This article provides information about a ransomware dubbed Embrace that uses an extension of the same name .embrace to mark encrypted files. At the end of it, you will find a step-by-step guide that helps for the removal of this threat as well as alternative ways to recover corrupted files.
Embrace is a newly detected data locker ransomware that targets specific files to encrypt them. With this action, it restricts the access to the information they store. The ransomware is designed to append the extension .embrace to all files it corrupts. As a typical crypto virus, Embrace blackmails victims into paying a ransom for their encrypted files. According to the ransom message associated with the threat, victims should contact hackers at embrace@airmail.cc to receive further details on the ransom payment.
Threat Summary
| Name | Embrace |
| Type | Ransomware, Cryptovirus |
| Short Description | Embrace ransomware encrypts important files stored on the infected host and then demands a ransom for a decryption key. |
| Symptoms | The ransomware encrypts your files with strong encryption algorithm. All locked files have the extension .embrace appended at the end of their names. A ransom payment is demanded for their decryption. |
| Distribution Method | Spam Emails, Email Attachments |
| Detection Tool |
See If Your System Has Been Affected by malware
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Malware Removal Tool
|
User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss Embrace. |
| 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. |
Embrace Ransomware – Update December 2018
Embrace Ransomware – Distribution
One of the executable files detected to trigger an infection with Embrace ransomware is identified as malicious by 31 antivirus engines of total 65 all listed on VirusTotal website. The distribution of this executable file is likely to happen with the help of several common methods preferred by hackers. The main one is believed to be email spam campaigns. As it allows them to craft email messages in a way that they seem legit and important they often choose it for the spread of their malicious code. Such emails may impersonate representatives of well-known companies or even governmental institutions. The text messages they provide usually attempt to convince you to download and open a file attached to the email or visit a webpage presented as a link in the text.
Malicious attachments that contain the infection code of Embrace ransomware may be presented as documents, invoices, tax payments, delivery receipts, reports and other. In case that you download and open such a corrupted file it lets the ransomware to corrupt your system and data.
For the sake of your security, you could use a free online file extractor before you open new file on your PC. Tools of this kind scan the files you upload for specific malicious traits. So after the scan, you could see whether the uploaded file contains malicious components or not. This information could help you to avoid infections with severe malware like Embrace ransomware.
Embrace Ransomware – Overview
Embrace ransomware is a newly discovered version of Everbe threat that was reported by our team earlier this week.
An infection with Embrace ransomware leads to heavily modified system settings and important data corruption. The attack begins after a payload is triggered on the system. This payload may be designed to create additional malicious files that support the infection process. More malware files may be dropped on the system after a connection between the computer and ransomware command and control server is established.
Malicious files usually are set to modify some essential system settings in order to plague it and ensure the persistent presence of the ransomware. Mostly data locker ransomware like Embrace access the Registry Editor to add some malicious values there. The Registry Editor is a database that stores all low-level settings for the operating system and the installed applications. The functionalities of some of the keys there could be used for the automatic execution of all ransomware files each time the Windows system is started.
At the end of the attack Embrace virus displays a ransom note on the PC screen. It is contained in a file named !=How_recovery_files=!.txt and the message it contains reads:
Hi !
If you want restore your files write on email – embrace@airmail.cc
In the subject write – id-*****{CODE}Do not try to recover data, it’s wasting your time.
Every 7 days the price doubles.
As it appears hackers don’t state the amount of the ransom in the message but instead demand victims to contact them at embrace@airmail.cc email address. It is highly recommendable to avoid any negotiations with them as this can only lead to other security issues related to your data and system. Beware that ransom payment doesn’t guarantee the efficient decryption of .embrace files.
Embrace Ransomware – Encryption Process
The primary goal of Embrace ransomware is to utilize strongs cipher algorithm that encodes predefined types of files and restricts the access to them. It is likely that the following files are encrypted by this ransomware:
- Audio files
- Video files
- Document files
- Image files
- Backup files
- Banking credentials, etc
After encryption, all corrupted files are renamed with the extension .embrace. It is appended at the end of their original names. There is one more extension that could be placed in front of the last one and it is the contact email left on the ransom note. So encrypted files may look like this one:
![locked .[embrace@airmail.cc].embrace file Embrace ransomware sensorstechforum removal guide](https://sensorstechforum.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/locked-.embrace@airmail.cc.embrace-file-Embrace-ransomware-sensorstechforum-removal-guide.png)
The information that all these files store is inaccessible until a working files restore solution is applied to them.
Embrace cryptovirus could eliminate one of the possible files restore options by erasing all Shadow Volume Copies from your Windows system. This is hppens after the ransomware executes the following command:
→vssadmin.exe delete shadows /all /Quiet
If a computer device is infected with this ransomware and your files are locked, read on through to find out how you could potentially restore some files back to their normal state.
Remove Embrace Ransomware and Restore .embrace Files
The removal of Embrace ransomware demands a bit of technical experience and ability to recognize characteristics of malware files. And there is no doubt that you should remove this nasty threat from the infected PC as quickly as possible. Below you could find how to do it step by step. Beware that Embrace is a severe threat that is designed to plague your whole system. Security researchers recommend the help of advanced anti-malware tool for maximum efficiency. Such tool further provides future protection against devastating threats like Embrace ransomware as well as all other kinds of malware.
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.
Gergana Ivanova
Highly motivated writer with 5+ years of experience writing for ransomware, malware, adware, PUPs, and other cybersecurity-related issues. As a writer, I strive to create content that is based on thorough technical research. I find joy in the process of creating articles that are easy to understand, informative, and useful. Follow me on Twitter (@IRGergana) for the latest in the field of computer, mobile, and online security.
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Attention! SensorsTechForum strongly recommends that all malware victims should look for assistance only by reputable sources. Many guides out there claim to offer free recovery and decryption for files encrypted by ransomware viruses. Be advised that some of them may only be after your money.
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.
How to recognize trustworthy sources:
- Always check "About Us" web page.
- Profile of the content creator.
- Make sure that real people are behind the site and not fake names and profiles.
- Verify Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter personal profiles.
About the Embrace Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this Embrace 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 Embrace 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.
References
1. How to Recognize Spam Emails with Ransomware
2. How Does Ransomware Encryption Work?
3. How to Decrypt Ransomware Files
4. Ransomware Getting Greedier and Bigger, Attacks Increase by 40%
5. 1 in 5 Americans Victim of Ransomware
How to Remove Embrace from Windows.
Step 1: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove Embrace
1. Hold Windows Key + R.
2. The "Run" Window will appear. In it, type "msconfig" and click OK.
3. Go to the "Boot" tab. There select "Safe Boot" and then click "Apply" and "OK".
4. When prompted, click on "Restart" to go into Safe Mode.
5. You can recognise Safe Mode by the words written on the corners of your screen.
Step 2: Uninstall Embrace 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:
1. Hold the Windows Logo Button and "R" on your keyboard. A Pop-up window will appear.
2. In the field type in "appwiz.cpl" and press ENTER.
3. This will open a window with all the programs installed on the PC. Select the program that you want to remove, and press "Uninstall"
Follow the instructions above and you will successfully uninstall most programs.
Step 3: Clean any registries, created by Embrace 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 Embrace there. This can happen by following the steps underneath:
1. Open the Run Window again, type "regedit" and click OK.
2. When you open it, you can freely navigate to the Run and RunOnce keys, whose locations are shown above.
3. You can remove the value of the virus by right-clicking on it and removing it.
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 Embrace with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
1. Click on the "Download" button to proceed to SpyHunter's download page.
2. After you have installed SpyHunter, wait for it to update automatically.
3. After the update process has finished, click on the 'Malware/PC Scan' tab. A new window will appear. Click on 'Start Scan'.
4. 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.
Video Guide for Automatic and Fast Removal
Step 5 (Optional): Try to Restore Files Encrypted by Embrace.
Ransomware infections and Embrace 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.
1. Download the recommended Data Recovery software by clicking on the link underneath:
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.
Step 6: How to Restore Files Encrypted by Ransomware (Video Guide)
Get rid of Embrace from Mac OS X.
Step 1: Uninstall Embrace 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:
2. Find Activity Monitor and double-click it:
3. In the Activity Monitor look for any suspicious processes, belonging or related to Embrace:
4. Click on the "Go" button again, but this time select Applications. Another way is with the ⇧+⌘+A buttons.
5. In the Applications menu, look for any suspicious app or an app with a name, similar or identical to Embrace. If you find it, right-click on the app and select “Move to Trash
”.
6. Select Accounts, after which click on the Login Items preference.
Your Mac will then show you a list of items that start automatically when you log in. Look for any suspicious apps identical or similar to Embrace. Check the app you want to stop from running automatically and then select on the Minus (“-“) icon to hide it.
7. Remove any left-over files that might be related to this threat manually by following the sub-steps below:
- 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 Embrace 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:
1: Click on "Go" and Then "Go to Folder" as shown underneath:
2: Type in "/Library/LauchAgents/" and click Ok:
3: Delete all of the virus files that have similar or the same name as Embrace. If you believe there is no such file, do not delete anything.
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 3 (Optional): Try to Restore Files Encrypted by Embrace.
Ransomware infections and Embrace 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.
1. Download the recommended Data Recovery software by clicking on the link underneath:
Simply click on the link and on the website menus on top, choose Data Recovery - Data Recovery Wizard for Windows or Mac (depending on your OS), and then download and run the tool.
Embrace FAQ
What is Embrace ransomware and how does it work?
Embrace 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 algorithm how 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.
How does Embrace ransomware infect my computer?
Via several ways.Embrace Ransomware infects computers by being sent via phishing e-mails, 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.
After you download and execute this attachment, a drive-by download occurs and your computer is infected with the ransomware virus.
Another way, you may become a victim of Embrace 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 .Embrace files?
You can't. At this point the .Embrace files are encrypted. You can only open them once they are decrypted.
Decryptor did not decrypt my data. What now?
Do not panic and backup the files. If a decryptor did not decrypt your .Embrace files successfully, then do not despair, because this virus is still new.
One way to restore files, encrypted by Embrace ransomware is to use a decryptor for it. But since it's a new virus, advised that the decryption keys for it may not be out yet and available to the public. We will update this article and keep you posted as soon as this decryptor is released.
How Do I restore ".Embrace" files (Other Methods)?
Yes, sometimes files can be restored. We have suggested several file recovery methods that could work if you want to restore .Embrace files.
These methods are in no way 100% guarantee that you will be able to get your files back. But if you have a backup, your chances of success are much greater.
How do I get rid of Embrace ransomware virus?
The safest way and the most efficient one for the removal of this ransomware infection is the use a professional anti malware software. It will scan for and locate Embrace ransomware and then remove it without causing any additional harm to your important .Embrace files.
Also, keep in mind that viruses like Embrace ransomware also install Trojans and keyloggers that can steal your passwords and accounts. Scanning your computer with an anti-malware software will make sure that all of these virus components are removed and your computer is protected in the future.
What to Do If nothing works?
There is still a lot you can do. If none of the above methods seem to work for you, then try these methods:
- Try to find a safe computer from where you can can login on your own line accounts like One Drive, iDrive, Google Drive and so on.
- Try to contact your friends, relatives and other people so that they can check if they have some of your important photos or documents just in case you sent them.
- Also, check if some of the files that were encrypted it can be re-downloaded from the web.
- Another clever way to get back some of your files is to find another old computer, a flash drive or even a CD or a DVD where you may have saved your older documents. You might be surprised what will turn up.
- You can also go to your email account to check if you can send any attachments to other people. Usually what is sent the email is saved on your account and you can re-download it. But most importantly, make sure that this is done from a safe computer and make sure to remove the virus first.
More tips you can find on our forums, where you can also asks any questions about your ransomware problem.
How to 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.