Do you know what Darus Ransomware is?
Darus Ransomware can cause a lot of trouble as the malware encrypts user’s files and then disables his Task Manager. Also, the threat ought to display a ransom note asking to contact the malicious application’s creators and later pay for decryption tools. As usual, the hackers may swear the user will get his files decrypted after making a payment, but, the truth is, you cannot be confident they will hold on to their word. Therefore, we advise not to rush into anything and weight all possibilities carefully. To do that, one should know all about the malware, which is why, further in this text, we explain where the threat could come from, how it works, and how to eliminate it. If you still have any questions after reading our report, you could leave us a message below. For users who need more help while erasing Darus Ransomware, we recommend checking our removal guide available at the end of this article.
One of the most important things to know is how Darus Ransomware could be distributed. Our researchers say that, usually, such malicious applications travel with malicious email attachments and data downloaded from unreliable websites. Often hackers disguise files that launch such threats as documents, updates, software installers, etc. In this case, our researchers thin the infection could travel with fake system updates. That is because the sample we tested opened a phony system notification claiming important Windows updates are being installed and that a user should not turn off his computer. As a result, while unsuspecting users are waiting for the system to be updated, the threat could encrypt all of their private files, for example, pictures, photos, archives, and so on.
According to our researchers, the malicious application marks encrypted files with the .darus extension (e.g., text.doc.darus), which is why it received the Darus Ransomware name. Files that have this extension become unrecognizable and so cannot be opened. Soon after targeted data gets encrypted, users should also notice a particular text document on their computers. This file might be called _readme.txt, and inside of it, it ought to contain a message from the malware’s creators. It ought to ask to contact the hackers via email or Telegram and pay a ransom. It is said that users who pay in 72 hours get a 50 percent discount, so instead of having to pay 980 US dollars, they can pay 490 US dollars. If such a sum seems still too enormous and you do not want to take any chances, we advise deleting the threat.
Darus Ransomware screenshot
Scroll down for full removal instructions
To erase Darus Ransomware manually, users should locate all files it must have created after entering a system. The removal guide available a bit below lists these files and show how to delete them one by one, so if you need any guidance, you should check it out. However, if the process seems to difficult, it might be best to employ a reliable antimalware tool of your choice and let it eliminate Darus Ransomware for you.
Erase Darus Ransomware
- Restart your computer in Safe Mode with Networking.
- Click Windows Key+E.
- Navigate to the suggested paths:
%TEMP%
%USERPROFILE%Desktop
%USERPROFILE%Downloads - Find a file opened when the device got infected, right-click the malicious file and select Delete.
- Find these paths:
%USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\Application Data
%LOCALAPPDATA% - Find the listed data in both mentioned folders:
{random name}.exe
script.ps1 - Right-click these files and choose Delete.
- Navigate to the same locations again:
%USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\Application Data
%LOCALAPPDATA% - Look for folders with long random names, for example, dfebd084-11fb-41be-bfb2-da7e291a4873; right-click them and choose Delete.
- Locate this particular path: %WINDIR%\System32\Tasks
- Search for a folder or a file called Time Trigger Task, right-click it and choose Delete.
- Exit File Explorer.
- Press Windows Key+R, type Regedit and choose OK.
- Navigate to this path: HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- Look for a value name that could be related to the malicious application, for example, SysHelper.
- Right-click this value name and press Delete.
- Close the Registry Editor.
- Empty Recycle bin.
- Restart the computer.
In non-techie terms:
Darus Ransomware is a file-encrypting threat designed to take a victim’s data as a hostage and then show a ransom note. To be more precise, the malware encrypts files with a secure encryption algorithm and then shows a note demanding to pay for their decryption. Unfortunately, the sum is not small and there are no reassurances the hackers will hold on to their end of the bargain. If you doubt such people can be trusted and do not want to take any chances, we advise against paying the ransom. Instead, you could erase Darus Ransomware and replace encrypted files with backup copies. Also, a while ago, cybersecurity specialists managed to create a decryption tool for Stop Ransomware family threats that this malicious application belongs to. Meaning, it is possible the same decryption tool could help decrypt files affected by later created clones. If you have no other options, it might be worth trying. Of course, to be safe, it is crucial to get rid of the threat first. To erase it manually, you could use the removal guide available above, and if you prefer using automatic features, we advise employing a chosen antimalware tool.