Bitdefender security researchers land a decisive blow against the Windows ransomware Darkside: Victims regain access to their files with a free decryption tool. A ransom payment is no longer necessary.

The tool “Bitdefender Decryption Utility for DarkSide ransomware” is now available for download. This should work with all versions of Darkside that are currently in circulation. How the decryption takes place in detail is currently unknown. It can be assumed that the security researchers have come across errors in the encryption and are starting there. Something like this has happened before; last with the encryption Trojan ThunderX.

Free files Blackmail Trojans encrypt data and the masterminds only release the keys after a ransom has been paid. In the case of Darkside, the backers demanded sums between 200. 000 to 2 million US dollars.

In order to save files without paying a ransom, victims have to decide after installing the tool to scan the entire computer for affected files or just individual folders. Before starting the scan, it is advisable to activate the backup option in the tool. This ensures that you still have files on hand in case something goes wrong during decryption.

The tool then starts and decrypts files automatically. Once the process is complete, the encrypted files should not be deleted immediately. This should only be done when it is certain that decrypted files can be opened again.

Ransomware-as-a-service According to their own statements, the Darkside creators have already earned millions with the Trojan. In affiliate programs, they make the pest available to other criminals, who in turn let it loose on other victims. In the end, they have to give up some of the profits.

According to security researchers, Darkside is still active. The masterminds only updated their website at the beginning of January and now offer a press area, among other things, writes the MalwareHunter team on Twitter.

End 2020 ensured Darkside made headlines when the makers of the extortion trojan donated proceeds to charitable organizations.

(des)