A ransomware crypto-virus that calls itself Black Feather was recently found by the malware researcher Michael Gillespie. The virus is based on the popular HiddenTear open-source project and uses the AES encryption algorithm to lock files on a compromised computer. Files get locked with a new extension, namely .blackfeather. To see how to remove this ransomware and a possible solution to decrypt your files, carefully read this article.
Threat Summary
| Name | Black Feather |
| Type | Ransomware, Crypto-Virus |
| Short Description | The ransomware will encrypt your files and demand payment of 0.3 Bitcoins, which is nearly 200 US dollars. |
| Symptoms | The ransomware will encrypt files with different extensions while appending the .blackfeather extension to them. A ransom note with instructions will be shown adterward. |
| Distribution Method | Spam Emails, Email Attachments |
| Detection Tool |
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| User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss Black Feather. |
| 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. |
Black Feather Virus – Infection Tactics
The new variant of the Black Feather ransomware is probably spread in more than one way. Spam emails are the most common way to be used in the delivery of this virus. The spam email has a very brief description that tries to sound urgent. At the end of the message, it prompts people to read the full message from an attached file or open that attachment for whatever reason. For this ransomware, its malicious payload is inside an Adobe PDF file that is attached to the e-mail. Opening it infects your computer system and later encrypts your data.
That file is coded in a clever way to hide its true file type, by displaying and error message:
→There was an error opening this document. The file is damaged and could not be repaired.
Social media sites or file-sharing networks could be used to spread Black Feather, as well. A good tip to avoid infection is to avoid suspicious e-mails, files or links. Always check a file you have downloaded for its signatures and size, plus perform a scan of it with security software. You should read other ransomware prevention tips from our forum.
Black Feather Virus – Closer Inspection
The Black Feather crypto-virus is based on the open-source, HiddenTear project. This ransomware was first discovered by the malware researcher Michael Gillespie.
After the Black Feather ransomware has released its payload file, it possibly creates entries in the Windows Registry, for persistence. Such entries provide an automatic start of the ransomware files with every launch of the Windows operating system. Then it goes to encrypt your files. When all of your data is encrypted, the virus creates the file BLACK_FEATHER.txt. That is the ransom note containing the payment instructions.
The BLACK_FEATHER.txt ransom note file reads the following:
This is a backup of the deposit address.
Send 0.3 BTC to decrypt your files
Validate payment in the program.
1C25YQEAMFJAj2TaUkxGhgvwicKzWhXDQy
Those instructions are left in a file as a backup, but the true instructions show up as a text after the encryption ends. That text is the following:
Welcome to Black Feather.
Thank you for downloading our software.
All of your files have been encrypted with a secure 256-bit HASH.
This means you can no longer access your files without the decryption key.You can decrypt your files by paying us 0.3 BTC, this will remove the encryption
and give you full access to your files again.
The price that Black Feather ransomware sets is 0,3 Bitcoins which equals to around 185 US dollars from the point of writing this article. You should NOT even think of paying these cybercriminals. They haven’t left any contact, but just an address to the payment system. There is no guarantee that you will receive anything by paying to decrypt your files.
Besides, Michael Gillespie has written that the private key is not sent to any Command and Control servers, so the criminals do not have a way to provide you with it. In other words – you cannot decrypt your data, even if you pay. There might be a decryption method that could work, although your chances might seem slim. Continue to read to see if you can somehow decrypt your files.
Currently, there is no information about what file extension get encrypted by this ransomware, but it is probably the most important files. Those can include pictures, documents, databases, videos, music, etc.
The encrypted files will have a new extension appended to each one of them, which is .blackfeather. The ransomware utilizes the strong AES encryption algorithm. Fear not, as there is a possible solution for decryption available below.
The Black Feather ransomware is very likely to delete the Shadow Volume Copies from the Windows operating system. Continue reading to find out how you can try to decrypt all of your files and bring them back to normal.
Remove Black Feather Virus and Restore .blackfeather Files
If your computer got infected with the Black Feather ransomware virus, you should have some experience in removing malware. You should get rid of this ransomware as fast as possible before it can have the chance of spreading further and infect more PCs. You should remove the ransomware and follow the step-by-step instructions guide given below. To see ways that you can try to recover your data, see the step titled 2. Restore files encrypted by Black Feather.
- Step 1
- Step 2
- Step 3
- Step 4
- Step 5
Step 1: Scan for Black Feather with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
Ransomware Automatic Removal - Video Guide
Step 2: Uninstall Black Feather and related malware from Windows
Here is a method in few easy steps that should be able to uninstall most programs. No matter if you are using Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista or XP, those steps will get the job done. Dragging the program or its folder to the recycle bin can be a very bad decision. If you do that, bits and pieces of the program are left behind, and that can lead to unstable work of your PC, errors with the file type associations and other unpleasant activities. The proper way to get a program off your computer is to Uninstall it. To do that:
Follow the instructions above and you will successfully delete most unwanted and malicious programs.
Step 3: Clean any registries, created by Black Feather on your computer.
The usually targeted registries of Windows machines are the following:
- 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
You can access them by opening the Windows registry editor and deleting any values, created by Black Feather there. This can happen by following the steps underneath:
Tip: To find a virus-created value, you can right-click on it and click "Modify" to see which file it is set to run. If this is the virus file location, remove the value.
Before starting "Step 4", 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.
Step 4: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove Black Feather
Step 5: Try to Restore Files Encrypted by Black Feather.
Method 1: Use STOP Decrypter by Emsisoft.
Not all variants of this ransomware can be decrypted for free, but we have added the decryptor used by researchers that is often updated with the variants which become eventually decrypted. You can try and decrypt your files using the instructions below, but if they do not work, then unfortunately your variant of the ransomware virus is not decryptable.
Follow the instructions below to use the Emsisoft decrypter and decrypt your files for free. You can download the Emsisoft decryption tool linked here and then follow the steps provided below:
1 Right-click on the decrypter and click on Run as Administrator as shown below:
2. Agree with the license terms:
3. Click on "Add Folder" and then add the folders where you want files decrypted as shown underneath:
4. Click on "Decrypt" and wait for your files to be decoded.
Note: Credit for the decryptor goes to Emsisoft researchers who have made the breakthrough with this virus.
Method 2: Use data recovery software
Ransomware infections and Black Feather aim to encrypt your files using an encryption algorithm which may be very difficult to decrypt. This is why we have suggested a data recovery method that may help you go around direct decryption and try to restore your files. Bear in mind that this method may not be 100% effective but may also help you a little or a lot in different situations.
Simply click on the link and on the website menus on the top, choose Data Recovery - Data Recovery Wizard for Windows or Mac (depending on your OS), and then download and run the tool.
Black Feather-FAQ
What is Black Feather Ransomware?
Black Feather is a ransomware infection - the malicious software that enters your computer silently and blocks either access to the computer itself or encrypt your files.
Many ransomware viruses use sophisticated encryption algorithms to make your files inaccessible. The goal of ransomware infections is to demand that you pay a ransom payment to get access to your files back.
What Does Black Feather Ransomware Do?
Ransomware in general is a malicious software that is designed to block access to your computer or files until a ransom is paid.
Ransomware viruses can also damage your system, corrupt data and delete files, resulting in the permanent loss of important files.
How Does Black Feather Infect?
Via several ways.Black Feather Ransomware infects computers by being sent via phishing emails, containing virus attachment. This attachment is usually masked as an important document, like an invoice, bank document or even a plane ticket and it looks very convincing to users.
Another way you may become a victim of Black Feather is if you download a fake installer, crack or patch from a low reputation website or if you click on a virus link. Many users report getting a ransomware infection by downloading torrents.
How to Open .Black Feather files?
You can't without a decryptor. At this point, the .Black Feather files are encrypted. You can only open them once they are decrypted using a specific decryption key for the particular algorithm.
What to Do If a Decryptor Does Not Work?
Do not panic, and backup the files. If a decryptor did not decrypt your .Black Feather files successfully, then do not despair, because this virus is still new.
Can I Restore ".Black Feather" Files?
Yes, sometimes files can be restored. We have suggested several file recovery methods that could work if you want to restore .Black Feather files.
These methods are in no way 100% guaranteed that you will be able to get your files back. But if you have a backup, your chances of success are much greater.
How To Get Rid of Black Feather Virus?
The safest way and the most efficient one for the removal of this ransomware infection is the use a professional anti-malware program.
It will scan for and locate Black Feather ransomware and then remove it without causing any additional harm to your important .Black Feather files.
Can I Report Ransomware to Authorities?
In case your computer got infected with a ransomware infection, you can report it to the local Police departments. It can help authorities worldwide track and determine the perpetrators behind the virus that has infected your computer.
Below, we have prepared a list with government websites, where you can file a report in case you are a victim of a cybercrime:
Cyber-security authorities, responsible for handling ransomware attack reports in different regions all over the world:
Germany - Offizielles Portal der deutschen Polizei
United States - IC3 Internet Crime Complaint Centre
United Kingdom - Action Fraud Police
France - Ministère de l'Intérieur
Italy - Polizia Di Stato
Spain - Policía Nacional
Netherlands - Politie
Poland - Policja
Portugal - Polícia Judiciária
Greece - Cyber Crime Unit (Hellenic Police)
India - Mumbai Police - CyberCrime Investigation Cell
Australia - Australian High Tech Crime Center
Reports may be responded to in different timeframes, depending on your local authorities.
Can You Stop Ransomware from Encrypting Your Files?
Yes, you can prevent ransomware. The best way to do this is to ensure your computer system is updated with the latest security patches, use a reputable anti-malware program and firewall, backup your important files frequently, and avoid clicking on malicious links or downloading unknown files.
Can Black Feather Ransomware Steal Your Data?
Yes, in most cases ransomware will steal your information. It is a form of malware that steals data from a user's computer, encrypts it, and then demands a ransom in order to decrypt it.
In many cases, the malware authors or attackers will threaten to delete the data or publish it online unless the ransom is paid.
Can Ransomware Infect WiFi?
Yes, ransomware can infect WiFi networks, as malicious actors can use it to gain control of the network, steal confidential data, and lock out users. If a ransomware attack is successful, it could lead to a loss of service and/or data, and in some cases, financial losses.
Should I Pay Ransomware?
No, you should not pay ransomware extortionists. Paying them only encourages criminals and does not guarantee that the files or data will be restored. The better approach is to have a secure backup of important data and be vigilant about security in the first place.
What Happens If I Don't Pay Ransom?
If you don't pay the ransom, the hackers may still have access to your computer, data, or files and may continue to threaten to expose or delete them, or even use them to commit cybercrimes. In some cases, they may even continue to demand additional ransom payments.
Can a Ransomware Attack Be Detected?
Yes, ransomware can be detected. Anti-malware software and other advanced security tools can detect ransomware and alert the user when it is present on a machine.
It is important to stay up-to-date on the latest security measures and to keep security software updated to ensure ransomware can be detected and prevented.
Do Ransomware Criminals Get Caught?
Yes, ransomware criminals do get caught. Law enforcement agencies, such as the FBI, Interpol and others have been successful in tracking down and prosecuting ransomware criminals in the US and other countries. As ransomware threats continue to increase, so does the enforcement activity.
About the Black Feather Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this Black Feather how-to removal guide included, is the outcome of extensive research, hard work and our team’s devotion to help you remove the specific malware and restore your encrypted files.
How did we conduct the research on this ransomware?
Our research is based on an independent investigation. We are in contact with independent security researchers, and as such, we receive daily updates on the latest malware and ransomware definitions.
Furthermore, the research behind the Black Feather ransomware threat is backed with VirusTotal and the NoMoreRansom project.
To better understand the ransomware threat, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.
As a site that has been dedicated to providing free removal instructions for ransomware and malware since 2014, SensorsTechForum’s recommendation is to only pay attention to trustworthy sources.
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- Always check "About Us" web page.
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