This article has been created to help you by showing how to remove the .scorpio ransomware (new Scarab variant) and restore files encrypted by it.
A new version of Scarab ransomware virus has been reported to encrypt the files on the infected computers, adding the .scorpio file extension and the e-mail Help-Mails@Ya.Ru as a contact address. More to it, the virus still uses the same ransom note, named “IF_YOU_WANT_TO_GET_ALL_YOUR_FILES_BACK_PLEASE_READ_THIS.TXT”.
In it, the virus demands to e-mail a personal identification code to the cyber-criminals’ e-mail and then pay in BitCoins for the decryption of the files. If you have become a victim of the .Scorpio ransomware virus, we recommend that you focus on reading this article thoroughly.
Threat Summary
| Name | Scorpio |
| Type | Ransomware, Cryptovirus |
| Short Description | Encrypts the files on the compromised computer asking it’s owner to pay in BitCoin in order to get them back. |
| Symptoms | The files encrypted with the .scorpio file extension added after them. The ransom note remains the same as with the .scarab file virus. |
| 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 Scorpio. |
| 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. |
How Does Scorpio Ransomware Infect
The infection process of Scorpio ransomware is constructed in a way that may involve multiple tools and methods to infect your computer while remaining unnoticed. These tools are usually different software and kits, such as:
- Exploit kits.
- Web injectors.
- Fake updates.
- Malicious e-mail templates.
- Fake Windows updates.
- Infected setups of software.
- Macros with malicious code.
These tools may result in spreading the Scarab ransomware virus via the following types of methods:
- Fraudulent system setups which are uploaded on different types of websites instead of a program you are looking to download from them for free.
- Fraudulent software activators, game cracks or other license activation software uploaded as torrent or on crack sites.
- Web link objects that may be spammed as comments on sites.
.Scorpio File Ransomware Analysis
The Scorpio infection is not here to mess around. Once the virus is activated it immediately gets down to business and begins the malicious activity on the compromised device. The .scorpio file virus may transfer data from the computer that has been infected directly to the third-party hosts it may connect to. This is done via pre-configured functions in it’s malicious executable file, which may have a totally random name and is located in one of the %SystemDrive% folders.
Besides the malicious files, other system files on the compromised computer may also be attacked, resulting in the medication of Windows settings and further malicious activities. Among those may be the complete deletion by the .scorpio virus of the Shadow Volume Copies on the infected computer, via an administrative command inserted in Windows Command Prompt, called vssadmin:
The command is usually inserted in administrative mode which makes it possible for the virus to execute it in quiet mode without you noticing anything.
In addition to this, the .scorpio malware also makes sure the victim sees It’s ransom note, which has the following contents:
*** IF YOU WANT TO GET ALL YOUR FILES BACK, PLEASE READ THIS ***
Your files are now encrypted!
—–BEGIN PERSONAL IDENTIFIER—–
**************************************
—–END PERSONAL IDENTIFIER—–
All your files have been encrypted due to a security problem with your PC.
Now you should send us email with your personal identifier.
This email will be as confirmation you are ready to pay for decryption key.
You have to pay for decryption in Bitcoins. The price depends on how fast you write to us.
After payment we will send you the decryption tool that will decrypt all your files.
Contact us using this email address: qa458@yandex.ru
Free decryption as guarantee!
Before paying you can send us up to 3 files for free decryption.
The total size of files must be less than 5Mb (non archived), and files should not contain valuable information (databases, backups, large excel sheets, etc.).
How to obtain Bitcoins?
* The easiest way to buy bitcoins is LocalBitcoins site. You have to register, click
‘Buy bitcoins’, and select the seller by payment method and price:
https://localbitcoins.com/buy_bitcoins
* Also you can find other places to buy Bitcoins and beginners guide here:
http://www.coindesk.com/information/how-can-i-buy-bitcoins
Attention!
* Do not rename encrypted files.
* Do not try to decrypt your data using third party software, it may cause permanent data loss.
* Decryption of your files with the help of third parties may cause increased price (they add their fee to our) or you can become a victim of a scam.
The Encryption Process of Scorpio Ransomware
For the encryption procedure, .scorpio file virus uses the Advanced Encryption Algorithm, also known as AES cipher. Then it uses base64 for the renaming of the files, adding the .scarab file extension along with the e-mail Help-Mails@Ya.Ru in the process. The files are completely unrecognizable after encryption and they look like the following:
The files which are encrypted are not every file on your PC. The Scorpio ransomware rather focuses on specific files that are used very often, like the following file extensions:
→ “PNG .PSD .PSPIMAGE .TGA .THM .TIF .TIFF .YUV .AI .EPS .PS .SVG .INDD .PCT .PDF .XLR .XLS .XLSX .ACCDB .DB .DBF .MDB .PDB .SQL .APK .APP .BAT .CGI .COM .EXE .GADGET .JAR .PIF .WSF .DEM .GAM .NES .ROM .SAV CAD Files .DWG .DXF GIS Files .GPX .KML .KMZ .ASP .ASPX .CER .CFM .CSR .CSS .HTM .HTML .JS .JSP .PHP .RSS .XHTML. DOC .DOCX .LOG .MSG .ODT .PAGES .RTF .TEX .TXT .WPD .WPS .CSV .DAT .GED .KEY .KEYCHAIN .PPS .PPT .PPTX ..INI .PRF Encoded Files .HQX .MIM .UUE .7Z .CBR .DEB .GZ .PKG .RAR .RPM .SITX .TAR.GZ .ZIP .ZIPX .BIN .CUE .DMG .ISO .MDF .TOAST .VCD SDF .TAR .TAX2014 .TAX2015 .VCF .XML Audio Files .AIF .IFF .M3U .M4A .MID .MP3 .MPA .WAV .WMA Video Files .3G2 .3GP .ASF .AVI .FLV .M4V .MOV .MP4 .MPG .RM .SRT .SWF .VOB .WMV 3D .3DM .3DS .MAX .OBJ R.BMP .DDS .GIF .JPG ..CRX .PLUGIN .FNT .FON .OTF .TTF .CAB .CPL .CUR .DESKTHEMEPACK .DLL .DMP .DRV .ICNS .ICO .LNK .SYS .CFG”Source:fileinfo.com
The Scorpio virus is very careful not to delete system Windows files so that your OS is functioning properly. This is why the virus skips system folders for the encryption process.
Remove Scorpio Ransomware and Get Your Data Back
If you want to remove Scorpio ransomware virus from your computer, we strongly suggest that you focus on backing up the encrypted files beforehand. This will ensure that the files you have backed up are available in the future for when a decrypter comes out.
Then, you can follow the removal instructions below. They are divided in manual and automatic. Since .scorpio file virus may interfere with multiple system file types, we recommend that you remove the virus automatically. Malware research experts outline a ransomware-specific anti-malware software as the best and fastest solution to ransomware viruses, like the Scorpio infection.
If you want to restore your files, do not despair. Even though there is no free decryptor at the moment, we are monitoring the situation, so make sure the check this article often. In the meantime there is an alternative – we have gathered some methods below in step “2. Restore files encrypted by Scorpio” below. They may not be 100 percent effective, but may surely result in the recovery of at least some of your data.
Ventsislav Krastev
Ventsislav is a cybersecurity expert at SensorsTechForum since 2015. He has been researching, covering, helping victims with the latest malware infections plus testing and reviewing software and the newest tech developments. Having graduated Marketing as well, Ventsislav also has passion for learning new shifts and innovations in cybersecurity that become game changers. After studying Value Chain Management, Network Administration and Computer Administration of System Applications, he found his true calling within the cybersecrurity industry and is a strong believer in the education of every user towards online safety and security.
Follow Me:
- Guide 1: How to Remove Scorpio from Windows.
- Guide 2: Get rid of Scorpio from Mac OS X.
- Guide 3: Remove Scorpio from Google Chrome.
- Guide 4: Erase Scorpio from Mozilla Firefox.
- Guide 5: Uninstall Scorpio from Microsoft Edge.
- Guide 6: Remove Scorpio from Safari.
- Guide 7: Eliminate Scorpio from Internet Explorer.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
How to Remove Scorpio from Windows.
Step 1: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove Scorpio
Step 2: Uninstall Scorpio 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 Scorpio 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 Scorpio 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.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Get rid of Scorpio from Mac OS X.
Step 1: Uninstall Scorpio 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 Scorpio 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 malware from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts, programs and malware, 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.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Remove Scorpio from Google Chrome.
Step 1: Start Google Chrome and open the drop menu
Step 2: Move the cursor over "Tools" and then from the extended menu choose "Extensions"
Step 3: From the opened "Extensions" menu locate the unwanted extension and click on its "Remove" button.
Step 4: After the extension is removed, restart Google Chrome by closing it from the red "X" button at the top right corner and start it again.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Erase Scorpio from Mozilla Firefox.
Step 1: Start Mozilla Firefox. Open the menu window
Step 2: Select the "Add-ons" icon from the menu.
Step 3: Select the unwanted extension and click "Remove"
Step 4: After the extension is removed, restart Mozilla Firefox by closing it from the red "X" button at the top right corner and start it again.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Uninstall Scorpio from Microsoft Edge.
Step 1: Start Edge browser.
Step 2: Open the drop menu by clicking on the icon at the top right corner.
Step 3: From the drop menu select "Extensions".
Step 4: Choose the suspected malicious extension you want to remove and then click on the gear icon.
Step 5: Remove the malicious extension by scrolling down and then clicking on Uninstall.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Remove Scorpio from Safari.
Step 1: Start the Safari app.
Step 2: After hovering your mouse cursor to the top of the screen, click on the Safari text to open its drop down menu.
Step 3: From the menu, click on "Preferences".
Step 4: After that, select the 'Extensions' Tab.
Step 5: Click once on the extension you want to remove.
Step 6: Click 'Uninstall'.
A pop-up window will appear asking for confirmation to uninstall the extension. Select 'Uninstall' again, and the Scorpio will be removed.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Eliminate Scorpio from Internet Explorer.
Step 1: Start Internet Explorer.
Step 2: Click on the gear icon labeled 'Tools' to open the drop menu and select 'Manage Add-ons'
Step 3: In the 'Manage Add-ons' window.
Step 4: Select the extension you want to remove and then click 'Disable'. A pop-up window will appear to inform you that you are about to disable the selected extension, and some more add-ons might be disabled as well. Leave all the boxes checked, and click 'Disable'.
Step 5: After the unwanted extension has been removed, restart Internet Explorer by closing it from the red 'X' button located at the top right corner and start it again.
