Home > Ransomware > .Aes Virus Files (The Cursed Murderer) Removal and Recovery Guide
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.Aes Virus Files (The Cursed Murderer) Removal and Recovery Guide

The .aes files belong to a ransomware virus, calling itself The Cursed Murderer. This ransomware’s primary objective is to infect your computer and then encrypt all of your important files after which add the .aes file extension to them. This is a removal guide for The Cursed Murderer ransomware.

The Cursed Murderer is just a name that aims to scare you out, because this is the type of virus that aims to get victims to know of its presence on your computer. The main objective of this ransomware virus is to create different types of virus files on your computer that work together to render all your important documents, images, videos and other types of files encrypted. Encrypted means that you cannot open the files and the virus ads the .aes file extension to them. The only way that seems to work is to pay a high ammount of ransom money in the form of BitCoin to the cyber-criminals who are behind this ransomware virus.

The Cursed Murderer .aes Virus

The Cursed Murderer has many ways via which it can infiltrate your computer without you even noticing it. The virus spammers have mastered the infection methods of this ransomware to fool even experience users so its safe to say it could happen to the best. Once on your computer, the virus begins obtaining administrator rights and other types of permissions and the end goal is to scan for all your files. This includes documents, images, videos and other types of files, that are encoded with an advanced cipher, calle Advanced Encryption Standard or AES, from where the extension .aes derives. It can generate a unique decryption key that is known only by the people who have infected you with The Cursed Murderer ransomware. Read this article to learn how to remove The Cursed Murderer ransomware from your computer and try to recover files.

Threat Summary

Name The Cursed Murderer
File Extension .aes
Type Ransomware, Cryptovirus
What Is It A ransomware infection whose primary purpose is to encrypt your files and hold them hostage until you pay ransom to the criminals behind it.
Symptoms May encrypt your files and they become no longer openable.
Ransom Demanding Note instructions.txt
Distribution Method Spam Emails, Email Attachments, Executable Files, Hacked Websites
Removal To effectively remove active The Cursed Murderer virus infections, we recommend that you use an advanced anti-malware tool.

Download

Malware Removal Tool

User Experience Join Our Forum to Discuss The Cursed Murderer.
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.

The Cursed Murderer .aes Virus – Detailed Information

The Cursed Murderer is a typical ransomware attack that spread in a similar way like other ransomware viruses out there. The Cursed Murderer may infect your computer in the same method that accounts for over 80% of ransomware infections out there – e-mail spam messages.

The Cursed Murderer may also infect your computer by pretending to be a legitimate software downloaded from different third-party websites. These sites may be low-reputation crack download sites, torrent sites and other sites that are classified as risky. Most of them get blocked if you have an anti-malware tool, so criminals often hack legitimate torrent sites to push their fake software that infects with The Cursed Murderer and ransomware, like It.

The Cursed Murderer can be more than devastating once it infects your computer. For instance, it may begin to corrupt vital Windows components after dropping its files in the following directories:

  • %Local%
  • %AppData%
  • %LocalLow%
  • %Roaming%
  • %Temp%

Once the files are dropped, The Cursed Murderer .aes infection may begin to perform the following activities:

  • Create mutexes.
  • Obtain permissions as administrator on your Windows machine.
  • Scan for and encrypt files.
  • Create registry entries in the Run and RunOnce sub-keys of Windows. These will allow for the virus files to run automatically on startup.

The files that are encrypted by The Cursed Murderer ransomware can be of the following file types:

  • Documents.
  • Pictures.
  • Video file types.
  • Audio file types.
  • Database files.
  • Archive files.

After your files have been encrypted, they begin to appear like the following image:


Image by Twitter user GrujaRS

The main encryption algorithm is believed to be AES or Advanced Encryption Standard. It includes assymetric decryption key that is held by the cyber-criminals who ask you to pay ransom to decrypt your files. Be advised, that researchers are constantly coming out with free decryptors and as long as you backup your files, there are other ways to recover your files. Also, paying the ransom is highly not reccomended, primarily because you support the cyber-criminals and besides this, it is not a good idea to trust the same people who extort you to pay them money for files.

Remove The Cursed Murderer Ransomware and Try Restoring Your Files

If you want to get rid of The Cursed Murderer ransomware, we recommend following the removal steps below. For maximum effectiveness it is highly advisable to use an advanced anti-malware tool. Such scanner will effectively find all the hidden files of The Cursed Murderer ransomware on your computer and remove them in a matter of minutes time. This will ensure that you remove this virus without having to reinstall Windows and that your PC will also stay safe in the future.

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.

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  • Step 1
  • Step 2
  • Step 3
  • Step 4
  • Step 5

Step 1: Scan for The Cursed Murderer with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool

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.


2. After you have installed SpyHunter, wait for it to update automatically.

scan for and delete ransomware virus step 2


3. After the update process has finished, click on the 'Malware/PC Scan' tab. A new window will appear. Click on 'Start Scan'.

scan for and delete ransomware virus step 3


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.

scan for and delete ransomware virus step 4

If any threats have been removed, it is highly recommended to restart your PC.

Ransomware Automatic Removal - Video Guide

Step 2: Uninstall The Cursed Murderer and related malware 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.
delete ransomware from windows step 1


2. In the field type in "appwiz.cpl" and press ENTER.
delete ransomware from windows step 2


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"
delete ransomware from windows step 3Follow the instructions above and you will successfully delete most unwanted and malicious programs.


Step 3: Clean any registries, created by The Cursed Murderer 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 The Cursed Murderer there. This can happen by following the steps underneath:

1. Open the Run Window again, type "regedit" and click OK.
delete ransomware virus registries step 1


2. When you open it, you can freely navigate to the Run and RunOnce keys, whose locations are shown above.
delete ransomware virus registries step 2


3. You can remove the value of the virus by right-clicking on it and removing it.
delete ransomware virus registries step 3 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.

IMPORTANT!
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: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove The Cursed Murderer

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

1. Hold Windows Key + R.
remove ransomware in safe mode step 1


2. The "Run" Window will appear. In it, type "msconfig" and click OK.
remove ransomware in safe mode step 2


3. Go to the "Boot" tab. There select "Safe Boot" and then click "Apply" and "OK".
remove ransomware in safe mode step 3
Tip: Make sure to reverse those changes by unticking Safe Boot after that, because your system will always boot in Safe Boot from now on.


4. When prompted, click on "Restart" to go into Safe Mode.
remove ransomware in safe mode step 4


5. You can recognise Safe Mode by the words written on the corners of your screen.
remove ransomware in safe mode step 5


Step 5: Try to Restore Files Encrypted by The Cursed Murderer.

Method 1: Use STOP Decrypter by Emsisoft.

Not all variants of this ransomware can be decrypted for free, but we have added the decryptor used by researchers that is often updated with the variants which become eventually decrypted. You can try and decrypt your files using the instructions below, but if they do not work, then unfortunately your variant of the ransomware virus is not decryptable.

Follow the instructions below to use the Emsisoft decrypter and decrypt your files for free. You can download the Emsisoft decryption tool linked here and then follow the steps provided below:

1 Right-click on the decrypter and click on Run as Administrator as shown below:

stop ransomware decryptor step 1

2. Agree with the license terms:

stop ransomware decryptor step 2

3. Click on "Add Folder" and then add the folders where you want files decrypted as shown underneath:

stop ransomware decryptor step 3

4. Click on "Decrypt" and wait for your files to be decoded.

stop ransomware decryptor step 4

Note: Credit for the decryptor goes to Emsisoft researchers who have made the breakthrough with this virus.

Method 2: Use data recovery software

Ransomware infections and The Cursed Murderer 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.


The Cursed Murderer-FAQ

What is The Cursed Murderer Ransomware?

The Cursed Murderer 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 algorithms 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.

What Does The Cursed Murderer Ransomware Do?

Ransomware in general is a malicious software that is designed to block access to your computer or files until a ransom is paid.

Ransomware viruses can also damage your system, corrupt data and delete files, resulting in the permanent loss of important files.

How Does The Cursed Murderer Infect?

Via several ways.The Cursed Murderer Ransomware infects computers by being sent via phishing emails, 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.

Another way you may become a victim of The Cursed Murderer 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 .The Cursed Murderer files?

You can't without a decryptor. At this point, the .The Cursed Murderer files are encrypted. You can only open them once they are decrypted using a specific decryption key for the particular algorithm.

What to Do If a Decryptor Does Not Work?

Do not panic, and backup the files. If a decryptor did not decrypt your .The Cursed Murderer files successfully, then do not despair, because this virus is still new.

Can I Restore ".The Cursed Murderer" Files?

Yes, sometimes files can be restored. We have suggested several file recovery methods that could work if you want to restore .The Cursed Murderer files. 

These methods are in no way 100% guaranteed that you will be able to get your files back. But if you have a backup, your chances of success are much greater.

How To Get Rid of The Cursed Murderer Virus?

The safest way and the most efficient one for the removal of this ransomware infection is the use a professional anti-malware program.

It will scan for and locate The Cursed Murderer ransomware and then remove it without causing any additional harm to your important .The Cursed Murderer files.

Can I 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.

Can You Stop Ransomware from Encrypting Your Files?

Yes, you can prevent ransomware. The best way to do this is to ensure your computer system is updated with the latest security patches, use a reputable anti-malware program and firewall, backup your important files frequently, and avoid clicking on malicious links or downloading unknown files.

Can The Cursed Murderer Ransomware Steal Your Data?

Yes, in most cases ransomware will steal your information. It is a form of malware that steals data from a user's computer, encrypts it, and then demands a ransom in order to decrypt it.

In many cases, the malware authors or attackers will threaten to delete the data or publish it online unless the ransom is paid.

Can Ransomware Infect WiFi?

Yes, ransomware can infect WiFi networks, as malicious actors can use it to gain control of the network, steal confidential data, and lock out users. If a ransomware attack is successful, it could lead to a loss of service and/or data, and in some cases, financial losses.

Should I Pay Ransomware?

No, you should not pay ransomware extortionists. Paying them only encourages criminals and does not guarantee that the files or data will be restored. The better approach is to have a secure backup of important data and be vigilant about security in the first place.

What Happens If I Don't Pay Ransom?

If you don't pay the ransom, the hackers may still have access to your computer, data, or files and may continue to threaten to expose or delete them, or even use them to commit cybercrimes. In some cases, they may even continue to demand additional ransom payments.

Can a Ransomware Attack Be Detected?

Yes, ransomware can be detected. Anti-malware software and other advanced security tools can detect ransomware and alert the user when it is present on a machine.

It is important to stay up-to-date on the latest security measures and to keep security software updated to ensure ransomware can be detected and prevented.

Do Ransomware Criminals Get Caught?

Yes, ransomware criminals do get caught. Law enforcement agencies, such as the FBI, Interpol and others have been successful in tracking down and prosecuting ransomware criminals in the US and other countries. As ransomware threats continue to increase, so does the enforcement activity.

About the The Cursed Murderer Research

The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this The Cursed Murderer 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 The Cursed Murderer 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.


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.

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