Arrival Details
This Ransomware arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.
Installation
This Ransomware drops the following files:
- %Application Data%\taskhost.exe
(Note: %Application Data% is the current user's Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).)
It drops and executes the following files:
- %Temp%\Defender_nt32_enu.exe → ESET AV Remover (Normal File)
- %Temp%\Help.exe
- %Temp%\taskhost.exe
(Note: %Temp% is the Windows temporary folder, where it usually is C:\Windows\Temp on all Windows operating system versions.)
It adds the following mutexes to ensure that only one of its copies runs at any one time:
Autostart Technique
This Ransomware adds the following registry entries to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
taskhost.exe = %Application Data%\taskhost.exe
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
%System%\Info.hta = mshta.exe "%System%\Info.hta"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
%Application Data%\Info.hta = mshta.exe "%Application Data%\Info.hta"
It drops the following file(s) in the Windows User Startup folder to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:
- %User Startup%\taskhost.exe
- %User Startup%\Info.hta
(Note: %User Startup% is the current user's Startup folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Profiles\{user name}\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name}\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows NT, C:\Documents and Settings\{User name}\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows 2003(32-bit), XP and 2000(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit), 10(64-bit).)
It drops the following file(s) in the Windows Common Startup folder to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:
- %Common Startup%\taskhost.exe
(Note: %Common Startup% is the startup folder for all users, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows Vista, 7, and 8.)
Other System Modifications
This Ransomware adds the following registry keys:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options
taskmgr.exe = ""
It adds the following registry entries:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\
taskmgr.exe
Debugger = Hotkey Disabled
Process Termination
This Ransomware terminates the following services if found on the affected system:
- FirebirdGuardianDefaultInstance
- FirebirdServerDefaultInstance
- sqlwriter
- mssqlserver
- sqlserveradhelper
It terminates the following processes if found running in the affected system's memory:
- 1c8.exe
- 1cv77.exe
- outlook.exe
- postgres.exe
- mysqld-nt.exe
- mysqld.exe
- sqlservr.exe
Other Details
This Ransomware does the following:
- It deletes shadow copies by executing the following command:
- vssadmin delete shadows /all /quiet
- It sets the currently active code page to 1251 by executing the following command:
- It avoids encrypting files/directories with the following strings:
- %Windows%
- boot.ini
- bootfont.bin
- ntldr
- ntdetect.com
- io.sys
- FILES ENCRYPTED.txt
- Info.hta
- bootmgr
- {Malware Name}.exe
- It encrypts files in all fixed, remote and removable drives.
- It uses the ESET AV REMOVER to trick users to make it look normal and not see the encryption routine.

It is capable of encrypting files in the affected system.
Ransomware Routine
This Ransomware encrypts files with the following extensions:
- .tab
- .tar
- .tbb
- .tbi
- .tbk
- .tdi
- .tga
- .thmx
- .tif
- .tiff
- .tld
- .torrent
- .tpl
- .txt
- .u3d
- .udl
- .uxdc
- .vb
- .vbs
- .vcs
- .vda
- .vdr
- .vdw
- .vdx
- .vrp
- .vsd
- .vss
- .vst
- .vsw
- .vsx
- .vtm
- .vtml
- .vtx
- .wb2
- .wav
- .wbm
- .wbmp
- .wim
- .wmf
- .wml
- .wmv
- .wpd
- .wps
- .x3f
- .xl
- .xla
- .xlam
- .xlk
- .xlm
- .xls
- .xlsb
- .xlsm
- .xlsx
- .xlt
- .xltm
- .xltx
- .xlw
- .xml
- .xps
- .xsd
- .xsf
- .xsl
- .xslt
- .xsn
- .xtp
- .xtp2
- .xyze
- .xz
- .zip
- .1cd
- .3ds
- .3fr
- .3g2
- .3gp
- .7z
- .accda
- .accdb
- .accdc
- .accde
- .accdt
- .accdw
- .adb
- .adp
- .ai
- .ai3
- .ai4
- .ai5
- .ai6
- .ai7
- .ai8
- .anim
- .arw
- .as
- .asa
- .asc
- .ascx
- .asm
- .asmx
- .asp
- .aspx
- .asr
- .asx
- .avi
- .avs
- .backup
- .bak
- .bay
- .bd
- .bin
- .bmp
- .bz2
- .c
- .cdr
- .cer
- .cf
- .cfc
- .cfm
- .cfml
- .cfu
- .chm
- .cin
- .class
- .clx
- .config
- .cpp
- .cr2
- .crt
- .crw
- .cs
- .css
- .csv
- .cub
- .dae
- .dat
- .db
- .dbf
- .dbx
- .dc3
- .dcm
- .dcr
- .der
- .dib
- .dic
- .dif
- .divx
- .djvu
- .dng
- .doc
- .docm
- .docx
- .dot
- .dotm
- .dotx
- .dpx
- .dqy
- .dsn
- .dt
- .dtd
- .dwg
- .dwt
- .dx
- .dxf
- .edml
- .efd
- .elf
- .emf
- .emz
- .epf
- .eps
- .epsf
- .epsp
- .erf
- .exr
- .f4v
- .fido
- .flm
- .flv
- .frm
- .fxg
- .geo
- .gif
- .grs
- .gz
- .h
- .hdr
- .hpp
- .hta
- .htc
- .htm
- .html
- .icb
- .ics
- .iff
- .inc
- .indd
- .ini
- .iqy
- .j2c
- .j2k
- .java
- .jp2
- .jpc
- .jpe
- .jpeg
- .jpf
- .jpg
- .jpx
- .js
- .jsf
- .json
- .jsp
- .kdc
- .kmz
- .kwm
- .lasso
- .lbi
- .lgf
- .lgp
- .log
- .m1v
- .m4a
- .m4v
- .max
- .md
- .mda
- .mdb
- .mde
- .mdf
- .mdw
- .mef
- .mft
- .mfw
- .mht
- .mhtml
- .mka
- .mkidx
- .mkv
- .mos
- .mov
- .mp3
- .mp4
- .mpeg
- .mpg
- .mpv
- .mrw
- .msg
- .mxl
- .myd
- .myi
- .nef
- .nrw
- .obj
- .odb
- .odc
- .odm
- .odp
- .ods
- .oft
- .one
- .onepkg
- .onetoc2
- .opt
- .oqy
- .orf
- .p12
- .p7b
- .p7c
- .pam
- .pbm
- .pct
- .pcx
- .pdd
- .pdf
- .pdp
- .pef
- .pem
- .pff
- .pfm
- .pfx
- .pgm
- .php
- .php3
- .php4
- .php5
- .phtml
- .pict
- .pl
- .pls
- .pm
- .png
- .pnm
- .pot
- .potm
- .potx
- .ppa
- .ppam
- .ppm
- .pps
- .ppsm
- .ppt
- .pptm
- .pptx
- .prn
- .ps
- .psb
- .psd
- .pst
- .ptx
- .pub
- .pwm
- .pxr
- .py
- .qt
- .r3d
- .raf
- .rar
- .raw
- .rdf
- .rgbe
- .rle
- .rqy
- .rss
- .rtf
- .rw2
- .rwl
- .safe
- .sct
- .sdpx
- .shtm
- .shtml
- .slk
- .sln
- .sql
- .sr2
- .srf
- .srw
- .ssi
- .st
- .stm
- .svg
- .svgz
- .swf
It appends the following extension to the file name of the encrypted files:
- .id-{ID}.[{BLOCKED}1crypt@aol.com].ETH
It drops the following file(s) as ransom note:
- {Drive Letter}:\FILES ENCRYPTED.txt

- %Desktop%\FILES ENCRYPTED.txt
- %Public%\Desktop\FILES ENCRYPTED.txt
- %Application Data%\Info.hta
- %System%\Info.hta

Step 1
Before doing any scans, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows 10 users must disable System Restore to allow full scanning of their computers.
Step 2
Note that not all files, folders, and registry keys and entries are installed on your computer during this malware's/spyware's/grayware's execution. This may be due to incomplete installation or other operating system conditions. If you do not find the same files/folders/registry information, please proceed to the next step.
Step 3
Restart in Safe Mode
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To restart in Safe Mode:
• For Windows 2000 users
- Restart your computer.
- Press F8 when you see the Starting Windows bar at the bottom of the screen.
- Choose the Safe Mode option from the Windows Advanced Options menu then press Enter.
• For Windows XP users
- Restart your computer.
- Press F8 after the Power-On Self Test (POST) routine is done. If the Windows Advanced Options menu does not appear, try restarting then pressing F8 several times when the POST screen appears.
- Choose the Safe Mode option from the Windows Advanced Options menu then press Enter.
• For Windows Server 2003 users
- Restart your computer.
- Press F8 after Windows starts up. If the Windows Advanced Options menu does not appear, try restarting again and pressing F8 several times afterward.
- On the Windows Advanced Option menu, use the arrow keys to select Safe Mode then press Enter.
• For Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows Server 2008 users
- Restart your computer.
- Press F8 after the Power-On Self Test (POST) routine is done. If the Advanced Boot Options menu does not appear, try restarting and then pressing F8 several times after the POST screen is displayed.
- On the Advanced Boot Options menu, use the arrow keys to select the Safe Mode option, and then press Enter.
• For Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows Server 2012 users
- Access the Charms bar by moving your mouse pointer to the upper right corner of the screen.
- Move your mouse pointer down and click Settings>Change your PC Settings.
- In the left panel, click General.
- In the right panel, scroll down to the bottom to find the Advanced startup section, then click the Restart now button and wait for the system to restart.
- In the Advanced Startup menu, click Troubleshoot>Advanced Options>Startup Settings>Restart and wait for the system to restart.
- In the Startup Settings menu, press 4 to enable safe mode.
Step 4
Delete this registry key
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Important: Editing the Windows Registry incorrectly can lead to irreversible system malfunction. Please do this step only if you know how or you can ask assistance from your system administrator. Else, check this Microsoft article first before modifying your computer's registry.
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options
To delete registry keys this malware/grayware created:
- 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. - In the left panel of the Registry Editor window, double-click the following:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE>SOFTWARE>Microsoft>Windows NT>CurrentVersion>Image File Execution Options - Still in the left panel, locate and delete the key:
taskmgr.exe = "" - Close Registry Editor.
Step 5
Delete this registry value
[ Learn More ]
[ back ]
Important: Editing the Windows Registry incorrectly can lead to irreversible system malfunction. Please do this step only if you know how or you can ask assistance from your system administrator. Else, check this Microsoft article first before modifying your computer's registry.
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\taskmgr.exe
- Debugger = Hotkey Disabled
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- taskhost.exe = %Application Data%\taskhost.exe
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- %System%\Info.hta = mshta.exe "%System%\Info.hta"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- %Application Data%\Info.hta = mshta.exe "%Application Data%\Info.hta"
To delete the registry value this malware created:
- 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. - In the left panel of the Registry Editor window, double-click the following:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE>SOFTWARE>Microsoft>Windows NT>CurrentVersion>Image File Execution Options>taskmgr.exe - In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
Debugger = Hotkey Disabled - In the left panel of the Registry Editor window, double-click the following:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE>SOFTWARE>Microsoft>Windows>CurrentVersion>Run - In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
taskhost.exe = %Application Data%\taskhost.exe - Again In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
%System%\Info.hta = mshta.exe "%System%\Info.hta" - Again In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
%Application Data%\Info.hta = mshta.exe "%Application Data%\Info.hta" - Close Registry Editor.
Step 6
Search and delete this file
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There may be some files that are hidden. Please make sure you check the
Search Hidden Files and Folders checkbox in the "More advanced options" option to include all hidden files and folders in the search result.
- %Application Data%\taskhost.exe
- %Temp%\Defender_nt32_enu.exe
- %Temp%\Help.exe
- %Temp%\taskhost.exe
- %User Startup%\taskhost.exe
- %User Startup%\Info.hta
- %Common Startup%\taskhost.exe
- {Drive Letter}:\FILES ENCRYPTED.txt
- %Desktop%\FILES ENCRYPTED.txt
- %Public%\Desktop\FILES ENCRYPTED.txt
- %Application Data%\Info.hta
- %System%\Info.hta
To manually delete a malware/grayware file from an affected system:
•For Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 (R2), Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, and Windows Server 2012 (R2):
- Open a Windows Explorer window.
- For Windows 7 and Server 2008 (R2) users, click Start>Computer.
- For Windows 8, 8.1, 10, and Server 2012 (R2) users, right-click on the lower-left corner of the screen,then click File Explorer.
- In the Search Computer/This PC input box, type:
- %Application Data%\taskhost.exe
- %Temp%\Defender_nt32_enu.exe
- %Temp%\Help.exe
- %Temp%\taskhost.exe
- %User Startup%\taskhost.exe
- %User Startup%\Info.hta
- %Common Startup%\taskhost.exe
- {Drive Letter}:\FILES ENCRYPTED.txt
- %Desktop%\FILES ENCRYPTED.txt
- %Public%\Desktop\FILES ENCRYPTED.txt
- %Application Data%\Info.hta
- %System%\Info.hta
- 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 and Windows Server 2008 (R2).
Step 7
Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as Ransom.Win32.DHARMA.THDAAAI. If the detected files have already been cleaned, deleted, or quarantined by your Trend Micro product, no further step is required. You may opt to simply delete the quarantined files. Please check this Knowledge Base page for more information.
Step 8
Restore encrypted files from backup.
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