How to remove Bruhnet ransomware

Bruhnet ransomware infiltrates the system and locks users' personal files

Bruhnet is a virus that can cause extensive damage by locking users' personal files with complicated encryption^[1] algorithms, making them impossible to open. It belongs to the Xorist ransomware family. If you see Bruhnet in your system, your personal files might be permanently damaged if you do not have backups.

After the encryption process is done, the ransomware also changes the file extension to .bruhnet. So if a file was previously named picture.jpg, now it would look like this – picture.jpg.bruhnet. After the files are locked, a ransom note “КАК РАСШИФРОВАТЬ ФАЙЛЫ.txt” is generated on the machine, and the desktop wallpaper is changed.

A ransom note 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

Bruhnet ransomware generates a ransom note with a file name “КАК РАСШИФРОВАТЬ ФАЙЛЫ.txt.” Generally, ransomware developers use notes to explain what happened to victims' files. 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,^[2] and more specifically – Bitcoin.

Cryptocurrencies are not only popular among regular people. They are also becoming increasingly prevalent as a payment method among cybercriminals. Because they provide anonymity, hackers prefer this form of payment. Once you make a cryptocurrency transaction, it is irreversible, and you will never be able to retrieve the tokens or coins sent to another wallet.

Cybercriminals cannot be trusted, so paying the ransom is extremely risky. Past ransomware attack victims have come forward. After sending the money, many individuals were never contacted by the threat actors again and did not receive the promised decryption tools. Although it may be distressing to lose your data, keep in mind that you run a significant risk by sending money to threat actors.

Although it is almost impossible to retrieve locked data without cybercriminals' help, in this guide, you will find instructions on how to use a third-party solution. 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

• The installation of “cracked” software^[3] is one of the most frequent causes of ransomware infections. Because distributing free versions of applications is illegal, websites that provide them should not be trusted. The downloads are frequently contaminated with potentially unwanted programs and malware.
• By embedding malicious code^[4] onto a website or redirecting users to another site hackers control, they can exploit devices without user interaction. Exploit kits give hackers the ability to scan visiting devices for weaknesses and execute code if any are found. To protect yourself, only visit websites that you know and trust.
• Hackers exploit software vulnerabilities to gain access to systems. Keeping your operating system and software updated is crucial if you want to protect your system from an attack. Developers release security patches regularly which can help mitigate known risks – it's important to install these updates as soon as they are available.

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.

Fix operating system issues

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 Bruhnet 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.