##___policja!!!___ten_plik_zosta

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This document provides a detailed breakdown of the ransomware variant identified by the file extension ##___policja!!!___ten_plik_zosta, including its technical characteristics and recommended recovery strategies.

Technical Breakdown:

1. File Extension & Renaming Patterns

  • Confirmation of File Extension: The exact file extension used by this ransomware variant is ##___policja!!!___ten_plik_zosta. This unique string is appended to encrypted files. The phrase “policja” means “police” in Polish, and “ten plik zosta” means “this file has been” (implying “this file has been encrypted” or “blocked”).
  • Renaming Convention: When a file is encrypted by this ransomware, its original name and extension are preserved, and the ransomware’s unique extension is appended to the end.
    • Example: A file named document.docx would be renamed to document.docx.##___policja!!!___ten_plik_zosta.
    • Example: An image file photo.jpg would become photo.jpg.##___policja!!!___ten_plik_zosta.
      This pattern makes it immediately clear which files have been compromised.

2. Detection & Outbreak Timeline

  • Approximate Start Date/Period: Variants exhibiting the ##___policja!!!___ten_plik_zosta extension, or very similar “Policja” themed ransomware, were primarily observed in the wild starting around 2017-2018. These variants are often linked to a family of ransomware known for using “police” or “law enforcement” themes to intimidate victims, often targeting specific language groups (in this case, Polish speakers). While not a widespread, globally disruptive threat like WannaCry or NotPetya, it caused significant distress to its victims during its active period.

3. Primary Attack Vectors

The ##___policja!!!___ten_plik_zosta ransomware typically employs common, less sophisticated but effective propagation mechanisms:

  • Phishing Campaigns: This is one of the most prevalent methods. Victims often receive malicious emails designed to look legitimate (e.g., fake invoices, shipping notifications, or security alerts). These emails contain:
    • Malicious Attachments: Often ZIP archives containing executable files masquerading as documents (e.g., invoice.exe, report.pdf.exe).
    • Malicious Links: URLs leading to compromised websites or direct downloads of the ransomware executable.
  • Exploitation Kits (Limited): While less common for this specific, older variant, some ransomware utilizes exploit kits hosted on compromised websites. When a user visits such a site, the kit automatically scans for and exploits vulnerabilities in their browser or plugins to download and execute the ransomware without user interaction.
  • Software Vulnerabilities: Exploitation of known software vulnerabilities in outdated operating systems or applications (e.g., unpatched SMBv1 vulnerabilities if it attempted lateral movement, although direct user infection was more common).
  • Pirated Software/Cracks: Users downloading “cracked” versions of commercial software, key generators, or illegal media from untrusted sources are often tricked into executing the ransomware bundled with the illicit software.
  • Malvertising: Malicious advertisements displayed on legitimate websites that redirect users to pages hosting exploit kits or directly download the ransomware.
  • Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) Exploits: In some instances, weak RDP credentials or exposed RDP ports can be brute-forced or exploited, allowing attackers direct access to a system to manually deploy the ransomware.

Remediation & Recovery Strategies:

1. Prevention

Proactive measures are critical to avoid infection by ##___policja!!!___ten_plik_zosta or any other ransomware:

  • Regular Backups: Implement a robust 3-2-1 backup strategy: at least three copies of your data, stored on two different media types, with one copy offsite or offline. Ensure backups are regularly tested and isolated from the primary network to prevent ransomware from encrypting them.
  • Robust Anti-Malware/Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) Solutions: Deploy reputable antivirus and EDR solutions on all endpoints and servers. Ensure they are kept up-to-date with the latest threat definitions.
  • Operating System and Software Updates: Apply all security patches and updates for your operating system, web browsers, office suites, and all other software promptly. Many ransomware attacks exploit known vulnerabilities that have already been patched.
  • Network Segmentation: Divide your network into smaller, isolated segments. This limits the lateral movement of ransomware if one segment becomes compromised.
  • Email Security: Implement email filters to block malicious attachments and spam. Educate users about identifying phishing attempts.
  • Strong Password Policies & Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Enforce strong, unique passwords for all accounts. Enable MFA wherever possible, especially for remote access services like RDP and VPNs.
  • Disable Unnecessary Services: Disable RDP if not needed. If RDP is essential, secure it with strong passwords, MFA, IP whitelisting, and a VPN.
  • User Education: Conduct regular cybersecurity awareness training for all users, focusing on phishing recognition, safe browsing habits, and the risks of downloading unofficial software.

2. Removal

If a system is infected with ##___policja!!!___ten_plik_zosta, follow these steps for effective removal:

  • Isolate the Infected System: Immediately disconnect the infected computer from the network (unplug the Ethernet cable or disable Wi-Fi). This prevents the ransomware from spreading to other devices.
  • Identify and Terminate Malicious Processes:
    • Boot the system into Safe Mode with Networking (or Safe Mode).
    • Open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) and look for suspicious processes. Ransomware executables often have unusual names or consume high CPU/memory.
    • Research any suspicious processes before terminating them to avoid disabling critical system functions.
  • Scan and Remove Malware:
    • Perform a full system scan using your updated anti-malware software (e.g., Windows Defender, Malwarebytes, Emsisoft Emergency Kit).
    • Allow the software to quarantine or remove all detected threats.
  • Check Startup Items and Scheduled Tasks:
    • Open System Configuration (type msconfig in Run) or Task Manager (Startup tab) to disable any suspicious entries that could re-launch the ransomware.
    • Check Task Scheduler for any newly created tasks designed to run the ransomware.
  • Clean Up Persistent Files and Registry Entries:
    • The anti-malware scan should handle most of this, but advanced users might manually check common ransomware persistence locations (e.g., Appdata, Local Appdata, ProgramData, Temp folders) and suspicious Registry keys (HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run, HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run).
  • Delete Ransomware Executable: Locate and delete the original ransomware executable file once the system is deemed clean.

3. File Decryption & Recovery

  • Recovery Feasibility: As of current knowledge, there is no universally available public decryptor specifically for the ##___policja!!!___ten_plik_zosta variant that consistently works without the original encryption key. While some variants of “Police” ransomware (especially older screen lockers) might have had decryptors, this file-encrypting variant using the specified extension typically performs strong encryption.
    • Avoid Paying the Ransom: Paying the ransom is strongly discouraged. There is no guarantee you will receive a working decryption key, and it fuels the ransomware ecosystem, encouraging further attacks.
  • Recovery Methods if No Decryptor:
    • Restore from Backups (Primary Method): This is the most reliable and recommended method. Once the system is thoroughly cleaned, restore your files from your most recent clean backups.
    • Shadow Volume Copies (VSS): Check if Shadow Volume Copies exist on the affected drive. Ransomware often attempts to delete these, but sometimes fails. You can use tools like vssadmin (command line) or ShadowExplorer to check and potentially restore previous versions of files.
    • Data Recovery Tools: For files that were deleted (rather than encrypted) or for recovering partially corrupted data, specialized data recovery software might be able to retrieve some content, but this is less likely to work for properly encrypted files.
  • Essential Tools/Patches:
    • Anti-malware Suites: Malwarebytes, Emsisoft Anti-Malware, Avast Free Antivirus, Bitdefender Antivirus.
    • Windows Defender/Security: Ensure it’s active and updated.
    • Microsoft Windows Updates: Keep your OS fully patched.
    • Backup Solutions: Windows Backup and Restore, Veeam, Acronis, or cloud backup services.
    • ShadowExplorer: A free tool to easily browse and restore files from Shadow Volume Copies.

4. Other Critical Information

  • Additional Precautions: The distinct Polish language string in the extension suggests a focus on Polish-speaking victims or an attempt to impersonate Polish law enforcement. Users in this demographic should be especially vigilant against emails or messages claiming to be from official Polish authorities, particularly if they contain suspicious attachments or links. The clear, explicit naming convention is designed to immediately alert the victim that their files are compromised by what appears to be a “police” action.
  • Broader Impact: While this specific variant did not achieve the global scale of some other ransomware families, it represents a persistent threat model: localized, often politically or geographically targeted, and relying on social engineering combined with basic file encryption. For individual users and small to medium-sized businesses that were affected, the impact was significant, often leading to permanent data loss, operational disruption, and financial costs if they attempted recovery without proper backups. It serves as a reminder that even “older” or less sophisticated ransomware variants can cause severe damage if basic cybersecurity hygiene is neglected.