This article provides information about a ransomware dubbed H34rtBl33d as well as step-by-step removal and data recovery guide.
A new data locker ransomware called H34rtBl33d discovered to append the extension .d3g1d5 has been spotted in the wild. The name of each encrypted file is modified and has the specific extension at the end. After encryption, the threat drops a ransom note file that urges victims to follow hackers’ instructions and pay them a ransom of 0.1337 BTC. For the sake of your security, it is advisable to avoid negotiating with bad actors and deal with the problem by yourself. Below you will find more information about H34rtBl33d crypto virus as well as a detailed guide how to remove it from the infected PC. The good news is that some alternative data recovery methods may be used for encrypted files so you can prevent the ransom payment. Keep reading.
Threat Summary
| Name | H34rtBl33d |
| Type | Ransomware, Cryptovirus |
| Short Description | H34rtBl33d ransomware virus encrypts files on your PC and drops a ransom note that demands payment for the decryption of .d3g1d5y files. |
| Symptoms | This ransomware encrypts important files and then renames them with the extension |
| 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 H34rtBl33d. |
| 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. |
H34rtBl33d Ransomware – Distribution
Usually an infection with H34rtBl33d crypto virus happens after its payload is started on the system. There are several methods of its distribution. The most common one is via email spam messages that pose as legitimate companies, trustworthy websites, and governmental institutions. Such messages may provide malicious file attachments and links to compromised web pages. The text is likely to be written in a way to trick you into infecting yourself by downloading the attachment or visiting the malicious site.
As revealed by malware analysts H34rtBl33d payload is spread through P2P networks. LimeWire that uses the BitTorrent protocol is stated to be the main file-sharing software utilized for H34rtBl33d ransomware distribution. So be careful which websites you visit and choose wisely files that you download.
H34rtBl33d Ransomware – More About the Infection
The infection process begins once the malicious payload of H34rtBl33d is started on the system. The ransomware has complex code that enables it to compromise a vast number of system settings before it utilizes its encryption module. At first, the threat may obtain certain details about your system and send them to its command and control server. The information may help it to evade detection and remain on the infected host as long as possible.
It is unusual that H34rtBl33d ransomware crates copies of its files, archives them in a RAR file and then stores the data on the compromised machine.
In addition, H34rtBl33d may need to create further malicious files that may be located in some major Windows system folders like:
- %AppData%
- %Local%
- %LocalLow%
- %Roaming%
- %Temp%
- %Windows%
Some of the files may be deleted immediately after the end of the infection while others may be set to execute automatically on each system start. This happens after H34rtBl33d ransomware accesses the Registry Editor and implement some modifications there. Commonly the targeted registry sub-keys are Run and RunOnce as they have the function to start automatically all files and objects that are essential for the Windows system. By adding some malicious values under these keys H34rtBl33d ransomware executes on each system start.
The same keys may be used when the ransomware needs to display its ransom note. This usually happens at the end of the attack. The message that H34rtBl33d drops on infected hosts urges victims to click an in-text link and enter a site created by the extortionists. Here is the message you may see on the screen of your infected PC:
Error! Your file could not be opened
Please Decrypt Your File Using H34rtBl33d Decrypter
–
Want Your Files Back? Click here
Find out here about H34rtBl33d Decrypter and how to return it click here
–
cheaper than wannacry!
H34rtBl33d very good ransomware in the world
–
Ransomware With Cheapest Ransom!
FACT! Ransomware that has infected your computer turned out RANSOMWARE WITH THE LOWEST CHOICE. Want your file back? Click here
The next step lands you on the suspicious website scorpionlocker.xyz. The main web page provides additional instructions about the amount of the demanded ransom and its payment. Below you can see a picture of the website as well as the entire text message:
If You Need Your Data Back You Need To
Pay Us 0.1337 Bitcoins Hehehe
Contact: torbox3uiot6wchz.onion create a account here and email us blackpanda007@torbox3uiot6wchz.onion
Your Data Is Safe When You Pay Us We Will Give You Key And You Can Unencrpyt Your Data
////////////////////////////// All Hope Is Gone \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
//////////////////////////////// [ Login ] \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
The initial analyses of its samples reveal that it has a crappy code. Hopefully, security specialists will soon crack H34rtBl33d’s code and release a free decryption tool. So don’t hurry to pay the demanded ransom.
H34rtBl33d Ransomware – Data Encryption
The primary aim of H34rtBl33d ransomware is to encrypt target files that store valuable data so it can then demand a ransom payment for their decryption. In case of infection with this crypto virus, it corrupts all your documents, images, music, videos, databases, archives, text files, projects, etc. in a way that they become completely unusable. Encrypted files can be recognized by their modified names that have the specific extension .d3g1d5 appended at the end.
It is known that hackers demand a ransom of 0.1337 BTC which at this point equals to 946.99 USD. By choosing to pay them the ransom, you will only support their nasty activities and encourages them to keep spreading such devastating threats while your files may remain locked. There is no guarantee that they will send you a working solution. Learn how to restore .d3g1d5 files with the help of alternative data recovery solutions and avoid ransom payment.
Remove H34rtBl33d Ransomware and Restore Files
The step-by-step removal guide below provides both manual and automatic approaches. Beware that the removal of H34rtBl33d crypto virus is not an easy task. It is a severe threat that plagues the whole system. Security researchers recommend the help of advanced anti-malware tool for maximum efficiency.
After you fulfill the removal process make sure to check the “Restore Files” step available in our guide below. But before that be advised to back up all encrypted files to an external drive and prevent their irreversible loss.
Gergana Ivanova
Highly motivated writer with 5+ years of experience writing for ransomware, malware, adware, PUPs, and other cybersecurity-related issues. As a writer, I strive to create content that is based on thorough technical research. I find joy in the process of creating articles that are easy to understand, informative, and useful. Follow me on Twitter (@IRGergana) for the latest in the field of computer, mobile, and online 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 H34rtBl33d Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this H34rtBl33d 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 H34rtBl33d 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 H34rtBl33d from Windows.
Step 1: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove H34rtBl33d
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 H34rtBl33d 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 H34rtBl33d 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 H34rtBl33d 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 H34rtBl33d 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 H34rtBl33d.
Ransomware infections and H34rtBl33d 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 H34rtBl33d from Mac OS X.
Step 1: Uninstall H34rtBl33d 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 H34rtBl33d:
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 H34rtBl33d. 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 H34rtBl33d. 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 H34rtBl33d 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 H34rtBl33d. 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 H34rtBl33d.
Ransomware infections and H34rtBl33d 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.
H34rtBl33d FAQ
What is H34rtBl33d ransomware and how does it work?
H34rtBl33d 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 H34rtBl33d ransomware infect my computer?
Via several ways.H34rtBl33d 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 H34rtBl33d 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 .H34rtBl33d files?
You can't. At this point the .H34rtBl33d 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 .H34rtBl33d files successfully, then do not despair, because this virus is still new.
One way to restore files, encrypted by H34rtBl33d 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 ".H34rtBl33d" files (Other Methods)?
Yes, sometimes files can be restored. We have suggested several file recovery methods that could work if you want to restore .H34rtBl33d 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 H34rtBl33d 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 H34rtBl33d ransomware and then remove it without causing any additional harm to your important .H34rtBl33d files.
Also, keep in mind that viruses like H34rtBl33d 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.
