Fake ‘Order Status’ Emails Contain Locky Malware

Outline:
‘Order Status’ emails thank you for your recent order and claim that you can view details of the supposed order by opening an attached .zip file.




Brief Analysis:
The emails are not legitimate order notifications. The attached .zip file contains a malicious JavaScript (.js) file. If opened, this .js file can download and install Locky ransomware. Once installed, Locky encrypts the files stored on your computer and then demands that you pay online criminals a fee to receive a decryption key.

Detailed Analysis:
A spate of emails currently hitting inboxes purport to be ‘order status’ notifications and claim that you can read more information about a recent order by opening an attached .zip file. The emails  have the subject line ‘FW: Order Status’ along with a supposed order number. The bodies of the emails  thank you for your recent order and  list  further details about the supposed order. They finish with the name and job description of the  supposed sender.

However, these emails are certainly not legitimate order notifications and the attachments do not contain order details. Instead, the attached .zip files harbour  a malicious JavaScript (.js) file. If you click this .js file, it will download and install Locky malware on your computer. Once Locky is installed, it will encrypt all of your personal files and rename them with the extension .locky. A message will appear on your screen that explains that your files are locked and you must pay a ransom in online currency Bitcoin to get a decryption key.  And, the only way you can pay this ransom and – possibly – get  the  decryption key is to make contact with criminals skulking in the Dark  Web. Since you are dealing with criminals, there is certainly no guarantee  that you will actually receive the key even if you do pay up.

Unfortunately, there is no easy way of ridding the computer  of  this malware. However, if  you  have good recent backups, you may be able to reformat the computer and reinstall your files from these  backups.

Details, such as order, invoice, and customer numbers as well as the name and job description of the supposed sender may vary in different versions of these emails. Note also that there are several other similar payment related malware emails being distributed. These emails also contain Locky. Be very wary of any email that claims to contain information about a declined  payment, an accepted payment, bank documents, credit notes, recent orders, or other payment or invoice related issues. If you receive one of these emails, do not open any attachments that it contains.

Last updated: March 22, 2016
First published: March 22, 2016
By Brett M. Christensen
About Hoax-Slayer

References
‘Payment Declined’ Emails Contain Locky Ransomware
Bogus ‘Payment Accepted’ Email Carries Locky Ransomware
‘Received Documents From Your Bank’ Emails Contain Locky Ransomware
‘Locky’ ransomware – what you need to know

Original Source : https://www.hoax-slayer.net/fake-order-status-emails-contain-locky-malware/