A new variant of the Crysis/Dharma Ransomware uploaded ID-Ransomware site. This new version will append the .Bip extension to encrypted files.
It is not known exactly how this variant is being distributed, but in the past Dharma is typically spread by hacking into Remote Desktop Services and manually installing the ransomware.
When the Bip ransomware variant is installed, it will scan a computer for data files and encrypt them. When encrypting a file it will append an extension in the format of .id-[id].[email].bip. For example, a file called test.jpg would be encrypted and renamed to test.jpg.id-BCBEF350.[Beamsell@qq.com].bip.
It should be noted that this ransomware will encrypt mapped network drives, shared virtual machine host drives, and unmapped network shares. So it is important to make sure your network’s shares are locked down so that only those who actually need access have permission.
You can see an example of a folder encrypted by the Bip Ransomware variant below.
When this variant encrypts a computer, it will also delete all of the shadow volume copes on the machine so that they can not be used to recover unencrypted files. It deletes them by running the vssadmin delete shadows /all /quiet command.
This ransomware will also create two different ransom notes on the infected the computer. One is the Info.hta file, which is launched by an autorun when a user logs into the computer.
The other note is called FILES ENCRYPTED.txt and can be found on the desktop.
Both of these ransom notes contain instructions to contact Beamsell@qq.com in order to get payment instructions.
Finally, the ransomware will configure itself to automatically start when you login to Windows. This allows it to encrypt new files that are created since it was last executed.
It is not possible to decrypt the Dharma Bip Ransomware Variant. Unfortunately, at this time there is no way to decrypt files encrypted by the Bip Ransomware variant for free.
The only way to recover encrypted files is via a backup, or if you are incredibly lucky, through Shadow Volume Copies. Though Dharma does attempt to remove Shadow Volume Copies, in rare cases ransomware infections fail to do so for whatever reason. Due to this, if you do not have a viable backup, I always suggest people try as a last resort to restore encrypted files from Shadow Volume Copies as well.
How to protect yourself from the Dharma Ransomware?
In order to protect yourself from Dharma, or from any ransomware, it is important that you use good computing habits and security software. First and foremost, you should always have a reliable and tested backup of your data that can be restored in the case of an emergency, such as a ransomware attack.
As the Dharma Ransomware may be installed via hacked Remote Desktop services, it is very important to make sure its locked down correctly. This includes making sure that no computers running remote desktop services are connected directly to the Internet. Instead place computers running remote desktop behind VPNs so that they are only accessible to those who have VPN accounts on your network.
It is also important to setup proper account lockout policies so that it makes it difficult for accounts to be brute forced over Remote Desktop Services.
You should also have security software that incorporates behavioral detections to combat ransomware and not just signature detections or heuristics.
Last, but not least, make sure you practice the following good online security habits, which in many cases are the most important steps of all:
Backup, Backup, Backup!
Do not open attachments if you do not know who sent them.
Do not open attachments until you confirm that the person actually sent you them,
Scan attachments with tools
Make sure all Windows updates are installed as soon as they come out! Also make sure you update all programs, especially Java, Flash, and Adobe Reader. Older programs contain security vulnerabilities that are commonly exploited by malware distributors. Therefore it is important to keep them updated.
Make sure you use have some sort of security software installed.
Use hard passwords and never reuse the same password at multiple sites.
If you are using Remote Desktop Services, do not connect it directly to the Internet. Instead make it accessibly only via a VPN.
All Users are requested to:
- Install and keep NPAV updated up-to-date.
- Make sure NPAV Data Backup is ON.
- Always use trusted and secure sites for downloading setups.