How to remove File Spider ransomware

File Spider virus is the file-locking ransomware that targets victims from Balkans

File Spider ransomware is a malicious program that aims to encrypt valuable information on the victimized computers to earn illegal profits^[1]. After it reaches the system and encodes data, it demands to pay the ransom within 96 hours to receive a decryptor. According to the latest news, the ransomware targets people from the Balkans — Bosnia, Serbia, Croatia, etc.

However, security experts do not recommend following such orders. Criminals are not worth relying on because you might lose your money as well. Thus, after you have noticed .spider extension at the end of your filenames, you should focus on the malware removal because it may have modified the system, opened a backdoor to other cyber threats, and made your PC vulnerable.

The ransomware is usually dropped on the system from the malicious MS Word document and executed using PowerShell. The virus on the system operates from two components. The one is an encryptor that arrives on the system as an enc.exe file. The second element is a decrypter and the main GUI runs from dec.exe.

Following data encryption, ransomware shows a ransom demanding window called “File Spider [ file-spider@protonmail.ch].” It includes a detailed explanation about data encryption and gives instructions on what users have to do. The ransom note also provides a link to the video hosting site where the victims can find a video tutorial on how to decrypt the data. 

The program has several sections that provide different information or guidelines:

• Start Page;
• Translate
• Visit Website;
• ID Code;
• Decrypter;
• Help.

In the Start Page, victims are threatened not to take any other action because File Spider malware is said to be capable of detecting them and deleting encrypted files as a punishment. However, it’s currently unknown if ransomware actually has this functionality. Though, elimination of the malware is still needed.

Nevertheless, cybercriminals try to be helpful and give even video tutorials on how to access payment websites; you should not follow their orders to avoid money loss.^[2] Ransomware is used for swindling money illegally. Thus, once they receive the payment; they might disappear and do not give the decryption key.

If you see this threatening window on your computer’s screen, you should reboot to Safe Mode with Networking and remove the File Spider virus using reputable malware removal software, such as SpyHunterCombo Cleaner, MalwarebytesMalwarebytes.

Ransomware arrives as a decoy Office Word document 

While crypto-malware can spread with the help of different techniques, this one particularly reaches the victim as a fraudulent email letter with the subject line Potrazivanje dugovanja, which means Debt Collection in English. The malicious letter holds a Word document written in the Bosnian language. 

Once the inexperienced computer user opens the document it triggers the hidden macro code which launches PowerShell to download the payload of the ransomware from a free Java Script hosting site called yourjavascript.com. At first, the payload is encoded with Base64.

To decode the malicious files, the PowerShell script uses the AlbertTI key in the XOR operation and saves the payloads inside the executables of the ransomware — enc.exe and dec.exe. 

Therefore, the malware researchers team from Bedynet.ru^[3] warn that users have to be careful with downloads, updates, and ads because they might also be used for spreading the virus. Thus, you should not click or download any suspicious content online.

File Spider ransomware virus termination instructions

It is important to understand the risks of ransomware infection. It can not only corrupt your files but also let inside other dangerous computer threats damage your system. Therefore, its elimination procedure should be held with extreme care.

Sadly, but the regular computer user is not experienced enough to deal with ransomware-type cyber infections. Likewise, the only option to clean your system is to ensure File Spider removal to professional security software. Our top recommendations would be SpyHunterCombo Cleaner and MalwarebytesMalwarebytes. Also, system tool FortectIntego.

They are particularly designed to be easy to use and finish the elimination procedure quickly. If you want to perform automatic termination, you might need to reboot your PC into Safe Mode to prevent the ransomware from blocking your system. Those who are not aware of how to do that can follow the instructions provided below.

Once you remove File Spider from the computer, you can restore encrypted files from backups. However, if you do not have them, you can try alternative recovery tools. You can find our recommendations below as well.