The provided information pertains to a malware threat identified as "Locky" ransomware, specifically a variant or campaign dated 2017-10-02. Locky ransomware is a well-known family of malicious software that encrypts victims' files and demands ransom payments for decryption. This particular instance is referenced with an offline indicator and a file extension ".ykcol", which is a reversed form of "locky", commonly used by this ransomware to rename encrypted files. The sample mentioned, "New Doc 2017-10-02 - Page 3.7z", suggests the ransomware may have been distributed via compressed archives, a typical delivery method to evade detection. The threat level is indicated as 3 (on an unspecified scale), with a low severity rating assigned by the source. No affected product versions or patches are listed, and no known exploits in the wild are reported, indicating this is likely a known ransomware strain rather than a newly discovered zero-day vulnerability. Locky ransomware typically propagates through phishing emails with malicious attachments or links, encrypts user data, and appends a unique extension to the files, then drops ransom notes demanding payment in cryptocurrencies. The lack of detailed technical indicators or CWEs limits deeper technical analysis, but the presence of the "ransomware" tag confirms its malicious nature and operational behavior.

For European organizations, the impact of Locky ransomware can be significant despite the low severity rating in this report. Locky ransomware can cause data loss, operational disruption, and financial damage due to ransom payments and recovery costs. Organizations with inadequate backup strategies or poor email security controls are particularly vulnerable. The encryption of critical business data can halt operations, leading to reputational damage and regulatory consequences, especially under GDPR requirements for data availability and integrity. Although this specific variant is dated and no active exploits are reported, the persistence of Locky variants in the threat landscape means European entities must remain vigilant. The impact is more pronounced in sectors with high data sensitivity such as healthcare, finance, and public administration, where data unavailability can have cascading effects on service delivery and compliance.

To mitigate the risk posed by Locky ransomware, European organizations should implement multi-layered defenses beyond generic advice: 1) Enforce strict email filtering and attachment sandboxing to detect and block malicious compressed files (.7z archives) and suspicious file extensions like ".ykcol". 2) Deploy endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of behavioral analysis to identify ransomware encryption activity early. 3) Maintain immutable, offline backups with frequent testing to ensure rapid recovery without paying ransom. 4) Conduct targeted user awareness training focusing on phishing tactics and safe handling of email attachments, emphasizing the risk of compressed archives. 5) Apply network segmentation to limit ransomware lateral movement and restrict write permissions to critical file shares. 6) Monitor network traffic for unusual patterns indicative of ransomware communication or data exfiltration attempts. 7) Establish incident response plans specifically addressing ransomware scenarios, including legal and regulatory notification procedures under GDPR.