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. |
| Distribution Method | Spam Emails, Email Attachments |
| Detection Tool |
See If Your System Has Been Affected by malware
Download
Malware Removal Tool
|
User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss Dragnea. |
| 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. |
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 cumAsa ca, odihneasca-se-n pace!
Acum sa aste-tam impreunaTrimite 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 howSo, rest in peace!
Now to go together togetherSend 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.
Tsetso Mihailov
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.
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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 Dragnea Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this Dragnea 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 Dragnea 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 Dragnea from Windows.
Step 1: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove Dragnea
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 Dragnea 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 Dragnea 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 Dragnea 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 Dragnea 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 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 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 Dragnea from Mac OS X.
Step 1: Uninstall Dragnea 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 Dragnea:
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 Dragnea. 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 Dragnea. 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 Dragnea 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 Dragnea. 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 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 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.
Dragnea FAQ
What is Dragnea ransomware and how does it work?
Dragnea 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 Dragnea ransomware infect my computer?
Via several ways.Dragnea 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 Dragnea 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 .Dragnea files?
You can't. At this point the .Dragnea 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 .Dragnea files successfully, then do not despair, because this virus is still new.
One way to restore files, encrypted by Dragnea 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 ".Dragnea" files (Other Methods)?
Yes, sometimes files can be restored. We have suggested several file recovery methods that could work if you want to restore .Dragnea 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 Dragnea 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 Dragnea ransomware and then remove it without causing any additional harm to your important .Dragnea files.
Also, keep in mind that viruses like Dragnea 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.
