Kharma ([email protected]) Ransomware - How to remove

Kharma ransomware is a Dharma type cryptovirus made to extort people for money. It usually attacks small businesses, but it can also catch individual PC users in its net. This ransomware has no free decryption method yet, so getting the files back if you don’t have backups is not guaranteed.

Kharma is malware, developed for the criminal endeavor of getting ransom money from people desperate to get access to their own files. Businesses are especially vulnerable to this kind of attack because every minute lost to Kharma ransomware is spent losing money. Kharma is similar to some other Dharma infections, such as Virus, Cash, Mgs, and others.

Kharma ransomware memo:

Kharma infection symptoms	Files do not open Filenames are changed to include an ID, an email, and “.kharma” at the end
Infection sources	Malicious emails Fake software downloads RDP hacking
How to remove the infection	Use anti-malware scanners (SpyHunter) Change passwords and improve your security
How to fix Kharma files	Restore the files from a backup Wait for a decryption solution

How Kharma spreads

Kharma ransomware is distributed in ways that are likely to infect organizations and small businesses. It seems like targeted Remote Desktop attacks are used a lot, but it’s not the only method.

There are malicious emails: fake invoices, bills, mail orders, bank statements, coworker fax, and other documents. Also, fake virus detections, warnings about illegitimate login attempts. The emails might come with download links or with suspicious files as attachments. The files may be documents, images, webpages, code, archives. Not only that – malicious emails are also used to phish for valuable credentials to use in later targeted RDP attacks. Phishing might be done with fake password-resetting pages or login sites shown as a fake requirement to accessing a document. Phishing scams can be very convincing and dangerous.

Another way for Kharma to infect is fake software download sites: Kharma ransomware might be uploaded on a fake software download site and links to it can be sent out in spam emails or shared in ads.

Finally, there are Remote Desktop Attacks. Kharma can be planted by cybercriminals manually after they break in a system using stolen credentials (or they just guess weak passwords and usernames).

Symptoms

Kharma first is recognized by the extension template: the personal ID, an email address (Kharma uses [email protected] and [email protected]), and “.kharma” at the end. For example,

.id-A24013BE.[[email protected]].kharma

Then there is the ransom note info.hta. A screenshot of what it looks like serves as the illustration for this article. This note promises that the extortionists responsible for this Kharma infection will decrypt 5 small files for free to prove that they’re not scammers and that they will return the files after being paid. They need to do this because of the abundance of ransomware infections where the files are not restored even after paying for decryption. Even now that Kharma ransomware makers promise to show that they can restore the files, there are stories of people getting that proof, paying the ransom (which is usually a few thousand dollars), and being ignored when they asked for decryption tools.

RETURN FILES.txt is a much shorter ransom note that simply says:

All your data is encrypted!
for return write to mail:
[email protected] or [email protected]

Kharma deletes shadow volume copies and the default backup folders to make sure that people can’t easily recover their files. Also, anti-malware programs on the infected computer are often uninstalled by Kharma before it starts encrypting the files.

Most files are attacked by Kharma, including documents, media files, code, databases, archives, and other files. Plus, Kharma tries to get access to network-attached storage and encrypt those files, too.

How to remove Kharma and restore the files

The ransomware needs to be removed first, to avoid repeat encryption. You can use any competent anti-malware tool, such as the SpyHunter scanner. Kharma is currently recognized by security programs, though before it was discovered, antivirus tools were a bit more clueless.

Remember to change your passwords, especially if Kharma infected you through RDP.

There is currently no way to decrypt the Kharma-locked files without contacting the extortionists. If there is a decrypter developed at some point, whether because the criminals release the keys on their own, or law enforcement finds them, you will probably find the tools on nomoreransom.org.

Paying is definitely an option, though it’s very risky:

• Fake Dharma ransomware is around and the people behind those infections do not restore the files, or they charge on top of the ransom amount, buy the keys from the extortionists, and keep the difference.
• Not all extortionists send working decryption tools. There’s no way to know if everyone who pays Kharma for decryption will get their files back. After all, nothing is forcing them to keep their promises. Once you transfer the cryptocurrency, no way to reverse that.
• Being careless and letting the people behind Kharma to learn anything about you can result in repeated infection. At least, it’s super important to not reveal anything about yourself to the extortionists – use a new email address, a different device to contact them, etc.

At the end of the day, the best defense against ransomware is file backups, careful and secure browsing, and a good anti-malware program.

Automatic Malware removal tools

How to recover Kharma ([email protected]) Ransomware encrypted files and remove the virus

Step 1. Restore system into last known good state using system restore

1. Reboot your computer to Safe Mode with Command Prompt:

for Windows 7 / Vista/ XP

• Start → Shutdown → Restart → OK.
• Press F8 key repeatedly until Advanced Boot Options window appears.
• Choose Safe Mode with Command Prompt.

for Windows 8 / 10

• Press Power at Windows login screen. Then press and hold Shift key and click Restart.
• Choose Troubleshoot → Advanced Options → Startup Settings and click Restart.
• When it loads, select Enable Safe Mode with Command Prompt from the list of Startup Settings.

 

2.Restore System files and settings.

• When Command Prompt mode loads, enter cd restore and press Enter.
• Then enter rstrui.exe and press Enter again.
• Click “Next” in the windows that appeared.
• Select one of the Restore Points that are available before Kharma ([email protected]) Ransomware has infiltrated to your system and then click “Next”.
• To start System restore click “Yes”.

 

Step 2. Complete removal of Kharma ([email protected]) Ransomware

After restoring your system, it is recommended to scan your computer with an anti-malware program, like Spyhunter and remove all malicious files related to Kharma ([email protected]) Ransomware. You can check other tools here.  

Step 3. Restore Kharma ([email protected]) Ransomware affected files using Shadow Volume Copies

If you do not use System Restore option on your operating system, there is a chance to use shadow copy snapshots. They store copies of your files that point of time when the system restore snapshot was created. Usually Kharma ([email protected]) Ransomware tries to delete all possible Shadow Volume Copies, so this methods may not work on all computers. However, it may fail to do so. Shadow Volume Copies are only available with Windows XP Service Pack 2, Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8. There are two ways to retrieve your files via Shadow Volume Copy. You can do it using native Windows Previous Versions or via Shadow Explorer. a) Native Windows Previous Versions Right-click on an encrypted file and select Properties → Previous versions tab. Now you will see all available copies of that particular file and the time when it was stored in a Shadow Volume Copy. Choose the version of the file you want to retrieve and click Copy if you want to save it to some directory of your own, or Restore if you want to replace existing, encrypted file. If you want to see the content of file first, just click Open.

b) Shadow Explorer It is a program that can be found online for free. You can download either a full or a portable version of Shadow Explorer. Open the program. On the left top corner select the drive where the file you are looking for is a stored. You will see all folders on that drive. To retrieve a whole folder, right-click on it and select “Export”. Then choose where you want it to be stored.

Step 4. Use Data Recovery programs to recover Kharma ([email protected]) Ransomware encrypted files

There are several data recovery programs that might recover encrypted files as well. This does not work in all cases but you can try this:

• We suggest using another PC and connect the infected hard drive as slave. It is still possible to do this on infected PC though.
• Download a data recovery program.
• Install and scan for recently deleted files.

Note: In many cases it is impossible to restore data files affected by modern ransomware. Thus I recommend using decent cloud backup software as precaution. We recommend checking out Carbonite, BackBlaze, CrashPlan or Mozy Home.