Ransomware Canaries

If you’re a computer user that’s found a strange-looking file on your system guiding you to this page, you’re in the right place! The file you found that led you here is called a ransomware canary. 

It’s created by a service called Huntress that has been installed and is managed for you by Cole Systems. Similar to how miners used canaries in the coal mines to detect harmful gasses like carbon monoxide, Huntress uses these files to detect a harmful type of computer virus called ransomware. If this file is changed, moved, or deleted, it will trigger an alert to both Cole Systems and Huntress, notifying them of the possibility of a ransomware outbreak. It’s important that you do not modify the files or their location in any way. They are typically hidden, take up very little storage space, and not harmful in any way. They are small examples of common file types, such as documents or images. 

As a reference, the file should look similar to the one below: