Tag Archive for: guide

Hunt Ransomware ([email protected]) – Decrypt Guide & Removal– Gridinsoft Blog

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Hunt ransomware is a new sample of the Dharma/CrySis ransomware family that appeared on April 5, 2024. This malware aims at encrypting the files and asking a ransom payment for their decryption. It unselectively targets both home users and corporations, correcting the ransom depending on the target. Jakub Kroustek was the first to discover this malware.

Ransomware remains a major threat, attacking both organizations and individuals. GridinSoft Anti-Malware provides excellent protection even against the most modern malware samples. 👉🏼 Get yourself proper ransomware protection

As I’ve said in the introduction, Hunt is a novice sample of the Dharma ransomware family. Being its part, Hunt ransomware follows its behavior patterns. The most noticeable one for the victim is the application of a complex extension, that contains the victim’s ID, the contact email (bughunt@keemail[.]me) and its .hunt extension. The files start looking as below after the encryption:

image.png → image.png.id-C3B22A85.[[email protected]].hunt
document.docx → document.docx.id-C3B22A85.[[email protected]].hunt

Hunt ransomware files
Encrypted files after the Hunt ransomware attack

Hunt ransomware goes through the entirety of user disks, searching for the files it can encrypt. It is capable of ciphering the vast majority of ones, from images and videos to project files of specific software suites. However, this malware carefully avoids any system files – probably, to prevent system malfunctions that can potentially force the user into reinstalling the system.

Before applying the encryption, this malware disables built-in Windows backup options, such as Restore Points and Shadow Copies. They are rather useful for reverting the system state to pre-encryption, so such action is rather expected. Hunt ransomware uses the command you can see below to accomplish this.

vssadmin delete shadows /all /quiet

After finishing the encryption (i.e. it can’t find more unencrypted files), Hunt ransomware spawns a text file with a ransom note. It also opens an HTA file with the information about with more detailed information about what’s happened and instructions for the ransom payment. You can see the example of this pop-up…

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A complete guide to internet security

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It doesn’t matter if you browse the internet for pleasure or rely on it heavily for business-related purposes, one thing will never change: there’s nothing more important than security and your computer’s health.

Introduction to internet security

There’s no simple answer to this question, but here’s a basic definition. Internet security refers to the measures and protocols implemented to protect online data and transactions from cyber threats, unauthorized access, and other forms of online exploitation. Internet security is a must for protecting sensitive information from cyberattacks, including personal data, financial records, and confidential communications. By implementing effective security measures, you can safeguard against identity theft, financial fraud, and data breaches, ensuring the integrity and confidentiality of online activities.

Fundamentals of online threats

Understanding common threats is the foundation of internet security and remaining safe online. Malware, phishing, and social engineering attacks are the most common online threats. Each of these is unique in the way that it impacts internet security:

  • Malware: Short for malicious software, malware includes viruses and spyware that damage your computer or steal sensitive information.

  • Phishing: Phishing scams trick you into giving away personal details, typically through deceptive emails resembling legitimate sources.

  • Social engineering attacks: These attacks manipulate you into breaking security protocols by relying on human interaction rather than technical methods.

Beyond these, identity theft and data breaches pose significant risks.

  • Identity theft: This occurs when someone unlawfully acquires your personal information to commit fraud.

  • Data breaches: Data breaches involve unauthorized access to secure databases to steal and/or expose confidential information.

All of these online threats underscore the importance of implementing security measures and remaining vigilant.

Navigating safely: Web browsing best practices

Safely navigating the web calls for a set of best practices to protect you at all times. To start, when browsing the internet, recognizing secure (and unsecured) connections is important. Look for…

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Responding to a cyber incident – a guide for CEOs – National Cyber Security Centre

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Responding to a cyber incident – a guide for CEOs  National Cyber Security Centre

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2024 Guide for Virus Scanning

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Key Takeaways: How to Run an Antivirus Scan

  • A full virus scan checks your device for viruses, worms and other types of malware.
  • Antivirus software can block or remove any potential infections.
  • Running regular virus scans is an essential part of device maintenance.

Malware, short for malicious software, poses many threats and can render devices inoperable, steal, delete, or encrypt data, take control of devices for further attacks, pilfer login credentials, or even mine cryptocurrency without consent. Therefore, it is a good idea to know how to run an antivirus scan periodically to make sure your data and computer system are secure.

Choosing the best antivirus is not easy. For more information on the top antivirus programs, read our article on the best antivirus software. In this article, we will show you how to install antivirus software and give step-by-step instructions on how to run the first scan on various devices.

Running a Virus Scan: What You’ll Need

Antivirus software is an essential tool that can detect, prevent and remove malicious software and files to ensure that your device is secure. We will demonstrate how to run an antivirus scan using two popular antivirus programs:

Bitdefender and Microsoft Defender; We have compared these two programs before, and if you want more information on which to choose, read the full comparison.

Microsoft Defender offers real-time protection, checking files or apps as they are downloaded and installed as well as running scans of files already on your system. Bitdefender does the same and protects against e-threats and has features like a firewall, anti-theft and ransomware remediation.

How to Run a First Scan 

In this example, we are using Windows Defender. Windows Defender is a free antivirus software…

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