Fake ‘Order Status’ Emails Contain Locky Malware

The emails are not legitimate order notifications. The attached.zip file contains a malicious JavaScript (.js) file. If opened, this.js file can download and install Locky ransomware. Once installed, Locky encrypts the files stored on your computer and then demands that you pay online criminals a fee to receive a decryption key.

A spate of emails currently hitting inboxes purport to be ‘order status’ notifications and claim that you can read more information about a recent order by opening an attached.zip file. The emails have the subject line ‘FW: Order Status’ along with a supposed order number. The bodies of the emails thank you for your recent order and list further details about the supposed order. They finish with the name and job description of the supposed sender.

However, these emails are certainly not legitimate order notifications and the attachments do not contain order details. Instead, the attached.zip files harbour a malicious JavaScript (.js) file. If you click this.js file, it will download and install Locky malware on your computer. Once Locky is installed, it will encrypt all of your personal files and rename them with the extension.locky. A message will appear on your screen that explains that your files are locked and you must pay a ransom in online currency Bitcoin to get a decryption key. And, the only way you can pay this ransom and – possibly – get the decryption key is to make contact with criminals skulking in the Dark Web. Since you are dealing with criminals, there is certainly no guarantee that you will actually receive the key even if you do pay up.

Unfortunately, there is no easy way of ridding the computer of this malware. However, if you have good recent backups, you may be able to reformat the computer and reinstall your files from these backups.

Details, such as order, invoice, and customer numbers as well as the name and job description of the supposed sender may vary in different versions of these emails. Note also that there are several other similar payment related malware emails being distributed. These emails also contain Locky. Be very wary of any email that claims to contain information about a declined payment, an accepted payment, bank documents, credit notes, recent orders, or other payment or invoice related issues. If you receive one of these emails, do not open any attachments that it contains.