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In this article we are going to try and help you remove .dharma Ransomware. Our instructions cover all Windows versions.
In the unfortunate event that you’ve been infected by the likes of .dharma Ransomware, we have prepared this article just for this occasion. We’ve compiled a set of essential facts you need to know about this virus that has infiltrated your system and taken hold of your files. Once you’ve learned the basics and have a fair perspective on your possible courses of action, you will find a guide with detailed instructions that will help you remove the malware from your computer. In addition to this, we’ve also included some instructions that could help restore the affected files, but unfortunately in this business – there is little certainty. We will explain what we mean by that in just a little bit.
What is .dharma?
.dharma is a type of ransomware – a virus, which is specifically designed to sneak into a victim’s computer and encrypt certain files with a unique algorithm, so that the owner can no longer access them. The files become unreadable to any available program and basically the only thing that can remove the encryption is a decryption key, which the hackers behind .dharma promise to send in return for ransom. As ludicrous as it sounds, this is the age of digital blackmailing and ransomware is actually considered the top cyber security threat out there. As a matter of fact, the number of unique ransomware samples discovered by leading experts in the field tends to be multiplying each year. That is an alarming growth rate, meaning the danger of getting infected becomes ever more real each day. However, despite the constant evolving of the virus, its means of traveling remain more or less unchanged, which is crucial to your protection from future infections.
Distribution
Chances are you can’t recall where and how you may have contracted .dharma, but there are several main possibilities for this to have happened – perhaps one of them might ring a bell. As studies have shown, the most effective distribution method for ransomware are the so called malvertisements. These are regular-looking ads, such as a banner or a popup window, maybe even a box message, only they’ve been injected with malware. Once you click on a compromised advert like that, you will automatically download the ransomware onto your computer, but this will happen without any indication of what’s going on. This is one of the key moments in this type of malware’s success – its stealth. Alternatively, since ransomware may often rely on a Trojan horse to help enter your system, you might receive the latter within an attachment to a spam email. Infected spam email campaigns are very common and even if the end goal isn’t to infect you with ransomware, you still wouldn’t want a Trojan horse anywhere near your PC. The range of malicious tasks they are capable of executing is more than this article can fit, so trust us on this one. Beware that the hackers are no dummies, so they will try to make their messages look as sophisticated as possible, tricking you into opening the enclosed document, which then in effect activates the Trojan. Once this happens, the Trojan automatically downloads .dharma or whatever other type of ransomware. Again, there will be no indication of this.
Encryption and ransom
The encryption process is often a tedious one and requires a lot your machine’s resources. On rare occasions this can result in a massive slacking in your PC’s performance, with it becoming sluggish and taking exceptionally long to load various applications. Should this ever occur, it’s your duty to immediately check the Task Manager and sort the processes there by most CPU/RAM used. If at the top of the list you noticed something that clearly doesn’t belong there and seems like a virus, promptly shut down your computer and contact a specialist. Do not attempt to switch on the computer on your own. Unfortunately, though, more often than not the victims only realize something terribly wrong has happened once the dreaded ransom note appears on the screen. Then it’s obviously too late to try and stop something that’s already done. So what to do next? The question is always whether to pay the ransom or seek an alternative solution, and you’ve evidently chosen the latter since you are currently on this page.
This is actually a tough decision, because as is the case with new variants of ransomware, cyber security companies are always a bit behind in the game, as it takes time to develop a decryption for the newly emerged virus. Sometimes, there might not even be one. However, transferring the ransom money to the cybercriminals doesn’t promise you anything either. Remember, if they had the indecency to break into your computer and extort money from you, who’s to say they’ll send you the decryption key? Moreover, because programming is a tricky business, they might send you something that doesn’t work or doesn’t decrypt all of the files. You’ll then be left several hundred dollars lighter and with a bunch of unusable data that you might actually desperately need. Therefore, we recommend trying out the below guide first, before taking any drastic measures. By the very least, it won’t hurt to try.
.dharma File Ransomware Removal
# 1
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Enter Windows Safe mode.
- Win 7 Users: Restart your PC –> keep on clicking F8 –> In the subsequent Menu select Safe Mode with Networking.
- Win 8 Users: Start Button –> Control Panel –> System and Security –> Administrative Tools –> System Configuration –> In the subsequent Menu select Safe Boot –>
- Win 10 users: Start Menu –> Power Options Menu –> Hold down the SHIFT button while clicking on Restart –> Troubleshoot –> Advanced Options –> Startup Settings –> Restart –> In the subsequent Menu select Safe Mode with Networking.
# 2
Open Task Manager and locate any processes associated with .dharma.
- Press CTRL + SHIFT + ESC keys simultaneously –> Processes Tab –> Select a suspicious process (use Google or ask us in the comments if you are not sure about a process) –> Right Click and Open File Location –> End the suspicious process in Task Manager –> Delete the Folders containing the suspicious files.
# 3
Open the Registry Editor and search for .dharma.
- Win 7 Users: Click Start and type regedit –> Enter –> Press CTRL + F buttons –> Type Cryp1 Virus in the search field.
- Win 8/10 users: Start Button –> Choose Run –> type regedit –> Enter Press CTRL + F buttons –> Type .dharma in the search field.
# 4
Try to recover your files. First you will need System Restore.
- Win 7 Users: Start button –> Type Windows System Restore –> Enter –> Open System Restore –> Select a Restore Point and revert to it.
- Win 8 Users: Hold down the Windows key + Q –> Type Recovery –> Settings –> Choose the Recovery icon –> Open System Restore –> Select a Restore Point.
- Win 10 Users: Start Menu –> Power Options Menu –> Hold down the SHIFT button while clicking on Restart –> Troubleshoot –> Advanced Options –> System Restore –> Select a Restore Point and apply it.
Secondly use program that can access your Shadow Copies.
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- Use Google to find the official website of such a program and download it.
- Use the program to select the file types and the hard drive locations you want the program to scan for.
- Start the scan and keep in mind that it might take a while.
- Once the scan has been completed just select the files you want to be recovered.
If you have questions or suggestions feel free to use our comments section!