You don’t have to be combing the internet for questionable forums to stumble across some potentially infected installers. These torrents are shared far and wide, and tracked by “mainstream” trackers, like The Pirate Bay. These installers spread via BitTorrent after originally being posted to a Russian forum dedicated to sharing cracked software. There were also suggestions that the malware had made its way into pirated versions of DJ software, like Ableton Live and Mixed in Key 8. In June 2020, Malwarebytes discovered the ransomware “ThiefQuest” (originally dubbed “EvilQuest”) hiding in an installer for a cracked version of Little Snitch. One of the primary vectors for spreading ransomware is pirated software. RELATED: Want to Survive Ransomware? Here's How to Protect Your PC Avoid Pirated Software

The same as many other online scams, the best thing you can do is avoid activities that put you at risk in the first place. The nefarious ways in which ransomware spreads makes it even more likely the victim will pay to save face.įortunately, there are some ways you can protect yourself. Unfortunately, many people are embarrassed they were set up in the first place, which makes playing along with the scam even more tempting.