Martin graduated with a degree in Publishing from Sofia University. As a cyber security enthusiast he enjoys writing about the latest threats and mechanisms of intrusion.
Martin graduated with a degree in Publishing from Sofia University. As a cyber security enthusiast he enjoys writing about the latest threats and mechanisms of intrusion.
Martin graduated with a degree in Publishing from Sofia University. As a cyber security enthusiast he enjoys writing about the latest threats and mechanisms of intrusion.
Note! Your computer might be affected by TNT Ransomware and other threats.
Threats such as TNT Ransomware 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
Martin graduated with a degree in Publishing from Sofia University. As a cyber security enthusiast he enjoys writing about the latest threats and mechanisms of intrusion.
THT ransomware is a very dangerous virus instance that has been identified in an ongoing hacker attack. It has been discovered during a security investigation of large enterprises around the world. It is an advanced threat that needs to be removed as fast as possible. Refer to our detailed removal guide to learn more about deleting active TNT ransomware infections.
Threat Summary
Name
TNT Ransomware
Type
Ransomware, Cryptovirus
Short Description
The ransomware encrypts sensitive information on your computer system and demands a ransom to be paid to allegedly recover them.
Symptoms
The ransomware will encrypt your files with a strong encryption algorithm.
Distribution Method
Spam Emails, Email Attachments
Detection Tool
See If Your System Has Been Affected by TNT Ransomware
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.
THT Ransomware Virus Virus – Distribution Ways
The THT ransomware is a newly discovered virus threat that appears to use popular methods for infection. At the moment the ongoing attack campaigns appears to target primarily large servers used by organizations, corporations and government agencies and also medium-sized businesses. One of the dangerous characteristics about it is the fact that it has been discovered during a security inspection. This means that the virus was able to penetrate all security measures and infiltrate the main servers.
This is probably caused by a direct hack attack that resulted in compromised remote access credentials. It is very possible that the hackers have found a vulnerability on the systems and used the weak spot to intrude into the servers.
If any further attacks are planned by the criminals then the wide array of popular infection tactics can be used. One of the primary ones is the use of email SPAM messages. They coerce the victims into believing that the messages have been sent by a well-known company, the virus files can be either hyperlinked or directly attached.
Using hacker-created download sites the hackers can blackmail the users into thinking that they have accessed a legitimate download portal. They are created using the same design templates as well-known sites. Along with email messages the fake download sites are the primary places where computer users can get infected by malware payloads. There are two main types:
Documents — The hackers can embed the ransomware code into documents of various types: spreadsheets, presentations, text documents and databases. Once they are opened by the users a notification prompt will appear that will ask for permissions to execute the built-in scripts (macros). This action will trigger a code that starts the virus infection process.
Browser Hijackers — The THT ransomware can be distributed via browser hijackers — they are malicious web browser plugins that are usually found on the relevant repositories. They are advertised using fake developer credentials and user reviews. — The hacker operators can embed the virus code into application installers of popular software: creativity suites, productivity applications or system utilities. They are made by taking the legitimate file installer from the official download site and creating infected copies of it.
THT Ransomware Virus Virus – In-Depth Analysis
The THT ransomware is an acronym for Timisoara Hacker Team which is the collective’s name. They are probably from Romania or a Romanian-speaking country judging from their name. The initial security analysis suggests that it is based on various ransomware strains that were released so far. The fact that it is not based on one single threat shows that the criminals have attempted to create a custom threat.
This means that it uses a highly customizable code that can launch various processes — already built-in or ones that can be downloaded from the Internet.
The THT ransomware consequently can feature a highly customizable behavior pattern. The most common types rely on starting up the data harvesting module first. It can scan the host computer for any metrics that can help optimize the attacks such as network status and available hardware components. It can also be used to hijack personal data that can reveal the victim’s identity: their name, address, interests, location and passwords.
This information can then be forwarded to another component called stealth protection which guards the engine from security software. They are usually made compatible with the most popular anti-virus products, debug environments and virtual machine hosts.
If instructed so the THT ransomware can carry out various system modifications. As the collected strains have been found to infect deep into the hosts there are many types of system manipulation options available. Some of the possible actions can include the following:
Windows Registry Modifications — The THT ransomware code can manipulate the available Windows registry entries — both those belonging to the user-installed applications and the operating system ones. This can result in the inability to start certain functions, services and overall system performance will suffer.
Persistent Installation — The THT ransomware can be configured to make the virus engine automatically start once the computer boots. It will also disable certain services and also disable the boot recovery menu. This effectively disallows most manual user recovery options.
Additional Modules Delivery — Based upon the information obtained from the victim hosts the ransomware will be able to deploy and start other components.
Hacker Server Connection — The THT ransomware engine can connect to a hacker-controlled server that allows the criminals to take over control of the infected machines and spy on the victims in real time.
THT Ransomware Virus Virus -Encryption
THT ransomware uses a strong cipher (AES-256) that is applied to the target data. Like other similar viruses it uses a built-in list of target data. Examples include the following:
Archives
Backups
Databases
Images
Videos
Music
One of the interesting characteristics is that it doesn’t rename the target data — their icons will be changed to generic White icons. Upon clicking on the victim data the users will receive a notification prompt telling them that the file is corrupted.
A ransomware note has been produced in several strains which reads the following message:
Hello. Sorry, your company’s server hard drive was encrypted by us. We use the most complex encryption algorithm (AES256). Only we can decrypt. Please contact us: [email protected] (Please check spam, Avoid missing mail) Identification code: [random characters] (Please tell us the identification code) Ransom: Please pay 10 bitcoins. After the payment is successful, we will tell the Password. (If the contact is fast, we will give you a discount.) In order for you to believe in us, we have prepared the test server. Please contact us and we will tell the test server and decrypt the password. How to buy and pay for Bitcoin: hxxp://www.localbitcoins[.]com Or you can google search “How to buy Bitcoin” If you know other trading websites better. We are a professional hacker team, not a virus. We only take directional attacks. We know everything about your company. If you refuse to pay, we will disclose important documents that we have (file, email, contracts and many more). We are a reputable organization and definitely not a liar. Our business covers more than 20 countries around the world. There are hundreds of companies that have successfully unlocked
Remove TNT Virus and Restore Encrypted Files
If your computer got infected with the TNT ransomware virus, you should have a bit of experience in removing malware. You should get rid of this ransomware as quickly as possible before it can have the chance to spread further and infect other computers. You should remove the ransomware and follow the step-by-step instructions guide provided below.
Note! Your computer system may be affected by TNT Ransomware 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 TNT Ransomware. 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 TNT Ransomware follow these steps:
1. Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove TNT Ransomware 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 TNT Ransomware on your PC
Find files created by TNT Ransomware
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 TNT Ransomware with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool and back up your data
1. Install SpyHunter to scan for TNT Ransomware and remove them.2. Scan with SpyHunter, Detect and Remove TNT Ransomware. 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 TNT Ransomware
Try to Restore Files Encrypted by TNT Ransomware
Ransomware infections and TNT Ransomware 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:
Martin graduated with a degree in Publishing from Sofia University. As a cyber security enthusiast he enjoys writing about the latest threats and mechanisms of intrusion.
Martin graduated with a degree in Publishing from Sofia University. As a cyber security enthusiast he enjoys writing about the latest threats and mechanisms of intrusion.
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 TNT Ransomware and remove them.
Back up your data to secure it from malware in the future.
