A vbs-script using ransomware virus, named Cyber SpLiTTer has been created to ask 1 BTC from users that have been infected by it. What is interesting about this virus is that it was created by the Cerber model since just like the first Cerber variant, it features a .vbs file with the very same voice massage saying to the user that his files have been enciphered. Since experts are concerned that this virus may spread, it is strongly advisable to back up your data. In case your computer has been infected by Cyber SpLiTTer ransomware, it is strongly suggested to use the instructions below to remove the virus from your computer and try the alternative methods to reverse your files while a decryptor is released for free. Paying the ransom of 1 BTC is strongly not recommended.
Threat Summary
| Name | CyBer SpLiTTer |
| Type | Ransomware |
| Short Description | The ransomware encrypts files with encryption cipher and asks a ransom for decryption. |
| Symptoms | Files are encrypted and become inaccessible. A ransom note with instructions for paying the ransom shows as a .vbs voice message file and a wallpaper with a BitCoin address for anonymous payments. |
| Distribution Method | Spam Emails, Email Attachments, File Sharing Networks. |
| Detection Tool | See If Your System Has Been Affected by CyBer SpLiTTer Download Malware Removal Tool |
| User Experience | Join our forum to Discuss CyBer SpLiTTer Ransomware. |
| 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. |
CyBer SpLiTTer Ransomware – Infection Technique
This particular type of virus may arrive in several different forms on an infected computer.
One method of infection caused by CyBer SpLiTTer is to arrive on your computer via malicious e-mail attachment or a URL. Such e-mails are cleverly disguised to fool users that it is something important like an invoice or another type of attachment that they need to see. When they open the file or URL, however, users see nothing, but their files becoming unopenable.
The CyBer SpLiTTer virus, however, might also come in an even stealthier way – via fake updates. This is very common for when organizations are targeted. The virus may cause an infection via other malware that may have previously already infected the computer with a Trojan.Dropper, for example. Then it may reset the computer, claiming there is a crucial update, after which encrypt the files on system boot, before any antivirus software even starts.
Whatever the case may be, users are always advised to not fast-click their way through an unfamiliar file and make sure to check it first, no matter how it was situated on their computers.
CyBer SpLiTTer Ransomware – More Details
As soon as it infects your computer, the CyBer SpLiTTer virus may create multiple files in several key locations of Windows:
type=”square”
The files may contain one primary executable which is the encryption module and may have a completely random name or a name imitating a legitimate Windows process (for example, svchost.exe). There may also be other files along with it, like support module which delete the shadow copies and any backups on the victim’s computer via the vssadmin command.
To encrypt the files on a compromised computer, CyBer SpLiTTer may use a scanning technique which identifies how many files are of the most widely used types of formats, for example:
→ “PNG .PSD .PSPIMAGE .TGA .THM .TIF .TIFF .YUV .AI .EPS .PS .SVG .INDD .PCT .PDF .XLR .XLS .XLSX .ACCDB .DB .DBF .MDB .PDB .SQL .APK .APP .BAT .CGI .COM .EXE .GADGET .JAR .PIF .WSF .DEM .GAM .NES .ROM .SAV CAD Files .DWG .DXF GIS Files .GPX .KML .KMZ .ASP .ASPX .CER .CFM .CSR .CSS .HTM .HTML .JS .JSP .PHP .RSS .XHTML. DOC .DOCX .LOG .MSG .ODT .PAGES .RTF .TEX .TXT .WPD .WPS .CSV .DAT .GED .KEY .KEYCHAIN .PPS .PPT .PPTX ..INI .PRF Encoded Files .HQX .MIM .UUE .7Z .CBR .DEB .GZ .PKG .RAR .RPM .SITX .TAR.GZ .ZIP .ZIPX .BIN .CUE .DMG .ISO .MDF .TOAST .VCD SDF .TAR .TAX2014 .TAX2015 .VCF .XML Audio Files .AIF .IFF .M3U .M4A .MID .MP3 .MPA .WAV .WMA Video Files .3G2 .3GP .ASF .AVI .FLV .M4V .MOV .MP4 .MPG .RM .SRT .SWF .VOB .WMV 3D .3DM .3DS .MAX .OBJ R.BMP .DDS .GIF .JPG ..CRX .PLUGIN .FNT .FON .OTF .TTF .CAB .CPL .CUR .DESKTHEMEPACK .DLL .DMP .DRV .ICNS .ICO .LNK .SYS .CFG”Source:fileinfo.com
As soon as it detects the files it has been preconfigured to, the CyBer SpLiTTer virus gets down to business. The ransomware may scramble the source code of the files, by replacing blocks of code in it with an AES encrypted code. It may not encrypt the whole file, but just enough to render it unusable. The files encrypted by CyBer SpliTTer can no longer be opened by any software what so ever.
What is interesting about this particular virus is that it uses a voice message, just like Cerber ransomware does to notify it’s victims of what has happened. The voice message may inform the following notification:
“Attention! Your documents, photos, databases and other important files have been encrypted!”
In addition to this voice, message, the CyBer SpLiTTer ransomware also contains a ransom note, which informs the victim with the following message:
Your files have been encrypted!
Send 1 BTC the amount of the account is decrypted your files!
“ CyBer SpLiTTer Vbs”
Send to Account Bitcoin:1BujMC98bu4cYcSz6jzZs5DiGc377p1xED
CyBer SpLiTTer Ransomware – Conclusion
As a bottom line, this may or may not be a modified variant of Cerber ransomware since the virus has been released to be RaaS (ransomware-as-a-service) to many third-party affiliates of the Cerber underground network. This has made the virus to be very widespread, and some coders may have seen an opportunity in this, creating their own version of Cerber. Whether this is the situation or not, this virus should immediately be deleted from your computer, and you should seek alternative methods to restore your files, like the ones in the step 2 under the Automatic removal instructions below.
Ventsislav Krastev
Ventsislav has been covering the latest malware, software and newest tech developments at SensorsTechForum for 3 years now. He started out as a network administrator. Having graduated Marketing as well, Ventsislav also has passion for discovery of new shifts and innovations in cybersecurity that become game changers. After studying Value Chain Management and then Network Administration, he found his passion within cybersecrurity and is a strong believer in basic education of every user towards online safety.
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- Guide 1: How to Remove CyBer SpLiTTer from Windows.
- Guide 2: Get rid of CyBer SpLiTTer from Mac OS X.
How to Remove CyBer SpLiTTer from Windows.
Step 1: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove CyBer SpLiTTer
Step 2: Uninstall CyBer SpLiTTer and related software 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 uninstall most programs.Step 3: Clean any registries, created by CyBer SpLiTTer 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 CyBer SpLiTTer 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: Scan for CyBer SpLiTTer with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
Step 5 (Optional): Try to Restore Files Encrypted by CyBer SpLiTTer.
Ransomware infections and CyBer SpLiTTer 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.
If the above link does not work for you and your region, try the other two links below, that lead to the same product:
Get rid of CyBer SpLiTTer from Mac OS X.
Step 1: Uninstall CyBer SpLiTTer and remove related files and objects
1. Hit the ⇧+⌘+U keys to open Utilities. Another way is to click on “Go” and then click “Utilities”, like the image below shows:
- Go to Finder.
- In the search bar type the name of the app that you want to remove.
- Above the search bar change the two drop down menus to “System Files” and “Are Included” so that you can see all of the files associated with the application you want to remove. Bear in mind that some of the files may not be related to the app so be very careful which files you delete.
- If all of the files are related, hold the ⌘+A buttons to select them and then drive them to “Trash”.
In case you cannot remove CyBer SpLiTTer via Step 1 above:
In case you cannot find the virus files and objects in your Applications or other places we have shown above, you can manually look for them in the Libraries of your Mac. But before doing this, please read the disclaimer below:
You can repeat the same procedure with the following other Library directories:
→ ~/Library/LaunchAgents
/Library/LaunchDaemons
Tip: ~ is there on purpose, because it leads to more LaunchAgents.
Step 2: Scan for and remove CyBer SpLiTTer files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as CyBer SpLiTTer, the recommended way of eliminating the threat is by using an anti-malware program. Combo Cleaner offers advanced security features along with other modules that will improve your Mac’s security and protect it in the future.
Step 3 (Optional): Try to Restore Files Encrypted by CyBer SpLiTTer on your Mac.
Ransomware for Mac CyBer SpLiTTer aims to encode all your files using an encryption algorithm which may be very difficult to decode, unless you pay money. This is why we have suggested a data recovery method that may help you go around direct decryption and try to restore your files, but only in some cases. Bear in mind that this method may not be 100% effective but may also help you a little or a lot in different situations.
