Decrypt .diablo6 files – Diablo6 variant of Locky ransomware [upd. Oct. 2017]

Breaking news of the day is the emergence of a new Locky ransomware iteration that arrives with spam and appends the .diablo6 extension to encrypted files.

Although the security community started feeling confident that the once dominating Locky ransomware vanished from the radar, it made a reappearance that’s shaping up to be the next big thing. The newest persona of this notorious infection is referred to as Diablo6 because that’s the extension it uses to blemish ransomed files. It seems like an accurate denomination considering the scope of the contagion. The .diablo6 file edition of Locky is still making the rounds via malicious spam that most likely emanates from the Necurs botnet. Would-be victims receive virus-tainted messages disguised as accounting information. The subject of these emails may contain the word “Numbers” or “Invoice” to draw the recipient’s attention and entice them into opening the attached file.

The attachment, however, is tricky. It is a ZIP archive encompassing a VBS entity inside it. Once opened, this script automatically starts the infection chain behind the scenes. In particular, it downloads an EXE binary to LocalAppData path from a remote server and runs it on the targeted host without requesting any authorization from the victim. What happens afterward is a classic scenario. The Diablo6 virus disables the Volume Snapshot Service (VSS) so that the plagued user is unable to leverage shadow copies of their files to restore them after the data tweaking process is completed. This being done, the Locky offshoot scans all local drive volumes, network shares and removable devices for files with specific extensions. Every matching item spotted during this traversal is subject to modification via a mix of the RSA-2048 and AES-128 cryptosystems.

Not only does the Diablo6 ransomware encrypt the internal structure of one’s files, but it also makes it impossible for the victim to work out what exactly has been encrypted. To this end, it changes filenames to strings consisting of 36 random hexadecimal characters, which all have the .diablo6 affixed at the end. So a document named Sample.docx becomes something similar to F5986398-A218-0FB1-A18F3D7B-2A8F8CB8DN8A.diablo6. To let the victim know what exactly happened and how to sort things out, the perpetrating program replaces the desktop wallpaper with an image containing basic recovery steps. It also drops rescue notes named “diablo-[4 random chars].htm” (for example “diablo-ff12.htm”) onto the desktop and into all folders with affected files in them.

According to these notes, the fix boils down to visiting a Tor page titled “Locky Decryptor” and following steps listed there. Specifically, the victim is instructed to submit 0.5 BTC to the threat actor’s Bitcoin wallet address. Although the crooks supposedly provide an automatic decryption tool after the payment has been validated, that’s something nobody can guarantee. So be sure to follow the specially crafted anti-ransomware procedure below to get rid of Diablo6 Locky ransomware and try to regain access to personal data.

Diablo6 ransomware automated removal and data recovery

When faced with ransomware like Diablo6, 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 Diablo6 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.

Diablo6 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 Diablo6 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 .diablo6 extension 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 Diablo6 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 Diablo6 removal tool