“Would you like to play a game?” Nope, not this game.A new ransomware named Jigsaw, inspired by the eponymous character in the Saw horror film franchise, subjects its victims to a countdown clock, deleting files every hour at an escalating rate until a $150 ransom is paid. According to a Bleeping Computer security alert, it's the first time a ransomware has followed through on its threat to not only encrypt, but actually erase content.The ransomware, whose threat note features an image of the Jigsaw killer's mask, is booby trapped to delete a thousand files at once from a computer if the user attempts to reboot or terminate the process.Fortunately, there is an escape for Jigsaw's victims: a collective of researchers, including Bleeping Computerowner Lawrence Abrams, researcher Michael Gillespie and the MalwareHunterTeam found a way to neutralize the ransomware with a decryptor program.
Threat Management, Incident Response, Malware, TDR
Countdown to deletion: Jigsaw ransomware erases files every hour
Bradley Barth
As director of multimedia content strategy at CyberRisk Alliance, Bradley Barth develops content for online conferences, webcasts, podcasts video/multimedia projects — often serving as moderator or host. For nearly six years, he wrote and reported for SC Media as deputy editor and, before that, senior reporter. He was previously a program executive with the tech-focused PR firm Voxus. Past journalistic experience includes stints as business editor at Executive Technology, a staff writer at New York Sportscene and a freelance journalist covering travel and entertainment. In his spare time, Bradley also writes screenplays.
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