Read this article to learn how to remove MERIN ransomware and how to possibly recover files.
Read this article to learn how to get rid of malicious files installed by MERIN ransomware and how to potentially restore files without paying the ransom.
MERIN Virus Summary
| Name | MERIN |
| File Extension | .MERIN |
| Type | Ransomware, Cryptovirus |
| Ransom Notes | !=HOW_TO_DECRYPT_FILES=!.txt |
| What is It? | A ransomware that encodes your important files and asks you to pay a ransom to recover them. |
| Symptoms | All .MERIN files cannot be opened due to changes applied to their code. You are asked to contact hackers and pay a ransom for a data decryption tool. |
| Distribution Method | Spam Emails, Email Attachments, Executable Files, Hacked Websites |
| Removal | To effectively remove active MERIN Virus virus infections, we recommend that you use an advanced anti-malware tool. Download
Malware Removal Tool
|
User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss MERIN Virus. |
| 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. |
More Information About the MERIN Ransomware Virus
The MERIN virus is a recently reported ransomware that has been discovered in a recent attack campaign. What we know is that it probably a derivative of the NEPHILIM family of threats. The infection campaign in which was detected shows that an unknown hacking collective is actively using it as part of their intrusion attempts. This ransomware family has produced some really dangerous virus examples.
Popular distribution techniques may be used to spread the malware samples, the exact type will depend on the chosen hacking tactic. The virus files can either be “pushed” as a standalone virus or made part of other carriers. This is often used with macro-infected documens that can be of popular office formats: presentations, databases, spreadsheets, and text documents. When they are opened by the users a prompt will be displayed asking for the scripts to be run, this triggers the actual malware deployment. The other file format used to deliver viruses is the deployment of application installers — they can be generated of popular software that is widely downloaded and run by the victims from the Internet: productivity programs, creativity suites, system utilities, and etc. The hackers make them by modifying the original files by adding in the necessary viruses.
The MERIN ransomware files may be spread to the intended victims using different types of phishing tactics — they will attempt to manipulate the recipients, visitor, and targets to interact with the shown contents. This is done by using fake or stolen identities, graphics, multimedia content, and related information. The most common form of spreading such virus files is by planning email messages in different forms: notifications, letters, and documents. Inside them links to the malware can be either attached or linked. A similar tactic is the creation of such websites. They are also hosted on similar-sounding domain names and may include self-signed security certificates. Virus copies of the MERIN virus may be uploaded to famous online communities, social networks, and file-sharing networks.
The MERIN virus as a typical malware of this category will run an extensive list of modules that are part of its execution sequence. A typical example is the use of information gathering modules that will extract personal information and hardware components. The data will be used to construct a unique ID for each contaminated host. The collected information can also be used for crimes such as identity and financial abuse.
Other tactics that may be used by the virus include settings changes that can be related to different elements of the system’s operation. A typical example is a modification of boot options: this will result in the persistent ransomware deployment, the virus code will start when the computer is powered on. It may block access to the recovery boot options. Related changes are
MERIN virus files can also prepare the computer for other malware infections: the ransomware may serve as a payload carrier for threats like Trojans. They will install a local agent on the contaminated server and allow the criminals to take over control, spy on the users, and hijack any file on their computer. Many advanced versions can additionally include Windows Registry changes to existing values or the creation of newer ones. The consequences of such actions can include serious performance issues, the inability to run certain services and programs.
When everything has finished running the actual file encryption processing will take place. Using a very strong cipher the victim data will be processed, the file type extensions chosen will be according to a built-in list. In the end, the relevant files will be encrypted and renamed with the virus .MERIN extension.
Remove MERIN Virus – Try Restoring Files
In order to Remove MERIN ransomware, we strongly recommend that you read the instructions in this article. Experts suggest that the best way towards fully erasing MERIN Virus is to follow the removal steps that are underneath in combination with downloading an advanced malware removal tool. Such software will scan your computer for any malware and make sure that it’s fully gone from it.
Martin Beltov
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.
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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 MERIN Virus Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this MERIN Virus 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 MERIN Virus 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 MERIN Virus from Windows.
Step 1: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove MERIN Virus
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 MERIN Virus 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 MERIN Virus 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 MERIN Virus 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 MERIN Virus 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 MERIN Virus.
Ransomware infections and MERIN Virus 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 MERIN Virus from Mac OS X.
Step 1: Uninstall MERIN Virus 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 MERIN Virus:
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 MERIN Virus. 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 MERIN Virus. 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 MERIN Virus 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 MERIN Virus. 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 MERIN Virus.
Ransomware infections and MERIN Virus 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.
MERIN Virus FAQ
What is MERIN Virus ransomware and how does it work?
MERIN Virus 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 MERIN Virus ransomware infect my computer?
Via several ways.MERIN Virus 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 MERIN Virus 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 .MERIN Virus files?
You can't. At this point the .MERIN Virus 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 .MERIN Virus files successfully, then do not despair, because this virus is still new.
One way to restore files, encrypted by MERIN Virus 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 ".MERIN Virus" files (Other Methods)?
Yes, sometimes files can be restored. We have suggested several file recovery methods that could work if you want to restore .MERIN Virus 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 MERIN Virus 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 MERIN Virus ransomware and then remove it without causing any additional harm to your important .MERIN Virus files.
Also, keep in mind that viruses like MERIN Virus 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.
