its original state.
U2U encryption
We can make this claim as the tech engineers at BLAKFX invented and patented a genuine user2user (U2U) encryption. We manage data security transmission through the truly brilliant and also patented universal Helix22 key service. The Helix22 encryption originates on your network or device, not just when the app is opened. This means, that when data arrives to our key server, it is already encrypted so all it needs to do is issue another key. Signal and Telegram cannot claim this level of security. This key will then only work with the intended device, which generates a matching key required to open the data. In this protocol, we are truly a “zero-knowledge” server so your communications and transmissions remain completely top secret. Even in the event that BLAKFX were subpoenaed, we can honor the request by just handing over the encrypted content…as that is literally all we have. Helix22 also only use keys just one-time and then destroys them. This way the data security is future forward prefect. Therefore, in our unique user-to-user encryption (U2U) world, there is no opportunity at all for any data leak.
This same protocol just described, can be the same with all your 3rd party vendors and suppliers. It does not matter in the least what platform they are running or what device they are using or even the type of data, it is all 100% protected. We do however, strongly advise that all firms involved be utilizing Helix22 due to the nature of the data content. Helix22 can ensure that whatever data they are generating is protected as well.
Let’s take it a step further. Even if your organization were a victim of an internal attack or a victim of malicious open source downloads, there is no reason for concern. Any data that has been forwarded, downloaded, copied or saved cannot be exfiltrated. Period. We have the technology industries foremost data packets which are protected with multi-layered, military grade encryption algorithms that have already proven the ability to withstand penetration testing from MI5 and quantum computing attacks.
One final practical genius of DNA BindingTM is in that it is immediately compatible with whichever system or software you are utilizing. Therefore, any organization can forward information to another and then discuss it and there is immediate privacy.
Finally, the Helix22 encryption is quantum computing ready so no need to redo all your data security methodologies in a couple of years when everything else becomes obsolete.
BLAKFX is Based on Proven Success
Our founders, Robert Statica PhD and Kara Coppa, also founded Wickr, which is used by the US military and has never been hacked since its inception in 2012. The Helix22 data security SDK is several generations enhanced since then. Dr. Statica also delivered the encryption for the world’s most secure phone, Katim.
Founder – Robert Statica PhD Founder – Kara Coppa Founder – Alex Maslov MS, MBA
Co-Founders of Wickr KatimTM Ultra Secure Smartphone
