How to remove Hermes (2.0 – 2.1) Ransomware and decrypt .hrm files

What is Hermes Ransomware

Hermes Ransomware is wide-spread family of crypto-viruses. There have been 2 major updates of initial ransomware – Hermes 2.0 Ransomware and Hermes 2.1 Ransomware. All variants use AES-256 encryption algorithm combined with RSA-2048. First version did not add any extensions and modified only content of the files by adding HERMES file-marker. Last version started to append .hrm suffix, but then just encrypted files without filename modification. After encryption, ransomware creates text files DECRYPT_INFO.txt and DECRYPT_INFORMATION.html, that contains message with instructions to pay the ransom and contact details. You can see the contents of this files below in the next paragraph. Usually, viruses of this type ask for $500 – $1000 in BitCoins. Hermes Ransomware bypasses UAC and removes volumes of shadow copies of files and backup files. Virus can remove following types of backup files, which can obstruct restoring process:

*.VHD, *.bac, *.bak, *.wbcat, *.bkf, Backup*.*, backup*.*, *.set, *.win, *.dsk

You can try to ask for Dr. Web decryption service, or restore from backups. You can also keep your files until decryptor will be released. Use instructions on this page to remove Hermes Ransomware and decrypt .hrm (or other) files from Windows 10, Windows 8 or Windows 7.

How Hermes Ransomware infected your PC

Can be distributed by hacking through an unprotected RDP configuration, using email spam and malicious attachments, fraudulent downloads, exploits, web injections, fake updates, repackaged and infected installers. After encryption, the shadow copies of the files are deleted by the command: vssadmin.exe vssadmin delete shadows /all /quiet. Virus assigns certain ID with the victims, that is used to name those files and supposedly to send decryption key. In order to prevent infection with this type of threats in future we recommend you to use SpyHunter 5 or Norton Antivirus.

1. Download Hermes Ransomware Removal Tool
2. Get decryption tool for .hrm files
3. Recover encrypted files with Stellar Data Recovery Professional
4. Restore encrypted files with Windows Previous Versions
5. Restore files with Shadow Explorer
6. How to protect from threats like Hermes Ransomware

Hermes Ransomware files:

White.exe (WhiteRose.exe)
DECRYPT_INFO.txt
DECRYPT_INFORMATION.html
UNIQUE_ID_DO_NOT_REMOVE
hermes.exe
Reload.exe
system_.bat
shade.bat
shade.vbs

Hermes Ransomware registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run" /v "allkeeper" /t REG_SZ /d "%USERPROFILE%\Desktop\DECRYPT_INFORMATION.html" /f
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run" /v "sysrep" /t REG_SZ /d "%PUBLIC%\Reload.exe" /f
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run" /v "allkeeper" /t REG_SZ /d
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run" /v "sysrep" /t REG_SZ /d
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\allkeeper C:\users\User\Desktop\DECRYPT_INFORMATION.html

How to decrypt and restore .hrm files

Use automated decryptors

Download HermesDecrypter from Michael Gillespie

Use following tool from Michael Gillespie called HermesDecrypter, that can decrypt .hrm files. Download it here:

Download HermesDecrypter

Download Rakhni Decryptor from Kaspersky

Use following tool from Kaspersky called Rakhni Decryptor, that can decrypt .hrm files. Download it here:

Download RakhniDecryptor

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 .hrm files by uploading samples to Dr. Web Ransomware Decryption Service. Analyzing of 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 Hermes Ransomware and removed it 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 .hrm files

1. Download Stellar Data Recovery Professional.
2. Click Recover Data button.
3. Select type of files you want to restore and click Next button.
4. Choose location where you would like to restore files from and click Scan button.
5. Preview found files, choose ones you will restore and click Recover.

Download Stellar Data Recovery Professional

Using Windows Previous Versions option:

1. Right-click on infected file and choose Properties.
2. Select Previous Versions tab.
3. Choose particular version of the file and click Copy.
4. To restore the selected file and replace the existing one, click on the Restore button.
5. In case there is no items in the list choose alternative method.

Using Shadow Explorer:

1. Download Shadow Explorer program.
2. Run it and you will see screen listing of all the drives and the dates that shadow copy was created.
3. Select the drive and date that you want to restore from.
4. Right-click on a folder name and select Export.
5. In case there are no other dates in the list, choose alternative method.

If you are using Dropbox:

1. Login to the DropBox website and go to the folder that contains encrypted files.
2. Right-click on the encrypted file and select Previous Versions.
3. Select the version of the file you wish to restore and click on the Restore button.

How to protect computer from viruses, like Hermes 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.

Download ZoneAlarm Anti-Ransomware

2. Back up your files

As an additional way to save your files, we recommend online backup. Local storages, such as hard drives, SSDs, flash drives or remote network storages can be instantly infected by the virus once plugged in or connected to. Hermes 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 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 is 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 very high level of anti-spam protection.

Download MailWasher Pro