How to remove Garsomware ransomware

Garsomware ransomware is a serious threat that can cause damage to users' personal files

Garsomware ransomware is based on Chaos ransomware. It encrypts photos, videos, and documents using complex encryption^[1] algorithms. When the process is completed, victims will be unable to open or use their data. The malware appends its extension (four random characters) to filenames and generates the “Garsomware.txt” file, which contains instructions on how to pay threat actors to decrypt data.

An example of how Garsomware modifies filenames: it renames “1.jpg” to “1.jpg.y7ta”, “2.doc” to “2.doc.uy95”, and so forth. The icons turn to white pages so people cannot see the thumbnails. Such infections can be very devastating to those who do not have backups.

The ransom note

Garsomware ransomware generates a ransom note Garsomware.txt which reads as follows:

Your Computer is infected by Garsomware Say godbye to your computer!

What can I do to get my files back?You can buy our special
decryption software, this software will allow you to recover all of your data and remove the
ransomware from your computer.The price for the software is $1,500. Payment can be made in Bitcoin only.
How do I pay, where do I get Bitcoin?
Purchasing Bitcoin varies from country to country, you are best advised to do a quick google search
yourself  to find out how to buy Bitcoin.
Many of our customers have reported these sites to be fast and reliable:
Coinmama – hxxps://www.coinmama.com Bitpanda – hxxps://www.bitpanda.com

Payment informationAmount: 0.1473766 BTC
Bitcoin Address:  17CqMQFeuB3NTzJ2X28tfRmWaPyPQgvoHV

The attackers claim that they infected the victim's computer with “Garsomware” and encrypted their files. The attackers then offer to sell the victim decryption software in exchange for a $1,500 ransom paid in Bitcoin only.

Paying the ransom, on the other hand, is not advised. For starters, there is no guarantee that the attackers will provide the decryption software after being paid. There have been numerous reports of victims paying the ransom but never receiving the decryption software or having their files successfully decrypted.

Distribution methods

Although it is unknown how specifically Garsomware ransomware spreads on the Internet, threat actors use some general tactics to distribute malicious programs. During “cracked” software^[2] installations, malicious files can infiltrate the system. Platforms that distribute them are unregulated and serve as breeding grounds for various types of malware.

Cybercriminals can even deliver ransomware to your system via email. This is accomplished by including malicious links or attachments in the email. Always exercise caution when opening emails from unknown senders. Even if you received an attachment from a friend, it is best to double-check with them via another platform.

Hackers may also use OS or software vulnerabilities as a distribution channel. That is why it is critical to keep everything current. Software developers frequently release security updates for newly discovered vulnerabilities, so you may be vulnerable if you do not.

Start the removal process

The important thing to do is to disconnect the affected machine from the local network. For home users, disconnecting the ethernet cable should do the job. If this happened at your workplace, doing that might be complicated, so we have instructions for corporate environments at the bottom of this post.

If you try to recover your data first, it can result in permanent loss. It can also encrypt your files the second time. It will not stop until you remove the malicious files causing it first. You should not attempt removing the malicious program yourself unless you have experience. Manual removal of ransomware is extremely complicated and is suitable for people with advanced IT skills.

Use anti-malware tools like SpyHunterCombo Cleaner or MalwarebytesMalwarebytes to scan your system. This security software should find all the related files and entries and remove them automatically for you. In some cases, malware does not let you use antivirus in normal mode, so you need to access Safe Mode and perform a full system scan from there:

Windows 7 / Vista / XP

1. Click Start > Shutdown > Restart > OK.
2. When your computer becomes active, start pressing F8 button (if that does not work, try F2, F12, Del, etc. – it all depends on your motherboard model) multiple times until you see the Advanced Boot Options window.
3. Select Safe Mode with Networking from the list.

Windows 10 / Windows 8

1. Right-click on Start button and select Settings.
   
2. Scroll down to pick Update & Security.
3. On the left side of the window, pick Recovery.
4. Now scroll down to find Advanced Startup section.
5. Click Restart now.
6. Select Troubleshoot.
7. Go to Advanced options.
8. Select Startup Settings.
9. Click Restart.
10. Press 5 or click 5) Enable Safe Mode with Networking.

Repair corrupted system files

Performance, stability, and usability issues, to the point where a full Windows reinstall is required, are nothing unusual after malware infection. These types of viruses can alter the Windows registry database, damage vital bootup, and other sections, delete or corrupt DLL files, etc. Once a system file is damaged by malware, antivirus software cannot fix it.

Manual troubleshooting of such damage is also very complicated and can take a long time. This is why FortectIntego was developed. It can fix a lot of the damage caused by an infection like this. Blue Screen errors,^[3] freezes, registry errors, damaged DLLs, etc., can make your computer completely unusable. By using this maintenance tool, you could prevent yourself from having to reinstall Windows completely.

• Download the application by clicking on the link above
• Click on the ReimageRepair.exe
  
• If User Account Control (UAC) shows up, select Yes
• Press Install and wait till the program finishes the installation process
• The analysis of your machine will begin immediately
• Once complete, check the results – they will be listed in the Summary
• You can now click on each of the issues and fix them manually
• If you see many problems that you find difficult to fix, we recommend you purchase the license and fix them automatically.

Try recovering data with third-party software

Only hackers hold the decryption key, which can unlock your files, so if you did not back them up previously, there is a good chance that you will never get them back. You can try using data recovery software, but keep in mind that third-party programs cannot always decrypt files. Whatever the situation may be, we suggest at least trying this method. Before you proceed, copy the corrupted files and place them in a USB flash drive or another external storage device. And remember – only do this if you have already removed the Garsomware ransomware.

Before you begin, several pointers are important while dealing with this situation:

• Since the encrypted data on your computer might permanently be damaged by security or data recovery software, you should first make backups of it – use a USB flash drive or another storage.
• Only attempt to recover your files using this method after you perform a scan with anti-malware software.

Install data recovery software

1. Download Data Recovery Pro.
2. Double-click the installer to launch it.
3. Follow on-screen instructions to install the software.
4. As soon as you press Finish, you can use the app.
5. Select Everything or pick individual folders where you want the files to be recovered from.
6. Press Next.
7. At the bottom, enable Deep scan and pick which Disks you want to be scanned.
8. Press Scan and wait till it is complete.
9. You can now pick which folders/files to recover – don't forget you also have the option to search by the file name!
10. Press Recover to retrieve your files.