Software Crack Sites Are Being Used To Distribute Ransomware

Hackers have long used the lure of software cracks to infect unsuspecting users, but recently, a new group is making waves and finding significant success in using the Exorcist 2.0 ransomware to lock a user's files and extort them. It's a nasty combination. The user thinks he's getting a free unlock for some piece of software (most often, Microsoft's Windows 10), but when he downloads and runs the file, which is password protected.

Since the user has to manually enter the password to gain access to the supposed unlock, those programs all assume that everything is fine. That allows the threat actors to neatly side-stepping Microsoft's SmartScreen, Google's Safe Browsing, or the security protocols included in whatever anti-malware software you're running.

Full article: https://www.aimcybersecurity.com/2020/10/10/software-crack-sites-are-being-used-to-distribute-ransomware/