petya ransomware

Petya Ransomware is here. Here’s what you need to know.

It wasn’t too long ago when WannaCry swept through the digital realm, stealing data and taking money. But if you thought you’d have a little time to catch your breath before the next wave of ransomware attacks, then you’d be wrong.

So. Very. Wrong.

That’s right … not even a full two months later, the world is seeing yet another form of ransomware do its thing.

So give a warm welcome to Petya. You can call it Petya, NotPetya, Pneytna, or the GoldenEye strain of Petya (no one’s managed to narrow down a name for it yet).

Petya first made its introduction in Ukraine and has since spread to areas of Europe and potentially parts of the U.S. It exploits the EternalBlue vulnerability within Microsoft Windows to access your system. However, if this vulnerability does not exist for you, then the ransomware will try another route through separate administrative windows.

Keep in mind, you can also be affected by Petya if other computers on your network are affected by it. So even if your system is up-to-date and you are extremely careful online, there’s still an existing threat.

Once inside your system, Petya will take control of your data and ask for a payment of $300 in bitcoins. At this point, it works just like any other form of ransomware. It’ll steal your data and ask for money.

While sources are saying that Petya has only initiated 42 transactions with a payoff of potentially $12,000, you have to remember that it’s barely been a month since this ransomware has been active. In other words, it’s doing quite well for itself.

If you’re looking for ways to protect yourself and your business against ransomware threats like Petya, then here’s what you should know:

  1. Microsoft has patched the EternalBlue vulnerability, so you’ll need to make sure that your operating system is up-to-date.
  2. Many major antivirus companies have stated that their products have been updated to protect against Petya, so make sure you’re protected with a solid antivirus solution.
  3. Don’t open emails from strange sources and confirm the legitimacy of a download prior to downloading it (even if it comes from a friend or coworker).
  4. Keep your data backed up. If ransomware does come your way, your best defense will be your backups.

If you have any further questions regarding Petya or want to know if your system is protected against this threat, feel free to reach out to Immense Networks. We’d love to answer any questions you might have.