Berta is a dedicated malware researcher, dreaming for a more secure cyber space. Her fascination with IT security began a few years ago when a malware locked her out of her own computer.
Berta is a dedicated malware researcher, dreaming for a more secure cyber space. Her fascination with IT security began a few years ago when a malware locked her out of her own computer.
Berta is a dedicated malware researcher, dreaming for a more secure cyber space. Her fascination with IT security began a few years ago when a malware locked her out of her own computer.
Note! Your computer might be affected by HiddenTear 2.0 and other threats.
Threats such as HiddenTear 2.0 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
Berta is a dedicated malware researcher, dreaming for a more secure cyber space. Her fascination with IT security began a few years ago when a malware locked her out of her own computer.
A ransomware labeling itself as HiddenTear 2.0 is currently spreading around the Internet. The extension the ransomware puts to encrypted files is .isis and makes a file with instructions. The ransomware is part of “educational” series of ransomware, that gives the decryption key in some way. To remove the ransomware and check how you can restore your data, you should read this article to the end.
Threat Summary
Name
HiddenTear 2.0
Type
Ransomware
Short Description
The ransomware uses the AES algorithm and encrypts files placing .isis as an extension to them.
Symptoms
The ransomware does not demand money for decryption but instead creates a file with a randomly-generated password for decryption.
Distribution Method
Spam Emails, Email Attachments, Suspicious Sites
Detection Tool
See If Your System Has Been Affected by HiddenTear 2.0
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.
HiddenTear 2.0 Ransomware – Delivery
HiddenTear 2.0 ransomware is delivered through spam email campaigns. Spam emails have a file attached to them. The malicious code is inside that file. One such file goes by the name “skypetool.exe” and has a very rigid logo resembling the one of Skype, as you can see in the picture. Opening such an attachment and your computer will get infected. In other cases, the ransomware creators make the body of the email contain malicious code, where upon opening the said email the infection is spread.
Sites for social media networks and services about file-sharing might have such malware files as well. The malware creators may have put them there. To avoid most chances of getting infected with this ransomware virus you have to watch out for suspicious files and links, redirects and advertising that tries to trick you into clicking stuff. Anything of unknown origin around the Internet is a potential threat – just keep your eyes open.
HiddenTear 2.0 Ransomware – Description
HiddenTear 2.0 is the name that this ransomware gives itself. It encrypts files and creates a ransom note. An interesting fact is that instead of wanting money or BitCoins as payment, it tells users where they can find their randomly-generated decryption key. Security researchers have concluded that is indeed part of the HiddenTear series of ransomware, and it is presumed this is not a real threat, but done with an educational purpose.
You can never really know what the creators have planned. It can be a test for other ransomware viruses, and encrypting your files without explaining anything and just giving a decryption key is not well-planned for a lesson. Not to mention that it’s the same as real ransomware threats as your files will be encrypted and unusable.
Security researcher Jakub Kroustek from AVG has found this ransomware and has given it the name EduCrypt, because of the ransomware’s nature.
The ransomware could create an entry in the Windows Registry to execute automatic running of itself with every Windows start:
After encryption, the HiddenTear 2.0 ransomware creates a file named “README.txt” , which contains instructions on how you can restore your files. A decrypter tool is given, but that decrypter still searches for files with the .locked extension and doesn’t work. This is a screenshot of the note:
The ransom note states:
Well hello there, seems you have a virus! Well you are going to get the decryptor which is here http://www.filedropper.com/decrypter_1 Don’t Download Random Shit On The Internet A Hidden .txt File Has Been Created With The Decrypt Password! Find It!..
The text file which is created by the ransomware is called DecryptPassword.txt and contains a 15 symbol decryption key.
The HiddenTear 2.0 ransomware uses the AES algorithm for the encryption of files. File extensions which can get encrypted are the following:
When the encryption process is complete, each file on your computer will have one, and the same extension as an appendix – .isis. That might be a hint that some ransomware viruses on the Internet gather money for terrorist organizations such as ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria).
HiddenTear 2.0 ransomware probably deletes Shadow Volume Copies from any Windows operating system. At the end of the article, see what you can do to restore your files back to normal.
Remove HiddenTear 2.0 Ransomware and Restore .isis Encrypted Files
If your computer is infected by the HiddenTear 2.0 ransomware, do not worry as there are ways you can get your files back. This ransomware has unknown intentions – it might be a test for other ransomware. After getting your files back, you should remove it and be prepared with having anti-malware software in case of future breaches to your security. You can find all that below in the step-by-step instructions manual that is provided.
Note! Your computer system may be affected by HiddenTear 2.0 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 HiddenTear 2.0. 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 HiddenTear 2.0 follow these steps:
1. Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove HiddenTear 2.0 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 HiddenTear 2.0 on your PC
Find files created by HiddenTear 2.0
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 HiddenTear 2.0 with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool and back up your data
1. Install SpyHunter to scan for HiddenTear 2.0 and remove them.2. Scan with SpyHunter, Detect and Remove HiddenTear 2.0. 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 HiddenTear 2.0
Try to Restore Files Encrypted by HiddenTear 2.0
Ransomware infections and HiddenTear 2.0 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:
Berta is a dedicated malware researcher, dreaming for a more secure cyber space. Her fascination with IT security began a few years ago when a malware locked her out of her own computer.
Berta is a dedicated malware researcher, dreaming for a more secure cyber space. Her fascination with IT security began a few years ago when a malware locked her out of her own computer.
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 HiddenTear 2.0 and remove them.
Back up your data to secure it from malware in the future.
