Removal of Chimera Ramsomware | Malware removal Guide

About Chimera Ransomware

Ransomware

An encryption that may lock you out of your system is termed as ransomware. The developers of these encryptions ask ransom in exchange for unlocking your personal files and not making them public. It is a malware which is also capable of altering processes running in your system. They generally seek money in return of the default computer functioning.

Chimera Ransomware

It is a differently insane program that wouldn’t simply ask for ransom; else it will threaten you to pay the ransom or else assures a misuse of your personal credentials and data. They may also threaten you to leak private images, personal files or confidential data from your system.

An insight on Chimera Ransomware

It first perched the digital world somewhere around the third quarter of 2015. Since then it has been continuously looting the people with rectifiable threats. All information that you require to decrypt this ransomware’s encryption lies in this descriptive malware removal guide.

It spread across the United States and some parts of Europe. Its notable entrance is executed via spam mails, support services, files downloaded from unknown sources or via victorious lottery mails. Once it infects the computer of a user, the functioning of the computer is affected up to a certain extent. This leads the users into restarting their infected computers generally.

Once the computer is restarted, instead of the wallpaper a different page appears on the screen. This page contains a message that states about making a payment in bitcoins as a ransom. After you payment of the ransom it assures you of the provision of a key that is required to decrypt the file along with a decryption tool. If the payment is not made then they threaten to make your private files public and use your credentials (Such as contact details, addresses, mails and so on) for criminal activities. They also may leak your personal photos and videos on the internet along with your credentials on it.

Threat Summary

• Name: Chimera
• Type: Crypto- Ransomware
• Category: Malware
• Infected OS: Windows
• Infected Browser: Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Bing, Internet Explorer

Threat Behavior

It is an old ransomware in the digital world that has been targeting the computers across United States and some parts of Europe. It is an independent threat that continues to threaten users of publicizing their private information in regards to the below mentioned forms:

• Document files(.docx, .doc, .odt, .rtf, .text, .pdf, .htm, .ppt)
• Audio Files(.mp3, .aif, .iff, .m3u, .m4u, .mid, .mpa, .wma, .ra, .avi, .mov, .mp4)
• Video Files(.3gp, .mpeg, .3g2, .asf, .asx, .flv, .mpg, .wmv, .vob)
• Images(.jpg, .jpeg, .raw, .tif, .gif, .png)
• Backup Files(.bck, .bckp, .tmp, .gho)

 However, unlike any other independent threat, these developers threaten the infected computer’s owner into paying the ransom. In case they fail in making the payment on time, the developers threaten them of making their personal files, photos etc.

They first inject this encryption into the PCs via E-mails, fake messages, prize declarations or remote accesses taken by support services. After this infection, the abovementioned files, photos, videos etc. get encrypted and a ransom message will be displayed on your screen. In fact it converts every file extension to .crypto in the entire ROM and networking section. You will be given links to visit and make the ransom payment. You will also find a decryption tool’s link in the message. In this decryption tool you’ll be asked to make a payment of 2.3 bitcoins.

The symptoms are easy to identify as your computer will function abnormally or you will not be able to do anything on your PC. This malware modifies the name of every folder and provides a different extension, .crypto, to each one of them. With this extension on your files, you will not be able to open these until decrypted.

The Developers advised to visit https://mega.nz/ChimeraDecrypter to decrypt the files. On this decryption page you will have to pay the designated amount in form of bitcoins.

How this Malware reaches your PCs?

It can spread through various modes/methods and social networking’s digital platforms to infect the users’ systems. These systems are infected to an extent that frightens the users and lure them into making a payment. Some of the common methods through which the malware can be distributed to the systems are as follows:

• Exploitation of the users’ vulnerabilities at the time of taking a remote access during a support service call.
• E-mails that contain malicious attachments which surely infect your system.
• Fake software updates and prizes from unknown/unreliable sources.
• Zipped attachments in Java Script
• Externally through a drive
• Infection in Network file sharing system

Removal guidelines for Chimera Ransomware

This encryption can be decrypted easily by using any of the forth mentioned steps:

1. You can remove It by starting the PC in Safe mode with Networking
2. MsConfig (using it to troubleshoot)
3. services.msc
4. System Restore

Method 1 – Safe Mode with networking

To restart the system to Safe Mode with Networking,  if already switched ON then follow the below steps:

If your issue still persists you need to follow the method below.

Method 2 – Msconfig (by using Run box)

1. Type “Msconfig” in search box / Run Box, select it and press Enter.
2. Click on “Services” Tab and click on “Hide all Microsoft services”.
3. Select suspicious program from the list of remaining services and disable it by removing the tick mark from the checkbox and click on Apply button.

If the above step is not helpful in making your computer’s functioning better you may try to delete the respective service in order to stop the effect of the malicious program.

Method 3 – services.msc by using command prompt

Once the system starts, ensure to use an account with administrative privilege to access Safe Mode with Command Prompt.

After the user enters admin credentials, Command prompt window is displayed wherein you are entitled to enter the below commands:

1. Type the command “sc delete (Name of the file that is to be deleted)” in the command prompt and press Enter.
2. Type “exit” to exit the command prompt and restart the system in safe mode with command prompt.

If deleting a service is not possible the restoration of settings and files will definitely be helpful in doing so.

Method 4 – Restore your system files and settings

These steps will tell you, how to decrypt ransomware!

How can these malware be prevented from affecting your PC?

• You must always keep your operating system updated. This can be done by check marking the automatic update check box. The older version of operating systems is easier to target on.
• The most common techniques used to infect the system is via spam emails. So, it is recommended for you, not to click on these spam emails. The moment user clicks on these spam mails the system gets infected.
• Avoid third-party installations as these malwares may come with bundled malicious apps. These apps are installed as a back-end process and will infect your system without your knowledge.
• Use of good anti-virus software might be helpful in protecting you from the attack of these malwares. For example 360 security, hitman pro, Vipre etc.
• Taking periodic backups might help you in keeping your data safe and confidential. It is recommended for you to use cloud storage or external devices for the same.
• Enabling the ad-blockers might also prevent the pop-ups that come with malwares or redirected websites.

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