Categories: MalwareRansomware

Snake Ransomware That Written in Golang Language Removes Backup Shadows Copies & Encrypt Windows Files

Researchers observed new snake ransomware that written in Golang targeting Windows users to encrypt the system files and remove the Volume Shadow Copies that the OS uses for backup.

Snake ransomware is a targeted campaign that contains a standard ransomware feature with some of the more complex functionalities.

Malware authors choose the Golang language which is used to write some of the most recent ransomware families and utilized by some of the RaaS (Ransomware as a Service) offerings since it is flexible for cross-platform and completely open-source programming language.

Researchers believe that the campaign has the potential to do serious and critical damage to an infected environment. 

Snake ransomware targeting the specific platforms such as SCADA, enterprise management tools, system utilities and also some of the specific targeted applications include VMware Tools, Microsoft System Center Operations Manager, Nimbus, Honeywell HMIWeb, FLEXnet,

Snake Ransomware Infection

Once it infects the system, relevant files are overwritten with encrypted data, and the encrypted files extension is changed as ” EKANS”.

Also, modified files added with random characters which used to make it more difficult to identify the specific ransomware family.

Malware authors used both symmetric and asymmetric cryptography to encrypt the victim’s windows system files.

A symmetric key is required for encrypting and decrypting of files, In this case, symmetric key used to encrypt the victim’s files with attacker’s public key and the decryption process is only possible by having the attackers private key.

Since the attackers using key lengths (AES-256, RSA-2048), which makes it impossible to crack the key and decrypt the data.

Snake ransomware also terminates the various system process of following.

According to SentinelOne research, “If the threat is executed with administrative privileges, the ransom note will be written to c:\users\public\desktop\Fix-Your-Files.txt. In the event that administrative privileges are not present, the ransom note will be written to an alternative location: c:\users\\AppData\Local\VirtualStore\

Once the Snake ransomware completes the infection process and encrypted the system files, it drops the ransomware notes that contain the details about how to decrypt the files.

Ransom notes

Instead of providing the web address to obtain the payment, authors are instructed the victims to contact them via the email address in the ransom note is “bapcocrypt @ ctemplar.com” to get the decryption key from the attacker.

Must Read: Ransomware Attack Response and Mitigation Checklist

Balaji

BALAJI is an Ex-Security Researcher (Threat Research Labs) at Comodo Cybersecurity. Editor-in-Chief & Co-Founder - Cyber Security News & GBHackers On Security.

View Comments

  • Great post. I used to be checking constantly this blog and I’m inspired!
    Extremely useful info specially the ultimate part
    I was looking for this certain info for a very long time.
    Thanks and best of luck.

Recent Posts

Hunters International Claims Tata Technologies Cyberattack

Multinational engineering and technology services firm Tata Technologies has reportedly fallen victim to a significant…

2 minutes ago

Authorities Seize $31 Million Linked to Crypto Exchange Hack

U.S. authorities announced the seizure of $31 million tied to the 2021 Uranium Finance decentralized…

22 minutes ago

Google, Meta, and Apple Power the World’s Biggest Surveillance System

Imagine a government that tracks your daily movements, monitors your communications, and catalogs your digital…

28 minutes ago

Docusnap for Windows Flaw Exposes Sensitive Data to Attackers

A recently disclosed vulnerability in Docusnap's Windows client software (CVE-2025-26849) enables attackers to decrypt sensitive…

2 hours ago

CISA Warns of Active Exploitation of Microsoft Windows Win32k Vulnerability

The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has added CVE-2018-8639, a decade-old Microsoft Windows privilege…

2 hours ago

Update Alert: Google Warns of Critical Android Vulnerabilities Under Exploit

Google’s March 2025 Android Security Bulletin has unveiled two critical vulnerabilities—CVE-2024-43093 and CVE-2024-50302—currently under limited,…

5 hours ago