Ramnit

Classification

Category:

Malware

Platform:

W32

Type:

Virus

Aliases:

Ramnit
Virus:W32/Ramnit
Trojan:W32/Ramnit
VBS/Ramnit.[variant]
W32/Ramnit.[variant]
Win32.Ramnit.[variant]
Trojan:HTML.Ramnit.[variant]
Trojan:W32/Ramnit.[variant]!DeepGuard

Summary

The Ramnit family of harmful programs has numerous variants, which may individually be categorized as trojans, viruses or worms.

The first Ramnit variants that emerged in 2010 were viruses that infected EXE, DLL and HTML files found on the computer. Later variants included the ability to steal confidential data from the infected machine. Depending on the variant, Ramnit-infected machines can also be enslaved in a botnet.

Removal

Technical Details

The first variants in the Ramnit malware family first appeared in 2010 as simple file-infecting viruses.

Virus:W32/Ramnit variants are typically distributed in infected removable drives; in infected EXE, DLL or HTML files; by exploit kits hosted on compromised or malicious sites; or as part of the payload of other malware.

For a representative example of an early Ramnit variant, see:

Threat Description: Virus:W32/Ramnit.N

Ramnit Botnet

Over time, the original Ramnit malware has been modified so that newer variants include the ability to serve as a backdoor and to communicate with a command and control (C&C;) server, allowing an attacker to control a botnet of Ramnit-infected machines. The combined resources of the Ramnit botnet allowed it to be used by its controller(s) to perform other malicious actions, notably stealing personal and banking information.

In early 2015, the Ramnit botnet was the target of by a Europol takedown operation. For more information on the takedown, see: