Find out what changes the updated Cerber3 ransomware has under the hood and how to restore .cerber3 extension files without submitting the ransom.
The end of August couldn’t possibly get more troublesome ransomware-wise. The Cerber strain, which is a true old stager on this arena, has been updated by the threat actors in charge. The most obvious tweak is the use of a new extension that’s appended to every encrypted file, namely .cerber3, whereas the previous iteration would concatenate the .cerber2 string instead. Furthermore, the files providing recovery guidance are now named # HELP DECRYPT #.txt, # HELP DECRYPT #.html and # HELP DECRYPT #.url, the latter opening up in the default web browser window. The corresponding icons appear on the infected system’s desktop and inside all folders with encrypted content inside.
As opposed to the predecessor of Cerber3, the VBScript text-to-speech version of data restoration instructions doesn’t appear to be explicitly dropped anywhere on the computer, but the obnoxious audio message is still played in the background. It says, “Your documents, photos, databases and other important files have been encrypted!” The desktop wallpaper gets replaced with a spooky warning message as well.
Another invariable attribute across all the editions of this ransom Trojan is the cryptographic algorithm leveraged to encrypt victims’ personal data. It’s still AES, or Advanced Encryption Standard, with the degree of the secret key’s entropy sufficient to thwart cracking attempts. Having compromised a computer through a payload-tainted email attachment that pretends to be an important document, such as a resume, invoice or delivery notification, Cerber3 scours the infected machine for irreplaceable data. When doing this, the ransomware traverses all the fixed drives as well as removable media and network shares. The next phase is to scramble the files found during the scan, making them look like 2mRQx4RUzq.cerber3. The AES key, which is identical for both the encoding and decoding routine, is stored on the cybercrooks’ C2 server and cannot be retrieved through forensic analysis on the plagued PC.
The # HELP DECRYPT # ransom notes instruct the victim to visit one of the available Tor sites, where they need to go through complex graphical captcha verification. Eventually, the user will end up on Cerber Decryptor page that contains the decryption key buyout terms. In particular, it indicates the size of the ransom, which is 0.7154 Bitcoins (about 410 USD) within the first 5 days since the attack started. After the 5-day deadline expires, the ransom will increase to 1.4308 Bitcoins, which is twice the size of the original amount. The very idea of submitting that much money to the extortionists is definitely a drag, so stick to the steps below first. Depending on how deep the offending impact is, these techniques may help recover some or all of the .cerber3 files.
Cerber3 ransomware automated removal and data recovery
Owing to an up-to-date database of malware signatures and intelligent behavioral detection, the recommended software can quickly locate the infection, eradicate it and remediate all harmful changes. So go ahead and do the following:
1. Download and install the antimalware tool. Open the solution and have it check your PC for PUPs and other types of malicious software by clicking the Start Computer Scan button
2. Rest assured the scan report will list all items that may harm your operating system. Select the detected entries and click Fix Threats to get the troubleshooting completed.
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 Data Recovery Pro by ParetoLogic features this type of capability therefore it can be applied in ransom attack scenarios to at least get the most important files back. So download and install the program, run a scan and let it do its job.
Cerber3 virus manual removal and file recovery
Some ransomware strains terminate themselves after completing the encryption job on a computer, but some don’t. Furthermore, the Cerber3 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.
Remove Cerber3 ransomware using Safe Mode with Networking
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- Restart the machine. When the system begins loading back up, keep pressing the F8 key with short intervals. The Windows Advanced Options Menu (Advanced Boot Options) screen will appear.
- Use arrow keys to select Safe Mode with Networking and hit Enter. Log on with the user account infected by the ransomware.
- Restart the machine. When the system begins loading back up, keep pressing the F8 key with short intervals. The Windows Advanced Options Menu (Advanced Boot Options) screen will appear.
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- Click on the Search icon next to the Start menu button. Type msconfig in the search field and select the System Configuration option in the results. Go to the Boot tab in the upper part of the GUI.
- Under Boot options, select Safe boot and click the Apply button. A prompt will appear to reboot the computer so that the changes take effect. Select the Restart option and wait for the system to load into Safe Mode. Again, log on with the ransomware-stricken user account.
- Click on the Search icon next to the Start menu button. Type msconfig in the search field and select the System Configuration option in the results. Go to the Boot tab in the upper part of the GUI.
In Safe Mode, the ransom Trojan won’t keep security software from running or otherwise thwart troubleshooting. Open your preferred web browser, download and install an antimalware tool of choice and start a full system scan. Have all the detected ransomware components removed in a hassle-free way.
Get rid of Cerber3 ransomware using System Restore
- Open Windows Advanced Options Menu as described in the previous section: hit F8 repeatedly when the PC is starting up. Use arrow keys to highlight the Safe Mode with Command Prompt entry. Hit Enter.
- In the Command Prompt window, type cd restore and hit Enter
- Type rstrui.exe in the new command line and press Enter
- When the System Restore screen pops up, click Next, select a restore point that predates the contamination, and use the application’s controls to roll back the system to this earlier state.
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 .cerber3 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.
Backups can make your day
Restore previous versions of encrypted files
Checking one’s options regarding this workaround is doable in two ways: through the Properties menu of each file or by means of the remarkable open-source tool called Shadow Explorer. We recommend the software-based way because it’s automated, hence faster and easier. Just install the app and use its intuitive controls to get previous versions of the encrypted objects reinstated.
Alternatively, you can leverage the Previous Versions feature, which is native to Windows operating system. This method is more cumbersome that the use of ShadowExplorer, but it can help restore the most important individual files on condition that the ransomware failed to disable the Volume Snapshot Service on the computer. Right-click on a file of choice and select Properties. Then, go to the Previous Versions tab as illustrated below.
Go ahead and pick the file’s latest backup version on the list. Use the Copy or Restore buttons to reinstate this object to a new path or to its original folder, respectively.
Ransomware Prevention Tips
To avoid Cerber3 ransomware and other file-encrypting infections in the future, follow several simple recommendations:
- Toggle your email provider’s anti-spam settings to filter out all the potentially harmful incoming messages. Raising the bar beyond the default protection is an important countermeasure for ransom Trojans.
- Define specific file extension restrictions in your email system. Make sure that attachments with the following extensions are blacklisted: .js, .vbs, .docm, .hta, .exe, .cmd, .scr, and .bat. Also, treat ZIP archives in received messages with extreme caution.
- Rename the vssadmin.exe process so that ransomware is unable to obliterate all Shadow Volume Copies of your files in one shot.
- Keep your Firewall active at all times. It can prevent crypto ransomware from communicating with its C&C server. This way, the threat won’t be able to obtain cryptographic keys and lock your files.
- Back up your files regularly, at least the most important ones. This recommendation is self-explanatory. A ransomware attack isn’t an issue as long as you keep unaffected copies of your data in a safe place.
- Use an effective antimalware suite. There are security tools that identify ransomware-specific behavior and block the infection before it can do any harm.
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.