This article provides information on how to remove Scarab ransomware and how to restore .oneway files without paying the ransom.
Another version of Scarab ransomware associated with the .oneway extension has been found by security researchers. It follows a typical data locker ransomware pattern. So once it plagues the system it encrypts important files and renames them .oneway extension. After encryption, a ransom note appears on the screen to inform about the existence of the threat and instruct infected victims how to obtain the specific decryption key.
Threat Summary
| Name | Scarab (.oneway) |
| Type | Ransomware, Cryptovirus |
| Short Description | A data locker ransomware that utilizes strond cihper algorithm to encrypt files stored on the infected computer. Then it demands a ransom for decryption solution. |
| Symptoms | Important files are corrupted and renamed with .oneway extension. They remain unusable until a ransom is paid. |
| Distribution Method | Spam Emails, Email Attachments |
| Detection Tool | See If Your System Has Been Affected by Scarab (.oneway) Download Malware Removal Tool | User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss Scarab (.oneway). |
| 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. |
Scarab Ransomware – Distribution
The infection process with this Scarab (.oneway) ransomware version begins once its payload is running on the system. For its distribution hackers bet on various shady techniques all of which are designed to trick you to grant the malicious payload the access to your PC. One of the most preferred ways of ransomware distribution is through email spam messages. Bad actors often send email messages that pose as representatives of legitimate services like your favorite website or your internet provider, any logistics company, your bank or even any governmental institution. The text messages usually urge you to open an attached file as soon as possible or click a presented link as the information you will find there is very important or available for limited time. And in case that you received such an email and followed the instructions you have unnoticeably infected your system with Scarab (.oneway) ransomware infection.
For the sake of your security, before you open a dubious file on your PC you could use a free online file extractor to check the security level of the file. Tools of this kind scan the code of each uploaded file for specific malicious traits. After, the scan you could see whether the uploaded file contains malicious elements or not. The information could help you to refrain from opening corrupted files on your PC.
Scarab Ransomware – Overview
After a series of new strains of Scarab ransomware that were released in the wild this month, security researchers reported the existence of another one that is associated with the extension .oneway.
Some of the previous Scarab iterations reported by our team are Rebus, .infovip@airmail.cc Files Virus and .fastrecovery@airmail.cc Crypto Virus. Similar to its predecessors this newly discovered version of Scarab ransomware attacks computer users worldwide in order to encrypt their sensitive data and blackmail them to pay a ransom for the decryption of corrupted data.
In order to complete its main purpose, Scarab (.oneway) crypto virus needs to establish its malicious files on the system, plague some essential settings to run them and this way ensure its persistent presence on the system.
If not all then some of the malicious ransomware files may be located in the following folders:
- %AppData%
- %Local%
- %LocalLow%
- %Roaming%
- %Temp%
- %Windows%
Have in mind that some malicious processes may gain the control of some legit system processes in order to remain undetected by active security measures. So it may be a hard task to locate and remove them manually.
Additionally, Scarab ransomware is able to set its malicious payload to execute automatically on each system start which eventually leads to the corruption of all new files you create on the system. For its automatic execution, the threat creates values under some specific registry keys stored in the Registry Editor.
At the end of the attack a ransom message appears on the screen of the infected device to inform about the corruption of important files and blackmail victims to contact hackers at a given email. The note is contained in a file called Расшифровать файлы oneway.TXT. It name is a hint that the text of the message is written in Russian and here is all that the message reads:
Напишите на почту – ibm15@horsefucker.org
====================================================================================================
ВАШИ ФАЙЛЫ ЗАШИФРОВАНЫ!Ваш личный идентификатор
[redacted 646 hex]Ваши документы, фотографии, базы данных и другие важные файлы были зашифрованы.
Каждые 24 часа удаляются 24 файла, необходимо прислать свой идентификатор чтоб мы отключили эту функцию.
Каждые 24 часа стоимость расшифровки данных увеличивается на 30% (через 72 часа сумма фиксируется)Для расшифровки данных:
Напишите на почту – ibm15@horsefucker.org
*В письме указать Ваш личный идентификатор
*Прикрепите 2 файла до 1 мб для тестовой расшифровки.
мы их расшифруем, в качестве доказательства, что ТОЛЬКО МЫ можем их расшифровать.-Чем быстрее вы сообщите нам свой идентификатор, тем быстрее мы выключим произвольное удаление файлов.
-Написав нам на почту вы получите дальнейшие инструкции по оплате.В ответном письме Вы получите программу для расшифровки.
После запуска программы-дешифровщика все Ваши файлы будут восстановлены.Внимание!
* Не пытайтесь удалить программу или запускать антивирусные средства
* Попытки самостоятельной расшифровки файлов приведут к потере Ваших данных
* Дешифраторы других пользователей несовместимы с Вашими данными, так как у каждого пользователя
уникальный ключ шифрования
* Не пытайтись найти решение на стороне, это 100% развод. Никто кроме нас расшифровать не может.
====================================================================================================
Если связаться через почту не получается
* Зарегистрируйтесь на сайте http://bitmsg.me (сервис онлайн отправки Bitmessage)
* Напишите письмо на адрес BM-2cXv1tCz4mRNE52UyDZ7DWDdvfUf5ed6GB с указанием Вашей почты и
личного идентификатораВаш личный идентификатор
[redacted 646 hex]
Below you can see an image that depicts the message translated in English:
It is advisable to avoid contacting cyber criminals as they can only scam you once again and steal your money. In order to regain the security of your infected PC, you need to remove all malicious files and objects associated with the ransomware as soon as possible.
Scarab .oneway Ransomware – Encryption Process
Similar to the previous Scarab ransomware iterations this one plagues computer systems with the main purpose to locate predefined target files and encrypt them with the strong RSA-2048 cipher. This process transforms all files that store sensitive information in a way that you cannot use them anymore.
So in case of infection it is likely that all of the following files will remain encrypted until an efficient recovery solution restores their original code:
- Audio files
- Video files
- Document files
- Image files
- Text files
- Backup files
- Banking credentials, etc
After encryption, all corrupted files could be recognized by the extension .oneway that is appended at the end of their names.
Following encryption, Scarab crypto virus is believed to delete all Shadow Volume Copies stored by the Windows operating system. This happens after the command shown below is entered in Command Promt pannel:
→vssadmin.exe delete shadows /all /Quiet
As a result one of the possible data recovery options is eliminated. Happily, there are other available methods that may help you to restore some .oneway files. Keep reading to find some of them.
Remove Scarab Ransomware and Restore .oneway Files
The removal of Scarab ransomware demands a bit of technical experience and ability to recognize traits of malware files. And there is no doubt that you should remove this nasty threat from the infected PC as soon as you detect it. Otherwise, it has the chance to spread its infection files across the whole network. Below you could find how to remove it from your PC step by step. Beware that ransomware has highly complex code that plagues not only your files but your whole system. So as recommended by security researchers you need to utilize an advanced anti-malware tool for its complete removal. Such tool will keep your system protected against devastating threats like Scarab and other kinds of malware that endanger your online security.
After you remove the ransomware make sure to check the “Restore Files” step listed in the guide be
low. But before you take any further actions, don’t forget to back up all encrypted files to an external drive in order to prevent their irreversible loss.
Gergana Ivanova
Gergana has a bachelor's degree in Marketing. She has been with the STF team for five years, researching malware, reporting on the latest computer infections, and following digital marketing trends.
Follow Me:
- Guide 1: How to Remove Scarab (.oneway) from Windows.
- Guide 2: Get rid of Scarab (.oneway) from Mac OS X.
How to Remove Scarab (.oneway) from Windows.
Step 1: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove Scarab (.oneway)
Step 2: Uninstall Scarab (.oneway) 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:
Follow the instructions above and you will successfully uninstall most programs.Step 3: Clean any registries, created by Scarab (.oneway) 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 Scarab (.oneway) there. This can happen by following the steps underneath:
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 Scarab (.oneway) with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
Step 5 (Optional): Try to Restore Files Encrypted by Scarab (.oneway).
Ransomware infections and Scarab (.oneway) 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.
If the above link does not work for you and your region, try the other two links below, that lead to the same product:
Get rid of Scarab (.oneway) from Mac OS X.
Step 1: Uninstall Scarab (.oneway) 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:
- 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 Scarab (.oneway) 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:
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 2: Scan for and remove Scarab (.oneway) files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as Scarab (.oneway), the recommended way of eliminating the threat is by using an anti-malware program. Combo Cleaner offers advanced security features along with other modules that will improve your Mac’s security and protect it in the future.
Step 3 (Optional): Try to Restore Files Encrypted by Scarab (.oneway) on your Mac.
Ransomware for Mac Scarab (.oneway) aims to encode all your files using an encryption algorithm which may be very difficult to decode, unless you pay money. This is why we have suggested a data recovery method that may help you go around direct decryption and try to restore your files, but only in some cases. Bear in mind that this method may not be 100% effective but may also help you a little or a lot in different situations.
Scarab (.oneway) FAQ
What is Scarab (.oneway) ransomware and how does it work?
Scarab (.oneway) 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 Scarab (.oneway) ransomware infect my computer?
Scarab (.oneway) 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 Scarab (.oneway) 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 .Scarab (.oneway) files?
You can't. At this point the .Scarab (.oneway) files are encrypted. You can only open them once they are decrypted.
Decryptor did not decrypt my data. What now?
If a decryptor did not decrypt your .Scarab (.oneway) files successfully, then do not despair, because this virus is still new.
One way to restore files, encrypted by Scarab (.oneway) 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 ".Scarab (.oneway)" files (Other Methods)?
We have suggested several file recovery methods that could work if you want to restore .Scarab (.oneway) 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 Scarab (.oneway) 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 Scarab (.oneway) ransomware and then remove it without causing any additional harm to your important .Scarab (.oneway) files.
Also, keep in mind that viruses like Scarab (.oneway) 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?
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.
