Ransomware removal reporters found out a Scottish business as the latest target of a ransomware. The location of the attack has been found out in Scotland’s Isle of Arran where Arran Brewery’s IT systems were affected. As a result, the personnel were unable to access their systems.
Early analysis on the ransomware removal and recovery indicates it to be a planned affair. It was noted that before the attack, there were job advertisements on online job boards for the position of a finance-based designation from the brewery. As a result, several applicants tried their luck and submitted their CVs.
However, this turned out to be a short-lived happiness for the job seekers. Soon the advertisement was confirmed as a hoax as the emails were distributed by a cybercriminal group. The job applicants who applied for the position were deceived as they interacted with the ransomware-filled emails. Users attempted to download a PDF file that was available in the email for further applying instructions. The PDF filled carried a malicious payload that in turn latched onto the victim’s PC with the ransomware.
The staff at Arran Brewery was also fooled as they checked the email’s content to determine its purpose. Consequently, their digital infrastructure was in tatters through the infection. The ransomware’s creator communicated with the Arran Brewery management and pressurized them through scare tactics with a ransom demand of 2 Bitcoin for ransomware removal.
So far the management does not intend to engage in any kind of transaction with the criminals and have strongly refused any possibility of payment. The ransomware infection is expected to incur a loss of at least 3 months of the business’ data related to the sales. IT consultants have been hired for the restoration of the systems as well as performing the immediate operations for ransomware removal.
