Remove .data (Dharma) Ransomware And Recover Encrypted Data

Simple Steps To Delete .data (Dharma) Ransomware From PC

.data (Dharma) Ransomware is a precarious file-locking malware belonging to the family of Dharma ransomware and was first spotted by security researcher Jakub Kroustek. As soon as this notorious infection gets into your computer, it encrypts all your crucial files and data stored inside the device and then asks you to pay the attackers an amount of ransom to get the decryption tool. Initially upon getting installed, it alters the default registry editors by making spiteful entries in it which allows the threat to get automatically activated every time the machine is rebooted. After that, this hazardous crypto-malware executes a deep scanning of the entire system in search of the files that have to be locked and once detected, encodes each of them at the end.

Depth Analysis of .data (Dharma) Ransomware:

.data (Dharma) Ransomware is a kind of virus that doesn’t need users’ approval to get into their work-station. It often infiltrates the Windows PCs by stealth through several illusive techniques and then starts performing lethal process of encrypting the targeted data. It uses a sophisticated encryption algorithm to lock your crucial files such as documents, images, audios, videos, PDFs, spreadsheets, presentations etc. and makes them completely inaccessible or unusable. You can easily identify the compromised files as it renames them by adding victims’ unique ID, attackers’ email address and appending “.data” extension with each of them as suffix. The real objective of the cyber criminals behind such nasty attack is to extort illicit profits from the victimized users. And hence, soon after completing the encryption process, it starts blackmailing victims for the decryption software.

.data (Dharma) Ransomware displays couple of ransom notes in a pop-up window and “FILES ENCRYPTED.txt” text file and informs the affected people regarding the attack. It also states that users can recover their important data but for this, they will have to contact the attackers via the provided email address. At the end, you might have to pay the criminals a ransom amount of $200 to $1500 in BitCoins or any other digital currency to get the functional decryptor. You are also warned not to rename the files or attempt to decrypt them using third-party software otherwise it may cause permanent data loss.

Text Presented In The Pop-up Window:

YOUR FILES ARE ENCRYPTED

Don’t worry,you can return all your files!

If you want to restore them, follow this link:email [email protected] YOUR ID –

If you have not been answered via the link within 12 hours, write to us by e-mail:[email protected]

Attention!

Do not rename encrypted files.

Do not try to decrypt your data using third party software, it may cause permanent data loss.

Decryption of your files with the help of third parties may cause increased price (they add their fee to our) or you can become a victim of a scam.

Text Presented In “FILES ENCRYPTED.txt” File:

all your data has been locked us

You want to return?

write email [email protected]

Should You Pay The Ransom?

Once your PC gets infected with .data (Dharma) Ransomware and all your important files and documents get locked, the biggest question that comes to your mind is: Should you deal with the criminals? However, there is no clear-cut or right answer to this query since each situation could possibly be different from the other. You can pay the money to the attackers and get the decryption key that will allow you to decrypt your vital data and regroup your files. However, you have absolutely no guarantee that hackers will deliver you the required tool even after taking the extortion since there are various instances when they just disappeared once the transaction is done and caused victims to lose both files as well as money. And so, you should not trust the attackers under any circumstance.

What Should The Victims do?

If you are an affected person, the first thing you need do here in such precarious situation is to perform a removal of .data (Dharma) Ransomware from the machine without wasting any time because the longer it remains inside, it keeps compromising your other crucial data. Paying ransom to the crooks only motivates them to generate and spread more such infections for further profits. And so, never make any sort of payment to the hackers and find any alternate way to restore the compromised files. For this, you can use a genuine data-recovery application that you can download right here via the link given under this article. Additionally, you should keep making regular backups that can be very helpful in recovering the data if such pernicious situation occurs whenever.

Ransomware Intrusion Methods

Criminals behind this dangerous threat are very intelligent who use various advanced methods to drop the payload of the virus. Users who are careless are by far the most vulnerable and prone to such attacks. The most common technique through which such kind of crypto-viruses are distributed is spam email campaigns. You often receive emails from unknown sender that might include vicious attachments in forms of .exe files, MS office and PDF documents, archive files etc. As soon as you open the mail and click on the attachment, it gets loaded and leads the virus intrusion.

Tips To Prevent Such Attacks:

While other malware threats like adware or PUPs might not be so destructive, ransomware threats such as .data (Dharma) Ransomware can cause permanent data loss. And so, you need to be very careful while browsing the net and ignore suspicious mails that include attachments such as .html, .doc, .pdf etc. or hyperlinks. Such content might include ransomware. Do not download pirated software or its cracks. Moreover, scan every unknown executable. And don’t forget to use a reputable anti-malware program and keep it up to date.

Quick Glance

Name: .data (Dharma) Ransomware

Type: Ransomware, Crypto-virus, File locker

Description– Hazardous malware encrypts users’ crucial files and then asks them to pay the attackers an amount of ransom to get the decryption key/tool.

Extension– .data (files are also appended with a unique ID and attackers’ email address)

Ransom note: Pop-up window and FILES ENCRYPTED.txt

Attacker’ contact– “[email protected]”

Symptoms: Users can not open files available on their system, previously functional files now have different extensions, A ransom demanding message is displayed on the desktop screen. Users are asked to pay an amount of ransom to unlock their encoded data and files.

Distribution methods: Torrent websites, spam emails, peer to peer network sharing, unofficial activation and updating tools.

Damage: All files are encrypted and cannot be accessed without paying ransom, Additional password stealing Trojans and malware infections can be installed along with ransomware infections and other malware.

Removal: To remove this virus from the system, we advise you to use a reliable anti-malware tool. Once malware gets removed, you can recover your files by using existing backup or data-recovery software.

Other Harmful Properties of This Crypto-malware:

.data (Dharma) Ransomware has ability to disable the working of all the running security measures and Windows Firewalls and open backdoors for more notorious infections. It might also bring other online infections such as adware, rootkits, worms, etc. in your computer and turn the machine into a malware-hub. This deadly crypto-virus causes several pernicious issues in the infected device such as hard drive crash, boot errors, application malfunctioning, software failure and so on. It messes with important system files which assure efficient computer processing and prevents many installed drivers and applications from working in an appropriate manner. And therefore, don’t waste any time. Just take an instant action and remove .data (Dharma) Ransomware from the PC by following the effective removal steps given below.

Antimalware Details And User Guide

Click Here For Windows

Click Here For Mac

Step 1: Remove .data (Dharma) Ransomware through “Safe Mode with Networking”

Step 2: Delete .data (Dharma) Ransomware using “System Restore”

Step 1: Remove .data (Dharma) Ransomware through “Safe Mode with Networking”

For Windows XP and Windows 7 users: Boot the PC in “Safe Mode”. Click on “Start” option and continuously press on F8 during the start process until the “Windows Advanced Option” menu appears on the screen. Choose “Safe Mode with Networking” from the list.

Now, a windows homescreen appears on the desktop and work-station is now working on “Safe mode with networking”.

For Windows 8 Users: Go to the “Start Screen”. In the search results select settings, type “Advanced”. In the “General PC Settings” option, choose “Advanced startup” option. Again, click on the “Restart Now” option. The work-station boots to “Advanced Startup Option Menu”. Press on “Troubleshoot” and then “Advanced options” button.  In the “Advanced Option Screen”, press on “Startup Settings”. Again, click on “Restart” button. The work-station will now restart in to the “Startup Setting” screen. Next is to press F5 to boot in Safe Mode in Networking.

For Windows 10 Users: Press on Windows logo and on the “Power” icon. In the newly opened menu, choose “Restart” while continuously holding “Shift” button on the keyboard. In the new open “Choose an option” window, click on “Troubleshoot” and then on the “Advanced Options”. Select “Startup Settings” and press on “Restart”. In the next window, click on “F5” button on the key-board.

Step 2: Delete .data (Dharma) Ransomware using “System Restore”

Log-in to the account infected with .data (Dharma) Ransomware. Open the browser and download a legitimate anti-malware tool. Do a full System scanning. Remove all the malicious detected entries.

In case if you cannot start the PC in “Safe Mode with Networking”, Try using “System Restore”

• During the “Startup”, continuously press on F8 key until the “Advanced Option” menu appears. From the list, choose “Safe Mode with Command Prompt” and then press “Enter”

• In the new opened command prompt, enter “cd restore” and then press “Enter”.

• Type: rstrui.exe and Press “ENTER”

• Click “Next” on the new windows

• Choose any of the “Restore Points” and click on “Next”. (This step will restore the work-station to its earlier time and date prior to .data (Dharma) Ransomware infiltration in the PC.

• In the newly opened windows, press on “Yes”.

Once your PC gets restored to its previous date and time, download the recommended anti-malware tool and perform a deep scanning in order to remove .data (Dharma) Ransomware files if they left in the work-station.

In order to restore the each (separate) file by this ransomware, use “Windows Previous Version” feature. This method is effective when “System Restore Function” is enabled in the work-station.

Important Note: Some variants of .data (Dharma) Ransomware delete the “Shadow Volume Copies” as well hence this feature may not work all the time and is applicable for selective computers only.

How to Restore Individual Encrypted File:

In order to restore a single file, right click on it and go to “Properties”. Select “Previous Version” tab. Select a “Restore Point” and click on “Restore” option.

In order to access the files encrypted by .data (Dharma) Ransomware, you can also try using “Shadow Explorer”. In order to get more information on this application, press here.

Important: Data Encryption Ransomware are highly dangerous and it is always better that you take precautions to avoid its attack on your work-station. It is advised to use a powerful anti-malware tool in order to get protection in real-time. With this help of “SpyHunter”, “group policy objects” are implanted in the registries in order to block harmful infections like .data (Dharma) Ransomware.

Also, In Windows 10, you get a very unique feature called “Fall Creators Update” that offer “Controlled Folder Access” feature in order to block any kind of encryption to the files. With the help of this feature, any files stored in the locations such as “Documents”, “Pictures”, “Music”, “Videos”, “Favorites” and “Desktop” folders are safe by default.

It is very important that you install this “Windows 10 Fall Creators Update” in your PC to protect your important files and data from ransomware encryption. The more information on how to get this update and add an additional protection form rnasomware attack has been discussed here.

How to Recover the Files Encrypted by .data (Dharma) Ransomware?

Till now, you would have understood that what had happed to your personal files that got encrypted and how you can remove the scripts and payloads associated with .data (Dharma) Ransomware in order to protect your personal files that has not been damaged or encrypted until now. In order to retrieve the locked files, the depth information related to “System Restore” and “Shadow Volume Copies” has already been discussed earlier. However, in case if you are still unable to access the encrypted files then you can try using a data recovery tool.

Use of Data Recovery Tool

This step is for all those victims who have already tries all the above mentioned process but didn’t find any solution. Also it is important that you are able to access the PC and can install any software. The data recovery tool works on the basis of System scanning and recovery algorithm. It searches the System partitions in order to locate the original files which were deleted, corrupted or damaged by the malware. Remember that you must not re-install the Windows OS otherwise the “previous” copies will get deleted permanently. You have to clean the work-station at first and remove .data (Dharma) Ransomware infection. Leave the locked files as it is and follow the steps mentioned below.

Step1: Download the software in the work-station by clicking on the “Download” button below.

Step2: Execute the installer by clicking on downloaded files.

Step 3: Follow all on screen instructions to install the app successfully on your machine and run it.. When its interface appear before you. Just select what you want to recover from your computer and its drive. For options, check the image below as the app offer you to recover everything, document, folders or emails, or multimedia files. Depending upon your requirements, select any of options and proceed to next step.

Step 4: At this step, you will have to specify the past of data or files from where you are interested to recover lost or deleted data. The application offers you to recover data from common locations, connected drives, and other locations as well. Just choose what you need. Following selection, click on Next button and the app will start to scan the selected drive.

Step 5: Once the scanner finishes to scan, it will show you detected kinds of deleted data or files which you may require to recover. It will offer you various recovery options based on file types. Even it allows you to see preview of file types you select in order to recover those efficiently.

Step 6: Now, you may need to specify the path where you want to recover the selected files and saved. Just do it according to your requirements, and you are done.