The analyzed threat pertains to a variant of the Locky ransomware identified around October 18, 2017. Locky is a well-known ransomware family that encrypts victim files and demands ransom payments for decryption keys. This particular variant is referenced with the identifier "M2M - Locky 2017-10-18" and is associated with a malicious file named "Voice Message.7z" containing an extension ".asasin". The naming convention suggests a social engineering tactic where the ransomware is distributed via a compressed archive disguised as a voice message, likely delivered through email or messaging platforms. Once executed, Locky encrypts files on the infected system, rendering them inaccessible without the decryption key held by the attackers. The description indicates the ransomware was offline at the time of reporting, and no known exploits were actively observed in the wild for this variant. The threat level is rated low, possibly due to limited distribution or effectiveness of this specific variant. Locky ransomware typically spreads through phishing campaigns, malicious attachments, or exploit kits, and it targets a wide range of file types to maximize impact. The lack of affected versions or patch links suggests this is a generic malware threat rather than a vulnerability in a specific software product. The technical details show a moderate threat level (3) and minimal analysis (1), indicating limited available intelligence on this variant. Overall, this Locky variant represents a typical ransomware threat leveraging social engineering and compressed archive delivery methods to infect victims.

For European organizations, the impact of this Locky ransomware variant, although rated low, can still be significant if successful. Ransomware infections can lead to loss of access to critical data, operational disruption, financial losses due to ransom payments or recovery costs, and reputational damage. Sectors with high data sensitivity such as healthcare, finance, and public administration are particularly vulnerable. Even a low-severity ransomware variant can cause localized outages or data loss if employees inadvertently execute the malicious archive. The social engineering aspect, using a voice message lure, may increase the likelihood of user interaction, especially in organizations with less mature cybersecurity awareness. However, the absence of active exploits in the wild and the offline status of this variant reduce the immediate threat level. European organizations with robust email filtering, endpoint protection, and user training are less likely to be impacted. Nonetheless, the persistent presence of Locky ransomware variants in the threat landscape necessitates vigilance.

To mitigate this threat effectively, European organizations should implement targeted measures beyond generic advice: 1) Enhance email security by deploying advanced attachment sandboxing and filtering to detect and block compressed archives (.7z) containing suspicious files or extensions like ".asasin". 2) Conduct focused user awareness training emphasizing the risks of opening unsolicited voice message attachments or compressed files, highlighting this specific social engineering tactic. 3) Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of identifying ransomware behaviors such as rapid file encryption and unusual file extension changes. 4) Maintain regular, tested offline backups of critical data to enable recovery without paying ransom. 5) Implement application whitelisting to prevent execution of unauthorized scripts or executables from email attachments or temporary directories. 6) Monitor network traffic for unusual outbound connections that may indicate ransomware communication attempts. 7) Keep all systems and security tools updated to detect and block known ransomware signatures and behaviors. These focused controls will reduce the risk of infection from this and similar ransomware variants.