PwndLocker is a ransomware group targeting businesses and local government entities.
Analyst brief
PwndLocker is a ransomware group observed since late 2019, primarily targeting businesses and local government entities with ransoms ranging from $175k to $650k USD based on network size. They employ TTPs such as disabling Windows services and clearing shadow copies before encrypting files, also terminating processes related to security, backups, and databases. Defenders should focus on monitoring for mass service termination, shadow copy deletion, and unusual encryption activity, while ensuring robust offline backups are in place.
prolock
crime
PwndLocker is a ransomware that was observed in late 2019 and is reported to have been used to target businesses and local governments/cities. According to one source, ransom amounts demanded as part of PwndLocker activity range from $175k USD to $650k USD depending on the size of the network. PwndLocker attempts to disable a variety of Windows services so that their data can be encrypted. Various processes will also be targeted, such as web browsers and software related to security, backups, and databases. Shadow copies are cleared by the ransomware, and encryption of files occurs once the system has been prepared in this way. Executable files and those that are likely to be important for the system to continue to function appear to be skipped by the ransomware, and a large number of folders mostly related to Microsoft Windows system files are also ignored. As of March 2020, encrypted files have been observed with the added extensions of .key and .pwnd. Ransom notes are dropped in folders where encrypted files are found and also on the user's desktop.