How To Remove Mark (Dharma) Ransomware From Computer

Proper Guide To Delete Mark (Dharma) Ransomware And Recover Infected Data

Mark (Dharma) Ransomware is a kind of hazardous computer infection which encrypts users’ essential files and data stored inside their PCs and then asks them to pay off for the decryption tool. This nasty crypto-virus was first discovered by Jakub Kroustek and belongs to the family of well-known Dharma ransomware. It uses a powerful cryptography to lock your vital data such as images, videos, audios, PDFs, documents etc. and appends “.Mark” extension with the name of each of them. After that, you will not be able to access those files unless you use the decryption software that is kept on attackers’ server.

Following successful encryption, Mark (Dharma) Ransomware leaves a ransom note named “FILES ENCRYPTED.txt” on the desktop and also displays a pop-up window. You are informed about the unkind situation and also asked to contact the attackers via the email address provided with the note. At the end, you might have to pay the crooks an amount of ransom to regain access to the compromised data. Hackers also warn that remaining the infected files or try to access them via third-party software may cause permanent data loss.

Should You Pay The Ransom?

You certainly don’t want to lose your essential files and may consider dealing with the hackers but still, we highly advise to not do so. Remember, the sole purpose of the criminals behind developing such file-encoding treats is to extort illicit revenues from the victimized people, they will never provide any decryption tool even after taking the extortion. There are various instances when crooks just took the ransom from the victims and then ran away without fulfilling their promises. Paying ransom to the hackers is never recommended as by doing so, you will only end up with losing both files as well as money and also, exposing your credentials to the scammers.

Things To Do In Such Perilous Situation:

The first thing you need to do here is to remove Mark (Dharma) Ransomware from the work-station immediately as the longer it remains inside, it keeps compromising your other crucial data. As far as restoring the infected files is concerned, use a backup made on any external drive. However, in the absence of an appropriate backup, you can try a powerful file-recovery program and one you can download right here under this article. Moreover, security experts highly advise to keep making frequent backups by the help of which, you can restore the infected data at some amount if such hazardous situation occurs whenever.

Distribution of Mark (Dharma) Ransomware:

One of the main reasons why these crypto-viruses are so successful is their simple and efficient delivery tactics. Cyber criminals operate on multiple notorious software crack and pirated software web pages where they upload booby-trapped installers. People who desperately want to install software and bypass the licensing tasks, generally resort to torrent and similar web portals. However, such domains are hub for malware and this perilous ransomware is just one of several parasites that users could obtain there. It is worth mentioning here that crack tools will most surely be marked by almost all security measures because of the center mechanism of the operation, since cracks are designed to break a code within other programs. And hence, you need to stay away from all malevolent installers that might cause permanent data loss.

Important Points to be Aware of:

• Backup all your vital files and data regularly as it will help you save your files from all negative crypto-threats effects.
• Avoid using the default Remote Desktop Protocol port and use a string password that involves both characters as well as alphabets.
• Enable Firewall, use RDP and VPN and protect your browsers with ad-blockers.
• Use powerful passwords for all your accounts and never reuse them.
• While receiving suspicious emails, be careful of malicious attachments or hyperlinks such as documents that ask you to run macro function are particularly destructive.
• Use a reliable anti-malware application with web protection enabled.

Other Harmful Properties of Mark (Dharma) Ransomware:

Mark (Dharma) Ransomware messes with important system files which assure efficient computer processing and prevents many installed drivers and applications from working in an appropriate manner. makes vicious entries in Windows registries and alters its default settings in order to get automatically activated with each Window reboot. It slows down the overall computer performance drastically as it consumes huge amount of memory resources and increases the usage of CPU. This deadly parasite has ability to disable the working of all the running security measures and Windows Firewalls and open backdoors for more notorious infections. And therefore, looking at all these hazardous, you must remove Mark (Dharma) Ransomware from the computer without wasting any time.

Quick Glance

Name: Mark (Dharma) Ransomware

Type: Ransomware, Crypto-virus

Description- Destructive malware that aims to encrypt users’ crucial files and then ask them to pay off for the decryption key/tool.

Extension- “.Mark (threat also appends filenames with victim’s unique ID and developers’ email address)”

Ransom note: “FILES ENCRYPTED.txt” and pop-up window

Attackers’ Contact- [email protected], [email protected]

Symptoms: Users can not open files available on their desktop, 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.

Antimalware Details And User Guide

Click Here For Windows

Click Here For Mac

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

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

Step 1: Remove Mark (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 Mark (Dharma) Ransomware using “System Restore”

Log-in to the account infected with Mark (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 Mark (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 Mark (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 Mark (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 Mark (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 Mark (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 Mark (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 Mark (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 Mark (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.

Step3: A license agreement page appears on the screen. Click on “Accept” to agree with its terms and use. Follow the on-screen instruction as mentioned and click on “Finish” button.

Step4: Once the installation gets completed, the program gets executed automatically. In the newly opened interface, select the file types that you want to recover and click on “Next”.

Step5: You can select the “Drives” on which you want the software to run and execute the recovery process. Next is to click on the “Scan” button.

Step6: Based on drive you select for scanning, the restore process begins. The whole process may take time depending on the volume of the selected drive and number of files. Once the process gets completed, a data explorer appears on the screen with preview of that data that is to be recovered. Select the files that you want to restore.

Step7. Next is to locate the location where you want to saver the recovered files.