Article created to show you how to remove the Gomme Ransom virus from your computer and restore files encrypted with .gommemode file extension.
A new ransomware virus has appeared at the end of March 2017. The virus encrypts the files on the compromised computers adding the file extension .gommemode after their files. After having encrypted the files on the computer Gomme ransomware demands the victims to pay a ransom “fee” of $25 in BitCoin in order to restore the files back to their working state. In case your computer has been infected by this ransomware infection, we advise you to read the following material thoroughly.
Threat Summary
| Name | Gomme Ransom |
| Type | Ransomware, Cryptovirus |
| Short Description | Gomme Ransom encrypts files on the computers infected by it, demanding a ransom payoff of $25 in BTC for the files’ decryption. |
| Symptoms | The files are encrypted with the aid of a cipher after which the file extension .gommemode has been added to them. |
| Distribution Method | Spam Emails, Email Attachments, Executable files |
| 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 Gomme Ransom. |
| 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. |
Gomme Ransomware – Distribution
For the Gomme ransomware virus to cause infections, the malware may use different tactical approaches for it’s distribution. The most widely used method to infect unsuspecting users is via malicious e-mail spam, also known as malspam. Such campaigns include deceptive e-mail messages pretending they come from big organizations, for example:
- PayPal.
- DHL.
- FedEx.
- Various banks.
- eBay.
- Amazon.
- AliExpress.
The e-mails usually have different types of deceptive messages in them, like pretending to be confirmation letter or an invoice of a purchase which the targeted user has not made. Some e-mails go as far as claiming there is suspicious activity in the bank account of the user and may even use your name in them. There are also blank e-mails with just the attachment in them.
Besides e-mail spam, various other methods may be used to infect computers, such as:
- Fake Adobe or Java updates.
- Distribution via browser redirects caused by unwanted software (PUPs).
- Fraudulent key generators, license activators or patches uploaded on suspicious sites.
- Fake setups uploaded online.
Gomme Ransomware – Analysis
After the victim is infected one way or another, the Gomme Ransom virus begins to drop it’s malicious files on the compromised computer. It’s primary malicious executable is called gmm33.exe and it may be located in:
- %AppData%
- %Temp%
- %Windows%
- %Roaming%
- %Local%
- %LocalLow%
After the file has been dropped on the infected computer, the ransomware infection also leaves a portable file, named TORBrowser.exe, which is a portable TOR Browser with which the victim can pay the ransom anonymously.
The virus also drops it’s ransom note file, which has the following contents:
“=====Gomme Ransom=====
ALL OF YOUR FILES HAVE BEEN ENCRYPTED!
Everything, Music, Documents, Programs etc, has been encrypted!
WARNING: IF YOU RESTART YOUR COMPUTER WE WON’T BE ABLE TO RESTORE YOUR FILES & YOU WILL LOSE THEM FOREVER!
How can I get my files back?
You will need to pay $25, as soon as you did, you will receive your files back.
You will find the ‘TOR Browser’ on your desktop.
lf you don’t own BTC, purchase some at paxful.com or localbitcoins.
SEND THE MONEY TO THIS ADDRESS:”
The Gomme Ransom virus may also perform other type of activities such as create other support files in the above mentioned Windows directories and tamper with the Windows Registry Editor.
Gomme Ransom – Encryption Process
The encryption of Gomme Ransom is performed so that all important files on the infected computer are encrypted. We are talking about MS Office documents, PDF files, pictures, music, video and other types of files. Gomme Ransom is very careful not to encrypt the system files of Windows, because this may break the operating system, so it may avoid system folders. After the encryption is complete, the files are left with the .gommemode file extension appended to them and look like the following:
Remove Gomme Ransom and Restore .gommemode Files
Before beginning to remove the virus files of Gomme Ransom from your computer, we strongly recommend you to backup all the encrypted files, in case they are lost during removal.
Then, for the removal process, advices are to follow the removal instructions below. They are specifically designed to initially isolate the virus in safe mode and then manually delete the malicious objects. In case manual removal is something you are not technically prepared to do, malware experts often advise using an advanced anti-malware software in order to completely remove Gomme Ransom from your computer and protect your computer in the future as well.
After the removal process, you can try to restore your encrypted files using the alternative tools in the removal instructions below. They are in no way 100% guarantee that all of your files will be recovered, but with their aid you can restore at least a portion of your encrypted files.
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.
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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 Gomme Ransom Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this Gomme Ransom 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 Gomme Ransom 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 Gomme Ransom from Windows.
Step 1: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove Gomme Ransom
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 Gomme Ransom 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 Gomme Ransom 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 Gomme Ransom 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 Gomme Ransom 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 Gomme Ransom.
Ransomware infections and Gomme Ransom 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 Gomme Ransom from Mac OS X.
Step 1: Uninstall Gomme Ransom 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 Gomme Ransom:
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 Gomme Ransom. 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 Gomme Ransom. 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 Gomme Ransom 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 Gomme Ransom. 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 Gomme Ransom.
Ransomware infections and Gomme Ransom 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.
Gomme Ransom FAQ
What is Gomme Ransom ransomware and how does it work?
Gomme Ransom 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 Gomme Ransom ransomware infect my computer?
Via several ways.Gomme Ransom 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 Gomme Ransom 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 .Gomme Ransom files?
You can't. At this point the .Gomme Ransom 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 .Gomme Ransom files successfully, then do not despair, because this virus is still new.
One way to restore files, encrypted by Gomme Ransom 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 ".Gomme Ransom" files (Other Methods)?
Yes, sometimes files can be restored. We have suggested several file recovery methods that could work if you want to restore .Gomme Ransom 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 Gomme Ransom 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 Gomme Ransom ransomware and then remove it without causing any additional harm to your important .Gomme Ransom files.
Also, keep in mind that viruses like Gomme Ransom 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.
