The dangerous ransomware known as Police Locker is discontinuing its mobile element – though the PC version of the bug is continuing to go strong.
The mobile ransomware for Android devices was first detected in April 2014 by a security researcher known as Kafeine. Since July 23 however, Kaspersky Lab said that the mobile component of the campaign has been disrupted, as the command-and-control server started sending “uninstall” commands to mobile victims, effectively deleting the malicious application.
However, the rest of the malicious components for PC users – including the exploit kit – are still active.
“Those behind the attacks employed an unusual scheme to scan victims’ systems and offer customized ransomware depending on location and device type – mobile or PC,” Kaspersky noted in a blog post. “The redirection infrastructure is the next step, after a victim visits any of at least 48 malicious pornographic websites used by Koler’s operators. The use of a pornographic network for this ransomware is no coincidence: victims are more likely to feel guilty about browsing such content and pay the alleged fine from the ‘authorities’.”
These pornographic sites redirect users to the central hub that uses the Keitaro Traffic Distribution System (TDS) to redirect users again.
“Of most interest is the distribution network used in the campaign,” said Vicente Diaz, principal security researcher at Kaspersky Lab, in the posting. “Dozens of automatically generated websites redirect traffic to a central hub using a traffic distribution system where users are redirected again. We believe this infrastructure demonstrates just how well-organized and dangerous this campaign is. The attackers can quickly create similar infrastructure thanks to full automation, changing the payload or targeting different users. The attackers have also thought up a number of ways of monetizing their campaign income in a truly multi-device scheme.”
Depending on a number of conditions, this second redirection can lead to three different malicious scenarios:
- Installation of the Koler mobile ransomware. In case of mobile engagement the website automatically redirects the user to the malicious application. The user still has to confirm the download and installation of the app – called animalporn.apk – which is actually Koler ransomware. It blocks the screen of an infected device and requests a ransom of between $100 and $300 in order to unlock it. The malware displays a localized message from the ‘police’, making it more realistic.
- Redirection to any of the browser ransomware websites. A special controller checks whether (i) the user agent is from one of 30 affected countries, (ii) the user isn’t an Android user, and (iii) the request contains no Internet Explorer user agent. If it’s yes to all three, the user sees a blocking screen identical to the one used for mobile devices. There is no infection in this case, just a pop-up showing a blocking template. However, the user can easily avoid the block with a simple alt+F4 combination.
- Redirection to a website containing the Angler Exploit Kit. If the user uses Internet Explorer, then the redirection infrastructure used in this campaign sends the user to sites hosting the Angler Exploit Kit, which has exploits for Silverlight, Adobe Flash and Java. During Kaspersky Lab’s analysis, the exploit code was fully functional; however, it didn’t deliver any payload, but this may change in the nearest future.
Among almost 200,000 visitors to the mobile infection domain since the beginning of the campaign, the majority are based in the USA (80% – 146,650), followed by the UK (13,692), Australia (6,223), Canada (5,573), Saudi Arabia (1,975) and Germany (1,278).