Design and Implementation of a Controlled Ransomware Framework for Educational Purposes Using Flutter Cryptographic APIs on Desktop PCs and Android Devices

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Gu, James, Sartaj, Ahmed, Khan, Mohammed Akram Taher, Khokhar, Rashid Hussain
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Gu, James
Sartaj, Ahmed
Khan, Mohammed Akram Taher
Khokhar, Rashid Hussain
author_facet Gu, James
Sartaj, Ahmed
Khan, Mohammed Akram Taher
Khokhar, Rashid Hussain
contents This study focuses on the creation and implementation of ransomware for educational purposes that leverages Python's native cryptographic APIs in a controlled environment. Additionally, an Android version of the framework is implemented using Flutter and Dart. For both versions, open-source cryptographic libraries are utilized. With this framework, researchers can systematically explore the functionalities of ransomware, including file encryption processes, cryptographic key management, and victim interaction dynamics. To ensure safe experimentation, multiple safeguards are incorporated, such as the ability to restrict the encryption process to a specific directory, providing the RSA private key for immediate decryption, and narrowing the scope of targetable files to a carefully curated list (.txt, .jpg, .csv, .doc). This paper draws inspiration from the infamous WannaCry ransomware and aims to simulate its behaviour on Android devices. By making the codebase open-source, it enables users to study, modify, and extend the program for pedagogical purposes and offers a hands-on tool that can be used to train the next generation of cybersecurity professionals.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2508_11939
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Design and Implementation of a Controlled Ransomware Framework for Educational Purposes Using Flutter Cryptographic APIs on Desktop PCs and Android Devices
Gu, James
Sartaj, Ahmed
Khan, Mohammed Akram Taher
Khokhar, Rashid Hussain
Cryptography and Security
This study focuses on the creation and implementation of ransomware for educational purposes that leverages Python's native cryptographic APIs in a controlled environment. Additionally, an Android version of the framework is implemented using Flutter and Dart. For both versions, open-source cryptographic libraries are utilized. With this framework, researchers can systematically explore the functionalities of ransomware, including file encryption processes, cryptographic key management, and victim interaction dynamics. To ensure safe experimentation, multiple safeguards are incorporated, such as the ability to restrict the encryption process to a specific directory, providing the RSA private key for immediate decryption, and narrowing the scope of targetable files to a carefully curated list (.txt, .jpg, .csv, .doc). This paper draws inspiration from the infamous WannaCry ransomware and aims to simulate its behaviour on Android devices. By making the codebase open-source, it enables users to study, modify, and extend the program for pedagogical purposes and offers a hands-on tool that can be used to train the next generation of cybersecurity professionals.
title Design and Implementation of a Controlled Ransomware Framework for Educational Purposes Using Flutter Cryptographic APIs on Desktop PCs and Android Devices
topic Cryptography and Security
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2508.11939