What is Halloware Ransomware?
Halloware is a ransomware-sort infection specially designed to stealthily invade the system and encrypt information utilizing the AES-256 encryption algorithm. During encryption, Halloware prepends filenames with "(Lucifer)" [e.g., "sample.jpg" is renamed to "(Lucifer) sample.jpg"]. Halloware at that point changes the desktop wallpaper and opens a pop up window, both containing comparative payoff demand messages. Note that Halloware's designer (named 'Luc1F3R') endeavors to create income by offering the malware itself, rather than by contaminating user’s PC and accepting consequent ransom payment.
Know more about Halloware Ransomware (LUC1F3R):
Luc1F3R offers/publicizes Halloware on the shady web, exhibiting Halloware as brilliant ransomware and charging $40, which is an amazingly ease for this kind of software. Thusly, any wannabe digital criminal can buy the malware, modify a few settings (change two pictures and installment URL), and begin to create income by proliferating Halloware and requesting ransoms. As specified above, Halloware changes desktop wallpaper and opens a pop up window, regularly containing messages enlightening victims of the encryption and urging them to pay a ransom. Clearly, the payoff will vary contingent upon the buyer of this rebel software.
We additionally expressed that Halloware utilizes AES-256 calculation or you can say algorithm. This encryption is symmetric and, in this way, a solitary key used to encode and decode files and data. Note that Halloware does not create a new key for every casualty or store it on a remote server. This malware utilizes a solitary hard-coded key for every casualty. Therefore, it is very easy to break the encryption. Never endeavor to pay any ransom, since digital culprits frequently neglect casualties, once ransom are submitted or paid. Regardless of which ransomware infection has encrypted your data, never endeavor to contact these individuals or send any cash. It will convey no positive outcome - you will basically be misled. Likewise, you will encourage digital hoodlums' unkind organizations. Tragically, there are right now no tool equipped for restoring files encrypted by Halloware. In spite of the fact that Halloware utilizes a solitary encryption key, this circumstance will most likely change. For the present, be that as it may, you can just restore data/files from a backup.
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How does Halloware Ransomware infect your system?
- Bundling: It comes bundled with free application hosted from unreliable site. When user install those free application then this infection also gets installed automatically.
- Spam emails: This browser hijacker gets into your computer through malicious email attachments in the spam emails tab. malicious infected attachments and download links in an unknown emails.
- It also gets inside your system along with the installation of any new software applications which the user does without completely reading license agreements or reading without terms and condition. Most of these cases are sharing files like music, photos and many more in networking environment, visiting various adult websites are also liable behind the insertion of this threat inside the Pc.
- Social Clickjacking: Creators of such infections use online media such as Social Network and tempting advertisements to have users install these extensions. Update your flash player or win an IPhone are examples of such tempting offers.
- It can also get attached with on your PC, if you frequently visit unsafe site like Porn sites or betting sites which contain illegal stuff. In addition, user should also avoid clicking on misleading ads and random links which redirects the victim to social media site.
- Attachments send via emails or Facebook, Skype messages. This trap is genuinely old, however it is always getting enhanced. The most recent hit is to influence it to look an associate sent you that email and it will also incorporate what seem, by all accounts, to be business related documents inside. Make sure to search for the file attachment before you take a gander at the document name. If it closes with .exe or it is .exe file then it’s most likely an infection!
- Torrents & P2P File Sharing: Torrents and files shared on P2P networks have a high probability of being a carrier to such infections.
- Fake download websites are another wellspring of this programs. These websites have worked in calculations, which enable them to duplicate your search queries and influence the search engines to trust they have an ideal match for your search. When you endeavor to download a file from such a webpage the name will fit, but the file that you have downloaded are really going to be loaded with infections, viruses, malwares and other threats. So it is never a smart thought to open documents got from arbitrary sources without scanning them for infections first. Always keep an anti-virus program on your machine.
How to temporarily disable Halloware Ransomware in Safe Mode with Command Prompt:
Step – 1 (enter safe mode)
1. Steps to be followed to enter the safe mode Win XP/Vista/7
2. Click start, then shutdown, then restart.
3. While the computer is booting up at the very first screen start tapping F8 until you see the advanced boot options.
4. In the advanced boot option’s, you need to select safe mode with Command prompt from the list of given options.
Steps to be followed to enter safe mode in Win 8/10.
1. On the windows login screen, you need to press the power option.
2. Now, press and hold the shift key on the keyboard, and then click restart.
3. Now, among the list of options you need to select Troubleshoot, and then advanced options, then startup settings and finally press restart.
4. Once your computer restarts and gives you the list of startup options you need to select Enable Safe Mode with Command prompt.
Step – 2 (Restore system)
1. Once you see the command prompt windows, type in cd restore and hit enter on the keyboard.
2. Now, type rstrui.exe and hit Enter again.
3. Then you would see new windows, click on next over there and select a restore point that is before the date of infection.
4. Then, click next and followed by yes.
After temporarily disabling the ransomware, we need to create a strong firewall to fight against such intrusions and prevent them in future.
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Tips to Prevent Halloware Ransomware from Infecting Your System:
1. Enable your popup blocker: Pop-ups and ads in the websites are the most adoptable tactic used by cybercriminals or developers with the core intention to spread malicious programs. So, avoid clicking uncertain sites, software offers, pop-ups etc.
2. Keep your Windows Updated: To avoid such infections, we recommend that you should always keep your system updated through automatic windows update. By doing this you can keep your device free from virus. According to the survey, outdated/older versions of Windows operating system are an easy target.
3. Third-party installation: Try to avoid freeware download websites as they usually install bundled of software with any installer or stub file.
4. Regular Backup: Regular and periodical backup helps you to keep your data safe in case the system is infected by any kind of virus or any other infection. Thus always backup important files regularly on a cloud drive or an external hard drive.
5. Always have an Anti-Virus: Precaution is better than cure. We recommend that you install an antivirus like McAfee or a good Malware Removal Tool like Download Free Virus RemovalTool
6. Install a powerful ad- blocker for Chrome, Mozilla,and IE.