Royal

Posted: December 24, 2023
from Cybersecurity Glossary
Aliases:
Royal ransomware, RoyalCrypt
Category:
Platform:
Windows
Variants:
A variant of Win64/Filecoder.Royal.A, W64/Royal.CF4E!tr.ransom, Gen:Variant.Ransom.Royal.13 (B), Win/malicious_confidence_100% (W)
Damage:
Data Theft, File Corruption And Loss, Ransom Demands, Network Spread
Risk Level:
Very High!

Upon infiltrating a system, Royal disables antivirus software, encrypts the user's files, and demands payment in cryptocurrency to restore access. This ransomware first surfaced in September 2022 and has since targeted a range of vital sectors, posing a significant threat to cybersecurity.

Possible symptoms

  • Sudden encryption of files with a unique extension.
  • Display of ransom note demanding payment in cryptocurrency.
  • Disabled or compromised antivirus software.
  • Unusual network activities, including increased data traffic related to file encryption.
  • System slowdowns and increased CPU usage during the encryption process.
  • Locked user files with no access or modification capabilities.

Sources of the infection

  • Email phishing campaigns delivering malicious attachments or links.
  • Exploitation of software vulnerabilities in outdated systems.
  • Drive-by downloads from compromised websites.
  • Infected removable storage devices, such as USB drives.
  • Malicious payloads delivered through compromised network protocols.
  • Exploitation of weak or default credentials for unauthorized access.

Overview

Royal, also known as Royal ransomware or RoyalCrypt, is a potent Ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) that made its debut in September 2022. Unlike conventional ransomware, Royal has specifically targeted critical infrastructure sectors, including healthcare, education, and manufacturing, underscoring its capacity to pose a substantial threat to cybersecurity.

Once infiltrated into a system, Royal employs a multifaceted approach, disabling antivirus software, encrypting user files with a unique extension, and compelling victims to pay a ransom in cryptocurrency for file restoration. The ransomware manifests itself through symptoms such as sudden file encryption, the display of a ransom note, compromised antivirus software, unusual network activities, system slowdowns, and locked user files with restricted access.

Identified as a variant of Win64/Filecoder.Royal.A, W64/Royal.CF4E!tr.ransom, Gen:Variant.Ransom.Royal.13 (B), and Win/malicious_confidence_100% (W), Royal spreads through various channels, including email phishing campaigns, software vulnerabilities in outdated systems, compromised websites with drive-by downloads, infected removable storage devices like USB drives, malicious payloads delivered through compromised network protocols, and the exploitation of weak or default credentials for unauthorized access.

If you suspect a Royal ransomware infection, immediate isolation from the network is crucial to prevent further spread. Paying the ransom is discouraged, as it does not guarantee file recovery. It is advisable to contact your organization's cybersecurity team for assistance.

To mitigate the risk of infection, preventative measures include keeping the operating system and antivirus software up-to-date to patch vulnerabilities, regularly backing up important data in isolated environments, educating users on safe browsing practices and the risks associated with opening suspicious emails or links, implementing network segmentation to contain ransomware spread, and employing application whitelisting to restrict unauthorized software execution.

🤔 What to do?

If you suspect your system is infected with Royal ransomware, immediately disconnect it from the network to prevent further spread. Do not attempt to pay the ransom, as it does not guarantee file recovery. Contact your organization's cybersecurity team for assistance.

🛡️ Prevention

1. Keep your operating system and antivirus software up-to-date to patch vulnerabilities.

2. Regularly backup your important data and store it in an isolated environment to avoid encryption.

3. Educate users on safe browsing habits and the dangers of opening suspicious emails or links.

4. Use network segmentation to contain the spread of ransomware within the network.

5. Implement application whitelisting to restrict unauthorized software execution.

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