.arrow ransomware decryptor and removal

Files with the .arrow extension sprinkled all over a computer designate a ransomware attack, with the infection representing the so-called CrySiS family.

With the cryptojacking craze running rampant globally and taking over other forms of cybercrime, a lot of black hat crews continue to focus on things like online extortion through malicious code. It’s interesting to watch how drastically and rapidly things change – just a few years ago, file-encrypting ransomware was a cutting-edge phenomenon outranking the rest in the malware niche. Now in 2018, it poses a somewhat old-fashioned foul play for making money. However, the authors of the CrySiS, or Dharma, family of blackmail viruses appear to be conservative enough to stick with the well-trodden path. They have lately released a brand new variant of their perpetrating program that appends the .arrow extension to encrypted files.

This build of the prolific CrySiS strain has got more characteristics than the mere new suffix appearing at the end of files. It subjoins a longer tail to filenames, not just the .arrow string. The full extension also includes the victim’s ID and the attacker’s email address. Both of these parameters vary. Here’s an example of the transformation that a sample filename undergoes: Photo.jpg.id-AFB1EC3F.[supping@protonmail.com].arrow. The value in brackets unambiguously prompts the infected person to contact the adversary over email for further instructions. There have been quite a few other addresses reported by Dharma victims lately, including marat20@cock.li and bitcoin888@cock.li. This variability can be explained by the existence of different cybercriminal groups spreading the same offending program on a Ransomware-as-a-Service basis.

The current edition of this lineage has one major thing in common with all the previous ones. It is propagating via RDP. Here’s how this intricate attack chain goes: the crooks use ad hoc tools to scan the Internet for active remote desktop connections. When such a connection is detected, they try to brute force or guess the access credentials. Given the prevalence of CrySiS on the crypto ransomware arena, the success of this method is appreciable. Having made such a loophole in a host system, the threat actors execute the malicious binary the manual way and do it imperceptibly. Then, the .arrow ransomware silently traverses the hard drive for personal data while skipping the operating system partition most of the time. When a matching file is spotted, the culprit encrypts it with RSA, one of the strongest ciphers around. The private RSA key is what’s needed to decrypt .arrow files, and it is in full possession of the malefactors who instruct victims to send about $5,000 worth of Bitcoin cryptocurrency in exchange for this key.

Sounds like too much money for files, doesn’t it? Some people who run the risk of losing precious family photos, important videos and work documents over this incursion may end up paying. This tactic isn’t recommended, though. One of the recent surveys showed that nearly a half of blackmail malware victims who submitted ransoms never got their data back. Take this into account and be sure to try a few workarounds first.

.Arrow ransomware automated removal and data recovery

When faced with ransomware like .Arrow, 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 .Arrow 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.

.Arrow 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 .Arrow 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 recovery of .arrow files

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 .Arrow 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 .Arrow removal tool