Gerkaman@aol.com Ransomware Removal Guide

Do you know what Gerkaman@aol.com Ransomware is?

Gerkaman@aol.com Ransomware is a threat that enters the system without permission and damages not only program data but also personal files. Such data becomes unusable as the malware encrypts it while using an encryption algorithm called RSA-2048. The infection is similar to Meldonii@india.com Ransomware, Ramachandra7@india.com Ransomware, Melme@india.com Ransomware, and other malicious programs, which come from the same ransomware family. Our researchers indicate that these threats could infect user’s computer after launching suspicious files sent via Spam email. Unfortunately, deleting the infected file will not eliminate the malware or restore your data. However, if you want to erase Gerkaman@aol.com Ransomware we prepared a removal guide and placed it below the article. Moreover, we should warn users that the malicious program’s creators may demand to pay a ransom, but doing so may not guarantee locked data’s recovery. For more details, continue reading the text.

Firstly, let’s start with an explanation how this ransomware application might have appeared on your system. Like lots of other similar threats, Gerkaman@aol.com Ransomware is probably also spread with infected data that reaches computers via Spam emails. You might open such attachments without even considering them to be malicious, because in some cases, such files look like various documents, bills, images, and so on. Nevertheless, the fact that these files come from someone users are not familiar with, or they arrive unexpectedly, should be enough for any user to feel suspicious. If you sense something might be wrong, do not hesitate to scan received data with a reliable antimalware tool, because the consequences could be irreversible.Gerkaman@aol.com Ransomware Removal GuideGerkaman@aol.com Ransomware screenshot
Scroll down for full removal instructions

After being launched, Gerkaman@aol.com Ransomware should install itself on the user’s computer. It does so while creating randomly titled files and Windows Registry entries. Then, the infection uses the RSA-2048 cryptosystem to lock your personal files and program data. In fact, the malicious program could encrypt almost all files on the system. The only exception it makes is for the data belonging to the operating system. For the infection’s creators to receive their money, you must be able to connect to the Internet and see their warning message. It should be displayed on a text document called Decryption instructions.txt.

According to it, you should send one encrypted file to either gerkaman@aol.com or gerkaman@india.com. The malware’s creators might decrypt this one file just to prove to you that the decryption tools do exist. As the warning says they give the user three days to respond and if he does not they threaten that the decryption will become impossible. The note does not say anything about paying a ransom, but given that the application is made to extort money from users, such demand should undoubtedly yet arrive. Probably, the amount of money and instructions on how to make the transfer would be stated in the reply letter. Even though you may be prepared to do anything to restore locked data, we would suggest you consider this option carefully.

The infection’s developers might have decryption tools, but there are no guarantees that they will send them to you even if you pay the ransom. Thus, instead of putting up with their demands try to remember if there are any copies of the most important files. Some users upload their photos to social media or cloud storages, maybe you do the same and can download such files? If you chose not to pay the ransom, just to be safe, we advise you to delete Gerkaman@aol.com Ransomware before recovering data with copies. To eliminate the infection manually, users could follow the removal guide below and erase all malicious data from the system, but if it seems too complicated, you may want to use a legitimate antimalware tool instead.

Remove Gerkaman@aol.com Ransomware

  1. Launch the Explorer (press Windows Key+E) and find the given locations one by one:
    %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
    %APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
    %USERPROFILE%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
    %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
    %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
    %WINDIR%\Syswow64
    %WINDIR%\System32
  2. Look for an executable file with a random title in each of the locations listed above, right-click these files one by one and click Delete.
  3. Close the Explorer.
  4. Press Windows Key+R, type regedit in the RUN and select OK to launch Registry Editor.
  5. Search for a value name called Wallpaper in this particular path HKCU\Control Panel\Desktop
  6. Right-click the Wallpaper, press Modify, delete “How to decrypt your files.jpg” and click OK.
  7. Find a value name titled as BackgroundHistoryPath0 in the following directory: HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Wallpapers
  8. Right-click the BackgroundHistoryPath0, select Modify and erase “How to decrypt your files.jpg.”
  9. Navigate to: HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run and locate value names that have random titles (their value data should point to %WINDIR%\Syswow64\*.exe, %WINDIR%\System32\*.exe).
  10. Mark these value names separately, right-click them and press Delete.
  11. Close the Explorer, empty the Recycle Bin.

In non-techie terms:

Gerkaman@aol.com Ransomware is a malicious program that no user would like to encounter. This threat may cause a lot of damage if you do not backup your personal data regularly. It encrypts a wide range of different file types and as a result, it might affect even program data. While you can reinstall the damaged software, it is impossible to recover personal data without any copies of it. The copies should be stored somewhere else besides the infected computer, e.g. flash drive, external hard drive, cloud storage, and so on. At this point, we can only help remove the malware manually with the instructions available above or recommend you a reputable antimalware tool that would erase this malicious program and clean the system from other possible threats.