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 Diskwriter and other threats.
Threats such as Diskwriter 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.
Diskwriter virus is an advanced computer viruses that is classified as a ransomware as it shares many of the features found in them. However the samples associated with it delete the victim data instead of encrypting them.
Threat Summary
Name
Diskwriter
Type
Ransomware
Short Description
The Diskwriter virus is a dangerous wiper virus that has the ability to delete user data.
Symptoms
Users will be unable to boot their computers.
Distribution Method
Spam Emails, File Sharing Networks, Exploit Kits
Detection Tool
See If Your System Has Been Affected by Diskwriter
The Diskwriter virus can be deployed via an executable file using various means. One of the most popular ways is to send it via spam email messages. The most effective methods rely on social engineering tricks that attempt to trick the users into interacting with the dangerous content. The preferred strategy is to insert hyperlinks that lead to the samples hosted on a download site. The criminals typically use graphics and text taken from legitimate services. The efffective campaigns tend to use familiar sounding domains in order to fool the users into accessing them. The other method used with email messages is the direct file attachment of the malware files.
In the last few years we have noted the rise of two alternative ways to spread viruses. The criminals can opt to bundle the dangerous code into software installers. They are made by taking the legitimate setup files from their official vendor sites and modifying them to include the malware code. In a similar way the criminals can customize documents of different types (spreadsheets, presentations and rich text documents). They are usually disguised as notices, contracts or other files that may be of user interest. Once they are opened by the users a notification prompt appears which asks them to enable the built-in scripts (macros). If this is done the threat is downloaded from a hacker-controlled site and executed on the local machine.
Various hacker-controlled download portals can carry the threat. They are usually modeled after legitimate sites by using similar sounding domain names and web design. Often viruses are spread on file sharing networks such as BitTorrent as well posing as legitimate apps.
Advanced malware delivery tactics that can produce Diskwriter virus infections include the use of browser hijackers. They represent hacker-created malware browser plugins that are made for the most popular software: Mozilla Firefox, Opera, Microsoft Edge, Safari, Google Chrome and Internet Explorer. They usually attempt to redirect the victims to a hacker-controlled site and download their private data. Such scripts can be used to spread malware such as this one.
DataKeeper Virus — Update October 2018
A recent email phishing campaign carrying the DataKeeper ransomware virus has been spotted. The criminal collective behind it are spreading messages that pose as being sent by law enforcement authorities with an attached file file called nguyen police report.pdf. Upon opening them a built-in message prompt may appear asking the built-in scripts to be run. This will lead to the virus infection.
The actual contents of one sample message is the following:
Police Report File: #32456543AFA34543
Please wait while we download your file. This may trigger your antivirus software. Do not block otherwise report will be deleted from our servers. Thank you.
The analysis reveals that the message itself is actually a double extension executable file. Upon interacting with it a PDF file will be launched reading the file. However at the same time the malicious process will have already started and the virus deployment started.
When the malicious process has started it will proceed with its behavior tactics. One of the most important changes made to the host computers is the stealth protection mechanism. As discussed below it will scan the system for programs that can interfere with the virus execution: primarily sandboxes and anti-virus osftware. Advanced viruses may also affect virtual machine hosts when detecting that they are run inside a hypervisor. This is done in order to disable the host and avoid analysis.
Another dangerous action is the data extraction of the installed web browsers. The engine has been spotted to search for the most popular software and if they are found their data will be harvested. The list of target information includes the following:
Cookies
Bookmarks
Settings
History
Stored Credentials
Site Preferences
DiskWriter Virus – Technical Data
The DiskWriter virus is a ransomware threat that has been specifically built in order to extort the victims for a ransomware fee and sabotage their systems. At the moment there is no information about its creator(s), it is believed to be the work of an experienced hacker or criminal collective.
It appears to execute itself in in several stages the first of which is the preparatory one. In order to access the deep operating system mechanisms the virus engine launches an advanced information gathering module. It is configured in order to create a complete profile of the target machine by collecting metrics related to the hardware components and installed system software. Once this is done it may continue further with private data by extracting data that can personally expose the victims identity: name, address, phone number, geolocation, interests, passwords and account credentials.
Many advanced threats like this one may also implement a stealth protection mechanism that can protect the instance from security software. Using the harvested data it can detect if there are any system services that can disrupt the execution of the Diskwriter virus engine. The list includes most anti-virus software, virtual machines and sandboxes and debugging environments. The usual behavior is to either bypass their real-time engines or entirely remove them. In certain cases they can be configured into removing themselves if they are unable to do so.
As a consequence of the advanced infection the Diskwriter virus can also initiate a network connection with a remote host. In such cases the acquired information can be sent to the hacker controllers. This is also an effective method to deploy additional threats or take over control of the systems in a manner similar to Trojans.
Once all components have completed execution a wiper is started. It is designed to replace the Master Boot Record which is responsible for hosting the boot loader code. As a result of this the victims will be unable to start their computers. An interesting feature implement is the automatic shutdown once the virus has finished with the payload delivery. The users will find that their computers will automatically shut down once all components have finished executing. Once they start their machines again they will see the following message:
Ooops,your important files are encrypted. If you see this text,then your files are not accessible,because they’ve been encrypted.Maybe you’re busy looking for a way to recover your files,but don’t waste your time.Nobody can recover your files without our decryption service. In order to decrypt.Please Send $300 worth of Bitcoin to this address: 1GZCw453MzQr8V2VAgJpRmKBYRDUJ8kzco
According to the technical analysis the current samples associated with the DiskWriter virus are not proper ransomware but malware that seek to delete the user data instead of encrypting it. The users are promised decryption if they pay the quoted fee.
In this situation the best strategy is to remove the malware threat and attempt to use a data recovery software. Refer to our instructions below.
Remove DiskWriter Virus and Restore Your Files
If your computer got compromised and is infected with the DiskWriter ransomware virus, you should have some experience with removing viruses before tampering with it. You should get rid of the ransomware fast before it can spread further on the network and encrypt more files. The recommended action for you is to remove the ransomware completely by following the step-by-step instructions written below.
Note! Your computer system may be affected by Diskwriter 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 Diskwriter. 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 Diskwriter follow these steps:
1. Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove Diskwriter 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 Diskwriter on your PC
Find files created by Diskwriter
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.
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 Diskwriter with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool and back up your data
1. Install SpyHunter to scan for Diskwriter and remove them.2. Scan with SpyHunter, Detect and Remove Diskwriter. 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 Diskwriter
Try to Restore Files Encrypted by Diskwriter
Ransomware infections and Diskwriter 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 Diskwriter and remove them.
Back up your data to secure it from malware in the future.
