What is Hamster Ransomware
If you found your files have new .hamster extension and no longer accessible, then you are infected with a virus called Hamster Ransomware. Infections of this type hack your PC settings to run through encryption of data. They also apply some visual changes to make victims spot the result of infection. After successful encryption, you will see a file like 1.pdf change to 1.pdf.hamster and reset its default icon to blank. The virus will also create a text note called How To decrypt.txt. You can find the whole content of it down here.
Hello there, I'm the Hamster!
What's happened?
Well, it's pretty simple: hamster penetrated your network, carried out compromised files,
and encrypted all the stuff.
Why am I reading this?
Because your technicans are careless, get rid of security measures, skipped updates, etc.
Do you want to turn it back?
Sure thing, right? It also pretty simple: contact me during 72 hours since incident discovery,
and you will get discount for full data recovery. Moreover, I'll provide advices and tell you how to fix this vulnerability.
Use the TOX messenger to contact: hxxps://github.com/uTox/uTox/releases/download/v0.18.1/utox_x86_64.exe
My TOX ID:
B74F33BBBA637DCCFCD8FA3376A3B9BF8A4ACA36BDF25219B6689345E34831303FDDB2D95F6A
Start messaging from incident ID, which has been assigned to you: -
What happens if you decide to avoid negotiations?
Well, I could sell most worthful stuff to your competitors, the rest will go to the clearnet and mass media.
It will cost you reputation.
As stated in the note, Hamster Ransomware penetrated your network and blocked access to most of the data. In order to get it back, victims are instructed to contact cyber criminals with their assigned ID and purchase the tool for decryption. It is important that victims reach out to malware developers using TOX messenger, which should be installed in case of absence. The frauds also advise you to contact them within 72 hours since the attack. This way, the price for complete data recovery will be reduced. It is also mentioned the attackers will tell how they infiltrated your system and what can be done to fix the existing vulnerability in the future. In case you refuse to pay the required fee, cybercriminals intimidate they will leak your data to different platforms in pursuit of financial benefit. Unfortunately, whatever they say, it is still quite risky to pay the requested ransom. There is a chance they will fool you and not send any decryption tools afterward. For this reason, it is recommended to use delete the virus and use backup copies for simple and secure recovery. You may also try some third-party tools, but keep in mind they can affect the decryption differently with each individual victim. Some may be able to decrypt files partially, which does not guarantee a full return of data. There are companies that can be worried about having their data leaked to public resources, so it is important to scale all pros and cons when thinking about the ransom. Whatever the case, it is important to delete Hamster Ransomware from your computer as soon as possible. The presence of malware may lead to additional problems unless eliminated in time. Follow our dedicated guide below to do this.
How Hamster Ransomware infected your computer
Many cybercriminals tend to spread ransomware via malicious spam attachments. They attach files like .DOCX, .PDF, .XLSX, .EXE, .RAR, .ZIP, or .JS and name them with clickbait titles. Usually, such e-mail messages use templates of legitimate companies like DHL, DPD, FedEx, and many others as well. The inside content may tell you to download and open the attached file to check the status of the parcel or invoice. Unless you ordered something the time you received the message, it is likely to be fake and simply meant to distribute malware into your system. Besides this, there are other popular distribution techniques as well. Trojans, fake software updates and set-ups, unprotected RDP configuration, backdoors, keyloggers, botnets, web scripts, and malicious ads can also be used to deliver malicious software. In the majority of cases, it is impossible to avert the ongoing attack unless you have special anti-malware software installed. This is why it is worth having one installed in a case similar infections will happen again. You can learn more information about this down below.
- Download Hamster Ransomware Removal Tool
- Get decryption tool for .hamster files
- Recover encrypted files with Stellar Data Recovery Professional
- Restore encrypted files with Windows Previous Versions
- Restore files with Shadow Explorer
- How to protect from threats like Hamster Ransomware
Download Removal Tool
To remove Hamster Ransomware completely, we recommend you to use SpyHunter 5. It detects and removes all files, folders, and registry keys of Hamster Ransomware. The trial version of Spyhunter 5 offers virus scan and 1-time removal for FREE.
Alternative Removal Tool
To remove Hamster Ransomware completely, we recommend you to use Norton Antivirus from Symantec. It detects and removes all files, folders, and registry keys of Hamster Ransomware and prevents future infections by similar viruses.
Hamster Ransomware files:
How To decrypt.txt
{randomname}.exe
Hamster Ransomware registry keys:
no information
How to decrypt and restore .hamster files
Use automated decryptors
Download Kaspersky RakhniDecryptor
Use following tool from Kaspersky called Rakhni Decryptor, that can decrypt .hamster files. Download it here:
There is no purpose to pay the ransom because there is no guarantee you will receive the key, but you will put your bank credentials at risk.
Dr.Web Rescue Pack
Famous antivirus vendor Dr. Web provides free decryption service for the owners of its products: Dr.Web Security Space or Dr.Web Enterprise Security Suite. Other users can ask for help in the decryption of .hamster files by uploading samples to Dr. Web Ransomware Decryption Service. Analyzing files will be performed free of charge and if files are decryptable, all you need to do is purchase a 2-year license of Dr.Web Security Space worth $120 or less. Otherwise, you don’t have to pay.
If you are infected with Hamster Ransomware and removed from your computer you can try to decrypt your files. Antivirus vendors and individuals create free decryptors for some crypto-lockers. To attempt to decrypt them manually you can do the following:
Use Stellar Data Recovery Professional to restore .hamster files
- Download Stellar Data Recovery Professional.
- Click Recover Data button.
- Select type of files you want to restore and click Next button.
- Choose location where you would like to restore files from and click Scan button.
- Preview found files, choose ones you will restore and click Recover.
Using Windows Previous Versions option:
- Right-click on infected file and choose Properties.
- Select Previous Versions tab.
- Choose particular version of the file and click Copy.
- To restore the selected file and replace the existing one, click on the Restore button.
- In case there is no items in the list choose alternative method.
Using Shadow Explorer:
- Download Shadow Explorer program.
- Run it and you will see screen listing of all the drives and the dates that shadow copy was created.
- Select the drive and date that you want to restore from.
- Right-click on a folder name and select Export.
- In case there are no other dates in the list, choose alternative method.
If you are using Dropbox:
- Login to the DropBox website and go to the folder that contains encrypted files.
- Right-click on the encrypted file and select Previous Versions.
- Select the version of the file you wish to restore and click on the Restore button.
How to protect computer from viruses, like Hamster Ransomware, in future
1. Get special anti-ransomware software
Use ZoneAlarm Anti-Ransomware
Famous antivirus brand ZoneAlarm by Check Point released a comprehensive tool, that will help you with active anti-ransomware protection, as an additional shield to your current protection. The tool provides Zero-Day protection against ransomware and allows you to recover files. ZoneAlarm Anti-Ransomware is compatible with all other antiviruses, firewalls, and security software except ZoneAlarm Extreme (already shipped with ZoneAlarm Anti-Ransomware) or Check Point Endpoint products. The killer features of this application are: automatic file recovery, overwrite protection that instantly and automatically recovers any encrypted files, file protection that detects and blocks even unknown encryptors.
2. Back up your files
As an additional way to save your files, we recommend online backup. Local storage, such as hard drives, SSDs, flash drives, or remote network storage can be instantly infected by the virus once plugged in or connected to. Hamster Ransomware uses some techniques to exploit this. One of the best services and programs for easy automatic online backup is iDrive. It has the most profitable terms and a simple interface. You can read more about iDrive cloud backup and storage here.
3. Do not open spam e-mails and protect your mailbox
Malicious attachments to spam or phishing e-mails are the most popular method of ransomware distribution. Using spam filters and creating anti-spam rules is good practice. One of the world leaders in anti-spam protection is MailWasher Pro. It works with various desktop applications and provides a very high level of anti-spam protection.
