Martin graduated with a degree in Publishing from Sofia University. As a cyber security enthusiast he enjoys writing about the latest threats and mechanisms of intrusion.
Martin graduated with a degree in Publishing from Sofia University. As a cyber security enthusiast he enjoys writing about the latest threats and mechanisms of intrusion.
Martin graduated with a degree in Publishing from Sofia University. As a cyber security enthusiast he enjoys writing about the latest threats and mechanisms of intrusion.
Note! Your computer might be affected by .GEFEST3 Scarab Ransomware and other threats.
Threats such as .GEFEST3 Scarab Ransomware may be persistent on your system. They tend to re-appear if not fully deleted. A malware removal tool like SpyHunter will help you to remove malicious programs, saving you the time and the struggle of tracking down numerous malicious files. SpyHunter’s scanner is free but the paid version is needed to remove the malware threats. Read SpyHunter’s EULA and Privacy Policy
Martin graduated with a degree in Publishing from Sofia University. As a cyber security enthusiast he enjoys writing about the latest threats and mechanisms of intrusion.
This article will aid you to remove .GEFEST3 Scarab Ransomware. Follow the ransomware removal instructions provided at the end of the article.
.GEFEST3 Scarab Ransomware is one that encrypts your data and demands money as a ransom to get it restored. Files will receive the .GEFEST3 extension. The .GEFEST3 Scarab Ransomware will leave ransomware instructions as a desktop wallpaper image. Keep on reading the article and see how you could try to potentially recover some of your locked files and data.
Threat Summary
Name
.GEFEST3 Scarab Ransomware
Type
Ransomware, Cryptovirus
Short Description
The Scarab ransomware encrypts files by placing the .GEFEST3 before the affected files on your computer system and demands a ransom to be paid to allegedly recover them.
Symptoms
The Scarab ransomware will encrypt your files and leave a ransom note with payment instructions.
Distribution Method
Spam Emails, Email Attachments
Detection Tool
See If Your System Has Been Affected by .GEFEST3 Scarab Ransomware
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.
.GEFEST3 Scarab Ransomware – Distribution Techniques
The .GEFEST3 ransomware is a new release of the Scarab family and it uses the traditional methods to spread itself. The captured sample in the ongoing campaign were captured from email phishing messages that are being sent by the Fallout Exploit Kit. This is a method that relies on bulk sending of phishing email messages that pose as legitimate notifications from well-known companies. Their body contents will entice the recipients into interacting with a dangerous element that will lead to the infection — they can be either placed in the body contents or attached directly.
Other methods that can be used include malicious sites that directly copy legitimate and trustworthy search engines, Internet portals and product landing pages. They are created with similar sounding domain names and security certificates and have the main task of confusing the users into thinking that they have accessed the real page. By interacting with their multimedia elements or clicking on links the .GEFEST3 Scarab ransomware will be deployed.
There are other ways that the this threat can be delivered, an example is the payload delivery which depends on the creation of files that include the virus installation code. There are two types that are most commonly used:
Infected Documents — The relevant .GEFEST3 Scarab ransomware instructions can be embedded in macros across all popular file types: spreadsheets, presentations, databases and text files. Whenever they are opened by the users a notification prompt will be called asking the users to enable the built-in scripts. The quoted reason is to “correctly” view the document. If this is done the malware delivery will take place.
Application Installers — The same strategy can be used with setup packages of popular software that is often downloaded by end users: creativity suites, system utilities, productivity and office programs and etc. They are then distributed using one of the aforementioned strategies.
These data files can also be distributed using file-sharing networks like BitTorrent which are often used to spread to both pirate and legitimate files. In most cases the infected setup files are the most common carriers of the Scarab ransomware samples.
Larger campaigns can utilize browser hijackers which are dangerous plugins made for the most popular web browsers. They are mostly found on the relevant plugin repositories with fake user reviews and developer credentials — the posted descriptions will promise feature additions or performance enhancements. In fact after installing them the victim browsers may be modified to redirect the victims to a hacker-controlled landing page.
.GEFEST3 Scarab Ransomware – Detailed Analysis
The .GEFEST3 Scarab follows the known Scarab behavior patterns. It is very possible that these attacks are operated by the same criminal collective behind the last few attacks utilizing samples from this malware family. We anticipate that the most common command will be launched against the victim users.
Malware samples can begin the infection with an information gathering mechanism which can gather information that can be grouped into two main categories:
Personal Information — The engine can search for strings that can reveal sensitive data about the victim users that use the infected machines. This is possible by searching for strings such as the person’s name, address, location, interests and any stored account data. This can be used to carry out crimes such as identity theft, financial abuse and blackmail.
Machine Identification Information The virus engine can run an algorithm that will be used to generate an unique ID for each infected machine. The input values that are taken include the list of hardware components, user settings and regional options.
The collected information can be used to locate if there are an installed security software. They will be bypassed or entirely removed, example ones include the following: anti-virus software, firewalls, intrusion detection systems, virtual machine hosts and debug environments.
The .GEFEST3 Scarab ransomware will then have the opportunity to hook up to running processes — both system ones and third-party applications. This allows the virus to spy on the users activities in real time. Other malicious actions include the following:
Windows Registry Modifications — The .GEFEST3 Scarab ransomware can access and modify strings located in the Windows Registry. This can cause overall system stability issues and the inability to launch certain services. Unexpected errors can come up while running common programs.
Boot Options — The Scarab ransomware can modify the boot options which will automatically launch the infection when the computer is powered on. Another side effect of this is that recovery menu access can be blocked which makes most manual removal guides useless.
Trojan Delivery — One of the most dangerous actions that can be launched by this threat is the Trojan installation. This will install a local client that will connect to a hacker-controlled server. The criminal controllers will have the ability to spy on the victims in real-time, acquire their files before encryption and take over control of the machines at any given time.
Additional Payload Installation — Like other similar Scarab variants the .GEFEST3 samples can also be programmed to install other malware from all popular categories: redirects, hijackers, miners and etc.
As the .GEFEST3 Scarab ransomware samples are modular in nature they can be programmed to cause a wide variety of other actions depending on the exact configuration.
.GEFEST3 Scarab Ransomware – Encryption Process
The .GEFEST3 Scarab ransomware samples that we have received reports about use the familiar tactic of using a built-in list of target file type extensions. An example list may target the following:
Archives
Backups
Databases
Images
Music
Videos
The .GEFEST3 extension will be applied to all processed files. The crafted ransomware note will blackmail the victims to pay them a decryption fee.
Remove .GEFEST3 Scarab Ransomware and Try to Restore Data
If your computer system got infected with the .GEFEST3 Scarab ransomware virus, you should have a bit of experience in removing malware. You should get rid of this ransomware as quickly as possible before it can have the chance to spread further and infect other computers. You should remove the ransomware and follow the step-by-step instructions guide provided below.
Note! Your computer system may be affected by .GEFEST3 Scarab Ransomware 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 .GEFEST3 Scarab Ransomware. 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 .GEFEST3 Scarab Ransomware follow these steps:
1. Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove .GEFEST3 Scarab Ransomware 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 .GEFEST3 Scarab Ransomware on your PC
Find files created by .GEFEST3 Scarab Ransomware
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 .GEFEST3 Scarab Ransomware with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool and back up your data
1. Install SpyHunter to scan for .GEFEST3 Scarab Ransomware and remove them.2. Scan with SpyHunter, Detect and Remove .GEFEST3 Scarab Ransomware. 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.
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.
4. Try to Restore files encrypted by .GEFEST3 Scarab Ransomware
Try to Restore Files Encrypted by .GEFEST3 Scarab Ransomware
Ransomware infections and .GEFEST3 Scarab Ransomware 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:
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:
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:
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:
Martin graduated with a degree in Publishing from Sofia University. As a cyber security enthusiast he enjoys writing about the latest threats and mechanisms of intrusion.
Martin graduated with a degree in Publishing from Sofia University. As a cyber security enthusiast he enjoys writing about the latest threats and mechanisms of intrusion.
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.
1. Install SpyHunter to scan for .GEFEST3 Scarab Ransomware and remove them.
Back up your data to secure it from malware in the future.
