{
  "family": "badjoke",
  "sample_count": 1,
  "category": "ransomware",
  "description": "<h3>Executive Summary</h3>\n\"BadJoke\" (or simply \"Joke\") is a generic classification used by antivirus vendors to identify programs that intentionally exhibit virus-like or destructive behavior to frighten or annoy the user, but which are ultimately harmless and carry no actual malicious payload. While technically benign, they are often flagged by security software due to the disruption they cause in enterprise environments and the potential for social engineering abuse.\n\n<h3>Technical Behavior and Risk Factors</h3>\nBadJoke programs are typically distributed as executable files (`.exe`) via email forwards, direct links in instant messages, or downloaded from humor websites. They rely entirely on social engineering (e.g., a file named `Free_Money.exe` or `Important_Update.exe`) to convince the user to run them.\n\nOnce executed, they perform elaborate but harmless visual or auditory tricks:\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Simulated Destruction:</strong> The program may display a fake, full-screen animation simulating the formatting of the `C:\\` drive, complete with progress bars and alarming error sounds.</li>\n<li><strong>System Manipulation:</strong> Other variants may temporarily invert the colors on the monitor, make the mouse cursor run away from the user, rapidly open and close the CD-ROM drive, or spawn hundreds of fake error dialog boxes (e.g., \"Your computer is haunted\").</li>\n<li><strong>Harmlessness:</strong> Crucially, these programs do *not* encrypt files, steal passwords, contact C2 servers, or establish persistent registry keys. Once the process is terminated (via Task Manager) or the system is rebooted, the \"joke\" ends, and the system is completely unaffected.</li>\n</ul>\n\n<h3>Threat Assessment</h3>\nFrom a technical standpoint, a BadJoke program poses a near-zero threat to data integrity or confidentiality. However, in an enterprise setting, they trigger genuine security alerts, cause panic among end-users, result in unnecessary helpdesk tickets, and waste the time of Incident Response teams. Furthermore, threat actors sometimes hide actual Trojans within files disguised as \"Joke\" programs.\n\n<h3>Incident Response and Remediation</h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Process Termination:</strong> If a user is experiencing a \"Joke\" program, the immediate fix is to press `Ctrl+Shift+Esc` to open the Task Manager, identify the anomalous application (which is usually running conspicuously), and forcefully end the task.</li>\n<li><strong>File Deletion:</strong> Locate the originally downloaded executable (often in the Downloads folder or on the Desktop) and delete it. No further registry cleaning or system re-imaging is required.</li>\n<li><strong>User Education:</strong> The presence of a BadJoke program indicates a failure of user awareness. It is a prime opportunity to educate the user on the dangers of executing untrusted files from unverified sources, reinforcing that next time, the payload could be ransomware.</li>\n</ul>",
  "cta": "Published by the SystemHelpdesk team.",
  "aliases": [
    "JokeProgram",
    "Hoax.BadJoke",
    "Riskware.Joke"
  ],
  "enrichment_level": "insufficient_information",
  "faq": [],
  "faq_count": 0,
  "mitre_attack": [
    "T1204.002"
  ],
  "cisa_advisory": null,
  "last_updated": "2026-07-01T17:27:35Z",
  "type": "Joke Program / Hoax",
  "target_industries": [
    "Global / Opportunistic"
  ],
  "motivation": "Opportunistic",
  "threat_actors": [
    "Unknown / Cybercriminal"
  ],
  "target_geographies": [
    "Global"
  ]
}