What Is Karma Virus
Karma virus is the kind of malware, known as ransomware. This means that it enters your computer and encrypts your files, holding them hostage until a ransom has been paid. This particular virus changes the structures of the files, adding the .KARMA file extension after their original one and dropping an extortionist ransom note, called KARMA-ENCRYPTED.txt. Not only this but also the Karma virus is responsible for other malicious activities that may be harmful to your computer.
Read this article to learn more on Karma ransomware and how to remove it from your computer completely.
Karma Summary
| Name | Karma |
| File Extension | .KARMA |
| Type | Ransomware, Cryptovirus |
| Short Description | The ransomware encrypts files on your computer system and demands a ransom to be paid to allegedly recover them. |
| Symptoms | The KARMA ransomware will encrypt your files by appending the .KARMA extension to them. |
| Ransom Demanding Note | KARMA-ENCRYPTED.txt |
| Distribution Method | Spam Emails, Email Attachments |
| Detection Tool |
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User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss Karma. |
KARMA Virus – What We Know About It
KARMA ransomware is a typical ransomware virus. Other viruses like it we have recently seen to appear include .WIZOZ, .L47 and .guer. These viruses all have something in common – the methods they use to infect a certain computer. Generally viruses, like KARMA may end up on your machine via one of the two main ways:
- If the infection file is masked as an app offered free for download online, but instead of a free app, you download and run the infection.
- If it is sent to you as e-mail documents that claim to be legitimate, like invoices, aircraft tickets, and others.
Once KARMA virus has already conducted an infection, this ransomware may connect to a remote C&C server and drop its following files on your machine. They could be located in the following Windows directories:
- %System%
- %system32%
- %Roaming%
- %Local%
- %AppData%
- %LocalLow%
- %Temp%
- %ProgramData%
- %Windows%
KARMA virus may them use those virus files to perform the following malicious activities on your computer system without you even realizing it:
- Run as administator.
- Obtain read and write authorizations.
- Analyze If it has infected your computer system previously and if so deletes itself.
- Establish a connection with the cyber-criminals running it.
- Creating Windows registry entries in the “Run” or “RunOnce” Registry sub-keys.
Then, the virus may begin to look for the files to encrypt. The files that are set for encryption most often are from the following kinds:
- Archives.
- Anything conserved in a USB or other drive.
- Back-ups.
- Videos.
- Pictures.
- Docs.
- Music.
- Databases.
KARMA ransomware may then leave the files looking like the following:
New Text Document.txt.KARMA
After encryption the virus drops its ransom note file and makes sure that you notice it. It is left in a KARMA-ENCRYPTED.txt and people have reported that it contains the following extortion message:
Your network has been breached by Karma ransomware group.
We have extracted valuable or sensitive data from your network and encrypted the data on your systems.Decryption is only possible with a private key that only we posses.
Our group’s only aim is to financially benefit from our brief acquaintance,this is a guarantee that we will do what we promise.
Scamming is just bad for business in this line of work.Contact us to negotiate the terms of reversing the damage we have done and deleting the data we have downloaded.
We advise you not to use any data recovery tools without leaving copies of the initial encrypted file.
You are risking irreversibly damaging the file by doing this.If we are not contacted or if we do not reach an agreement we will leak your data to journalists and publish it on our website.
hxxp://3nvzqyo6l4wkrzumzu5aod7zbosq4ipgf7ifgj3hsvbcr5vcasordvqd.onion/If a ransom is payed we will provide the decryption key and proof that we deleted you data.
When you contact us we will provide you proof that we can decrypt your files and that we have downloaded your data.How to contact us:
JamesHoopkins1988@onionmail.org
Leslydown1988@tutanota.com
ollivergreen1977@protonmail.com
Keep reading this article to understand different ways to remove the virus and try to recover your files.
Remove Karma Virus and Try to Restore Files
In order to be able to delete the Karma ransomware infection completely from your computer system, we would strongly suggest that you follow the removal manual we have posted under this article. It has been made with the main purpose to help you detect and delete ransomware. For the best removal, it is strongly recommended to remove Karma ransomware from your machine by scanning it using advanced anti-malware software. Such a program is created with the main idea to detect and delete any virus files that may currently be residing on your computer because of Karma ransomware without harming your original files.
Furthermore, if you want to know how to try and restore files, encrypted by Karma ransomware, then we suggest that you try the alternative file recovery methods posted beneath. They have been created with the main purpose to best assist in the recovery of as many files encoded by this virus as possible.
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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Step 1: Scan for Karma with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
Ransomware Automatic Removal - Video Guide
Step 2: Uninstall Karma 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 Karma 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 Karma 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 Karma
Step 5: Try to Restore Files Encrypted by Karma.
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 Karma 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.
Karma-FAQ
What is Karma Ransomware?
Karma 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 Karma 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 Karma Infect?
Via several ways.Karma 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 Karma 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 .Karma files?
You can't without a decryptor. At this point, the .Karma 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 .Karma files successfully, then do not despair, because this virus is still new.
Can I Restore ".Karma" Files?
Yes, sometimes files can be restored. We have suggested several file recovery methods that could work if you want to restore .Karma 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 Karma 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 Karma ransomware and then remove it without causing any additional harm to your important .Karma 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 Karma 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 Karma Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this Karma 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 Karma 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.