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%\MeGEZan.VDE
(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, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming on Windows Vista, 7, and 8.)
It adds the following processes:
- %Program Files%\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe" -nohome ← Command to set the Internet Explorer's home page disabled
(Note: %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files in Windows 2000, Server 2003, and XP (32-bit), Vista (32-bit), 7 (32-bit), and 8 (32-bit), or C:\Program Files (x86) in Windows XP (64-bit), Vista (64-bit), 7 (64-bit), and 8 (64-bit).)
It adds the following mutexes to ensure that only one of its copies runs at any one time:
Other System Modifications
This Ransomware modifies the following registry key(s)/entry(ies) as part of its installation routine:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop value
Wallpaper = %User Profile%\Pictures\img.png
Backdoor Routine
This Ransomware connects to the following websites to send and receive information:
- {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.195.0/23:6901
Information Theft
This Ransomware gathers the following data:
- User Name
- Name of Active Network Interface
- System Locale ID
- OS Version
- Victim ID (Generated by the malware)
Other Details
This Ransomware encrypts files with the following extensions:
- .1cd
- .3ds
- .3gp
- .accdb
- .ai
- .ape
- .asp
- .aspx
- .bc6
- .bc7
- .bmp
- .cdr
- .cer
- .cfg
- .cfgx
- .cpp
- .cr2
- .crt
- .crw
- .csr
- .csv
- .dbf
- .dbx
- .dcr
- .dfx
- .dib
- .djvu
- .doc
- .docm
- .docx
- .dwg
- .dwt
- .dxf
- .dxg
- .eps
- .htm
- .html
- .ibank
- .indd
- .jfif
- .jpe
- .jpeg
- .jpg
- .kdc
- .kwm
- .max
- .md
- .mdb
- .mdf
- .odb
- .odc
- .odm
- .odp
- .ods
- .odt
- .orf
- .p12
- .p7b
- .p7c
- .pdf
- .pef
- .pem
- .pfx
- .php
- .pl
- .png
- .pps
- .ppt
- .pptm
- .pptx
- .psd
- .pst
- .pub
- .pwm
- .py
- .qbb
- .qbw
- .raw
- .rtf
- .sln
- .sql
- .sqlite
- .svg
- .tif
- .tiff
- .txt
- .vcf
- .wallet
- .wpd
- .xls
- .xlsm
- .xlsx
- .xml
It does the following:
- It displays the following as ransom notes:
- It displays the following upon accessing the dropped .HTML ransom note:
Ransomware Routine
This Ransomware avoids encrypting files with the following strings in their file path:
- \appdata\
- \chrome\
- \internet explorer\
- \local settings\
- \microsoft\
- \mozilla\
- \msocache\
- \program files (x86)\
- \program files\
- \programdata\
- \recycler\
- \system volume information\
- \windows\
- \$recycle.bin\
It drops the following file(s) as ransom note:
- %User Profile%\img.png
- {Encrypted Directory}\(_H0W_TO_REC0VER_{Random Characters}.txt
- {Encrypted Directory}\(_H0W_TO_REC0VER_{Random Characters}.html
- {Encrypted Directory}\(_H0W_TO_REC0VER_{Random Characters}.url
(Note: %User Profile% is the current user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name} on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name} on Windows Vista, 7, and 8.)
Step 1
Before doing any scans, Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7 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 value
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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_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop value
- Wallpaper = %User Profile%\Pictures\img.png
To delete the registry value this malware/grayware created:
- 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. - In the left panel, double-click the following:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER>Control Panel>Desktop value - In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
Wallpaper = %User Profile%\Pictures\img.png - Close Registry Editor.
Step 5
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%\MeGEZan.VDE
- %User Profile%\img.png
- {Encrypted Directory}\(_H0W_TO_REC0VER_{Random Characters}.txt
- {Encrypted Directory}\(_H0W_TO_REC0VER_{Random Characters}.html
- {Encrypted Directory}\(_H0W_TO_REC0VER_{Random Characters}.url
To manually delete a malware/grayware file from an affected system:
• For Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003:
- Right-click Start then click Search....
- In the File name* input box, type the following:
- %Application Data%\MeGEZan.VDE
- %User Profile%\img.png
- {Encrypted Directory}\(_H0W_TO_REC0VER_{Random Characters}.txt
- {Encrypted Directory}\(_H0W_TO_REC0VER_{Random Characters}.html
- {Encrypted Directory}\(_H0W_TO_REC0VER_{Random Characters}.url
- In the Look In drop-down list, select My Computer then press Enter.
- 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:
- 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.
- In the Search Computer/This PC input box, type:
- %Application Data%\MeGEZan.VDE
- %User Profile%\img.png
- {Encrypted Directory}\(_H0W_TO_REC0VER_{Random Characters}.txt
- {Encrypted Directory}\(_H0W_TO_REC0VER_{Random Characters}.html
- {Encrypted Directory}\(_H0W_TO_REC0VER_{Random Characters}.url
- 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.
Step 6
Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as RANSOM_PRINCESSLOCKER.B. 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 7
Restore encrypted files from backup.
Step 8
Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as RANSOM_PRINCESSLOCKER.B. 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 the following Trend Micro Support pages for more information:
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