RANSOM_DIRCRYPT.THACOH

Since this malware cannot be removed in normal and safe mode, it is necessary to restart using the Windows Recovery Console. To restart the system using the Windows Recovery Console:

• On Windows XP and Server 2003 systems:

1. Click Start>Run. In the Open input box, type secpol.msc and press Enter.
2. In the left panel, double-click Local Policies>Security Options.
3. In the right panel, double-click Recovery Console: Allow floppy copy and access to all drives and folders.
4. Select Enabled and click OK.
5. Insert the Windows Installation CD into the CD drive, then restart your computer.
6. When prompted, press any key to boot from the CD.
7. On the main menu, type r to go to the Recovery Console.
8. Type the number that corresponds to the drive and directory that contains Windows (usually C:\WINDOWS) and press Enter.
9. Type the Administrator password and press Enter.
10. In the input box, type the following then press Enter:
    SET AllowAllPaths = TRUE
    

To delete registry keys this malware/grayware created:

1. Open Registry Editor. To do this:
   » For Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003 users, click Start>Run, type regedit in the text box provided, and then press Enter.
   » For Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows Server 2008 users, click the Start button, type regedit in the Search input field then press Enter.
   » For Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows Server 2012 users, right-click on the lower left corner of the screen, click Run, type regedit in the text box provided, and then press Enter.
2. In the left panel of the Registry Editor window, double-click the following:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE>SOFTWARE>{GUID}
3. Still in the left panel, locate and delete the key:
   ID = {Random Bytes}
4. Again Still in the left panel, locate and delete the key:
   PeriodDisabed = 1
5. In the left panel of the Registry Editor window, double-click the following:
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER>Software>{GUID}
6. Still in the left panel, locate and delete the key:
   ID = {Random Bytes}
7. Again Still in the left panel, locate and delete the key:
   PeriodDisabed = 1
8. In the left panel of the Registry Editor window, double-click the following:
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER>Software>Microsoft>Windows>CurrentVersion>Run
9. Still in the left panel, locate and delete the key:
   {Random Characters} = %AppDataLocal%\{Random Folder}\{Random Characters}.exe
10. Close Registry Editor.

To restore the registry value this malware/grayware modified:

1. Open Registry Editor.
   » For Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003 users, click Start>Run, type regedit in the text box provided, and then press Enter.
   » For Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows Server 2008 users, click the Start button, type regedit in the Search input field then press Enter.
   » For Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows Server 2012 users, right-click on the lower left corner of the screen, click Run, type regedit in the text box provided, and then press Enter.
2. In the left panel, double-click the following:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE>SOFTWARE>Microsoft>Windows NT>CurrentVersion>Winlogon
3. In the right panel, locate the registry value:
   "Userinit = %System%\userinit.exe,, %Program Files%\{Random Folder}\{Fandom Characters}.exe"
4. Right-click on the value name and choose Modify. Change the value data of this entry to:
   "Userinit = %System%\userinit.exe"
5. In the left panel, double-click the following:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE>SOFTWARE>Microsoft>Wdows>CurrentVersion>Policies>System
6. In the right panel, locate the registry value:
   "EnableLUA = 0"
7. Right-click on the value name and choose Modify. Change the value data of this entry to:
   "EnableLUA = 1"
8. In the left panel, double-click the following:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE>SYSTEM>ControlSet001>services>SharedAccess>Parameters>FirewallPolicy>StandardProfile
9. In the right panel, locate the registry value:
   "DisableNotifications = 1"
10. Right-click on the value name and choose Modify. Change the value data of this entry to:
    "DisableNotifications = 0"
11. Again In the right panel, locate the registry value:
    "DoNotAllowExceptions = 0"
12. Right-click on the value name and choose Modify. Change the value data of this entry to:
    "DoNotAllowExceptions = 1"
13. Again In the right panel, locate the registry value:
    "EnableFirewall = 0"
14. Right-click on the value name and choose Modify. Change the value data of this entry to:
    "EnableFirewall = 1"
15. In the left panel, double-click the following:
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE>SYSTEM>ControlSet001>services>wscsvc
16. In the right panel, locate the registry value:
    "Start = 4"
17. Right-click on the value name and choose Modify. Change the value data of this entry to:
    "Start = 2"
18. In the left panel, double-click the following:
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE>SYSTEM>ControlSet001>services>wuauserv
19. In the right panel, locate the registry value:
    "Start = 4"
20. Right-click on the value name and choose Modify. Change the value data of this entry to:
    "Start = 2"
21. In the left panel, double-click the following:
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE>SYSTEM>ControlSet001>services>MpsSvc
22. In the right panel, locate the registry value:
    "Start = 4"
23. Right-click on the value name and choose Modify. Change the value data of this entry to:
    "Start = 2"
24. In the left panel, double-click the following:
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE>SOFTWARE>Microsoft>Security Center
25. In the right panel, locate the registry value:
    "AntiVirusOverride = 1"
26. Right-click on the value name and choose Modify. Change the value data of this entry to:
    "AntiVirusOverride = 0"
27. Again In the right panel, locate the registry value:
    "AntiVirusDisableNotify = 1"
28. Right-click on the value name and choose Modify. Change the value data of this entry to:
    "AntiVirusDisableNotify = 0"
29. Again In the right panel, locate the registry value:
    "FirewallDisableNotify = 1"
30. Right-click on the value name and choose Modify. Change the value data of this entry to:
    "FirewallDisableNotify = 0"
31. Again In the right panel, locate the registry value:
    "FirewallOverride = 1"
32. Right-click on the value name and choose Modify. Change the value data of this entry to:
    "FirewallOverride = 0"
33. Again In the right panel, locate the registry value:
    "UpdatesDisableNotify = 1"
34. Right-click on the value name and choose Modify. Change the value data of this entry to:
    "UpdatesDisableNotify = 0"
35. Again In the right panel, locate the registry value:
    "UacDisableNotify = 1"
36. Right-click on the value name and choose Modify. Change the value data of this entry to:
    "UacDisableNotify = 0"
37. In the left panel, double-click the following:
    HKEY_CURRENT_USER>Software>Microsoft>Wdows>CurrentVersion>Policies>system
38. In the right panel, locate the registry value:
    "DisableTaskMgr = 1"
39. Right-click on the value name and choose Modify. Change the value data of this entry to:
    "DisableTaskMgr = 0"
40. Close Registry Editor.

To manually delete a malware/grayware file from an affected system:

• For Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003:

1. Right-click Start then click Search....
2. In the File name* input box, type the following:
    
   • %AppDataLocal%\{Random Characters}\{Random Character}.zip
   • %AppDataLocal%\{Random Folder}\{Random Characters}.exe
   • %Desktop%\{Random Characters}.zip
   • %Program Files%\{Random Folder}\{Random Characters}.exe
   • %System Root%\{GUID}\{Random Characters}.exe
   • %User Startup%\{Random Characters}.exe
   • %User Temp%\{Random Characters}.exe
3. In the Look In drop-down list, select My Computer then press Enter.
4. Once located, select the file then press SHIFT+DELETE to delete it.
   *Note: The file name input box title varies depending on the Windows version (e.g. Search for files or folders named or All or part of the file name.).

• For Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows Server 2012:

1. Open a Windows Explorer window.
   • For Windows Vista, 7, and Server 2008 users, click Start>Computer.
   • For Windows 8, 8.1, and Server 2012 users, right-click on the lower left corner of the screen, then click File Explorer.
2. In the Search Computer/This PC input box, type:
    
   • %AppDataLocal%\{Random Characters}\{Random Character}.zip
   • %AppDataLocal%\{Random Folder}\{Random Characters}.exe
   • %Desktop%\{Random Characters}.zip
   • %Program Files%\{Random Folder}\{Random Characters}.exe
   • %System Root%\{GUID}\{Random Characters}.exe
   • %User Startup%\{Random Characters}.exe
   • %User Temp%\{Random Characters}.exe
3. Once located, select the file then press SHIFT+DELETE to delete it.
   *Note: Read the following Microsoft page if these steps do not work on Windows 7.