New Ransomware Alert: CryptoLocker copycat PClock discovered

Ransomware CryptoLocker was one of the most infamous malware families of the years 2013 and 2014 and although the operation behind the original CryptoLocker malware family has been dismantled in 2014, it’s still a name that frightens a lot of users and system administrators alike. It is therefore not surprising that other malware authors try to capitalize on CryptoLocker’s reputation by releasing copycats.

One of the most recent copycats that we became aware of is a ransomware named PClock that showed up just a day ago. Unlike CryptoLocker though, which was a somewhat complex and sophisticated piece of malware, PClock is quite primitive by nature.

72-hour countdown timer to pay USD$300 ransom

Like all file encrypting ransomware (also known as crypto malware) PClock’s main goal is to encrypt important files on the victim’s system in order to compel them to pay a ransom in return for their files. Like CryptoLocker it gives the user a 72-hour ultimatum to pay the ransom of 1 bitcoin (approximately USD $300). Otherwise it claims to destroy the keys required to decrypt the user’s files:

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