Remove BARRACUDA Ransomware – Restore Files

Gergana Ivanova

Gergana has completed a bachelor degree in Marketing from the University of National and World Economy. She has been with the STF team for three years, researching malware and reporting on the latest infections. She believes that in times of constantly evolving dependency of network connected technologies, people should spread the word not the war.

More Posts

Follow Me:

This is an article that provides specific details on BARRACUDA ransomware infection as well as a step-by-step removal followed by alternative data recovery approaches.

BARRACUDA is a ransomware that belongs to Scarab threat family. It compromises computer systems in order to complete its primary purpose which is data encryption. In case of infection with this ransomware valuable data stored on your device remains inaccessible due to heavy modifications of its original code. Data could be recognized by the distinctive extension which it is renamed with – .BARRACUDA. As it gets clear from a ransom message BARRACUDA RECOVERY INFORMATION.TXT left by hackers, they demand a ransom payment for its decryption.

Threat Summary

Name	BARRACUDA
Type	Ransomware, Cryptovirus
Short Description	A data locker ransomware that plagues computer systems in order to encode target files and then demands a ransom payment.
Symptoms	Valuable files stored on the PC are encrypted and marked with the extension .BARRACUDA. A ransom note file appears on the screen to blacmail victims into paying a ransom for a decryption tool. Main system settings are compromised.
Distribution Method	Spam Emails, Email Attachments
Detection Tool	See If Your System Has Been Affected by BARRACUDA Download Malware Removal Tool
User Experience	Join Our Forum to Discuss BARRACUDA.
Data Recovery Tool	Windows Data Recovery by Stellar Phoenix Notice! This product scans your drive sectors to recover lost files and it may not recover 100% of the encrypted files, but only few of them, depending on the situation and whether or not you have reformatted your drive.

BARRACUDA Ransomware – Distribution Techniques

BARRACUDA ransomware infection code is most likely distributed as part of spam email campaigns initiated by hackers. In order to scam you to trigger the ransomware on your PC, such emails often impersonate representatives of well-known organizations and institutions. As of the compromised components they contain they are usually file attachments and presented links. The messages of these emails could state that you need to review the content of the attached files respectively the web pages as soon as possible because the information they present is of great importance.

In order to accelerate the success of such campaigns, malicious intenders could also use a botnet that can take control of your PC and then use it to send spam to millions of Internet users.

The distribution of BARRACUDA may be performed also via various freeware available across the Web. Most of them seem helpful but along with their installation setup, you might have unnoticeably enabled the malicious code to plague your system. Such unwanted effects could be prevented with a scan of all newly downloaded files with a security tool. After the scan you could decide whether it is a good idea to open them or not at all. At our forum, you could find more safety tips that will help you to prevent infections with severe ransomware like BARRACUDA.

BARRACUDA Ransomware – Overview

Yet another ransomware was detected to belong to Scarab ransomware family. After several iterations of the same family among which are Scarab-Ukrain, Scarab-Red, and Scarab-Leen, this time hackers named the threat after the ferocious fish BARRACUDA.

This iteration of the threat again aims to encode predefined types of files in order that cyber criminals could blackmail victims into paying a ransom for a decryption tool. Before the encryption stage, however, BARRACUDA ransomware needs to perform several other corruption stages which provide for the smooth encryption process.

After it establishes all necessary malicious files, BARRACUDA is able to initiate various system modifications that support its invisibility on the system and help it to attain persistence. For the second purpose mentioned, the ransomware is likely to access the Registry Editor where various low-level settings for Windows operating system and installed apps are stored. Targeted by ransomware are often the sub-keys Run and RunOnce as they manage the automatic execution of all files essential for the regular system performance. By adding it malicious values under these keys BARRACUDA ransomware becomes able to automatically load its infection files on each system start. As a result, all files created before each OS shut down will get encrypted on its next load.

Once BARRACUDA implements all needed system modifications it triggers the encryption process. More about its specifics you could find in the next paragraph. And following encryption, the crypto virus drops specifically crafted ransom message to inform you about the presence of the infection, its impact over data and instruct you how hackers expect you to act further. This file is named BARRACUDA RECOVERY INFORMATION.TXT and the text in it reads:

=====================================================================================

YOUR FILES ARE ENCRYPTED!

Your personal ID
6A0200000000000040FA06C71D92090E84400CC3BED4A6F7FF3F8607692556C0A4768A4F48B63BD55757D9EA55C8353EDE96
[redacted] 068AF4DA139192F26E181A77AD98E0D74794A902A0019B7B60FB3AEC435CD59A472C67FD64890AC9333DDC32F7516A6AFD1D
[redacted] 3F1E6310904C33630E35569791134A201CD56D08F6C6837228B416A897EAD7460DA12B5C41F0FE0B2A9759801540865D3262
[redacted] 1EE1417D7C0778E0C3E6F06E7F75F1C87D7BAED968D507

Your documents, photos, databases, save games and other important data was encrypted.
Data recovery the necessary decryption tool. To get the decryption tool, should send an email to:

Mail us to; [email protected] & [email protected]

XMPP; [email protected]

Letter must include Your personal ID (see the beginning of this document).

In the proof we have decryption tool, you can send us 1 file for test decryption.
Next, you need to pay for the decryption tool.
In response letter You will receive the address of Bitcoin wallet which you need to perform the transfer of funds.

If you have no bitcoins

* Create Bitcoin purse: https://blockchain.info

* Buy Bitcoin in the convenient way

https://localbitcoins.com/ (Visa/MasterCard)
https://www.buybitcoinworldwide.com/ (Visa/MasterCard)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bitcoin (the instruction for beginners)

– It doesn’t make sense to complain of us and to arrange a hysterics.

– Complaints having blocked e-mail, you deprive a possibility of the others, to decipher the computers.
Other people at whom computers are also ciphered you deprive of the ONLY hope to decipher. FOREVER.

– Just contact with us, we will stipulate conditions of interpretation of files and available payment,
in a friendly situation

– When money transfer is confirmed, You will receive the decrypter file for Your computer.

Attention!
* Do not attempt to remove a program or run the anti-virus tools
* Attempts to decrypt the files will lead to loss of Your data
* Decoders other users is incompatible with Your data, as each user unique encryption key

=====================================================================================

Here is how you could see it on the screen:

For data decryption hackers demand a ransom payment which however does not guarantee the recovery of your files. So be advised to review the removal guide at the end where you will find all details how to fix the problem by yourself.

BARRACUDA Ransomware – Encryption Process

As a part of the Scarab family, BARRACUDA ransomware is likely to use the strong AES cipher algorithm during file encryption process. This infection stage is implemented by an in-built module that at first scans all system drives to locate target types of files and then changes their code. At last the ransomware renames corrupted files with the specific .BARRACUDA extension which means that the information they store is no longer accessible. Among target files are believed to be:

• Audio files
• Video files
• Document files
• Image files
• Backup files
• Banking credentials, etc

Don’t get scammed to pay the ransom as there is no guarantee that this will help you to obtain a working decryption tool. Hackers could either skip messaging you or send you a broken tool. In order to overcome the problem we advise you to try all you can do by yourself. Some tested alternative data recovery solutions listed in the guide that follows may help you to restore a few to all of your .BARRACUDA files. The guide will also help you to remove all malicious files and objects from the infected system. The removal step will help you to clean in full your PC so that you can use it in a secure manner again. Good luck! And don’t forget that we are here to help. Write us in case that you have any further questions.

Remove BARRACUDA Ransomware and Restore .BARRACUDA Files

Below you could find how to remove BARRACUDA step by step. To remove the ransomware manually you need to have a bit of technical experience and ability to recognize traits of malware files. Beware that ransomware is a threat with highly complex code that plagues not only your files but your whole system. So as recommended by security researchers you need to utilize an advanced anti-malware tool for its complete removal. Such a tool will keep your system protected against devastating threats like the discussed ransomware and other kinds of malware that endanger your online security.

After you remove the ransomware make sure to check the “Restore Files” step listed in the guide below. But before you take any further actions, don’t forget to back up all encrypted files to an external drive in order to prevent their irreversible loss.

Note! Your computer system may be affected by BARRACUDA and other threats.
Scan Your PC with SpyHunter
SpyHunter is a powerful malware removal tool designed to help users with in-depth system security analysis, detection and removal of threats such as BARRACUDA.
Keep in mind, that SpyHunter’s scanner is only for malware detection. If SpyHunter detects malware on your PC, you will need to purchase SpyHunter’s malware removal tool to remove the malware threats. Read our SpyHunter 5 review. Click on the corresponding links to check SpyHunter’s EULA, Privacy Policy and Threat Assessment Criteria.

To remove BARRACUDA follow these steps:

1. Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove BARRACUDA files and objects

OFFER

Manual Removal Usually Takes Time and You Risk Damaging Your Files If Not Careful!

We Recommend To Scan Your PC with SpyHunter

Keep in mind, that SpyHunter’s scanner is only for malware detection. If SpyHunter detects malware on your PC, you will need to purchase SpyHunter’s malware removal tool to remove the malware threats. Read our SpyHunter 5 review. Click on the corresponding links to check SpyHunter’s EULA, Privacy Policy and Threat Assessment Criteria

Boot Your PC Into Safe Mode

1. For Windows XP, Vista and 7. 2. For Windows 8, 8.1 and 10. Fix registry entries created by malware and PUPs on your PC.

For Windows XP, Vista and 7 systems:

1. Remove all CDs and DVDs, and then Restart your PC from the “Start” menu.
2. Select one of the two options provided below:

– For PCs with a single operating system: Press “F8” repeatedly after the first boot screen shows up during the restart of your computer. In case the Windows logo appears on the screen, you have to repeat the same task again.

– For PCs with multiple operating systems: Тhe arrow keys will help you select the operating system you prefer to start in Safe Mode. Press “F8” just as described for a single operating system.

3. As the “Advanced Boot Options” screen appears, select the Safe Mode option you want using the arrow keys. As you make your selection, press “Enter“.

4. Log on to your computer using your administrator account

While your computer is in Safe Mode, the words “Safe Mode” will appear in all four corners of your screen.

Step 1: Open up the Start Menu.

Step 2: Click on the Power button (for Windows 8 it is the little arrow next to the “Shut Down” button) and whilst holding down “Shift” click on Restart.

Step 3: After reboot, a blue menu with options will appear. From them you should choose Troubleshoot.

Step 4: You will see the Troubleshoot menu. From this menu choose Advanced Options.

Step 5: After the Advanced Options menu appears, click on Startup Settings.

Step 6: From the Startup Settings menu, click on Restart.

Step 7: A menu will appear upon reboot. You can choose any of the three Safe Mode options by pressing its corresponding number and the machine will restart.

Some malicious scripts may modify the registry entries on your computer to change different settings. This is why cleaning your Windows Registry Database is recommended. Since the tutorial on how to do this is a bit long and tampering with registries could damage your computer if not done properly you should refer and follow our instructive article about fixing registry entries, especially if you are unexperienced in that area.

2. Find files created by BARRACUDA on your PC

Find files created by BARRACUDA

1. For Windows 8, 8.1 and 10. 2. For Windows XP, Vista, and 7.

For Newer Windows Operating Systems

Step 1:

On your keyboard press  + R and write explorer.exe in the Run text box and then click on the Ok button.

Step 2:

Click on your PC from the quick access bar. This is usually an icon with a monitor and its name is either “My Computer”, “My PC” or “This PC” or whatever you have named it.

Step 3:

Navigate to the search box in the top-right of your PC’s screen and type “fileextension:” and after which type the file extension. If you are looking for malicious executables, an example may be “fileextension:exe”. After doing that, leave a space and type the file name you believe the malware has created. Here is how it may appear if your file has been found:

N.B. We recommend to wait for the green loading bar in the navination box to fill up in case the PC is looking for the file and hasn’t found it yet.

For Older Windows Operating Systems

In older Windows OS’s the conventional approach should be the effective one:

Step 1:

Click on the Start Menu icon (usually on your bottom-left) and then choose the Search preference.

Step 2:

After the search window appears, choose More Advanced Options from the search assistant box. Another way is by clicking on All Files and Folders.

Step 3:

After that type the name of the file you are looking for and click on the Search button. This might take some time after which results will appear. If you have found the malicious file, you may copy or open its location by right-clicking on it.

Now you should be able to discover any file on Windows as long as it is on your hard drive and is not concealed via special software.

IMPORTANT!
Before starting the Automatic Removal below, please boot back into Normal mode, in case you are currently in Safe Mode.
This will enable you to install and use SpyHunter 5 successfully.

Use SpyHunter to scan for malware and unwanted programs

3. Scan for malware and unwanted programs with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool

Scan your PC and Remove BARRACUDA with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool and back up your data

1. Install SpyHunter to scan for BARRACUDA and remove them.2. Scan with SpyHunter, Detect and Remove BARRACUDA. Back up your data to secure it from malware in the future.

Step 1: Click on the “Download” button to proceed to SpyHunter’s download page.

Download

Malware Removal Tool

It is recommended to run a scan before purchasing the full version of the software to make sure that the current version of the malware can be detected by SpyHunter. Click on the corresponding links to check SpyHunter’s EULA, Privacy Policy and Threat Assessment Criteria.

Step 2: Guide yourself by the download instructions provided for each browser.

Step 3: After you have installed SpyHunter, wait for it to update automatically.

Step 1: After the update process has finished, click on the ‘Malware/PC Scan’ tab. A new window will appear. Click on ‘Start Scan’.

Step 2: After SpyHunter has finished scanning your PC for any files of the associated threat and found them, you can try to get them removed automatically and permanently by clicking on the ‘Next’ button.

Step 3: If any threats have been removed, it is highly recommended to restart your PC.

Back up your data to secure it against attacks in the future

IMPORTANT! Before reading the Windows backup instructions, we highly recommend to back up your data with a cloud backup solution and insure your files against any type of loss, even from the most severe threats. We recommend you to read more about it and to download SOS Online Backup .

SOS Online Backup

4. Try to Restore files encrypted by BARRACUDA

Try to Restore Files Encrypted by BARRACUDA

Ransomware infections and BARRACUDA aim to encrypt your files using an encryption algorithm which may be very difficult to decrypt. This is why we have suggested several alternative methods that may help you go around direct decryption and try to restore your files. Bear in mind that these methods may not be 100% effective but may also help you a little or a lot in different situations.

Method 1: Scanning your drive’s sectors by using Data Recovery software.
Another method for restoring your files is by trying to bring back your files via data recovery software. Here are some suggestions for preferred data recovery software solutions:

• Stellar Data Recovery Technicians License(Pro version with more features)
• Stellar Windows Data Recovery
• Stellar Photo Recovery

Method 2: Trying Kaspersky and EmsiSoft’s decryptors.
If the first method does not work, we suggest trying to use decryptors for other ransomware viruses, in case your virus is a variant of them. The two primary developers of decryptors are Kaspersky and EmsiSoft, links to which we have provided below:

• Kaspersky Decryptors
• Emsisoft Decryptors

Method 3: Using Shadow Explorer

To restore your data in case you have backup set up, it is important to check for Volume Shadow Copies, if ransomware has not deleted them, in Windows using the below software:

• Shadow Explorer

Method 4: Finding the decryption key while the cryptovirus sends it over a network via a sniffing tool.

Another way to decrypt the files is by using a Network Sniffer to get the encryption key, while files are encrypted on your system. A Network Sniffer is a program and/or device monitoring data traveling over a network, such as its internet traffic and internet packets. If you have a sniffer set before the attack happened you might get information about the decryption key. See how-to instructions below:

Instructions on How to Find Decryption Key for Files Encrypted By Ransowmare

Gergana Ivanova

Gergana has completed a bachelor degree in Marketing from the University of National and World Economy. She has been with the STF team for three years, researching malware and reporting on the latest infections. She believes that in times of constantly evolving dependency of network connected technologies, people should spread the word not the war.

More Posts

Follow Me:

Gergana Ivanova

Gergana has completed a bachelor degree in Marketing from the University of National and World Economy. She has been with the STF team for three years, researching malware and reporting on the latest infections. She believes that in times of constantly evolving dependency of network connected technologies, people should spread the word not the war.

More Posts

Follow Me: