Ransomware attacks have become a severe cybersecurity threat, causing financial losses and operational disruptions for individuals, businesses, and government entities. Water ransomware, also known as the Water virus, is a member of the Phobos ransomware family. In deze uitgebreide gids, we will discuss the Water ransomware in detail, its impact on your computer, and the steps you can take to remove the infection and decrypt your files.
Understanding Water Ransomware
Water ransomware is a type of crypto virus that encrypts files on your computer, making them inaccessible. The ransomware appends the victim’s ID, aquaman@rambler.ua e-mailadres, and the “.water” extension to the filenames. Bijvoorbeeld, it changes “1.jpg” to “1.jpg.id[9ECFA84E-3499].[aquaman@rambler.ua].water”. This encryption process renders the files useless until a ransom is paid to the attackers.
The Water Ransom Note
When the encryption process is complete, Water ransomware displays a ransom note to the victim (info.txt en info.hta). The note warns that the victim’s data has been encrypted and can only be unlocked with the software provided by the attackers. It emphasizes the severe consequences of attempting decryption independently or through third-party software, which may result in irreversible data loss.
The ransom note also advises against seeking assistance from intermediary or recovery companies, as it may lead to permanent data loss or deception by these entities. It provides contact details (aquaman@rambler.ua) for the attackers and outlines a timeframe within which the victim must reach out. Failure to comply may result in the dissemination of the victim’s data to all interested parties.
Text of the Water Ransomware note:
YOUR DATA IS ENCRYPTED!
Unlocking your data is possible only with our software.
Belangrijk! An attempt to decrypt it yourself or decrypt it with third-party software will result in the loss of your data forever.
Contacting intermediary companies, recovery companies will create the risk of losing your data forever or being deceived by these companies. Being deceived is your responsibility! Learn the experience on the forums.
NEEM CONTACT OP
Write us to the e-mail: aquaman@rambler.ua
Schrijf dit ID in de titel van uw bericht -
If you have not contacted within 2 days from the moment of the incident, we will consider the transaction not completed. Your data will be sent to all interested parties. This is your responsibility.
SCAMMER ALERT
People who you will find on the internet saying they can help you will try to scam you. Videos to youtube and other sites are fake so you shouldn’t believe it. Do not pay anyone who cannot provide an example proof files. Do not forward a payment to anyone with btc apart from us. You can get your exemplary proof file for free by contacting us with your company email.
Not a single file will be sent to any other email except the company one (This is a precaution in order to for you to not get scammed) Contacting any other third party or data rescue companies will create the risk of losing your data forever or you getting scammed by these firms. Getting scammed or not is up to you. Learn about the experiences of other people on the forums.
AANDACHT!
Niet hernoemen gecodeerde bestanden.
Probeer niet om uw gegevens met behulp van software van derden te decoderen, het kan permanent verlies van gegevens veroorzaken.
Decryptie van uw bestanden met de hulp van derden kunnen leiden tot verhoging van de prijs (ze voegen hun vergoeding aan onze) of u kunt een slachtoffer van een zwendel te worden.
If you have not contacted within 2 days from the moment of the incident, we will consider the transaction not completed. Your data will be sent to all interested parties. This is your responsibility.
Don’t be afraid to contact us. Onthouden, this is the only way to recover your data.
How Water Ransomware Infects Computers
Cybercriminals distribute Water ransomware through various methods, including malicious email attachments, compromised websites, and exploit kits targeting software vulnerabilities. They often disguise themselves as legitimate entities and send misleading emails to trick users into opening malicious links or infected attachments. Visiting compromised websites, clicking on malicious advertisements, and downloading pirated software or cracking tools can also lead to ransomware infections.
Water ransomware, like other variants in the Phobos family, exploits weaknesses in Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) services to infiltrate systems. It commonly targets weak account credentials using brute force and dictionary attacks, gaining unauthorized access to systems lacking sufficient account security measures.
Major Consequences of Water Ransomware
Water ransomware not only encrypts files but also disables the firewall, making the targeted system more vulnerable to malicious operations. It deliberately eradicates Volume Shadow Copies, eliminating potential restore points that could help recover encrypted files.
Bovendien, Water ransomware can retrieve location data and employ persistence mechanisms capable of excluding specified locations from its purview. This increases the difficulty of detecting and removing the ransomware from the infected system.
Protecting Yourself from Water Ransomware Infections
Preventing ransomware infections requires a multifaceted approach. Here are some essential steps to protect yourself from Water ransomware and other similar threats:
- Be wary of unexpected or unsolicited emails, especially those urging immediate action or containing suspicious links or attachments.
- Keep all software, including the operating system, up to date with the latest security patches.
- Use reputable antivirus or anti-malware software to detect and block ransomware infections.
- Exercise caution when visiting websites, avoiding clicking on suspicious links or ads, and sticking to reputable sources for downloading software and files.
- Regularly back up your important data and store it on external devices or cloud services. Ensure that the backup is disconnected from the internet to prevent ransomware attacks targeting backups.
Reporting Water Ransomware to Authorities
If you become a victim of Water ransomware or any ransomware attack, het is van cruciaal belang om het incident aan de bevoegde autoriteiten te melden. Door informatie te verstrekken aan wetshandhavingsinstanties, u kunt cybercriminaliteit helpen opsporen en mogelijk helpen bij de vervolging van de aanvallers.
Here is a list of authorities where you should report a ransomware attack, depending on your residence address:
- VS: Internet Crime Complaint Centre (IC3)
- United Kingdom: Action Fraud
- Spanje: Policía Nacional
- Frankrijk: Ministère de l’Intérieur
- Duitsland: Polizei
- Italië: Polizia di Stato
- The Netherlands: Politie
- Poland: Policja
- Portugal: Polícia Judiciária
Removing Water Ransomware
Removing Water ransomware from your infected computer is a crucial step towards regaining control over your files and restoring normalcy. Here are some methods you can use to eliminate the ransomware:
- Automatic Malware Removal: Om mogelijke malware-infecties te elimineren, scan your computer with legitimate antivirus software. We recommend using SpyHunter, a professional automatic malware removal tool.
Probeer SpyHunter
SpyHunter is een krachtige tool die je Windows schoon kan houden. Het zou automatisch alle elementen met betrekking tot malware zoeken en verwijderen. Het is niet alleen de gemakkelijkste manier om malware te verwijderen, maar ook de veiligste en zekerste. De volledige versie van SpyHunter kost $42 (Jij krijgt 6 maanden abonnement). Door te klikken op de knop, gaat u akkoord met EULA en Privacybeleid. Het downloaden wordt automatisch gestart.
Probeer Stellar Data Recovery
Stellar Data Recovery is een van de meest effectieve instrumenten die kunnen herstellen van verloren en beschadigde bestanden - documenten, e-mails, afbeeldingen, videos, geluidsbestanden, en nog veel meer - op elke Windows-apparaat. De krachtige scan-engine kan detecteren gecompromitteerd bestanden en uiteindelijk ze opslaan opgegeven bestemming. Ondanks zijn advancedness, het is zeer beknopt en eenvoudig, zodat zelfs de meest onervaren gebruiker kan er wel uit.
Probeer MailWasher
E-mailbeveiliging is de eerste verdedigingslinie tegen ransomware-virussen. Om dit te doen, we raden u aan MailWasher te gebruiken. MailWasher blokkeert ransomware-virussen die via spam en phishing binnenkomen, en detecteert automatisch schadelijke bijlagen en URL's. Daarnaast, kwaadaardige berichten kunnen worden geblokkeerd, zelfs voordat de ontvanger ze opent. Aangezien de belangrijkste bron van de verspreiding van ransomware-virussen geïnfecteerde e-mails zijn, antispam vermindert het risico dat een virus op uw computer verschijnt aanzienlijk.
- Handmatige verwijdering: Manual removal of ransomware can be a complex and time-consuming process that requires advanced IT skills. It involves identifying and deleting malicious files and registry entries associated with the ransomware. If you are experienced in malware removal, you can follow comprehensive manual removal guides available online.
It’s important to note that while antivirus programs can remove the malware, they typically cannot decrypt your encrypted files. The decryption process may require specialized tools or the involvement of the ransomware developers themselves.
Decrypting Water Ransomware-Encrypted Files
Decryption of Water ransomware-encrypted files without the involvement of the attackers is a challenging task. In de meeste gevallen, only the ransomware developers hold the encryption keys required for decryption. Echter, there are some steps you can take to potentially recover your files:
- Check for Available Decryption Tools: Visit the No More Ransom Project website, which provides a collection of decryption tools for various ransomware infections. Search for Water ransomware and see if any decryption tools are available.
- Data Recovery Tools: Use data recovery tools such as Stellar Data Recovery to recover deleted or corrupted files. These tools can sometimes retrieve previous versions of files or restore data from backup locations.
Remember to keep your expectations realistic when attempting to decrypt your files. Success is not guaranteed, and it’s always advisable to consult with cybersecurity professionals or reputable data recovery services for assistance.
Gegevensback-ups maken voor toekomstige bescherming
Creating regular data backups is essential for protecting your files from ransomware attacks. By having up-to-date backups, you can restore your files without paying the ransom. Here are some best practices for creating data backups:
- Partitiebeheer: Store your data in multiple partitions and avoid storing important files within the partition that contains the operating system. Op deze manier, if you need to format the system partition, your data will remain safe in other partitions.
- Externe opslagapparaten: Back up your data to external hard drives, flash drives, or other storage devices. Keep these devices unplugged when not in use to prevent ransomware attacks from infecting the backups.
- Cloud Storage: Consider using cloud storage services like Microsoft OneDrive to back up your important files. These services provide secure storage and the ability to access your files from anywhere.
Regularly update and test your backups to ensure their integrity and usability in case of a ransomware attack.
Conclusie
Water ransomware poses a significant threat to individuals and organizations, encrypting files and demanding ransom payments for decryption. By following preventive measures, reporting incidents to authorities, and utilizing effective malware removal tools, you can minimize the risk of falling victim to Water ransomware or any other similar crypto virus. Remember to regularly back up your data to protect it from potential ransomware attacks and always stay vigilant against suspicious emails, websites, and downloads.