DME ransomware makes your files inaccessibleCriminals demand a ransomMethods Dharma distributors use to infect computers
Like most other advanced ransomware, Dme virus starts the encryption immediately after the intrusion to your system is successful. In addition, like other variants of Dharma ransomware, it uses symmetric as well as asymmetric ciphers to lock your files. In other words, this encryption method is sophisticated and basically unbreakable. The only way to restore locked files is to use unique .dme decryption key. Unfortunately, this key is securely stored on cybercriminals’ servers.
Criminals demand a ransom
As mentioned previously, all relevant information regarding this cryptoviral threat is presented in the FILES ENCRYPTED.txt ransom note. The note states the obvious – your system has been attacked and all of your files like videos, pictures, MS Office documents, etc. are inaccessible. The user is urged to contact the hackers via provided email and pay the requested price if he wants to revert these changes. Moreover, the victim is being encouraged to do a test trial by sending one encrypted file and receiving it back fully accessible again. However, no matter what, we highly recommend you do not follow this course of action. This is due to the simple fact, that cybercriminals like DME virus developers are generally not reliable – meaning they could avoid keeping their end of the bargain even after the demands are met on your side. This is proven empirically by numerous cases of this kind of behavior. Besides, security specialists almost universally agree that meeting hackers’ demands might lead to unnecessary financial loss. So, even if it is tempting to try to recover your files by agreeing to commit your valuable resources for a, to say the least, uncertain outcome, we suggest other methods to restore your data. You could do that by just simply using a back-up, however, you need to keep in mind, that to safely use it, you must remove DME ransomware from your system before that. What makes this virus a particularly worrying cyber threat is that it is considered to be one of the Ransom as a Service (Raas) variants. It means, that this algorithm is uploaded to various deep web sites, forums and it can be used by whoever is willing to pay the service fee. For this reason, cyberviral threats like DME file virus are becoming more and more widespread.
Methods Dharma distributors use to infect computers
The contemporary Internet environment brings us not only the benefits and valuable information opportunities – it brings a large number of threats as well. When talking about Dharma ransomware, it mostly spreads through so-called malspam campaigns. Even though it is one of the oldest scamming methods, it is still widely used by hackers. It works like this – ordinary internet users get various deceitful, suspicious-looking emails that contain malicious files or links inside of them. Once pressed upon, the codes inside these files or links might penetrate your system’s security and install the virus. Another method used by developers of ransomware is uploading it on various untrustworthy download sites peer-to-peer file-sharing platforms. For example, if you tend to use sites like Thepiratebay, Mediafire, eMule, etc. you are at risk of being exposed to a cyberattack. The viruses are often disguised as beneficial software – like cracks, keygens software activation tools. Keep this in mind when considering whether to download something illegally or not. Some PUAs (Potentially Unwanted Applications) like browser hijackers or other types of adware might be capable of triggering so-called chain infections. To explain shortly, this is an action when malicious software triggers the download and installation of additional viruses. This scenario is particularly dangerous since it might leave your PC completely unusable because of the virus activity. How to remove DME ransomware virus As we mentioned before, it is crucial that you take immediate action to remove this piece of cryptoviral software from your system before it does more extensive damage. To ensure successful DME virus removal, you will need to use a trustworthy anti-malware tool that would be able to cope with this kind of task. Keep in mind, that dealing with ransomware is no joke and you should take this seriously. After the successful removal process is carried out, it is advised to use a tool like RESTORO to recover your system’s health. To remove DME ransomware, follow steps that are given below. OUR GEEKS RECOMMEND Our team recommends a two-step rescue plan to remove ransomware and other remaining malware from your computer, plus repair caused virus damage to the system: GeeksAdvice.com editors select recommended products based on their effectiveness. We may earn a commission from affiliate links, at no additional cost to you. Learn more. Get INTEGO ANTIVIRUS for Windows to remove ransomware, Trojans, adware and other spyware and malware variants and protect your PC and network drives 24/7. This VB100-certified security software uses state-of-art technology to provide protection against ransomware, Zero-Day attacks and advanced threats, Intego Web Shield blocks dangerous websites, phishing attacks, malicious downloads and installation of potentially unwanted programs. Use INTEGO Antivirus to remove detected threats from your computer. Read full review here. RESTORO provides a free scan that helps to identify hardware, security and stability issues and presents a comprehensive report which can help you to locate and fix detected issues manually. It is a great PC repair software to use after you remove malware with professional antivirus. The full version of software will fix detected issues and repair virus damage caused to your Windows OS files automatically. RESTORO uses AVIRA scanning engine to detect existing spyware and malware. If any are found, the software will eliminate them. Read full review here.
Alternative software recommendations
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware
Method 1. Enter Safe Mode with Networking
Before you try to remove the virus, you must start your computer in Safe Mode with Networking. Below, we provide the easiest ways to boot PC in the said mode, but you can find additional ones in this in-depth tutorial on our website – How to Start Windows in Safe Mode. Also, see a video tutorial on how to do it: Instructions for Windows XP/Vista/7 users Instructions for Windows 8/8.1/10 users Now, you can search for and remove DME ransomware virus files. It is very hard to identify files and registry keys that belong to the ransomware virus, Besides, malware creators tend to rename and change them repeatedly. Therefore, the easiest way to uninstall such type of a computer virus is to use a reliable malware removal program. In addition, we suggest trying a combination of INTEGO Antivirus (removes malware and protects your PC in real-time) and RESTORO (repairs virus damage to Windows OS files).
Method 2. Use System Restore
In order to use System Restore, you must have a system restore point, created either manually or automatically. Instructions for Windows XP/Vista/7 users Instructions for Windows 8/8.1/10 users After restoring the system, we recommend scanning the system with antivirus or anti-malware software. In most cases, there won’t be any malware remains, but it never hurts to double-check. In addition, we highly recommend checking ransomware prevention guidelines provided by our experts in order to protect your PC against similar viruses in the future. Removing spyware and malware is one step towards cybersecurity. To protect yourself against ever-evolving threats, we strongly recommend purchasing a Premium version of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, which provides security based on artificial intelligence and machine learning. Includes ransomware protection. See pricing options and protect yourself now.
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