ScRansom (.Encrypted) ransomware virus - removal and decryption options
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What kind of malware is ScRansom?
ScRansom is ransomware designed to encrypt files and provide a ransom note ("HOW TO RECOVERY FILES.TXT"). Also, ScRansom encodes filenames using base64 and adds ".Encrypted" extension to filenames. For example, it renames "1.jpg" to "MS5qcGc=.Encrypted", "2.png" to "Ni5qcGc=.Encrypted", and so forth.
Screenshot of files encrypted by this ransomware:
ScRansom ransom note overview
The ransom note informs the victim that all their servers and backups have been encrypted and it is impossible to decrypt them. It states that the attackers' only interest is money and provides instructions to restore their data, which involves purchasing a decryption key.
Furthermore, the note warns against attempts to resolve the issue, stating that such attempts will worsen the situation. It also mentions that a large volume of data has been stolen. Contact details provided for communication are decservice@ukr.net and nonamehack2024@gmail.com email addresses and a Qtox chat ID.
More details about ransomware
Threat actors operating ScRansom ransomware target mostly small and medium-sized businesses. In these attacks, ransom notes do not mention the name of the ransomware. The ransomware is written in the Delphi programming language and is still under development.
Some of the ScRansom variants include tools for deleting shadow copies. Furthermore, the ransomware encrypts files on all fixed, remote, and removable drives based on a customizable list of extensions. It also uses partial encryption with five modes: FAST, FASTEST, SLOW, FULL, and ERASE. The latter mode replaces file contents so that files would become unrecoverable.
Moreover, ScRansom kills various processes and services and it includes a tool designed to prevent process termination.
Ransomware in general
Ransomware is a threat designed to extort money from victims by encrypting their files. Without decryption tools held by the attackers, recovering these files is often impossible. Thus, it is highly advisable to back up important files regularly, storing them on a remote server or an offline storage device.
A couple examples of different ransomware variants are Colony, Hlas, and Trial_recovery.
How did ransomware infect my computer?
Cybercriminals behind ScRansom typically employ brute-force attacks to breach their targets and exploit a range of vulnerabilities. Their primary victims are those using outdated software and lacking effective patch management.
Other methods for distributing ransomware (and other malware) include sending emails containing malicious attachments or links, hiding ransomware in pirated software or cracking tools, using technical support scams, malicious ads, P2P networks, compromised (or deceptive) websites, and similar channels.
As a rule, computers become infected when users execute ransomware by taking certain actions.
| Name | ScRansom virus |
| Threat Type | Ransomware, Crypto Virus, Files locker |
| Encrypted Files Extension | .Encrypted |
| Ransom Demanding Message | HOW TO RECOVERY FILES.TXT |
| Free Decryptor Available? | No |
| Cyber Criminal Contact | decservice@ukr[.]net, nonamehack2024@gmail[.]com, tufhackteam@gmail[.]com, nonamehack2023@gmail[.]com, nonamehack2023@tutanota[.]com, lockbit2023@proton[.]me, serverrecoveryhelp@gmail[.]com, recoverydatalife@gmail[.]com, recoverydatalife@mail[.]ru |
| Detection Names | Avast (Win32:RansomX-gen [Ransom]), Combo Cleaner (Trojan.GenericKD.73593205), ESET-NOD32 (A Variant Of Win32/Filecoder.Spacecolon.A), Kaspersky (HEUR:Trojan.Win32.PowerShell.gen), Microsoft (Ransom:Win32/FileCoder.SGC!MTB), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal) |
| Symptoms | Cannot open files stored on your computer, previously functional files now have a different extension (for example, my.docx.locked). A ransom demand message is displayed on your desktop. Cyber criminals demand payment of a ransom (usually in bitcoins) to unlock your files. |
| Additional Information | Can delete volume shadow copies, corrupt files irrecoverably, terminate processes, and more. |
| Distribution methods | Infected email attachments (macros), torrent websites, malicious ads. |
| Damage | All files are encrypted and cannot be opened without paying a ransom. Additional password-stealing trojans and malware infections can be installed together with a ransomware infection. |
| Malware Removal (Windows) | To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your computer with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Combo Cleaner. |
How to protect yourself from ransomware infections?
Only download software and files from trusted sources, and avoid pirated software, cracking tools, and key generators. Be cautious with attachments and links, especially if they come from unknown or suspicious emails. Avoid trusting advertisements, pop-ups, and buttons on unofficial websites, as they can be misleading or harmful.
Regularly update your operating system and software, including antivirus programs. If your computer is already infected with ScRansom, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this ransomware.
Screenshot of ScRansom's text file ("HOW TO RECOVERY FILES.TXT"):
Text in the ransom note:
Dear Sir or Madam,
----------------------------------------------------
All of your servers are encrypted, same as your backups. Our encryption algorithms impossible to
decrypt, same as your company data and infrastructure. However, do not get nervous, as you shall
restore all of your all your infrastructure and data! In order to do that, follow simple steps
that are described bellow:
1. Buy decryption key.
2. Restore all of the company data and infrastructure.
----------------------------------------------------
The system hack wasnt done eiter by your competitors or 3rd party, it was strictly our
initiative. Our main and only interest is money.
Also, to be mentioned, we value our reputation and principles a lot, therefore any amateur
attempts will be strictly suppressed and will make current situation worse. In addition, all of
decryption software mentioned above is tested, as a proof of our abilities, there is a
possibility of decrypting few small files for free, for your understanding.
----------------------------------------------------
Data leakage.
As you probably understood, we have stolen big volume of data from yur network. Mainly, we stole
data using our smartfilters from all of your servers- full dump of your network.
We may discuss the volume of stolen data.
To sum up, we have completely destroyed your system and infrastructure. We would like to suggest
you to think twice, and think about the problems associated with GDPR.
----------------------------------------------------
For Contact US :Email 1 : decservice@ukr.net
Email2 : nonamehack2024@gmail.com>>>> For real time chat with us
For chat with us via qtox download hxxps://tox.chat/download.html and add our QTOX ID
QTOX : 91E3BA8FACDA7D4A0738ADE67846CDB58A7E 32575531BCA0348EA73F6191882910B72613F8C4
Decryption ID : -
Video showing how to remove ScRansom ransomware using Combo Cleaner:
ScRansom ransomware removal:
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Video suggesting what steps should be taken in case of a ransomware infection:
Quick menu:
- What is ScRansom virus?
- STEP 1. Reporting ransomware to authorities.
- STEP 2. Isolating the infected device.
- STEP 3. Identifying the ransomware infection.
- STEP 4. Searching for ransomware decryption tools.
- STEP 5. Restoring files with data recovery tools.
- STEP 6. Creating data backups.
If you are a victim of a ransomware attack we recommend reporting this incident to authorities. By providing information to law enforcement agencies you will help track cybercrime and potentially assist in the prosecution of the attackers. Here's a list of authorities where you should report a ransomware attack. For the complete list of local cybersecurity centers and information on why you should report ransomware attacks, read this article.
List of local authorities where ransomware attacks should be reported (choose one depending on your residence address):
USA - Internet Crime Complaint Centre IC3
United Kingdom - Action Fraud
Spain - Policía Nacional
France - Ministère de l'Intérieur
Germany - Polizei
Italy - Polizia di Stato
The Netherlands - Politie
Poland - Policja
Portugal - Polícia Judiciária
Isolating the infected device:
Some ransomware-type infections are designed to encrypt files within external storage devices, infect them, and even spread throughout the entire local network. For this reason, it is very important to isolate the infected device (computer) as soon as possible.
Step 1: Disconnect from the internet.
The easiest way to disconnect a computer from the internet is to unplug the Ethernet cable from the motherboard, however, some devices are connected via a wireless network and for some users (especially those who are not particularly tech-savvy), disconnecting cables may seem troublesome. Therefore, you can also disconnect the system manually via Control Panel:
Navigate to the "Control Panel", click the search bar in the upper-right corner of the screen, enter "Network and Sharing Center" and select search result: 
Click the "Change adapter settings" option in the upper-left corner of the window: 
Right-click on each connection point and select "Disable". Once disabled, the system will no longer be connected to the internet. To re-enable the connection points, simply right-click again and select "Enable". 
Step 2: Unplug all storage devices.
As mentioned above, ransomware might encrypt data and infiltrate all storage devices that are connected to the computer. For this reason, all external storage devices (flash drives, portable hard drives, etc.) should be disconnected immediately, however, we strongly advise you to eject each device before disconnecting to prevent data corruption:
Navigate to "My Computer", right-click on each connected device, and select "Eject": 
Step 3: Log-out of cloud storage accounts.
Some ransomware-type might be able to hijack software that handles data stored within "the Cloud". Therefore, the data could be corrupted/encrypted. For this reason, you should log-out of all cloud storage accounts within browsers and other related software. You should also consider temporarily uninstalling the cloud-management software until the infection is completely removed.
Identify the ransomware infection:
To properly handle an infection, one must first identify it. Some ransomware infections use ransom-demand messages as an introduction (see the WALDO ransomware text file below).
This, however, is rare. In most cases, ransomware infections deliver more direct messages simply stating that data is encrypted and that victims must pay some sort of ransom. Note that ransomware-type infections typically generate messages with different file names (for example, "_readme.txt", "READ-ME.txt", "DECRYPTION_INSTRUCTIONS.txt", "DECRYPT_FILES.html", etc.). Therefore, using the name of a ransom message may seem like a good way to identify the infection. The problem is that most of these names are generic and some infections use the same names, even though the delivered messages are different and the infections themselves are unrelated. Therefore, using the message filename alone can be ineffective and even lead to permanent data loss (for example, by attempting to decrypt data using tools designed for different ransomware infections, users are likely to end up permanently damaging files and decryption will no longer be possible even with the correct tool).
Another way to identify a ransomware infection is to check the file extension, which is appended to each encrypted file. Ransomware infections are often named by the extensions they append (see files encrypted by Qewe ransomware below).
This method is only effective, however, when the appended extension is unique - many ransomware infections append a generic extension (for example, ".encrypted", ".enc", ".crypted", ".locked", etc.). In these cases, identifying ransomware by its appended extension becomes impossible.
One of the easiest and quickest ways to identify a ransomware infection is to use the ID Ransomware website. This service supports most existing ransomware infections. Victims simply upload a ransom message and/or one encrypted file (we advise you to upload both if possible).
The ransomware will be identified within seconds and you will be provided with various details, such as the name of the malware family to which the infection belongs, whether it is decryptable, and so on.
Example 1 (Qewe [Stop/Djvu] ransomware):
Example 2 (.iso [Phobos] ransomware):
If your data happens to be encrypted by ransomware that is not supported by ID Ransomware, you can always try searching the internet by using certain keywords (for example, a ransom message title, file extension, provided contact emails, crypto wallet addresses, etc.).
Search for ransomware decryption tools:
Encryption algorithms used by most ransomware-type infections are extremely sophisticated and, if the encryption is performed properly, only the developer is capable of restoring data. This is because decryption requires a specific key, which is generated during the encryption. Restoring data without the key is impossible. In most cases, cybercriminals store keys on a remote server, rather than using the infected machine as a host. Dharma (CrySis), Phobos, and other families of high-end ransomware infections are virtually flawless, and thus restoring data encrypted without the developers' involvement is simply impossible. Despite this, there are dozens of ransomware-type infections that are poorly developed and contain a number of flaws (for example, the use of identical encryption/decryption keys for each victim, keys stored locally, etc.). Therefore, always check for available decryption tools for any ransomware that infiltrates your computer.
Finding the correct decryption tool on the internet can be very frustrating. For this reason, we recommend that you use the No More Ransom Project and this is where identifying the ransomware infection is useful. The No More Ransom Project website contains a "Decryption Tools" section with a search bar. Enter the name of the identified ransomware, and all available decryptors (if there are any) will be listed.
Restore files with data recovery tools:
Depending on the situation (quality of ransomware infection, type of encryption algorithm used, etc.), restoring data with certain third-party tools might be possible. Therefore, we advise you to use the Recuva tool developed by CCleaner. This tool supports over a thousand data types (graphics, video, audio, documents, etc.) and it is very intuitive (little knowledge is necessary to recover data). In addition, the recovery feature is completely free.
Step 1: Perform a scan.
Run the Recuva application and follow the wizard. You will be prompted with several windows allowing you to choose what file types to look for, which locations should be scanned, etc. All you need to do is select the options you're looking for and start the scan. We advise you to enable the "Deep Scan" before starting, otherwise, the application's scanning capabilities will be restricted.
Wait for Recuva to complete the scan. The scanning duration depends on the volume of files (both in quantity and size) that you are scanning (for example, several hundred gigabytes could take over an hour to scan). Therefore, be patient during the scanning process. We also advise against modifying or deleting existing files, since this might interfere with the scan. If you add additional data (for example, downloading files/content) while scanning, this will prolong the process:
Step 2: Recover data.
Once the process is complete, select the folders/files you wish to restore and simply click "Recover". Note that some free space on your storage drive is necessary to restore data:
Create data backups:
Proper file management and creating backups is essential for data security. Therefore, always be very careful and think ahead.
Partition management: We recommend that you store your data in multiple partitions and avoid storing important files within the partition that contains the entire operating system. If you fall into a situation whereby you cannot boot the system and are forced to format the disk on which the operating system is installed (in most cases, this is where malware infections hide), you will lose all data stored within that drive. This is the advantage of having multiple partitions: if you have the entire storage device assigned to a single partition, you will be forced to delete everything, however, creating multiple partitions and allocating the data properly allows you to prevent such problems. You can easily format a single partition without affecting the others - therefore, one will be cleaned and the others will remain untouched, and your data will be saved. Managing partitions is quite simple and you can find all the necessary information on Microsoft's documentation web page.
Data backups: One of the most reliable backup methods is to use an external storage device and keep it unplugged. Copy your data to an external hard drive, flash (thumb) drive, SSD, HDD, or any other storage device, unplug it and store it in a dry place away from the sun and extreme temperatures. This method is, however, quite inefficient, since data backups and updates need to be made regularly. You can also use a cloud service or remote server. Here, an internet connection is required and there is always the chance of a security breach, although it's a really rare occasion.
We recommend using Microsoft OneDrive for backing up your files. OneDrive lets you store your personal files and data in the cloud, sync files across computers and mobile devices, allowing you to access and edit your files from all of your Windows devices. OneDrive lets you save, share and preview files, access download history, move, delete, and rename files, as well as create new folders, and much more.
You can back up your most important folders and files on your PC (your Desktop, Documents, and Pictures folders). Some of OneDrive’s more notable features include file versioning, which keeps older versions of files for up to 30 days. OneDrive features a recycling bin in which all of your deleted files are stored for a limited time. Deleted files are not counted as part of the user’s allocation.
The service is built using HTML5 technologies and allows you to upload files up to 300 MB via drag and drop into the web browser or up to 10 GB via the OneDrive desktop application. With OneDrive, you can download entire folders as a single ZIP file with up to 10,000 files, although it can’t exceed 15 GB per single download.
OneDrive comes with 5 GB of free storage out of the box, with an additional 100 GB, 1 TB, and 6 TB storage options available for a subscription-based fee. You can get one of these storage plans by either purchasing additional storage separately or with Office 365 subscription.
Creating a data backup:
The backup process is the same for all file types and folders. Here’s how you can back up your files using Microsoft OneDrive
Step 1: Choose the files/folders you want to backup.
Click the OneDrive cloud icon to open the OneDrive menu. While in this menu, you can customize your file backup settings.
Click Help & Settings and then select Settings from the drop-down menu.
Go to the Backup tab and click Manage backup.
In this menu, you can choose to backup the Desktop and all of the files on it, and Documents and Pictures folders, again, with all of the files in them. Click Start backup.
Now, when you add a file or folder in the Desktop and Documents and Pictures folders, they will be automatically backed up on OneDrive.
To add folders and files, not in the locations shown above, you have to add them manually.
Open File Explorer and navigate to the location of the folder/file you want to backup. Select the item, right-click it, and click Copy.
Then, navigate to OneDrive, right-click anywhere in the window and click Paste. Alternatively, you can just drag and drop a file into OneDrive. OneDrive will automatically create a backup of the folder/file.
All of the files added to the OneDrive folder are backed up in the cloud automatically. The green circle with the checkmark in it indicates that the file is available both locally and on OneDrive and that the file version is the same on both. The blue cloud icon indicates that the file has not been synced and is available only on OneDrive. The sync icon indicates that the file is currently syncing.
To access files only located on OneDrive online, go to the Help & Settings drop-down menu and select View online.
Step 2: Restore corrupted files.
OneDrive makes sure that the files stay in sync, so the version of the file on the computer is the same version on the cloud. However, if ransomware has encrypted your files, you can take advantage of OneDrive’s Version history feature that will allow you to restore the file versions prior to encryption.
Microsoft 365 has a ransomware detection feature that notifies you when your OneDrive files have been attacked and guide you through the process of restoring your files. It must be noted, however, that if you don’t have a paid Microsoft 365 subscription, you only get one detection and file recovery for free.
If your OneDrive files get deleted, corrupted, or infected by malware, you can restore your entire OneDrive to a previous state. Here’s how you can restore your entire OneDrive:
1. If you're signed in with a personal account, click the Settings cog at the top of the page. Then, click Options and select Restore your OneDrive.
If you're signed in with a work or school account, click the Settings cog at the top of the page. Then, click Restore your OneDrive.
2. On the Restore your OneDrive page, select a date from the drop-down list. Note that if you're restoring your files after automatic ransomware detection, a restore date will be selected for you.
3. After configuring all of the file restoration options, click Restore to undo all the activities you selected.
The best way to avoid damage from ransomware infections is to maintain regular up-to-date backups.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How was my computer hacked and how did hackers encrypt my files?
Threat actors behind ScRansom use brute-force attacks and exploit vulnerabilities, mainly targeting outdated software with poor patch management. Other distribution methods include malicious emails, pirated software, scams, ads, P2P networks, and compromised websites. Infections occur when users unknowingly execute ransomware.
How to open ".Encrypted" files?
These files have been encrypted and cannot be opened until a decryption is performed.
Where should I look for free decryption tools for ScRansom ransomware?
In case of a ransomware attack you should check the No More Ransom project website (more information above).
I can pay you a lot of money, can you decrypt files for me?
We do not offer this service. Files encrypted by ransomware are usually impossible to unlock without the tools provided by the attackers unless there is a flaw in the ransomware. So, if someone offers to decrypt your files for a fee, they are likely either scamming you or acting as a middleman.
Will Combo Cleaner help me remove ScRansom ransomware?
Combo Cleaner will detect and remove ransomware on your computer. Antivirus software helps stop the infection (prevent additional damage), but it cannot restore files that the ransomware has already encrypted.
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