This article has been created to help you by explaining how to remove the .omerta file extension ransomware and how to restore renamed and encrypted files by it.
A new virus, believed to be yet another evolutin of the Scarab ransomware has been detected by security researchers. The malware reportedly uses the .omerta file extension and renames the files upon encryption. It then adds a ransom note, called “READ THIS IF YOU WANT TO GET ALL YOUR FILES BACK.TXT”. In the note, the crooks basically extort the victims to pay a hefty ransom fee in order to get their files recovered back to their normal working state. In the events that your computer has been infected by the .omerta files ransomware, we advise that you read this article and learn how you can remove this ransomware and how to restore files that are encrypted by it without having to pay ransom.
Threat Summary
| Name | .omerta Files Virus |
| Type | Ransomware, Cryptovirus |
| Short Description | Aims to encrypt the files on the infected computer and then ask the victim to pay ransom to get them to work again. |
| Symptoms | The files on the infected PC are encrypted with an added .omerta file extension. A ransom note, called READ THIS IF YOU WANT TO GET ALL YOUR FILES BACK.TXT is dropped. |
| 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 .omerta Files 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. |
.omerta Files Virus — October 2019 Update
The .omerta Files Virus has received a new update as new samples carrying it have been detected. It is probably being sent by a new hacking collective which has edited out the former samples and has created a new release. While the samples are not large in size it is anticipated that this means that there is a renewed interest in this malware family by both inexperienced and experienced criminal collective. Like the previous samples it will assign the .omerta extension and include the contact email address in the extension string. The hackers behind this new release use the patern32@protonmail.com email contact address.
.omerta Files Virus – Infection Methods
The main method which is used by the .omerta files ransomware is to infect user computers with the aid of obfuscated malicious files. These types of files may be encountered within different spam e-mails, which often pretend to be legitimate however are not. The e-mails that may contain the malicious file attachments may pretend to be invoices, receipts and other types of seemingly legitimate files. The e-mails accompanying them are very cunning and aim to deceive the victim to open the attachment by stressing out how important it is.
In addition to via e-mails, the ransomware virus may also come as various different types of files which may only pretend that they are legitimate but in reality however, the malicious files are obfuscated and slither while unnoticed on the victim’s computer. The most often imitated types of files are believed to be:
- Setups.
- Cracks.
- Patches.
- License Activators.
- Key generators or keygens.
.omerta Files Virus – More Information
Once the .omerta files virus has infected your computer, the malware may start to drop it’s malicious payload on the computers of victims. The payload may reside in the following folders:
- %AppData%
- %Local%
- %LocalLow%
- %Roaming%.
- %Temp%
Among the files dropped by the .omerta virus is also it’s ransom note, called READ THIS IF YOU WANT TO GET YOUR FILES BACK.TXT and according to malware researcher demonslay335 it has the following contents:
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
| |
| *** IF YOU WANT TO GET ALL YOUR FILES BACK, PLEASE READ THIS *** |
|__________________________________________________________________________________________________|Your files are now encrypted!
—–BEGIN PERSONAL IDENTIFIER—–
—–END PERSONAL IDENTIFIER—–
All your files have been encrypted due to a security problem with your PC.
Now you should send us email with your personal identifier.
This email will be as confirmation you are ready to pay for decryption key.
You have to pay for decryption in BITCOINS. The price depends on how fast you write to us.
After payment we will send you the decryption tool that will decrypt all your files.Contact us using this email address: XAVAX@PM.ME
Free decryption as guarantee!
Before paying you can send us up to 3 files for free decryption.
The total size of files must be less than 10Mb (non archived), and files should not contain
valuable information (databases, backups, large excel sheets, etc.).
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
| |
| Attention! |
| |
| * Do not rename encrypted files. |
| * Do not try to decrypt your data using third party software, it may cause permanent data loss. |
| * Decryption of your files with the help of third parties may cause increased price |
| (they add their fee to our) or you can become a victim of a scam. |
| |
|__________________________________________________________________________________________________|
The virus’s infection activity may consist of different types of actions which include the creating of mutants and the tampering with system processes of Windows. In addition to this, the ransomware virus may also create registry entries in the Run and RunOnce Windows Registry sub-keys, with the following locations:
→ 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
Furthermore, the .omerta files virus may also start to delete the shadow volume copies of the infected machine, which results in the user not able to recover his or her files by using Windows Recovery. The deletion may happen by running a batch script whose main goal is to run the following commands as an administrator:
→ sc stop VVS
sc stop wscsvc
sc stop WinDefend
sc stop wuauserv
sc stop BITS
sc stop ERSvc
sc stop WerSvc
cmd.exe /C bcdedit /set {default} recoveryenabled No
cmd.exe /C bcdedit /set {default} bootstatuspolicy ignoreallfailures
C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe” /C vssadmin.exe Delete Shadows /All /Quiet
.omerta – Encryption Procedure
The encryption process of this believed-to-be evolved variant of Scarab ransomware is devastating. The ransomware uses an advanced encryption mode to encrypt the following types of files:
- Databases.
- Backups.
- Microsoft Office and other types of documents.
- Images.
- Videos.
- Archives.
- Other valuable files.
After the encryption process, the .omerta files virus uses an obnoxious file name which is randomly generated to additionally scramble the encrypted files and for a file extension, the malware ads the e-mail of it’s authors XAVAX@PM.ME plus the file suffix .omerta. The files look disgustingly random after the encryption and can no longer be opened:
This is because the ransomware may use a combination of RSA+AES encryption algorithm which changes the core structure of the files in question, generating what appears to be a decryption key which is known only by the cyber-criminals.
Remove .omerta Files Virus and Restore Encrypted Files
In order to remove this ransomware infection from your computer, we strongly suggest that you follow the removal instructions underneath this article. They have been created in order to best help you remove this ransomware virus from your computer by explaining to your how to delete it either manually or automatically. For maximum effectiveness, be advised that security experts do advise to download and install and advanced anti-malware software. Such tool will effectively scan your computer for malware and remove it plus make sure to protect your PC automatically against different types of malicious software and intrusive programs.
If you want to restore files that have been encrypted by this ransomware infection on your computer, we would suggest to try the alternative methods and tools for file recovery we have suggested in step “2. Restore files, encrypted by .omerta Files Virus” below. They may not be 100% guarantee to be able to recover all of your encrypted files, but they may help you to restore most of them, if you are in luck.
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 .omerta Files Virus Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this .omerta Files 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 .omerta Files 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
- Guide 1: How to Remove .omerta Files Virus from Windows.
- Guide 2: Get rid of .omerta Files Virus from Mac OS X.
How to Remove .omerta Files Virus from Windows.
Step 1: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove .omerta Files 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 .omerta Files 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 .omerta Files 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 .omerta Files 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 .omerta Files 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 .omerta Files Virus.
Ransomware infections and .omerta Files 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 .omerta Files Virus from Mac OS X.
Step 1: Uninstall .omerta Files 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 .omerta Files 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 .omerta Files 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 .omerta Files 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 .omerta Files 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 .omerta Files 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 .omerta Files Virus.
Ransomware infections and .omerta Files 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.
.omerta Files Virus FAQ
What is .omerta Files Virus ransomware and how does it work?
.omerta Files 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 .omerta Files Virus ransomware infect my computer?
Via several ways..omerta Files 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 .omerta Files 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 ..omerta Files Virus files?
You can't. At this point the ..omerta Files 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 ..omerta Files Virus files successfully, then do not despair, because this virus is still new.
One way to restore files, encrypted by .omerta Files 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 "..omerta Files 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 ..omerta Files 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 .omerta Files 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 .omerta Files Virus ransomware and then remove it without causing any additional harm to your important ..omerta Files Virus files.
Also, keep in mind that viruses like .omerta Files 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.
