Tox and you can create your own Ransomware! McAfee is reported to have uncovered an original malware that acts as a Service! The first Ransomware-as-a-service called Tox is a fact! The exciting thing is that the Tox is distributed free of charge.
McAfee Labs researchers discovered Tox at 19 May while they snatched into Dark Web. According to the company, malicious software was updated on 21 May with FAQs and improved design. The kernel did not change.
Highlights:
Tox is free. You just have to sign up for the site.
Tox uses TOR and Bitcoin. This allows some degree of anonymity.
Malicious software works as it advertises.
But how does a Ransomware-as-a-service work, and in particular the Tox?
Once you have registered on the "product" website, you can create your own malware in three simple steps.
- Enter the ransom amount, the website gets 20% of the ransom you will request.
- Enter "your cause." You should state why you locked the victim's computer (piracy, browsing adult sites, possession of pornographic material, etc.)
- Add captcha characters and you're ready.
This process creates an executable of about 2MB disguised as a .scr file. Then Tox "clients" can start distributing the malware as they wish. The Tox website (from the TOR network) will monitor the facilities as well as the profits. To earn your profits, after paying the commission, you must have a Bitcoin address.
Malicious software will encrypt all the data of its victims and ask for ransom.
Technical information
Although handy and functional, malware seems to lack complexity and effectiveness in the code. The developer or developers seem to have left many strings that can lead to their localization.
Examples:
- C: / Users /Swogo/Desktop/work/tox/cryptopp/secblock.h
- C: / Users /Swogo/Desktop/work/tox/cryptopp/filters.h
- C: / Users /Swogo/Desktop/work/tox/cryptopp/cryptlib.h
- C: / Users /Swogo/Desktop/work/tox/cryptopp/simple.h
The malware created by Tox has been compiled with MinGW and uses AES encryption with Crypto ++ library. Microsoft CryptoAPI is used to generate keys.
We do not expect Tox to be the latest malware to embrace this model. We also expect more specialized development and changes in encryption and tax evasion techniques.
We want to thank Intel Matrosov's Advanced Threat Research Team for his help with this research.
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