In 2021, our company fell victim to the eCh0raix ransomware attack, which specifically targeted QNAP NAS devices.

While many heard about the infamous Qlocker ransomware that encrypted files using the 7-zip utility, we had the misfortune of dealing with eCh0raix, a different strain that exploited vulnerabilities in QNAP’s firmware.

The attack wasn’t the result of poor network security or a careless mistake on our part—hackers took advantage of an unpatched security flaw in the NAS firmware, making our defenses futile against the attack.

The Attack: When Everything Went Dark

It started as a regular day—until we noticed that many of our company files were suddenly inaccessible.

Digging deeper, we discovered the files had been encrypted, and a ransom note demanding 0.01 Bitcoin (approximately $550 at the time) was left in place of the original files.

Hackers provided a Tor link, requiring us to pay the ransom in exchange for the decryption key.

The attackers were swift and precise, locking down our incremental backups, leaving us with a decision: either pay the ransom or restore from a backup, knowing we’d lose about 24 hours’ worth of data. We made the choice not to pay the ransom.

Recovery and Lessons Learned

Luckily, we had been diligent about our backups. We were able to restore our critical data from an earlier backup, effectively losing only a day’s worth of work.

Despite the relatively minor data loss, we decommissioned the QNAP NAS as soon as we could.

We replaced it with a Synology NAS, which has a more robust reputation for security.

In hindsight, this decision was crucial—just a year later, QNAP devices were hit with yet another ransomware attack on September 3, 2022.

At that point, it became clear that hackers seemed to have a persistent target on QNAP.

This experience brought to light a few crucial lessons. One of the most important? Always change the default ports on your NAS.

Many NAS devices, including QNAP, use default ports (like 8080 and 443) that are easy targets for hackers scanning for vulnerable systems.

By changing these ports, you can add an extra layer of protection against automated attacks.

Additionally, always make sure your NAS firmware is up to date.

QNAP released patches after these vulnerabilities were exploited, but many users had already been affected by the time those updates were made available.

Regular patching is key to staying ahead of potential attacks.

The Importance of Backup Strategies

This experience taught us several key lessons. First, no matter how secure your network infrastructure is, vulnerabilities in your storage devices can still be exploited.

The eCh0raix ransomware proved that even strong network defenses are useless if firmware is left unpatched. The second lesson was the importance of a reliable backup strategy.

Because we regularly performed full and incremental backups, we avoided the devastating consequences that many businesses face when ransomware strikes.

Our ability to quickly restore from a backup made all the difference in resolving the issue without paying the ransom.

Searching for Solutions

During the attack, I scoured the Reddit forums for a possible fix, where many other QNAP users shared their frustration with the eCh0raix and Qlocker attacks.

Some had opted to pay the ransom, while others were able to recover files through backups or decryption tools that were being developed by security researchers.

But for many, there was no easy fix, and they were left weighing the cost of the ransom against the potential loss of critical business data.

Moving Forward with Synology

The decision to switch to a Synology NAS was a proactive measure to avoid future ransomware attacks.

While no system is invulnerable, Synology has a solid track record in terms of security patches and rapid response to vulnerabilities.

Additionally, we implemented even more stringent backup policies, ensuring multiple layers of redundancy, including offsite storage solutions.

Conclusion: Patch and Protect

Ultimately, this experience served as a harsh reminder that technology can be both an asset and a liability.

Vulnerabilities will always exist, and bad actors are constantly looking for ways to exploit them.

If you’re using a QNAP or any NAS device, make sure it’s regularly updated, and more importantly, maintain a reliable and well-tested backup system.

Avoiding ransomware attacks may not always be possible, but being prepared for recovery is within your control.

And as for QNAP? They seem to have angered someone in the hacker world because their vulnerabilities keep being targeted—proving once again that cybersecurity is a cat-and-mouse game.