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Osiris Ransomware Is A Well-known Strain Of Crypto-ransomware That Emerged In Late 2016 As A Variant Of The Infamous Locky Ransomware Family. It Quickly Became One Of The Most Widespread And Destructive Ransomware Campaigns Of Its Time, Targeting Businesses, Healthcare Institutions, And Individual Users Worldwide. Like Its Predecessor, Osiris Was Designed To Encrypt Files On Infected Systems And Demand A Ransom Payment—typically In Cryptocurrency—in Exchange For A Decryption Key.
This Article Provides A Comprehensive Overview Of Osiris Ransomware, Including Its Origins, Infection Methods, Technical Behavior, Impact, Prevention Strategies, And Broader Cybersecurity Implications.
Osiris Ransomware Appeared Around September 2016 As Part Of The Evolving Locky Ransomware Ecosystem. Locky Had Already Gained Global Notoriety Earlier That Year For Infecting Hundreds Of Thousands Of Computers Through Large-scale Spam Campaigns. Cybercriminals Frequently Updated Locky With New Variants To Evade Detection By Security Software, And Osiris Was One Such Iteration.
The Name “Osiris” Was Derived From The File Extension Appended To Encrypted Files (.osiris). Later Variants In The Same Ransomware Family Used Different Extensions Such As .odin, .thor, And .aesir, Often Referencing Mythological Figures.
Osiris Did Not Represent An Entirely New Ransomware Platform But Rather An Evolved Version Of Locky With Modified Encryption Routines, Updated Communication Protocols, And Improved Anti-analysis Mechanisms.
Osiris Relied Heavily On Large-scale Phishing And Malspam Campaigns. Attackers Distributed Millions Of Malicious Emails Daily, Often Impersonating Legitimate Organizations.
The Primary Infection Vector Was Spam Emails Containing:
Microsoft Word Documents With Malicious Macros
JavaScript (.js) Files
ZIP Archives Containing Script Files
PDF Attachments With Embedded Malicious Links
Victims Were Typically Tricked Into Enabling Macros In Word Documents. Once Enabled, The Macro Downloaded The Ransomware Payload From A Remote Command-and-control (C2) Server.
Osiris Was Also Distributed Through Exploit Kits Such As:
Neutrino Exploit Kit
Exploit Kits Were Hosted On Compromised Websites And Automatically Scanned Visitors’ Systems For Vulnerabilities. If A Vulnerability Was Found—often In Outdated Browsers Or Plugins—the Ransomware Was Silently Installed.
Some Campaigns Leveraged Botnets Like:
Dridex
Dridex-infected Machines Were Used To Distribute Spam Emails Or Download Secondary Payloads, Including Osiris.
Once Executed, Osiris Performed A Series Of Actions To Establish Persistence, Encrypt Files, And Demand Ransom.
Osiris Typically:
Created Registry Entries For Persistence
Deleted Shadow Volume Copies To Prevent File Recovery
Disabled Windows Recovery Options
Modified Firewall Rules In Some Cases
By Removing Backup Copies And System Restore Points, Osiris Made It Significantly Harder For Victims To Recover Data Without Paying The Ransom.
Osiris Used A Combination Of:
AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) For File Encryption
RSA Public-key Cryptography For Encrypting The AES Key
The Ransomware Scanned Local Drives, Network Shares, And Removable Media For Specific File Types. It Targeted:
Documents (.doc, .docx, .xls, .pdf)
Databases
Images
Archives
Source Code Files
After Encryption, Files Were Renamed With The .osiris Extension.
After Encryption, Osiris:
Changed The Desktop Wallpaper
Created Ransom Note Files (often Named _README.html Or Similar)
Provided Instructions To Access A Tor Payment Page
Victims Were Directed To Download The Tor Browser And Access A Payment Portal Hosted On The Tor Network. The Ransom Demand Typically Ranged From 0.5 To 2 Bitcoin, Depending On The Campaign.
Osiris Communicated With Remote C2 Servers To:
Transmit Encryption Keys
Register Infected Systems
Receive Operational Instructions
Communication Often Used HTTP POST Requests To Compromised Servers. The Infrastructure Was Frequently Rotated To Avoid Takedown Efforts.
Tor-based Payment Portals Ensured Anonymity For Attackers And Complicated Law Enforcement Investigations.
Osiris Caused Widespread Disruption Across Industries, Particularly In:
Healthcare
Education
Manufacturing
Government Institutions
One Reason For Its Success Was The Scale Of Its Spam Campaigns. At Its Peak, Millions Of Malicious Emails Were Sent Daily.
Many Organizations Experienced:
Temporary Operational Shutdowns
Loss Of Critical Data
Financial Losses From Ransom Payments
Reputational Damage
While Exact Financial Damage Is Difficult To Quantify, Ransomware Campaigns Like Osiris Contributed Significantly To The Global Rise In Cybercrime Costs During 2016–2017.
Several Factors Contributed To Osiris's Success:
Attackers Crafted Convincing Phishing Emails Impersonating:
Banks
Delivery Services
Government Agencies
HR Departments
The Human Element Remained The Weakest Link In Cybersecurity Defenses.
Osiris Variants Frequently Changed File Hashes And Encryption Signatures, Making Detection Via Traditional Signature-based Antivirus Solutions Challenging.
At The Time, Many Organizations Still Allowed Office Macros, Enabling Easy Execution Of Malicious Code.
Without Access To The Private RSA Key Held By Attackers, Decrypting Files Was Practically Impossible.
Organizations And Individuals Can Reduce Ransomware Risk Through Layered Security Strategies.
Implement Advanced Email Filtering
Disable Macros By Default
Use Sandboxing For Attachments
Train Employees On Phishing Awareness
Regularly Update:
Operating Systems
Browsers
Plugins
Server Software
This Reduces Exposure To Exploit Kits.
The Most Effective Defense Against Ransomware Is Maintaining Secure Backups:
Use Offline Backups
Test Restore Procedures Regularly
Follow The 3-2-1 Rule (3 Copies, 2 Media Types, 1 Offsite)
Modern EDR (Endpoint Detection And Response) Systems Can Detect Suspicious Behavior Like:
Mass File Encryption
Registry Modifications
Shadow Copy Deletion
Separating Networks Prevents Ransomware From Spreading Laterally Across Systems.
Law Enforcement Agencies Generally Advise Against Paying Ransom Because:
Payment Funds Criminal Activity
No Guarantee Of Decryption
Victims May Be Targeted Again
However, Some Organizations Have Paid Ransom When Backups Were Unavailable And Operational Impact Was Severe.
In Later Years, Law Enforcement Agencies Improved Ransomware Tracking, But During Osiris’s Peak Period, Decryption Tools Were Not Available For Victims.
After Osiris, The Locky Operators Released Additional Variants Such As:
Odin
Thor
Aesir
These Variants Continued Evolving Encryption Routines And Distribution Methods.
By 2017, Locky Activity Began To Decline, Possibly Due To:
Law Enforcement Pressure
Shifts To Other Ransomware Families
Infrastructure Takedowns
However, The Techniques Pioneered By Locky And Osiris Influenced Many Later Ransomware Groups.
The Osiris Campaign Reinforced Several Cybersecurity Lessons:
Human Error Is A Major Vulnerability.
Backups Are Essential.
Ransomware Evolves Rapidly.
Email Remains A Primary Attack Vector.
Proactive Defense Is More Effective Than Reactive Response.
The Success Of Osiris And Related Ransomware Strains Contributed To:
Increased Investment In Cybersecurity Tools
Growth Of Ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) Models
Expansion Of Cyber Insurance Markets
Stronger Regulatory Compliance Requirements
Governments Worldwide Began Prioritizing Ransomware Response Frameworks Following Widespread Incidents During 2016–2018.
Osiris Ransomware Represents A Significant Chapter In The Evolution Of Modern Cybercrime. As A Variant Of Locky, It Demonstrated How Quickly Ransomware Operators Adapt To Security Measures And Expand Their Campaigns. Through Aggressive Spam Distribution, Strong Encryption Methods, And Anonymized Payment Systems, Osiris Inflicted Substantial Damage On Victims Worldwide.
Although Active Campaigns Have Largely Subsided, The Techniques Used By Osiris Continue To Influence Contemporary Ransomware Operations. Its Legacy Serves As A Reminder That Cybersecurity Requires Continuous Vigilance, Education, And Layered Defense Strategies.
Understanding Historical Threats Like Osiris Is Critical For Anticipating Future Attacks And Strengthening Digital Resilience In An Increasingly Connected World.
Step 1: Boot Into Safe Mode
Restart Your PC And Press F8 (or Shift + F8 For Some Systems) Before Windows Loads.
Choose Safe Mode With Networking.
Safe Mode Prevents Most Malware From Loading.
Press Win + R, Type appwiz.cpl, And Press Enter.
Sort By Install Date And Uninstall Unknown Or Recently Added Programs.
Use A Trusted Anti-malware Tool:
Malwarebytes – https://www.malwarebytes.com
Screenshot Of Malwarebytes - Visit Links
Microsoft Defender – Built Into Windows 10/11
HitmanPro, ESET Online Scanner, Or Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool
ZoneAlarm Pro Antivirus + Firewall NextGen
VIPRE Antivirus - US And Others Countries, | India
Run A Full Scan And Delete/quarantine Detected Threats.
Win + R, Type temp → Delete All Files.Press Win + R, Type %temp% → Delete All Files.
Use Disk Cleanup: cleanmgr In The Run Dialog.
Go To: C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc
Open hosts File With Notepad.
Replace With Default Content:
Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc → Open Task Manager
Go To Startup Tab
Disable Any Suspicious Entries.
Open Command Prompt As Administrator.
Run These Commands:
netsh Winsock Reset
netsh Int Ip Reset
ipconfig /flushdns
Unwanted Homepage Or Search Engine
Pop-ups Or Redirects
Unknown Extensions Installed
For Chrome:
Go To: chrome://extensions/
Remove Anything Unfamiliar
For Firefox:
Go To: about:addons → Extensions
Remove Suspicious Add-ons
For Edge:
Go To: edge://extensions/
Uninstall Unknown Add-ons
Chrome:
Go To chrome://settings/reset → "Restore Settings To Their Original Defaults"
Firefox:
Go To about:support → "Refresh Firefox"
Edge:
Go To edge://settings/resetProfileSettings → "Reset Settings"
All Browsers:
Use Ctrl + Shift + Del → Select All Time
Clear Cookies, Cached Files, And Site Data
Make Sure They Are Not Hijacked.
Chrome: chrome://settings/search
Firefox: about:preferences#search
Edge: edge://settings/search
Chrome: chrome://settings/cleanup
Use Malwarebytes Browser Guard For Real-time Browser Protection.
Always Download Software From Trusted Sources.
Keep Windows, Browsers, And Antivirus Updated.
Avoid Clicking Suspicious Links Or Ads.
Use ad Blockers And reputable Antivirus Software.
Backup Your Files Regularly.
To Remove Malware From Your Windows PC, Start By Booting Into Safe Mode, Uninstalling Suspicious Programs, And Scanning With Trusted Anti-malware Tools Like Malwarebytes. Clear Temporary Files, Reset Your Network Settings, And Check Startup Apps For Anything Unusual.
For web Browsers, Remove Unwanted Extensions, Reset Browser Settings, Clear Cache And Cookies, And Ensure Your Homepage And Search Engine Haven’t Been Hijacked. Use Cleanup Tools Like Chrome Cleanup Or Browser Guard For Added Protection.
?? Prevention Tips: Keep Software Updated, Avoid Suspicious Downloads, And Use Antivirus Protection Plus Browser Ad Blockers. Regular Backups Are Essential.
Why It Matters: Not All VPNs Offer Malware Protection.
What To Look For: Providers With built-in Malware/ad/tracker Blockers (e.g., NordVPN’s Threat Protection, ProtonVPN’s NetShield).
Purpose: Prevents Data Leaks If Your VPN Connection Drops.
Benefit: Ensures Your Real IP And Browsing Activity Aren’t Exposed To Malware-distributing Websites.
Why It Matters: DNS Leaks Can Expose Your Online Activity To Attackers.
Solution: Enable DNS Leak Protection In Your VPN Settings Or Use A Secure DNS Like Cloudflare (1.1.1.1).
Risk: Free VPNs Often Contain Malware, Sell User Data, Or Lack Security Features.
Better Option: Use Reputable Paid VPNs That Offer security Audits And Transparent Privacy Policies.
Some VPNs Block Known Phishing And Malicious Sites.
Example: Surfshark’s CleanWeb, CyberGhost’s Content Blocker.
Reason: Security Patches Fix Known Vulnerabilities.
Tip: Enable Auto-updates Or Check For Updates Weekly.
Scope: Malware Can Enter Through Phones, Tablets, Or IoT Devices.
Solution: Install VPN Apps On Every Internet-connected Device.
Fact: VPNs Do Not Remove Or Detect Malware On Your System.
Complement It With:
Antivirus Software
Firewall
Browser Extensions For Script Blocking
VPN Encrypts Traffic But Can’t Stop Malware From Executing If You Download Infected Files.
Split Tunneling Allows Certain Apps/sites To Bypass VPN.
Tip: Never Exclude Browsers, Email Clients, Or Download Managers From VPN Tunneling.
A VPN (Virtual Private Network) Enhances Your Online Privacy By Encrypting Your Internet Traffic And Masking Your IP Address. It Protects Your Data On Public Wi-Fi, Hides Browsing Activity From Hackers And ISPs, And Helps Bypass Geo-restrictions. VPNs Also Add A Layer Of Defense Against Malware By Blocking Malicious Websites And Trackers When Using Advanced Features. However, A VPN Does Not Remove Existing Malware Or Act As Antivirus Software. For Full Protection, Combine VPN Use With Antivirus Tools, Regular Software Updates, And Cautious Browsing Habits. Always Choose A Reputable VPN Provider With Strong Security And Privacy Policies.
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