This article has been created in order to explain what is SamSam ransomware’s latest variant, how does it work and how to remove it plus restore files with the .encryptedRSA file suffix added to them.
SamSam ransomware has been updated once again, this time with a new feature that allows it to be triggered manually after infecting a computer. The SamSam ransomware infection is also the type of malware that aims to encrypt the files on servers and computers and then extort the victims of the virus to pay ransom to get teir backups, databases and documents to work again. If your organization or computer have been infected by the .encryptedRSA string of SamSam ransomware virus, we recommend that you read this article to learn more about this iteration of SamSam and what options do you have to restore your files after removing the malware.
Threat Summary
| Name | .encryptedRSA Ransomware |
| Type | Ransomware, Cryptovirus |
| Short Description | New variant of SamSam ransomware. Encrypts files on the victim’s computer after infecting it and holds them hostage until victims pay ransom. |
| Symptoms | Files are encrypted with RSA encryption mode and the extension .encryptedRSA is added to them. |
| Distribution Method | Spam Emails, Email Attachments, Executable files |
| Detection Tool |
See If Your System Has Been Affected by malware
Download
Malware Removal Tool
|
User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss .encryptedRSA 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. |
SamSam Ransomware – Propagation
Typical for SamSam ransomware is to spread on both private computers as well as businesses. This means that the ransomware virus may infect targeted servers and computers of organizations networks and also private systems via a wide variety of infections methods. If the .encryptedRSA variant of SamSam has infected an organization, it is very likely that the crooks may have sent e-mails to the organization which contain the infection file, masked as an e-mail attachment. This takes some reconnaissance to do, since the crooks may send the e-mails from a fake address which may imitate an actual employee of the organization, increasing the credibility of the message and attachment. The attachments may be all sorts of documents, like:
- Reports.
- Statements.
- Invoices.
- Security activity.
- Letter of resignation.
- Other made up documents.
But in reality, the malicious files of this infection slither unnoticed as a result of various different types of obfuscation software, aimed at concealing them from any protection software and exploit kits which take advantage of unpatched bugs in the networks.
In addition to this, this iteration of SamSam ransomware may also hide behind a seemingly legitimate programs, uploaded on shady website, that may pretend to be setups, portable software, or license activators of some sort (cracks, patches, etc.).
But the biggest attacks of SamSam generated a lot of media fuzz as well. The malware itself reportedly made about $850,000 only for one week and after the virus infected and crippled Atlanta City, the ammount of the ransom itself was $51,000 – pretty serious malware.
So far, the attacks on government facilities in the US to which SamSam ransomware propagated and held hostage were reoported to be:
- Department of Transportation (Colorado)
- The Kentucky Hospital.
- Valley State University of Mississipi.
- Adams Memorial Hospital in Indiana.
- Farmington Municipality, New Mexico.
- Allscrips E.H.R. provider.
- Unknown Indistrial company in the United States.
And the ransomware may hit anywhere, anytime.
SamSam .encryptedRSA Variant – Analysis of Activity
According to technical analysis performed by Ravikant Tiwari, the .encryptedRSA SamSam ransomware variant performs series of known, but also new activities in comparison to it’s older variants and features a stronger file encryption.
The two main infection files of the malware are reported by Tiwari to be:
- Loader of the malware.
- The actual ransomware file of .encryptedRSA SamSam.
The primary ransomware file of SamSam has been reported to carry the .stubbin file extension. The file extension is not a recognized file and it’s main purpose is to be dropped undetected as malware. So we have a new and unique method of infection and obfuscation in the same time, because the unfamiliar file suffix also means that it will likely avoid most real-time protection shields of traditional Antivirus protection.
But the most interesting part of this is that the ransomware may infect a computer, but when this happens, SamSam is not activated and waits patiently for the hackers behind the malware to activate it. This is because the .stubbin file is the actual ransomware in an encrypted forma, more specifically encrypted via the AES encryption algorithm, making it somewhat a “beast in a cage”. Once the threat actor decrypts the AES encrypted .stubbin file, the ransomware calls a Load function which loads a .NET file with a received parameter. This basically is the hacker, decrypting the .stubbin file and then executing it on the infected computer via a BATCH type of file (the password). And what is worse is that according to researchers, this password is manually typed by the hackers to trigger the ransomware. Once there, it starts to perform it’s malicious activity among which is to display the ransom note file, which looks like the following:
In the ransom note, the virus wants victims to visit their TOR-based web page, where the victims can contact the cyber-criminals and negotiate their payment.
.encryptedRSA SamSam Virus – Encryption Analysis
Before starting the encryption process, the SamSam .encryptedRSA variant carefully checks the available disk space on the machine it will encrypt. Then, it begins the file encryption process by scanning from the following pre-set list of file extensions to encrypt:
→ “.jin”, “.xls”, “.xlsx”, “.pdf”, “.doc”, “.docx”, “.ppt”, “.pptx”, “.log”, “.txt”, “.gif”, “.png”, “.conf”, “.data”, “.dat”, “.dwg”, “.asp”, “.aspx”, “.html”, “.htm”, “.php”, “.jpg”, “.jsp”, “.js”, “.cnf”, “.cs”, “.vb”, “.vbs”, “.mdb”, “.mdf”, “.bak”, “.bkf”, “.java”, “.jar”, “.war”, “.pem”, “.pfx”, “.rtf”, “.pst”, “.dbx”, “.mp3”, “.mp4”, “.mpg”, “.bin”, “.nvram”, “.vmdk”, “.vmsd”, “.vmx”, “.vmxf”, “.vmsn”, “.vmem”, “.gz”, “.3dm”, “.3ds”, “.zip”, “.rar”, “.3fr”, “.3g2”, “.3gp”, “.3pr”, “.7z”, “.ab4”, “.accdb”, “.accde”, “.accdr”, “.accdt”, “.ach”, “.acr”, “.act”, “.adb”, “.ads”, “.agdl”, “.ai”, “.ait”, “.al”, “.apj”, “.arw”, “.asf”, “.asm”, “.asx”, “.avi”, “.awg”, “.back”, “.backup”, “.backupdb”, “.pbl”, “.bank”, “.bay”, “.bdb”, “.bgt”, “.bik”, “.bkp”, “.blend”, “.bpw”, “.c”, “.cdf”, “.cab”, “.chm”, “.cdr”, “.cdr3”, “.cdr4”, “.cdr5”, “.cdr6”, “.cdrw”, “.cdx”, “.ce1”, “.ce2”, “.cer”, “.cfp”, “.cgm”, “.cib”, “.class”, “.cls”, “.cmt”, “.cpi”, “.cpp”, “.cr2”, “.craw”, “.crt”, “.crw”, “.csh”, “.csl”, “.csv”, “.dac”, “.db”, “.db3”, “.dbf”, “.db-journal”, “.dc2”, “.dcr”, “.dcs”, “.ddd”, “.ddoc”, “.ddrw”, “.dds”, “.der”, “.des”, “.design”, “.dgc”, “.djvu”, “.dng”, “.dot”, “.docm”, “.dotm”, “.dotx”, “.drf”, “.drw”, “.dtd”, “.dxb”, “.dxf”, “.jse”, “.dxg”, “.eml”, “.eps”, “.erbsql”, “.erf”, “.exf”, “.fdb”, “.ffd”, “.fff”, “.fh”, “.fmb”, “.fhd”, “.fla”, “.flac”, “.flv”, “.fpx”, “.fxg”, “.gray”, “.grey”, “.gry”, “.h”, “.hbk”, “.hpp”, “.ibank”, “.ibd”, “.ibz”, “.idx”, “.iif”, “.iiq”, “.tib”, “.incpas”, “.indd”, “.jpe”, “.jpeg”, “.kc2”, “.kdbx”, “.kdc”, “.key”, “.kpdx”, “.lua”, “.m”, “.m4v”, “.max”, “.mdc”, “.mef”, “.mfw”, “.mmw”, “.moneywell”, “.mos”, “.mov”, “.mrw”, “.msg”, “.myd”, “.nd”, “.ndd”, “.nef”, “.nk2”, “.nop”, “.nrw”, “.ns2”, “.ns3”, “.ns4”, “.nsd”, “.nsf”, “.nsg”, “.nsh”, “.nwb”, “.nx2”, “.nxl”, “.nyf”, “.oab”, “.obj”, “.odb”, “.odc”, “.odf”, “.odg”, “.odm”, “.odp”, “.ods”, “.odt”, “.oil”, “.orf”, “.ost”, “.otg”, “.oth”, “.otp”, “.ots”, “.ott”, “.p12”, “.p7b”, “.p7c”, “.pab”, “.pages”, “.pas”, “.pat”, “.pcd”, “.pct”, “.pdb”, “.pdd”, “.pef”, “.pl”, “.plc”, “.pot”, “.potm”, “.potx”, “.ppam”, “.pps”, “.ppsm”, “.ppsx”, “.pptm”, “.prf”, “.ps”, “.psafe3”, “.psd”, “.pspimage”, “.ptx”, “.py”, “.qba”, “.qbb”, “.qbm”, “.qbr”, “.qbw”, “.qbx”, “.qby”, “.r3d”, “.raf”, “.rat”, “.raw”, “.rdb”, “.rm”, “.rw2”, “.rwl”, “.rwz”, “.s3db”, “.sas7bdat”, “.say”, “.sd0”, “.sda”, “.sdf”, “.sldm”, “.sldx”, “.sql”, “.sqlite”, “.sqlite3”, “.sqlitedb”, “.sr2”, “.srf”, “.srt”, “.srw”, “.st4”, “.st5”, “.st6”, “.st7”, “.st8”, “.std”, “.sti”, “.stw”, “.stx”, “.svg”, “.swf”, “.sxc”, “.sxd”, “.sxg”, “.sxi”, “.sxi”, “.sxm”, “.sxw”, “.tex”, “.tga”, “.thm”, “.tlg”, “.vob”, “.wallet”, “.wav”, “.wb2”, “.wmv”, “.wpd”, “.wps”, “.x11”, “.x3f”, “.xis”, “.xla”, “.xlam”, “.xlk”, “.xlm”, “.xlr”, “.xlsb”, “.xlsm”, “.xlt”, “.xltm”, “.xltx”, “.xlw”, “.ycbcra”, “.yuv”
The encryption process consists of reading the file in segments of 10240 bytes and encrypting the content of the file, after which copying the encrypted version of the file to a new and renamed file, containing the .encryptedRSA file extension. The original files are then deleted and the copied encrypted files appear like the following:
What is interesting here is that the newer version of SamSam does not forget to encrypt any Backup files as well.
Remove SamSam Ransomware and Restore .encryptedRSA Files
In order to to remove this ransomware infection fully from your computer system, we recommend that you follow the removal instructions underneath this article. They have been created in order to help you to remove this threat either manually or automatically from your computer. If manual removal does not seem to work, it is reccomended to remvoe this infection automatically by using an advanced anti-malware software. Such tool will fully erase any traces of SamSam from your computer and will protect it against any infections that might occur in the future as well.
In addition to this, if you want to restore files that have been encrypted with the .encryptedRSA file extension by SamSam, you can try using the alternative methods for file recovery underneath in step “2. Restore files, encrypted by .encryptedRSA Ransomware” underneath. They aim to help you recover as many encrypted files as possible even though they are not 100% guarantee to be able to recover all the data.
Ventsislav Krastev
Ventsislav is a cybersecurity expert at SensorsTechForum since 2015. He has been researching, covering, helping victims with the latest malware infections plus testing and reviewing software and the newest tech developments. Having graduated Marketing as well, Ventsislav also has passion for learning new shifts and innovations in cybersecurity that become game changers. After studying Value Chain Management, Network Administration and Computer Administration of System Applications, he found his true calling within the cybersecrurity industry and is a strong believer in the education of every user towards online safety and security.
Follow Me:
- Step 1
- Step 2
- Step 3
- Step 4
- Step 5
Step 1: Scan for .encryptedRSA Ransomware with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
Ransomware Automatic Removal - Video Guide
Step 2: Uninstall .encryptedRSA Ransomware 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 .encryptedRSA Ransomware 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 .encryptedRSA Ransomware 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 .encryptedRSA Ransomware
Step 5: Try to Restore Files Encrypted by .encryptedRSA Ransomware.
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 .encryptedRSA Ransomware 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.
.encryptedRSA Ransomware-FAQ
What is .encryptedRSA Ransomware Ransomware?
.encryptedRSA Ransomware 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 .encryptedRSA Ransomware 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 .encryptedRSA Ransomware Infect?
Via several ways..encryptedRSA Ransomware 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 .encryptedRSA Ransomware 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 ..encryptedRSA Ransomware files?
You can't without a decryptor. At this point, the ..encryptedRSA Ransomware 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 ..encryptedRSA Ransomware files successfully, then do not despair, because this virus is still new.
Can I Restore "..encryptedRSA Ransomware" Files?
Yes, sometimes files can be restored. We have suggested several file recovery methods that could work if you want to restore ..encryptedRSA Ransomware 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 .encryptedRSA Ransomware 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 .encryptedRSA Ransomware ransomware and then remove it without causing any additional harm to your important ..encryptedRSA Ransomware 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 .encryptedRSA Ransomware 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 .encryptedRSA Ransomware Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this .encryptedRSA Ransomware 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 .encryptedRSA Ransomware 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.
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.