How to remove Horsemagyar ransomware

Horsemagyar ransomware is one of the most recent file-locking viruses found by security researchers

Horsemagyar ransomware is a file locking virus that can cause a lot of damage. It can affect both businesses and home users. It infiltrates the system and starts using complicated encryption algorithms to lock users' personal files, like photos, videos, documents, etc.

This makes the files impossible to open and use. The icons also change to white pages and thumbnails become unavailable. After the encryption process is done, the ransomware also appends the files with a .[ID.[spanielearslook].likeoldboobs extension. So if a file was previously named picture.jpg, now it would look like this – picture.jpg.[ID.[spanielearslook].likeoldboobs.

After the files are locked, a ransom note is usually generated on the machine. It informs users about what has happened to their files and what the cybercriminals want users to do to get them back. In this guide, you will find a lot of information about ransomware distribution methods, and what are your options if you are affected.

The ransom note

::: Hello my dear friend :::

Unfortunately for you, a major IT security weakness left you open to attack, your files have been encrypted
If you want to restore them,write to our skype – HORSEMAGYAR DECRYPTION
Also you can write ICQ live chat which works 24/7 @HORSEMAGYAR
Install ICQ software on your PC hxxps://icq.com/windows/ or on your mobile phone search in Appstore / Google market ICQ
Write to our ICQ @HORSEMAGYAR hxxps://icq.im/HORSEMAGYAR
If we not reply in 6 hours you can write to our mail but use it only if previous methods not working – horsemagyar@onionmail.org

Attention!
* Do not rename encrypted files.
* Do not try to decrypt your data using third party software, it may cause permanent data loss.
* We are always ready to cooperate and find the best way to solve your problem.
* The faster you write, the more favorable the conditions will be for you.
* Our company values its reputation.  We give all guarantees of your files decryption,such as test decryption some of them
We respect your time and waiting for respond from your side
tell your MachineID: – and LaunchID: –

Sensitive data on your system was DOWNLOADED.
If you DON'T WANT your sensitive data to be PUBLISHED you have to act quickly.

Data includes:
– Employees personal data, CVs, DL, SSN.
– Complete network map including credentials for local and remote services.
– Private financial information including: clients data, bills, budgets, annual reports, bank statements.
– Manufacturing documents including: datagrams, schemas, drawings in solidworks format
– And more…

The Horsemagyar ransomware generates a ransom note with a file name Horse.txt. Generally, ransomware developers use the note to explain all the instructions. They typically tell victims that they have to pay money in order to get their files back. The most common choice of payment is cryptocurrencies, and more specifically – Bitcoin.^[1]

Hackers choose this form of payment because it is anonymous. Once you make a cryptocurrency transaction it is irreversible, and it is impossible to get the tokens or coins back once you send them to another wallet. It is very risky to pay the ransom to cybercriminals, and here is why.

They cannot be trusted. Many previous ransomware attack victims have come forward and shared their experiences. A lot of people never heard back from the threat actors once they sent the money. You are also in a way encouraging and funding this malicious activity.

Although it may be painful to lose your files, remember that you take a huge risk by paying shady individuals. You might be simply scammed. Yes, only the cybercriminals have the decryption key^[2] that could recover your files but is it worth it? In this guide, you will find a third-party solution that has helped some people. Threat actors also sometimes release the decryption keys to the public after they have exploited as many people as they could, so your second option should be to just wait.

Distribution methods

Typically, the malicious code^[3] gets introduced by an executable file (.exe) that may have been in a zip folder, embedded within a Microsoft Office document’s macros, or disguised as a fax or other viable attachment. This usually happens because of user error and ignorance of security risks:

• Installations of “Cracked” software. Websites that distribute free versions of programs should not be trusted because their activity is illegal. Most often the downloads are filled with potentially unwanted programs^[4] and malware.
• Drive-by downloads. Hackers embed the malicious code on a website or redirect the victim to another site that they control, which hosts exploit kits. They give hackers the ability to silently scan the visiting device for its specific weaknesses, and, if found, execute code in the background without the user clicking anything. 
• Software vulnerabilities. Hackers look for weak spots to exploit so those who do not patch their programs frequently are at higher risk.
• Phishing attacks. This involves an attacker attaching an infected document or URL to an email while disguising it as legitimate to trick users into opening it and installing the malware on their device.
• Trojan horse style. This involves disguising ransomware as legitimate software online, and then infecting devices after users install it.

So the takeaway from this should be to use only official web stores and developer sites whenever you want to install software, not believe everything you see online and not click on random ads. Do not open email attachments from unknown senders and update your operating system and other software as soon as new patches are released.

The start of the elimination process

The important thing to do is 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.

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 is not letting 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.

What to do with the damaged operating system?

Performance, stability, and usability issues, to the point where a full Windows reinstall is required, are expected after malware infection. These types of infections 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 is not able to repair it. 

This is why FortectIntego was developed. It can fix a lot of the damage caused by an infection like this. Blue Screen errors, freezes, registry errors, damaged DLLs, etc., can make your computer completely unusable. By using this maintenance tool, you could avoid Windows reinstallation.

• 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 your files with third-party software

Only hackers hold the decryption key, which can unlock your files, so if you did not back them up previously, you possibly lost your files forever. You can try using data recovery software, but third-party programs cannot always decrypt the files. We suggest at least trying this method. Before proceeding, you have to copy the corrupted files and place them in a USB flash drive or another storage. And remember – only do this if you have already removed the Horsemagyar 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.