RANSOM_HAPPYCRYPTER.A
Ransom.Gen (NORTON); Mal/HapCryp-A (SOPHOS-LITE); Trojan.GenericKD.5979523 (BITDEFENDER); MSIL/Filecoder.HappyCrypter.A trojan (NOD32)
Windows
Threat Type: Ransomware
Destructiveness: No
Encrypted: No
In the wild: Yes
OVERVIEW
This Ransomware arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.
It encrypts files found in specific folders.
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Arrival Details
This Ransomware arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.
Installation
This Ransomware creates the following folders:
- %User Profile%\HappyCrypter
(Note: %User Profile% is the current user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name} on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name} on Windows Vista and 7.)
Other System Modifications
This Ransomware sets the system's desktop wallpaper to the following image:
Dropping Routine
This Ransomware drops the following files:
- %User Profile%\HappyCrypter\Locked Files.txt -> list of encrypted files
- %User Profile%\HappyCrypter\Wallpaper.jpg -> replaces the current desktop wallpaper
(Note: %User Profile% is the current user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name} on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name} on Windows Vista and 7.)
Other Details
This Ransomware displays the following message boxes:
It does the following:
- It encrypts the files by creating an encrypted version of the target file in the folder %User Profile%\HappyCrypter, deletes the original file, and moves the encrypted version in the original file's location
(Note: %User Profile% is the current user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name} on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name} on Windows Vista and 7.)
Ransomware Routine
This Ransomware encrypts files found in the following folders:
- %User Profile%\
(Note: %User Profile% is the current user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name} on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name} on Windows Vista and 7.)
It avoids encrypting files with the following strings in their file path:
- HappyCrypter
SOLUTION
Step 1
Before doing any scans, Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7 users must disable System Restore to allow full scanning of their computers.
Step 2
Note that not all files, folders, and registry keys and entries are installed on your computer during this malware's/spyware's/grayware's execution. This may be due to incomplete installation or other operating system conditions. If you do not find the same files/folders/registry information, please proceed to the next step.
Step 3
Identify and terminate files detected as RANSOM_HAPPYCRYPTER.A
- Windows Task Manager may not display all running processes. In this case, please use a third-party process viewer, preferably Process Explorer, to terminate the malware/grayware/spyware file. You may download the said tool here.
- If the detected file is displayed in either Windows Task Manager or Process Explorer but you cannot delete it, restart your computer in safe mode. To do this, refer to this link for the complete steps.
- If the detected file is not displayed in either Windows Task Manager or Process Explorer, continue doing the next steps.
Step 4
Search and delete this folder
- %User Profile%\HappyCrypter
Step 5
Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as RANSOM_HAPPYCRYPTER.A. If the detected files have already been cleaned, deleted, or quarantined by your Trend Micro product, no further step is required. You may opt to simply delete the quarantined files. Please check the following Trend Micro Support pages for more information:
Step 6
Reset your Desktop properties
Step 7
Restore encrypted files from backup.
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