Description

A new DeadBolt ransomware organization began encrypting QNAP NAS systems globally on January 25th, 2022, claiming to have discovered a zero-day vulnerability in the device's software. It has been claimed that files on QNAP devices have been encrypted and file names have been added with a.deadbolt file suffix. The QNAP device's login page is hijacked to display a message warning, "WARNING: Your files have been locked by DeadBolt." This page instructs the victim to send 0.03 bitcoins (about $1,100) to a Bitcoin address that is unique to each victim. Following payment, the threat actors claim to send a follow-up transaction to the same address with the decryption key. The device's files may then be decrypted using this decryption key, which can be entered into the screen. There is no guarantee that paying a ransom will result in the delivery of a decryption key or that users will be able to decrypt files at this time. The DeadBolt attacks, like all other ransomware attacks against QNAP devices, only impact machines that are connected to the Internet. There is a link titled "critical message for QNAP" on the main ransom note screen that, when opened, displays a message from the DeadBolt gang exclusively for QNAP, giving complete information of the alleged zero-day vulnerability in exchange for 5 Bitcoins worth $184,000. They're also offering to sell QNAP the master decryption key, which can decode data for all impacted victims, as well as the zero-day information, for 50 bitcoins ($1.85 million).