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Security Guidance – WannaCrypt Ransomware (and Adylkuzz)

(WannaCrypt Cyber-attack, Patch, Microsoft Updates & Best Practices)

WannaCrypt (WannaCry or .wncry)

Summary of immediate action items

Windows

  1. In March, Microsoft released a security update which addresses the vulnerability that these attacks are exploiting. Those who have Windows Update enabled are protected against attacks on this vulnerability. For those organizations who have not yet applied the security update, we suggest you immediately deploy Microsoft Security Bulletin MS17-010 .

    It's advisable to be proactive with security updates - To view all such from Microsoft: https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/security/bulletins

  2. For customers using Windows Defender, we released an update, on 12 May 2017, which detects this threat as Ransom:Win32/WannaCrypt. As an additional "defense-in-depth" measure, keep up-to-date anti-malware software installed on your machines. Customers running anti-malware software from any number of security companies can confirm with their provider, that they are protected.

  3. This attack type may evolve over time, so any additional defense-in-depth strategies will provide additional protections. (For example, to further protect against SMBv1 attacks, customers should consider blocking legacy protocols on their networks).

  4. Other Download Links

    1. Download English language security updates: Windows Server 2003 SP2 x64, Windows Server 2003 SP2 x86,
      Windows XP SP2 x64, Windows XP SP3 x86, Windows XP Embedded SP3 x86, Windows 8 x86,
      Windows 8 x64
    2. Download localized language security updates: Windows Server 2003 SP2 x64, Windows Server 2003 SP2 x86, Windows XP SP2 x64, Windows XP SP3 x86, Windows XP Embedded SP3 x86, Windows 8 x86, Windows 8 x64
    3. MS17-010 Security Update: https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/security/ms17-010.aspx

     

Azure

  1. WannaCrypt attacks: guidance for Azure customers

 

What does this ransomware do?

Summary of long-term action items

You should:

You can back-up your files with a cloud storage service that keeps a history or archive of your files, such as OneDrive which is now fully integrated into Windows 10 and Windows 8.1, and Microsoft Office.

After you've removed the ransomware infection from your computer, you can restore previous, unencrypted versions of your Office files using "version history".

 

For more tips on preventing malware infections, including ransomware infections, see: Help prevent malware infection on your PC.

 

Summary of tools from Microsoft, That Can Help

Windows 10: It is not vulnerable to this attack. (Hard target with security enabled)

Secure Productive Enterprise:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-IN/secure-productive-enterprise

 

 

Trojan: Adylkuzz

Microsoft Malware Protection Center has already released guidance towards this trojan. (Adylkuzz.A, Adylkuzz.B) - Updated systems will not be vulnerable.

 

Adylkuzz can perform several actions of a malicious hacker's choice on your PC.

Find out ways that malware can get on your PC.

(The above advisory for WannaCry, is also applicable for Adylkuzz)

Use the following free Microsoft software to detect and remove this threat:

You should also run a full scan. A full scan might find other hidden malware.

You can also see our advanced troubleshooting page for more help.

If you're using Windows XP,

 

Excerpts

Original Advisory

This is an excerpt from the article "Customer Guidance for WannaCrypt attacks" by MSRC Team as on May 12, 2017

 

Today many of our customers around the world and the critical systems they depend on were victims of malicious "WannaCrypt" software. Seeing businesses and individuals affected by cyberattacks, such as the ones reported today, was painful. Microsoft worked throughout the day to ensure we understood the attack and were taking all possible actions to protect our customers. This blog spells out the steps every individual and business should take to stay protected. Additionally, we are taking the highly unusual step of providing a security update for all customers to protect Windows platforms that are in custom support only, including Windows XP, Windows 8, and Windows Server 2003. Customers running Windows 10 were not targeted by the attack today.

Details are below.

  • In March, we released a security update which addresses the vulnerability that these attacks are exploiting. Those who have Windows Update enabled are protected against attacks on this vulnerability. For those organizations who have not yet applied the security update, we suggest you immediately deploy Microsoft Security Bulletin MS17-010 .
  • For customers using Windows Defender, we released an update earlier today which detects this threat as Ransom:Win32/WannaCrypt. As an additional "defense-in-depth" measure, keep up-to-date anti-malware software installed on your machines. Customers running anti-malware software from any number of security companies can confirm with their provider, that they are protected.
  • This attack type may evolve over time, so any additional defense-in-depth strategies will provide additional protections. (For example, to further protect against SMBv1 attacks, customers should consider blocking legacy protocols on their networks).

 

We also know that some of our customers are running versions of Windows that no longer receive mainstream support. That means those customers will not have received the above mentioned Security Update released in March. Given the potential impact to customers and their businesses, we made the decision to make the Security Update for platforms in custom support only, Windows XP, Windows 8, and Windows Server 2003, broadly available for download (see links below).

 

Customers who are running supported versions of the operating system (Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012, Windows 10, Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows Server 2016) will have received the security update MS17-010 in March. If customers have automatic updates enabled or have installed the update, they are protected. For other customers, we encourage them to install the update as soon as possible.

 

This decision was made based on an assessment of this situation, with the principle of protecting our customer ecosystem overall, firmly in mind.

Some of the observed attacks use common phishing tactics including malicious attachments. Customers should use vigilance when opening documents from untrusted or unknown sources. For Office 365 customers we are continually monitoring and updating to protect against these kinds of threats including Ransom:Win32/WannaCrypt. More information on the malware itself is available from the Microsoft Malware Protection Center on the Windows Security blog. For those new to the Microsoft Malware Protection Center, this is a technical discussion focused on providing the IT Security Professional with information to help further protect systems.

Further resources:

 

Frequently Asked Questions

This is an excerpt from the article "Ransomware" by Malware Protection Center

 

What does ransomware do?

There are different types of ransomware. However, all of them will prevent you from using your PC normally, and they will all ask you to do something before you can use your PC.

They can target any PC users, whether it's a home computer, endpoints in an enterprise network, or servers used by a government agency or healthcare provider.

Ransomware can:

  • Prevent you from accessing Windows.
  • Encrypt files so you can't use them.
  • Stop certain apps from running (like your web browser).

Ransomware will demand that you pay money (a "ransom") to get access to your PC or files. We have also seen them make you complete surveys.

There is no guarantee that paying the fine or doing what the ransomware tells you will give access to your PC or files again.

 

Frequently asked questions

Is it true that the legal authorities in my area have detected illegal activities in my PC?

No. These warnings are fake and have no association with legitimate authorities. The message uses images and logos of legal institutions to make the it look authentic.

I cannot access my PC or my files. Should I just go ahead and pay to regain access?

There is no one-size-fits-all response if you have been victimized by ransomware. There is no guarantee that handing over the ransom will give you access to your files again. Paying the ransom could also make you a target for more malware.

How do I get my files back?

How to recover your files depends on where your files are stored and what version of Windows you are using.

Before you try to recover files, you should use Windows Defender Offline to fully clean your PC.

For Microsoft Office files stored, synced, or backed up to OneDrive

For files on your PC

  • You need to have turned on File History (in Windows 10 and Windows 8.1) or System Protection for previous versions (in Windows 7 and Windows Vista) before you were infected. In some cases, these might have been turned on already by your PC manufacturer or network administrator.
  • Some ransomware will also encrypt or delete the backup versions of your files. This means that even if you have enabled File History, if you have set the backup location to be a network or local drive your backups might also be encrypted. Backups on a removable drive, or a drive that wasn't connected when you were infected with the ransomware, might still work.
  • See the Windows Repair and recovery site for help on how to enable file recovery for your version of Windows.

If you've been infected by the Crilock family of ransomware (also called CryptoLocker), you might be able to use the tool mentioned in the MMPC blog:

What should I do if I've paid?

You should contact your bank and your local authorities, such as the police. If you paid with a credit card, your bank may be able to block the transaction and return your money.

The following government-initiated fraud and scam reporting websites may also help:

If your country or region isn't listed here, we encourage you to contact your country's federal police or communications authority.

For general information on what to do if you have paid, see:

How did message know my IP address?

Your IP address is not usually hidden, and there are lots of tools online that will get it for you. It's likely they used such a tool.

How did ransomware get on my PC?

In most instances ransomware is automatically downloaded when you visit a malicious website or a website that's been hacked.

For other ways malware, including ransomware, gets on your PC, see:

How do I protect myself against ransomware?

You should:

You can backup your files with a cloud storage service that keeps a history or archive of your files, such as OneDrive which is now fully integrated into Windows 10 and Windows 8.1, and Microsoft Office.

After you've removed the ransomware infection from your computer, you can restore previous, unencrypted versions of your Office files using "version history".

See the question "How do I get my files back?" above for more help on how to use this feature in OneDrive.

For more tips on preventing malware infections, including ransomware infections, see:

How do I remove ransomware from my PC?

How to remove the ransomware depends on what type it is.

If your web browser is locked

You can try to unlock your browser by using Task Manager to stop the web browser's process:

  • Open Task Manager. There are a number of ways you can do this:
    • Right-click on an empty space on the taskbar and click Task Manager or Start Task Manager.
    • Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc.
    • Press Ctrl+Alt+Delete.
  • In the list of Applications or Processes, click on the name of your web browser.
  • Click End task. If you are asked if you want to wait for the program to respond, click Close the program.
  • In some workplaces, access to Task Manager may be restricted by your network administrator. Contact your IT department for help.

When you open your web browser again, you may be asked to restore your session. Do not restore your session or you may end up loading the ransomware again.

See the question "How do I protect myself from ransomware" above for tips on preventing browser-based ransomware from running on your PC.

 

If your PC is locked

Method 1: Use the Microsoft Safety Scanner in safe mode

First, download a copy of the Microsoft Safety Scanner from a clean, non-infected PC. Copy the downloaded file to a blank USB drive or CD, and then insert it into the infected PC.

Try to restart your PC in safe mode:

When you're in safe mode, try to run the Microsoft Safety Scanner.

Method 2: Use Windows Defender Offline

Because ransomware can lock you out of your PC, you might not be able to download or run the Microsoft Safety Scanner. If that happens, you will need to use the free tool Windows Defender Offline:

See our advanced troubleshooting page for more help.

 

Steps you can take after your PC has been cleaned

Make sure your PC is protected with antimalware software.

Microsoft has free security software that you can use:

If you don't want to use Windows Defender or Microsoft Security Essentials, you can download other security software from another company. Just make sure it is turned on all the time, fully updated, and provides real-time protection.

 

Microsoft Technical Security Notifications

Excerpted from: https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/security/dd252948

 

Help protect your computing environment by keeping up to date on Microsoft technical security notifications.

Security Update Email Alerts

Microsoft's free monthly Security Notification Service provides links to security-related software updates and notification of re-released security updates. You can choose between basic and comprehensive formats.These notifications are written for IT professionals, contain in-depth technical information, and are digitally-signed with PGP.

Security Advisories Alerts

Microsoft Security Advisories are a way for Microsoft to communicate security information to customers about issues that may not be classified as vulnerabilities and may not require a security bulletin. Each advisory will be accompanied with a unique Microsoft Knowledge Base Article number for reference to provide additional information about the changes.

Microsoft Security Response Center Blog Alerts

The Microsoft Security Response Center (MSRC) blog provides a real-time way for the MSRC to communicate with customers. You can also follow us on our Twitter feed @msftsecresponse.

Help with Your Notification Services

If you have any problems registering, canceling, or receiving the security notifications, please contact us.

To set your contact preferences for this and other Microsoft communications, see the communications preferences section of the Microsoft Privacy Statement at: < https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=92781>.

Verifying Our Digital Signature

Pretty Good Privacy (PGP) is an Internet standard for digitally signing and encrypting e-mail and other documents. The Microsoft Security Response Center (MSRC) uses PGP to digitally sign all security notifications. However, it is not required to read security notifications, read security update information, or install security updates. You can obtain the MSRC public PGP key at the MSRC Security Notification PGP Web page. Numerous third-party vendors produce PGP-compatible applications for a variety of platforms, but Microsoft cannot recommend the right solution for your environment.

 

 

Anshuman Mansingh

Technology Solutions Professional(Technology Strategist)

https://www.linkedin.com/in/anshumanmansingh

Comments

  • Anonymous
    May 15, 2017
    HI,We have a combination of w7,w8 w10 and multiple versions of w2k8 w2k12 server systems. Some of these are failing the updates pushed through SCCM 2012. Can Microsoft give a specific MSU for this to be downloaded that then can be pushed out?SCCM doesn't give any clue as to why the updates are failing especially on W7 systems. Most of them are on SP1. SO MS need to give clear guidance on which machines need this update.Thanks for all of the info you guys are putting out.
    • Anonymous
      May 17, 2017
      The comment has been removed