Do you know what Homer Ransomware is?
Windows users need to watch out for Homer Ransomware because when this threat invades systems, it encrypts pretty much all personal files. Your work or school documents, childhood photos, birthday videos, projects, and all other personal files can become unreadable if the attackers get their hands on them. After encryption, the “.id-{code}.[wecanhelpu@tuta.io].wch” extension is added to their names, and so you do not need to try to open the encrypted files to see which ones were corrupted. Sadly, you cannot restore the files by removing the extension or renaming them. Instead, you need to change the data within your files, and that is not that easy to do. In fact, most ransomware victims are unable to get their files restored. Hopefully, that is not the case with this malware because of the free Rakhini Decryptor, which we talk more about further in this report. Of course, whether or not you get your files restored, you need to delete Homer Ransomware, and that is what we are here to help you with.
If Homer Ransomware has encrypted your files, you might remember opening a strange file sent to you via spam email or downloading new software, as these are the security backdoors that are most likely to be exploited. The same backdoors have been known to be used for the distribution of thousands of file-encrypting threats, including Bmtf Ransomware, WCH Ransomware, and Smpl Ransomware. Do you know what these particular threats have in common with Homer Ransomware? It is likely that different parties stand behind them, but it is known that the same code was used to build them. The malware that this code is based on is Dharma Ransomware/Crysis Ransomware, and it has been active since at least 2016. Since then, hundreds of clones of this dangerous malware have been discovered, and it is impossible to know if the attacks will stop. This is why prevention is the best weapon against it. That being said, the free Rakhini Decryptor was created, and while it might not be able to decrypt all clones right away, this tool is a savior in extreme cases when victims cannot recover files through replacement.
Homer Ransomware screenshot
Scroll down for full removal instructions
Most ransomware infections are undecryptable, and that is why protecting personal files has never been more important. Reliable anti-malware software can help secure operating systems, but cybercriminals always come up with new malware models, and not all tools are able to protect against them right away. Furthermore, users often forget to update their security systems, and they even ignore the warnings they might receive. This is why it is crucial to add additional protection for personal files. That is easiest to do by creating backup copies. You can use external drives and cloud storage to store copies of all important files, and if you have backups now, you can replace the corrupted files after removing Homer Ransomware. If you do not have backups, the ransom notes introduced by the threat using the “FILES ENCRYPTED.txt” file and the “crimecrypt@aol.com” window can trick you into taking risky actions. The attackers behind the threat instruct to email homersimpson777@mail.fr or jackgreen13@protonmail.com, and if you do that, they can then instruct to pay a ransom in return for their decryptor. Do NOT pay attention to the attackers’ promises, and immediately delete Homer Ransomware even if you cannot recover the files afterward.
Remove Homer Ransomware
- Delete the ransom note called FILES ENCRYPTED.txt from the Desktop.
- Delete recently downloaded suspicious files from these directories:
- %TEMP%
- %USERPROFILE%\Desktop
- %USERPROFILE%\Downloads
- Tap WINDOWS+E keys to launch File Explorer.
- Enter %APPDATA% into the field at the top.
- Delete the file named Info.hta.
- Enter %APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\ into the field at the top.
- Delete the file named Info.hta and also a malicious {random name}.exe file.
- Once you believe you are done, Empty Recycle Bin.
- Perform a full system scan using a malware scanner to see if you have removed everything.
In non-techie terms:
We cannot tell you where to find the launcher of Homer Ransomware because we do not know where this malicious file could have been dropped. If you are able to locate this file, you want to delete it as quickly as possible. You also want to get rid of the ransom note file. To learn how to do all of this, check out the manual removal guide below. That being said, note that manual removal is not the only option you’ve got. We believe that it is better to implement anti-malware software for the removal of Homer Ransomware. Not only can this software automatically delete all malicious threats but also reinstate full Windows security, which is the first defense mechanism against ransomware and other types of malware. Besides using reliable security software, you also want to stay away from suspicious emails and downloaders, and you definitely want to create backups of all important personal files.