Dharma ransomware decryptor and removal

Windows users infected with the Dharma ransomware are in for a serious security predicament, but there may still be a good chance to decrypt .dharma files.

Dharma ransomware has been in the wild for about four months, and its extortion activities have affected thousands of end users along with hundreds of enterprise networks over this time span. The main fingerprintable property of this sample is the .dharma extension being affixed to ransomed data, hence the generic name of the infection. In the meantime, a few concurrent campaigns leveraging the same malicious code also involve the .wallet, .xtbl and .zzzzz strings labeling victims’ encrypted personal files. Taking after its predecessor called CrySiS, the malady in question employs the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) to achieve the information lockdown effect. Sometimes cybercrooks implement this symmetric cryptographic algorithm incorrectly and researchers are able to create free decrypt tools, but this isn’t the case with the Dharma virus.

The ransomware under scrutiny contaminates computers in a way that’s hard to call top-notch. It arrives with email spam that delivers ZIP files extracting into contagious JS or VBS objects. The subject of such a message will typically look like a lure, for instance, it may pretend to be an energy bill, some sort of accounting information, a job offer or a receipt. The attached entity is tailored to automatically initiate the infection chain once opened. Then, after downloading the entirety of its components onto the target machine, the Dharma ransomware begins scanning all local, network and removable data repositories for numerous types of user data.

Having encrypted these files, the perpetrating program stains each one with the .[email address].dharma extension, where the part in brackets is variable. The original names of files remain intact. As an illustration of this morphing, a sample “CV.docx” document will be renamed to something like “CV.docx.[bitcoin143@india.com].dharma”. The email attribute may assume the shape of one of the following strings: 3angle@india.com, pay4help@india.com, payforhelp@india.com, worm01@india.com, blackeyes@india.com, amagnus@india.com, dr_crystal@india.com, oron@india.com, suppforhelp@india.com, savedata@india.com, doctor.crystal@mail.com, or mr_lock@mail.com.

The ransomware also creates a number of ransom manuals to provide the victim with a walkthrough on file recovery. These are called README.txt, README.jpg, and Info.hta. The first two contain the following message, “ATTENTION! At the moment, your system is not protected. We can fix it and restore files. To restore the system write to this address: [email address for campaign]”. The Info.hta ransom note, in its turn, looks different and provides somewhat more information. The common denominator for both types of these how-to’s is that the victim is pressured into sending a message to a specified email address in order to receive a response with further instructions. At the end of the day, the recovery boils down to paying 0.5 Bitcoin or more, depending on the extortionist group.

Fortunately, in an unexpected move, someone released the master decryption keys for Dharma in early March. Kaspersky Lab and ESET picked up this invaluable information and updated their free decryptors to handle this ransomware. However, this only applies to cases when the .dharma string is appended to files. Meanwhile, those who are facing the .wallet, .xtbl or .zzzzz variant of the Dharma virus should try a number of forensic tricks that may work for file restoration.

Dharma ransomware automated removal and data recovery

When faced with ransomware like Dharma, one of the best shortcuts in terms of removal is to use Combo Cleaner, a lightweight and incredibly effective application with PC security and optimization features under the hood. It detects and thoroughly deletes threats while giving you insights into the overall health of your computer.

This program’s protection power spans modules that forestall all known types of malware, including ransomware and browser hijackers, and take your online security to the next level by blocking phishing sites and other suspicious web pages. Follow these simple steps to eliminate the infection for good:

1. Download Combo Cleaner installer.

Download Dharma remover

^{Combo Cleaner scans your PC with no strings attached, but you’ll have to buy its fully functional version to remove the threats it detects. The disk optimization tools that find large files and duplicates are free to use.}

2. Open the CCSetup.exe file to get started. Several subsequent screens will allow you to make initial customizations so that the program works exactly as you need from the get-go.

3. The installation will be followed by an update of malware signatures. Once this process is through, click the Start Scan button in the left-hand sidebar.

4. Combo Cleaner will then check system locations that are most often polluted by Windows malware. The first scan can take a while to finish.

5. Combo Cleaner will display a system tray notification as soon as the scan is over. Click the Resolve found threats button to view the results.

6. The scan summary shows the names and types of the detected threats as well as their statuses and locations. Click the Remove all threats button and follow further on-screen prompts to get rid of these items.

Data recovery toolkit to the rescue

Some strains of ransomware are known to delete the original files after the encryption routine has been completed. As hostile as this activity appears, it can play into your hands. There are applications designed to revive the information that was obliterated because of malfunctioning hardware or due to accidental removal. The tool called Stellar Data Recovery features this type of a capability and therefore it can be applied in ransom attack scenarios to at least get the most important files back. So use the app to get an idea of what data can be restored and let it do the recovery job. Here is a step-by-step walkthrough:

1. Download and install Stellar Data Recovery.

Download Stellar Data Recovery

2. Open the application, select the types of recoverable files to look for, and click Next.

3. Choose the areas you want the tool to recover from and click the Scan button.

4. Having scanned the specified locations, the program will display a notification about the total amount of recoverable data. Close the dialog and click the Recover button. This will hopefully help you get some of your valuable files back.

Dharma ransomware manual removal and file recovery

Some ransomware strains terminate themselves after completing the encryption job on a computer, but some don’t. Furthermore, the Dharma virus may prevent victims from using popular antimalware tools in order to stay on board for as long as possible. Under the circumstances, it may be necessary to utilize the Safe Mode with Networking or System Restore functionality.

Be advised that even after the ransomware is removed, files will still be encrypted and inaccessible. The malicious code cleanup part, however, is important because it keeps a relapse of the infection from occurring further on and eliminates all opportunistic malware.

Ways of non-ransom file recovery

Cracking the crypto used by this ransom Trojan is more of a science fiction thing rather than an attainable prospect for the masses. This is why the troubleshooting in predicaments of this sort is a matter of two approaches: one is to pay the ransom, which isn’t an option for many victims; and the other is to apply instruments that take advantage of the ransomware’s possible weaknesses. If the latter is your pick, the advice below is a must-try.

Ransomware Prevention Tips

To avoid Dharma ransomware and other file-encrypting infections in the future, follow several simple recommendations:

These techniques are certainly not a cure-all, but they will add an extra layer of ransomware protection to your security setup.

Revise your security status

Post-factum assessment of the accuracy component in malware removal scenarios is a great habit that prevents the comeback of harmful code or replication of its unattended fractions. Make sure you are good to go by running an additional safety checkup. Another benefit of using the antimalware tool is that it will keep ransomware threats from intruding on your computer further on.

Download Dharma removal tool