Analysis of the whole process of enterprises to deal with the HALO ransomware
Ransomware has always been a stubborn problem in the field of cybersecurity, bringing huge financial losses and data risks to enterprises and individuals. In recent years, ransomware has escalated, with new variants such as HALO appearing, employing more advanced and robust encryption algorithms, making decryption more difficult. As a business, we must take this threat seriously and have a comprehensive understanding of how to deal with it.
I. Overview of ransomware
A. Ransomware Definition
A ransomware virus is a special type of malware that encrypts the victim's computer system and files and demands a ransom payment to obtain the decryption key. If the ransom is not paid, victims will lose access to the encrypted data, potentially leading to the permanent loss of important data. Ransomware viruses often masquerade as normal programs or documents to trick users into running and infecting systems. Once running, it automatically encrypts files in the background and places ransom messages and ransom payment instructions on the desktop.
B.halo ransomware features
The halo ransomware is a new ransomware variant that has recently emerged, which uses an upgraded hybrid encryption algorithm of RSA and AES, and the encryption strength is greatly improved compared to the previous variant. During the encryption process, halo first uses the asymmetric RSA algorithm to generate a unique key, which is then used to AES symmetric encryption of the file. This double encryption mechanism makes it more difficult to crack and poses a huge challenge to the decryption work.
Another noteworthy feature is that the Halo Ransomware virus modifies the file's NTFS data stream during the encryption process, inserting its own malicious code for the purpose of persistence. Even if the user reinstalls the system, the ransomware virus may be reactivated as long as the original disk is not completely erased. This makes it impossible to eradicate the Halo virus with a simple system restore, and a more professional approach must be taken.
II. Corporate Responses
A. Disconnect from the network
Once the Halo ransomware virus is detected in the internal computer server of the enterprise, the next step is to immediately disconnect the network connection and isolate the infected host from the external and internal networks. This is a crucial step to prevent the ransomware from spreading on the intranet and preventing more computers and data from being encrypted. If you are disconnected from the network, you also need to suspend all external services to prevent the virus from exploiting the service vulnerability to continue to spread.
B. Seek help from a professional organization
Due to the complex double encryption mechanism used by the Halo ransomware, it is difficult for ordinary decryption tools to completely crack it. Enterprises need to seek the help of a professional data recovery agency, and a team of experienced experts will take care of the decryption and recovery work. These organizations have self-developed decryption tools and technologies that can deal with new ransomware viruses such as HALO more efficiently and accurately.
Assess data loss
Enterprises that are waiting for a professional team to step in also need to assess the data loss caused by this ransomware attack. This includes confirming the type, quantity, and importance of the encrypted files, estimating potential economic losses, and developing a reasonable decryption plan and plan. If the loss is within a controllable range, you can consider decrypting the core data first; If the damage is severe, a full decryption recovery is required.
III. Decryption Process
A. Whole machine decryption
The most thorough way to decrypt the Halo ransomware is to decrypt the whole machine, that is, to decrypt and restore all the encrypted files on the computer. This method is more costly, but it ensures the integrity of the data and avoids missing any important documents. The professional decryption team usually creates an image of the current system, decrypts the virus behavior in a secure isolated environment, and uses a self-developed decryption tool to decrypt the entire system.
B. Encryption logic
Since the encryption algorithm is different for each ransomware, the encryption logic is a crucial step in decryption. For the halo ransomware, it is necessary to study its double encryption mechanism in depth, including the specific implementation details of RSA asymmetric encryption and AES symmetric encryption. Once the encryption logic is cracked, the decryption key can be generated faster and more accurately.
C. Use a decryption tool
After obtaining the decryption key, the professional team will use the self-developed decryption tool to decrypt and restore the encrypted files. These decryption tools have been honed for a long time and not only support common Office documents, images, videos and other formats, but also handle some special database and virtual machine files. During the decryption process, the tool automatically recognizes the file type and applies the appropriate decryption algorithm to maximize data recovery.
IV. Strengthen cyber security protection
After a ransomware attack, companies must learn their lessons and strengthen their cybersecurity protections to avoid being hit again. Specific measures include:
Update operating system and software patches to fix known security vulnerabilities.
Deploy endpoint protection and intrusion detection systems to detect anomalous behavior in a timely manner.
Strengthen security awareness training for employees and educate employees to recognize cyber threats such as ransomware.
Develop a sound data backup strategy and back up important data regularly.
Consider purchasing cyber security insurance to reduce the risk of potential financial loss.