What is Virus Hermes ransomware? And how does it implement its attack?
Virus Hermes ransomware is the latest variant of Hermes ransomware. Just like its predecessor, it may use an unsecured port and sneakily infect your computer via Remote Desktop Protocol or RDP configuration and drop its malicious components. This can happen when you click or open a file accidentally that is downloaded from a shady website or was sent as an email attachment. After it infiltrates a computer and drops its components, it will scan the system for files with different file types such as:
.accdb, .agif, .awdb, .bean, .cdmm, .cdmz, .cdr3, .cdr4, .cdr6, .cdrw, .clkw, .crwl, .ddoc, .djvu, .docm, .docx, .docz, .dotm, .dotx, .dtsx, .emlx, .epsf, .fdxt, .fh10, .fh11, .fodt, .fpos, .ft10, .ft11, .fwdn, .gdoc, .gfie, .glox, .gthr, .hpgl, .html, .icon, .idea, .itc2, .itdb, .jbig, .jpeg, .jpg2, .jrtf, .kdbx, .mbox, .mell, .mgcb, .mgmf, .mgmt, .mgmx, .mgtx, .mmat, .mobi, .mrxs, .pano, .pict, .pjpg, .pntg, .pobj, .pptm, .pptx, .psdx, .psid, .rctd, .reloc, .riff, .s2mv, .save, .scad, .sdoc, .smil, .ssfn, .sumo, .svgz, .text, .tiff, .utf8, .vrml, .vsdm, .vsdx, .vstm, .vstx, .wbmp, .webp, .wmdb, .xhtm, .xlgc, .xlsb, .xlsm, .xlsx, .zabw (700 more)
Virus Hermes ransomware uses a military-grade encryption algorithm in locking its targeted files and once the encryption is done, it opens a program window that contains the ransom note that states:
“Good day!!!
All files on your computer are encrypted.
Decoding files is only possible with our help !!!
You need to pay within 48 hours to decrypt your
files in accordance with the tariff of your country.
Tariffs are indicated in the window from the left !!!
And contact us after paying for your individual decryption key by
contact below:
If this does not happen then after 72 hours all your files will be lost.
In addition, we use your computer in their illegal actions.
And how much your computer is bought by you and in accordance with your legislation country is your property.
And you will be held criminally responsible for our actions))) Hurry to pay!!! Support:
[email protected] :’)”
In addition, Virus Hermes ransomware might also use the Eleven method to bypass the User Account Control or UAC service of the infected computer just like its predecessor to run the Windows Command Prompt and execute a series of malicious commands such as:
- process call create “cmd.exe /c
- vssadmin.exe delete shadows /all /quiet
- bcdedit.exe /set {default} recovery enabled no
- bcdedit.exe /set {default} bootstatuspolicy ignoreallfailures
After the crypto-malware removes all the backup copies on your PC, it will start to modify the Windows Registry by adding value strings that contain data which allows the malware to automatically run and open its ransom note when you boot your computer. It also changes the desktop wallpaper of the compromised machine.
How does Virus Hermes spread over the web?
Virus Hermes ransomware could spread the web using several ways just like other versions of Hermes ransomware. According to researchers, it mostly uses Remote Desktop Protocol configurations to sneakily enter a targeted computer. Aside from RDP, it could also use one of the most common ways to spread ransomware infections which is via malicious spam email campaigns. Crooks usually attach a corrupted link or an infected file attachment in the email. Either way, both are used to install Virus Hermes ransomware in the system.
Eliminating Virus Hermes ransomware from your computer wouldn’t be easy so you need to use the removal guide provided below as well as the advanced removal steps that follow.
Step_1: First, close the program window of Virus Hermes ransomware but if you can close it, tap the Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys on your keyboard to open the Task Manager.
Step_2: Under the Task Manager, go to the Processes tab and look for the process of Virus Hermes ransomware or any suspicious-looking process that takes up most of your CPU’s resources and is most likely related to Virus Hermes ransomware.
Step_3: After that, close the Task Manager.
Step_4: Tap Win + R, type in appwiz.cpl and click OK or tap Enter to open Programs and Features under Control Panel.
Step_5: Under the list of installed programs, look for Virus Hermes ransomware or anything similar and then uninstall it.
Step_6: Next, close the Control Panel and tap Win + E keys to launch File Explorer.
Step_7: Navigate to the following locations below and look for Virus Hermes ransomware’s malicious components such as HERMES DECRYPT FILES.txt, README.txt, [random].exe, and other suspicious files, then delete all of them.
- %TEMP%
- %WINDIR%\System32\Tasks
- %APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Templates\
- %USERPROFILE%\Downloads
- %USERPROFILE%\Desktop
Step_8: Close the File Explorer.
Before you proceed to the next steps below, make sure that you are tech-savvy enough to the point where you know exactly how to use and navigate your computer’s Registry. Keep in mind that any changes you make will highly impact your computer. To save you trouble and time, you can just use Restoro, this system tool is proven to be safe and excellent enough that hackers won’t be able to hack into it. But if you can manage Windows Registry well, then, by all means, go on to the next steps.
Step_9: Tap Win + R to open Run and then type in Regedit in the field and tap enter to pull up Windows Registry.
Step_10: Navigate to the following path:
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\
- HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Control Panel\Desktop\
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
Step_11: Delete the registry keys and sub-keys created by Virus Hermes ransomware.
Step_12: Close the Registry Editor and empty the Recycle Bin.
Try to recover your encrypted files using the Shadow Volume copies
Restoring your encrypted files using Windows Previous Versions feature will only be effective if Virus Hermes ransomware hasn’t deleted the shadow copies of your files. But still, this is one of the best and free methods there is, so it’s definitely worth a shot.
To restore the encrypted file, right-click on it and select Properties, a new window will pop up, then proceed to Previous Versions. It will load the file’s previous version before it was modified. After it loads, select any of the previous versions displayed on the list like the one in the illustration below. And then click the Restore button.
Congratulations, you have just removed Virus Hermes Ransomware in Windows 10 all by yourself. If you would like to read more helpful articles and tips about various software and hardware visit fixmypcfree.com daily.
Now that’s how you remove Virus Hermes Ransomware in Windows 10 on a computer. On the other hand, if your computer is going through some system-related issues that have to get fixed, there is a one-click solution known as Restoro you could check out to resolve them.
This program is a useful tool that could repair corrupted registries and optimize your PC’s overall performance. Aside from that, it also cleans out your computer for any junk or corrupted files that help you eliminate any unwanted files from your system. This is basically a solution that’s within your grasp with just a click. It’s easy to use as it is user-friendly. For a complete set of instructions in downloading and using it, refer to the steps below
Perform a full system scan using Restoro. To do so, follow the instructions below.
