Avast released a free ransomware decryptor for Hades variant, which includes the "RIP Lmao" and "MafiaWare666."
The giant security firm now allows victims of ransomware gangs using the said variant to avoid paying any ransom to these threat actors.
(Photo : NICOLAS ASFOURI/AFP via Getty Images)
In this file photo taken on August 04, 2020, Prince, a member of the hacking group Red Hacker Alliance who refused to give his real name, uses his computer at their office in Dongguan, China's southern Guangdong province.
Avast Free Decryptor for Hades Ransomware
As per the recent report by Bleeping Computer, Avast now provides victims of ransomware attacks, wherein the Hades variant has been used, to recover their files without having to pay for ransom.
It is worth noting that ransomware groups take hostage the files of their victims, denying the latter access to them, according to Check Point.
Once the files of their targets have been encrypted, the attackers would ask for a ransom for them to provide the decryption key. Upon payment of ransom, the victims could get hold of their files again.
However, security firms have found a way to skip the part wherein ransomware victims would have to pay staggering amounts of ransom. And to do so, various cybersecurity platforms have begun providing decryptors for various variants of ransomware.
One of the firms that consistently offers a ransomware decryptor is none other than the well-known cybersecurity company, Avast.
And this time, Avast introduced a new decryption tool meant for Hades ransomware variant.
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BERLIN, GERMANY - JANUARY 25: In this photo illustration a young man types on an illuminated computer keyboard typically favored by computer coders on January 25, 2021 in Berlin, Germany. 2020 saw a sharp rise in global cybercrime that was in part driven by the jump in online retailing that ensued during national lockdowns as governments sought to rein in the coronavirus pandemic.
The security firm says it has found a flaw in Hades ransomware variants, allowing Avast to create a decryptor for its victims.
Bleeping Computer notes in its report that Avast discovered a vulnerability in the encryption scheme of Hades ransomware strains. Thus, its new free tool allows its users to unlock them without needing to pay any hefty ransom.
However, Bleeping Computer reports that the typical ransom for Hades variant attacks ranges from $50 to as high as $300. But in some cases, attackers ask for staggering payments, which could be more than thousands of dollars. And as such, the free decryptor from Avast comes in handy in these situations.
Hades Ransomware Variants
Avast says its new decryptor tool only works for the Hades ransomware variant. So if an attacker used another family of ransomware, this tool would not be good for it.
To check if your encrypted files are under the Hades variant, it should include files names like ".MafiaWare666," ".cyberone," ".brutusptCrypt," ".jcrypt," and ".l33ch."
And to finally cut to the chase, the Avast Hades ransomware decryptor is available to download here.
Related Article: FBI Uses REvil's Own Tactic Against the Russian-Linked Hacking Group | Experts Say Ransomware Actors' Strategy "Dumb"
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Written by Teejay Boris
