• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Jobs
  • Career
    • Cyber Security Training
    • Work from Home
    • Cyber Security Analyst
    • Remote Work – Six Ways to Keep Your Data Safe When Working Remotely
  • Field Guide
  • Newsletter Signup
  • Deals
  • News
AskCyberSecurity.com

AskCyberSecurity.com

Cyber Security News & Information

  • Home
  • Data Privacy
    • Gamers
    • Government Cyber Security
      • Legislation
      • Standards
        • What are the risks of computer security?
        • Medical Cyber Security
    • Social Media
  • Security
    • Data Breaches
    • Scams
    • Malware
  • Software
    • Apps
    • Web Browsers
  • Glossary
    • Cyber Security Acronyms
  • About Ask Cyber Security
    • Authors
    • Contact Us
  • VPN
    • How Do I Know If My VPN is Working?
    • Best Free VPN iPhone
    • Why Use a VPN?
    • NordVPN vs IPVanish
    • Private Internet Access Download
    • Best VPN for Streaming
      • TikTok VPN
    • VPN Porn
    • Computer Security Software – What You Really Need
  • Tutorials
  • ChatGPT
    • Does ChatGPT Save Data?
AskCyber Home » News » Malware » Fortnite Ransomware Disguised as Game Cheat Encrypts Files

Fortnite Ransomware Disguised as Game Cheat Encrypts Files

2019-08-22 by Michelle Dvorak

Fortnite Syrk Ransomware Hack – How to Decrypt Your Files

Fortnite players are again the target of a new malware attack. The malware is disguised as a Fortnite game hack, in this case an aimbot and a wall hack discovered by Cyren. However, rather than giving the player a game cheat, the downloaded files infect their computer with Syrk ransomware. The ransomware encrypts the players’ computers and block access until a ransom is paid to unlock files. With some simple instructions, your device can be unlocked without paying the ransom money.

Syrk ransomware masquerades as Fortnite game cheat that purports to give the user higher accuracy when shooting, called an aimbot, and knowledge of other players’ whereabouts, or ESP. An aimbot is a game cheat that gives players increased aiming accuracy. A wall hack, or ESP, is another cheat that gives users the knowledge about the location of other players, as if they can see through walls.

Syrk ransomware is the open source Hidden-Cry malware with a .Syrk extension. Hidden-Cry was available to anyone using repository site Github. The ransomware was discovered by cyber security researchers at Cyren and the attack vector is broken down in their post.

Fortnite Ransomware
Fortnite Ransomware (Image Credit: Cyren)

How Does Syrk Fortnite Ransomware Work?

One it’s downloaded, Syrk ransomware begins to encrypt all the files on the device it was installed on. The ransomware alters Windows machines’ registry to disable Windows Defender and User Access Control.

Once the files are locked up, a countdown clock begins giving the user only two hours to pay a ransom. Taskmgr, Procmon64, and ProcessHacker processes are monitored by the malware so they infection is not terminated by the user. The ransomware encrypts files with *.gif, *.sln, *.docx, *.php, *.psd, *.ico, *.mov, *.xlsx, *.jpg, *.xls, *.doc, *.pdf, *.wav, *.pptx, *.ppt, *.txt, *.png, *.bmp, *.rar, *.zip, *.mp3, *.mp4, *.avi extensions. If the ransom is not paid, all the files on the device will supposedly be deleted when the timer expires.

What is Fortnite?

Fortnite, is an online game developed and released by Epic Games in 2017. As of March 2019, about 250 million people play Fortnite. The game is cross platform and is available on PlayStation 4, Android, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, iOS, Microsoft Windows, and Macintosh operating systems. Fortnite gained media attention with non-gamers when a sixteen year old player won the Fortnite World Cup earning three million dollars. The tournament was viewed by over two million people.

What is Malware?

Malware is any unwanted app or software on a device. Types of malware include ransomware, adware worms, keyloggers, and spyware. Malware is sometimes called a computer virus.

Other Fortnite Hacks

Previously Fortnite malware attacks involved Baldr malware which was also a game cheat but stole sensitive account details from players. When Fortnite was offered as an Android mobile app in 2018, Epic allowed users to download the app from their own website. Circumventing the Google Play Store download security process, left version one of the Fortnite installer vulnerable to hackers who could also deliver malware during the download process.

Earlier in 2018, Fortnite accounts were compromised with hackers spending V-Bucks, make in-game purchases using the credit card attached to the account

How to Decrypt Your Files – Fortnite Hack

The best way to avoid malware and other online gaming scams is to not use games cheats. if you’re device is infected, a reasonably tech savvy person can gain control of your files and data without paying the ransom. According to the Cyren post, the files needed to unlock the encrypted files are on each infected machine. The file executable dh35s3h8d69s3b1k file is the Hidden-Cry decrypting tool and embedded in the malware. Extract the embedded file dh35s3h8d69s3b1k . exe and run it on the infected machine. It will drop the PowerShell script needed to decrypt the files.
The malware writes files that contains the password and ID.

  • C:\Users\Default\AppData\Local\Microsoft\-i+.txt (contains randomly generated ID)
  • C:\Users\Default\AppData\Local\Microsoft\-pw+.txt (contains password)
  • C:\Users\Default\AppData\Local\Microsoft\+dp-.txt (contains ID and password)

Filed Under: Malware Tagged With: Fortnite, video games

About Michelle Dvorak

Michelle writes about cyber security, data privacy focusing on social media privacy as well as how to protect your IoT devices. She has worked in internet technology for over 20 years and owns METRONY, LLC. Michelle earned a B.S. in Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Michelle published a guide to Cyber Security for Business Travelers


LinkedInTwitterFacebook

Primary Sidebar

Subscribe to Our Free Newsletter

We Don't Share or Sell Your Info

Web Browsers

Where Are My Saved Passwords in Chrome?

Google Removes 70 Malicious Browser Add-ons from Chrome Web Store

Firefox 75 Reports Your Browser Settings to Mozilla

Categories

Cyber Security Field Guide

Computer Security While TravelingGet Our Cyber Security Field Guide - Available on Amazon!

Recent Posts

Security Marketing Manager – Remote

Sr. Associate, Cybersecurity Architect – Pfizer

Strategic Customer Success Manager – Cybersecurity – Opportunity for Working Remotely

Top 20 Passwords Leaked on Dark Web

ISU Cybersecurity Leader Job Opening

Cyber Security News

Top 20 Passwords Leaked on Dark Web

… [Read More...] about Top 20 Passwords Leaked on Dark Web

Apple Warns of Actively Exploited Zero-Day Flaw

… [Read More...] about Apple Warns of Actively Exploited Zero-Day Flaw

IRS Stops Facial Recognition System for Online Access

… [Read More...] about IRS Stops Facial Recognition System for Online Access

National Cybersecurity Alliance Announces Data Privacy Week

… [Read More...] about National Cybersecurity Alliance Announces Data Privacy Week

More Cyber Security News

Tags

amazon Android Apple bitcoin China chrome CISA credit card DarkSide DHS DOJ Equifax Europe Facebook facial recognition FBI Firefox FTC games GDPR Google Government hacker identity theft India iPhone Iran IRS LinkedIn Microsoft North Korea PayPal phishing phishing email ransomware REvil Russia smartphone T-Mobile TikTok tutorial VPN WhatsApp WiFi Windows

Government

CBP Looks to Access Airline Passenger Data

FTC Releases Cyber Threat Video Playlist

Malware Found on US Government Funded Phones

UK NCA Reaches Out to Youth to Deter Cybercrimes

More Posts from this Category

Footer

Menu

  • Home
  • About
  • Authors
  • Newsletter Signup
  • PRIVACY POLICY

Search

Why Use a VPN?

NordVPN vs IPVanish VPN Review

NAVIGATION

  • Data Breaches
  • Data Privacy
  • Gamers
  • Scams
  • Malware

MEMBER NJCCIC

New Jersey Cybersecurity & Communications Integration Cell

STAY CONNECTED

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
  • Twitter
  • RSS

Copyright © 2023 · AskCyberSecurity.com · METRONY, LLC

Go to mobile version