Tsetso Mihailov is a tech-geek and loves everything that is tech-related, while observing the latest news surrounding technologies. He has worked in IT before, as a system administrator and a computer repair technician. Dealing with malware since his teens, he is determined to spread word about the latest threats revolving around computer security.
Tsetso Mihailov is a tech-geek and loves everything that is tech-related, while observing the latest news surrounding technologies. He has worked in IT before, as a system administrator and a computer repair technician. Dealing with malware since his teens, he is determined to spread word about the latest threats revolving around computer security.
Tsetso Mihailov is a tech-geek and loves everything that is tech-related, while observing the latest news surrounding technologies. He has worked in IT before, as a system administrator and a computer repair technician. Dealing with malware since his teens, he is determined to spread word about the latest threats revolving around computer security.
Note! Your computer might be affected by Dragnea and other threats.
Threats such as Dragnea 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
Tsetso Mihailov is a tech-geek and loves everything that is tech-related, while observing the latest news surrounding technologies. He has worked in IT before, as a system administrator and a computer repair technician. Dealing with malware since his teens, he is determined to spread word about the latest threats revolving around computer security.
This article will help you remove Dragnea ransomware efficiently. Follow the ransomware removal instructions provided at the end of the article.
Dragnea is a virus that claims to encrypt your files and demands money as a ransom to supposedly get those files restored. The Dragnea ransomware will not actually encrypt your files. In addition, it uses the GUI of Jigsaw ransomware, although malware researchers have deducted that it belongs to the “Stupid” ransomware family. Continue to read the article and see how you could try to potentially recover restore your computer back to normal.
Threat Summary
Name
Dragnea
Type
Ransomware, Virus
Short Description
The ransomware could lock your computer screen and displays a ransom note message.
Symptoms
The ransomware claims that has encrypted your files and displays a screen with instructions on how to pay the cybercriminals to restore everything back to normal.
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.
Dragnea Ransomware – Distribution Techniques
Dragnea ransomware might spread its infection in various techniques. A payload dropper which initiates the malicious script for this ransomware is being spread around the World Wide Web, and researchers have gotten their hands on a malware sample. If that file lands on your computer system and you somehow execute it – your computer system will become infected.
You can see the detections of such a file on the VirusTotal service right down here:
Dragnea ransomware might also distribute its payload file on social media and file-sharing services. Freeware which is found on the Web can be presented as helpful also be hiding the malicious script for the cryptovirus. Refrain from opening files right after you have downloaded them. You should first scan them with a security tool, while also checking their size and signatures for anything that seems out of the ordinary. You should read the tips for preventing ransomware found in the forum section.
Dragnea Ransomware – In-Depth Description
Dragnea is a virus that supposedly encrypts your files and shows a window with instructions on the screen of your computer system. The extortionists want you to pay a ransom for the alleged restoration of your files and restoration of your computer system back to normal.
Dragnea ransomware makes entries in the Windows Registry to achieve persistence, and could launch or repress processes in a Windows environment (such as locking your computer screen). Such entries are typically designed in a way to launch the virus automatically with each start of the Windows operating system.
After the “encryption” process of the Dragnea virus completes, a ransom message will be displayed on your computer screen. You can see its contents from the following screenshot given right down here:
As you can see Dragnea uses the GUI of Jigsaw ransomware, although malware researchers have deducted that it belongs to the “Stupid” ransomware family.
The ransom note is in the Romanian language and states the following:
Permite-mi sa-ti explic ce se intampla: Fisierele tale personaîe vor fi distruse. Documente, poze, video-uri etc.. Si stai linistit, nu ai cum sa opresti asta. De ce? Pentru ca asa vrea mustata mea. Nu am BTC wallet si nici nu-mi fac, ca nu stiu cum
Asa ca, odihneasca-se-n pace! Acum sa aste-tam impreuna
Trimite cel putin 1989 mineri partidului aici. Introdu cheia de decriptare aici: Am platit, acum da-mi fisierele.
A machine translation in English would look like this:
Allow me to explain to you what is happening: Your personal files will be destroyed. Documents, pictures, videos, etc. And you stay calm, you can not stop it. Why? Because that’s what my mustache wants. I do not have a BTC wallet and I do not, I do not know how
So, rest in peace! Now to go together together
Send at least 1989 miners to the party here. Enter the decryption key here: [ I paid, now give me the files. ]
The note of the Dragnea ransomware states that your files are encrypted. You are demanded to pay a ransom of 100 US dollars. However, you should NOT under any circumstances pay any ransom. Your files may not get recovered, and nobody could give you a guarantee for that. Moreover, giving money to cybercriminals will most likely motivate them to create more ransomware viruses or commit different criminal acts.
An error message will pop-up if you do not pay the ransomware and click on the button at the bottom of the screen as seen in the image here:
The error message states the following:
Error Nu mor caii cand vor cainii.
Translated into English, it means:
Error Horses do not die when the dogs want.
That Romanian saying means, in this case, that even if you wish that you got your files restored, you are not the one to decide that. In other words, the ransomware authors want you to pay the ransom and hint that only they can unlock your files. That is funny as for the moment the ransomware does not actually lock your files.
Dragnea Ransomware – Encryption Process
The encryption process of the Dragnea ransomware is not known to work at the time of writing of this article. That might change in the future, as the ransomware might be in a developmental phase and implement the encryption feature at a later point in time.
However, if the setting in the ransomware is restored and the ransomware begins to encrypt files, malware researchers have found out that the malware is designed to place the .dragnea file extension to all locked files. Hence, the name of this ransomware virus – ”Dragnea”.
It is currently unknown if any version of this ransomware actually encrypts files. The encryption feature might be implemented in the future, especially if the malware is still under development. Currently there is no information regarding which types of files might get encrypted if such a feature was present in the malicious application. If information about the file extensions which might get encrypted in the future is found, this article will get duly updated.
The files which are used the most by users that would probably get encrypted will probably be from the following categories:
Audio files
Video files
Document files
Image files
Backup files
Banking credentials, etc
The Dragnea Ransomware threat can still lock your screen and demand a ransom as payment.
The Dragnea cryptovirus could be set to erase all the Shadow Volume Copies from the Windows operating system with the help of the following command:
→vssadmin.exe delete shadows /all /Quiet
If the above-stated command is executed that will make it harder to restore your computer back to its state before becoming infected with the threat. In the future that would also help make the encryption process more viable. That is due to the fact that the command eliminates one of the prominent ways to restore your data as well. If your computer system was infected with this ransomware and you wish to find out how you could potentially restore your system back to normal, continue reading below.
Remove Dragnea Ransomware and Restore Data
If your computer got infected with the Dragnea ransomware virus, you should have a bit of experience in removing malware. You should get rid of this ransomware as quickly as possible before it can have the chance to spread further and infect other computers. You should remove the ransomware and follow the step-by-step instructions guide provided below.
Note! Your computer system may be affected by Dragnea 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 Dragnea. 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 Dragnea follow these steps:
1. Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove Dragnea 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 Dragnea on your PC
Find files created by Dragnea
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.
IMPORTANT! Before starting the Automatic Removal below, 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.
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 Dragnea with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool and back up your data
1. Install SpyHunter to scan for Dragnea and remove them.2. Scan with SpyHunter, Detect and Remove Dragnea. 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 Dragnea
Try to Restore Files Encrypted by Dragnea
Ransomware infections and Dragnea 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:
Tsetso Mihailov is a tech-geek and loves everything that is tech-related, while observing the latest news surrounding technologies. He has worked in IT before, as a system administrator and a computer repair technician. Dealing with malware since his teens, he is determined to spread word about the latest threats revolving around computer security.
Tsetso Mihailov is a tech-geek and loves everything that is tech-related, while observing the latest news surrounding technologies. He has worked in IT before, as a system administrator and a computer repair technician. Dealing with malware since his teens, he is determined to spread word about the latest threats revolving around computer security.
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 Dragnea and remove them.
Back up your data to secure it from malware in the future.
