| Recurring |
one_organization |
(a) The software failure incident having happened again at one_organization:
- The article mentions that in May, security experts warned about a strain of Android ransomware called Koler, which posed as a porn app and demanded payment from users [27394].
- Additionally, it is highlighted that Windows remains the number one target for ransomware, with the Cryptolocker malware infecting as many as 50,000 computers in the UK alone [27394].
(b) The software failure incident having happened again at multiple_organization:
- The article does not provide specific information about the software failure incident happening again at multiple organizations. |
| Phase (Design/Operation) |
design, operation |
(a) The software failure incident related to the design phase can be seen in the discovery of the Simplocker ransomware targeting Android smartphones. The malware encrypts data on Android phones and demands payment to decrypt it. This incident highlights a failure in the design of the Android system's security measures, allowing malicious software to encrypt user data [27394].
(b) The software failure incident related to the operation phase is evident in the way the Simplocker ransomware operates. It scans victims' SD memory cards for specific files, encrypts them using the AES encryption standard, and demands payment for decryption. This failure is attributed to the operation of the malware itself, which tricks users into paying to unlock their files [27394]. |
| Boundary (Internal/External) |
within_system, outside_system |
(a) within_system: The software failure incident of the Simplocker ransomware encrypting data on Android phones and demanding payment to decrypt it is a result of factors originating from within the system. The malware itself scans victims' SD memory cards, locks files using encryption, and demands payment for decryption [27394].
(b) outside_system: The software failure incident also involves contributing factors originating from outside the system. For example, the malware sends phone information to a server controlled by the attackers based on the Tor network, making it difficult for law enforcement to track and shut down the operation [27394]. |
| Nature (Human/Non-human) |
non-human_actions, human_actions |
(a) The software failure incident occurring due to non-human actions:
- The article reports on a strain of criminal software, specifically ransomware called Simplocker, that encrypts data on Android smartphones and demands payment to unlock it [27394].
- Simplocker encrypts data on Android phones without human participation, scanning victims' SD memory cards for specific files and locking them using the AES encryption standard.
- The malware also sends phone information to a server controlled by the attackers, based on the Tor network, making it difficult to track users.
(b) The software failure incident occurring due to human actions:
- The article mentions that various forms of Android ransomware have been uncovered, indicating that human actions, such as downloading malicious apps or interacting with deceptive content, can contribute to the spread of ransomware [27394].
- Additionally, the article highlights the case of Koler ransomware, which posed as a porn app and sent messages claiming to be from the police, indicating how human actions, such as downloading and interacting with deceptive apps, can lead to ransomware infections. |
| Dimension (Hardware/Software) |
software |
(a) The software failure incident occurring due to hardware:
- The article mentions a strain of criminal software, Simplocker ransomware, encrypting data on Android smartphones and demanding payment to unlock it [27394].
- The malware sends phone information, such as the IMEI number, to a server controlled by the attackers, which is based on the Tor network [27394].
(b) The software failure incident occurring due to software:
- The Simplocker ransomware encrypts data on Android phones before demanding payment to decrypt it [27394].
- The article discusses various forms of Android ransomware, including Koler, which posed as a porn app and demanded payment [27394].
- Windows remains the number one target for ransomware, with the Cryptolocker malware infecting many computers [27394]. |
| Objective (Malicious/Non-malicious) |
malicious, non-malicious |
(a) The objective of the software failure incident was malicious, as it involved the discovery of a strain of criminal software known as Simplocker ransomware that encrypted data on Android smartphones and demanded payment to unlock it. The ransomware scanned victims' SD memory cards for specific files and used AES encryption to lock them, asking for a payment of 260 Ukrainian hryvnias to decrypt the files. Additionally, the malware sent phone information to a server controlled by the attackers on the Tor network, making it difficult for law enforcement to track them [27394].
(b) Non-malicious software failures were also mentioned in the articles, such as the warning about a strain of Android ransomware called Koler, which posed as a porn app and demanded payment from users by pretending to be from the police. Furthermore, the article highlighted that Windows remains the number one target for ransomware, with the Cryptolocker malware infecting thousands of computers in the UK [27394]. |
| Intent (Poor/Accidental Decisions) |
poor_decisions, accidental_decisions |
(a) The intent of the software failure incident:
- The incident involving the Simplocker ransomware on Android smartphones can be categorized under poor_decisions. The malware encrypts victims' data and demands payment to unlock it, showcasing a deliberate malicious intent by the attackers to extort money from users [27394].
(b) The intent of the software failure incident:
- The incident involving the Koler ransomware posing as a porn app on Android smartphones can be categorized under accidental_decisions. The malware tricks users by pretending to be from the police and falsely accusing them of illegal activities, leading to demands for payment as a fine [27394]. |
| Capability (Incompetence/Accidental) |
accidental |
(a) The software failure incident related to development incompetence is not explicitly mentioned in the provided article [27394].
(b) The software failure incident related to accidental factors is evident in the article. The incident involves a strain of criminal software, known as Simplocker ransomware, encrypting data on Android smartphones and demanding payment to unlock it. This incident is accidental in nature as it is caused by the deliberate actions of cybercriminals who developed and deployed the ransomware to extort money from victims [27394]. |
| Duration |
temporary |
The software failure incident described in the articles is temporary. The incident involves the discovery of a new strain of criminal software, Simplocker ransomware, encrypting data on Android smartphones and demanding payment to decrypt it [27394]. The article mentions that the malware is not currently widespread, primarily active in the Ukrainian region, and not found on Android's official Google Play Store. Additionally, the level of encryption used by Simplocker is noted to be weaker than that of Cryptolocker, a Windows ransomware that global law enforcement authorities have been trying to shut down [27394]. |
| Behaviour |
value, other |
(a) crash: The article does not mention any instance of a system crash where the software fails due to losing state and not performing any of its intended functions.
(b) omission: The article does not mention any instance of a system failure due to omitting to perform its intended functions at an instance(s).
(c) timing: The article does not mention any instance of a system failure due to performing its intended functions correctly, but too late or too early.
(d) value: The software failure incident described in the article falls under the category of a value failure. The Simplocker ransomware encrypts the data of Android smartphone owners and demands payment to unlock it, indicating that the software is performing its intended function incorrectly by locking users' files and requesting payment for decryption [27394].
(e) byzantine: The article does not mention any instance of a system behaving erroneously with inconsistent responses and interactions.
(f) other: The behavior of the software failure incident in the article can be categorized as a ransomware attack. The malware encrypts users' data and demands payment for decryption, which is a form of extortion and unauthorized access to personal information [27394]. |