CryptoLocker malware take down unsuccessful

Activists from the group Malware Must Die attempted to take down command and control nodes associated with the infamous CryptoLocker malware on Sunday (1 December).
Unfortunately, the take down was not successful.


They put together a list of scores of domains associated with communications channels for the malware. Although most of the 138 targeted domains were suspended, they failed to kill off CryptoLocker. According to anti-botnet firm Damballa, CryptoLocker was quickly resurrected.

Adrian Culley, a former Scotland Yard detective turned technical consultant at Damballa, said: "It is no surprise that the announcements of the death of CryptoLocker appear to have been somewhat premature. An essential part of the process is post-takedown analysis, which may turn out to be a post-mortem, or a triage of the zombie remnants of a botnet, or may indeed confirm that the botnet is very much still alive and kicking."

"It is essential to undertake this analysis post any sinkholing activity,” continued Culley, “which does appear to have happened in this instance. CryptoLocker appears to have the same resilience as many other C&C based attacks.”

“Efficient post-mortems lead to better surgery, and this is just as true of botnet remediation as it is medically," he added.


CryptoLocker is usually delivered in an email as a PDF that is zipped. Only Windows machines can be infected by the malware.


Cryptolocker is one nasty infection. We recommend everyone run http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/cryptoprevent.html]CryptoPrevent as a precaution, in conjunction with your regular antivirus /anti-malware apps. .