Dharma ransomware incidents usually last much longer than other attacks due to the complicated nature of the decryption tool provided by hackers.
Dharma Ransomware has a relatively high success rate after a ransom payment is made. This being despite the logistical complexity of receiving decryption keys and running the decryption tool.
The majority of active Dharma ransomware variants can not be decrypted by any free tool or software. If you submit a file example to us, we will have a look for free and let you know. There are also good free websites that you can upload a sample file to and independently check. You should NOT pay a data recovery firm or any other service provider to research your file encryption. They will use the same free resources noted above… so don’t waste your money or time!
Most Dharma ransomware is laid directly by a hacker that has accessed an unprotected RDP port, utilized email phishing to remote into a network via an employee’s computer, or utilized malicious attachments, downloads, application patch exploits or vulnerabilities to gain access to a network.
.BIP .combo .gamma .arrow .betta .vanss .audit .adobe .fire .bear .back .cccmn .tron .like .gdb .myjob .risk .santa
are common file extensions. Typically an alphanumeric ID and an email address will prepend the file extension e.g.
file name[ID-000QQQ.hacker@AOL.com].ComboDharma ransomware hackers will leave a notice behind that will be prominent and easy to find. It commonly looks like like the image below. It includes contact information for the hacker and instructions on how to purchase cryptocurrency to pay the ransom.
Note: We do not advise that any person or company contact a hacker and negotiate directly. Cyber criminals can be difficult to communicate with. Let a professional assist you.
Example .Combo ransomware notice
Step 1 - Explore free remediation options
Step 2 - Communicate with your hackers.
Step 3 - Easy ransomware payment.
Step 4 - Restore data & end downtime.
1st Hour - Free!
Identify your ransomware
Find free decryptor tools
Hours 2-5
Secure & safe negotiations
Determine ransom payment
Hours 5-6
Zero transaction fees
Transparent transactions
Hours 6+
Professional IT recovery
Insurance documentation
You will need to provide information from both the ransom notice and a sample encrypted file. We will schedule a call to discuss the severity of the attack, the operability of your company and the likely timeline / cost of recovering from the attack. You will also need to provide identifying information on your company, and an authorized representative of your company.
You are already being extorted; we don’t think you deserve to pay another large fee. Coveware charges flat daily service fees that vary based on the complexity of your case. We do not charge spreads of fees tied to the size of the ransom amount. Our fees will never be even close to the amount of the ransom demanded by the cyber criminal, and you should be skeptical of why any other service provider would charge a fee that high.
You should be extremely skeptical of any data recovery firm that claims they can decrypt ransomware. Typically they are just paying the cyber criminal without your knowledge and pocketing the difference between the ransom amount and what they will charge you. Know the facts before you engage. If the ransomware IS decryptable, the tool can be found for free. If not, purchasing a key from the cyber criminal is the only way to unlock your files. While Coveware does not condone paying cyber criminals, we recognize it is often the only choice if backups are not available or have become compromised as well. If that is the case, you deserve an honest, transparent experience.
There is no guarantee that paying the ransom will result in a working decryption tool being delivered. However, Coveware believes that data aggregation can help customers make the most informed data-driven decisions. Since we handle lots of cases of the same ransomware types, we are able to share our experiences and help customers decide how to proceed.
If the ransomware payment is successful, a decryption tool & key is provided by the hacker that can be used to manually decrypt your files.
There are some common security mis-configurations that lead to a ransomware attack. We can share some tips and resources for preventing future attacks, but encourage companies to perform a full forensic review or security assessment as soon as possible. Consistent investment in security IT is the best antidote to preventing future attacks.