The .cezar file virus is associated with ransomware called Dharma. Dharma ransomware is a virus that encrypts particular data by utilizing the strong AES encipher algorithm so that hackers responsible for the attack can extort victims for a ransom payment. All files that have appended the malicious extension .cezar are out of order and cannot be accessed. The .cezar ransomware virus can infect all Windows versions and is currently overspreading worldwide.
Unfortunately, the virus is not decryptable yet, however some of the previous versions have been decoded successfully and this one may be cracked too soon. The good news is that below you can find alternative data recovery solutions that are likely to help you restore .cezar files. Cheer up and follow our instructions below:
Manual Removal Guide
Recover .cezar Files
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.Cezar Ransomware Virus – How Did I Get It?
The Dharma ransomware and the .cezar strain are distributed across the web via different methods. One of the most popular is spam email messages. They can be one of the following types:
- Spam messages with malicious attachments – These types of email messages are sent in bulk to the targets and they include infected binaries as file attachments. Various social engineering tricks are used to make the computer users download and open the file. The files may pose as financial documents, important messages or other types of data that may be of interest.
- Spam messages with malicious links – They are similar to the above-mentioned messages however they feature links to various hacked and malicious sites that host the binaries instead of offering them as attachments. This is done to prevent the automatic virus scanners from discarding the message.
- Spam messages that deliver both malicious links and attachments – A widely used strategy by computer criminals.
Other infection methods include exploit kits, browser hijackers, Trojans and other types of hacking attacks.
.Cezar Ransomware virus – How Does It Work?
The .cezar ransomware virus will be dropped into your computer, after which the virus will attempt to get itself deep into the operating folders. The usual folders are:
- %AppData%
%Temp%
%Roaming%
%System32%
%Common%
The dropped files will try to mask themselves as other system files. The OS is full of such little files, so it may be hard to locate them if you’re trying to remove the virus. This is why manual removal can be tricky, if not outright dangerous for your system.
The virus will try to target some of the following file types:
PNG .PSD .PSPIMAGE .TGA .THM .TIF .TIFF .YUV .AI .EPS .PS .SVG .INDD .PCT .PDF .XLR .XLS .XLSX .ACCDB .DB .DBF .MDB .PDB .SQL .APK .APP .BAT .CGI .COM .EXE .GADGET .JAR .PIF .WSF .DEM .GAM .NES .ROM .SAV CAD Files .DWG .DXF GIS Files .GPX .KML .KMZ .ASP .ASPX .CER .CFM .CSR .CSS .HTM .HTML .JS .JSP .PHP .RSS .XHTML. DOC .DOCX .LOG .MSG .ODT .PAGES .RTF .TEX .TXT .WPD .WPS .CSV .DAT .GED .KEY .KEYCHAIN .PPS .PPT .PPTX ..INI .PRF Encoded Files .HQX .MIM .UUE .7Z .CBR .DEB .GZ .PKG .RAR .RPM .SITX .TAR.GZ .ZIP .ZIPX .BIN .CUE .DMG .ISO .MDF .TOAST .VCD SDF .TAR .TAX2014 .TAX2015 .VCF .XML Audio Files .AIF .IFF .M3U .M4A .MID .MP3 .MPA .WAV .WMA Video Files .3G2 .3GP .ASF .AVI .FLV .M4V .MOV .MP4 .MPG .RM .SRT .SWF .VOB .WMV 3D .3DM .3DS .MAX .OBJ R.BMP .DDS .GIF .JPG ..CRX .PLUGIN .FNT .FON .OTF .TTF .CAB .CPL .CUR .DESKTHEMEPACK .DLL
The .cezar Dharma ransomware aims to find all target files mentioned above so it can implement the AES encipher algorithm and render them completely unusable. This latest variant of Dharma is associated primarily with the .cezar file extension and an email address that is left by the hackers as a way to contact them for the payment process.
During the encryption process, the ransomware generates a decryption key, connects to its remote command and control server and delivers the key to the crooks. The whole infection process happens unnoticeably until its final stage. During its last stage, the ransomware drops an HTA, TXT, JPG or HTML file that contains a ransom message and payment instructions. The file is likely to be located on the desktop as well as in all folders that contain encrypted files. The .cezar ransomware virus may also modify the default desktop wallpaper and replace it with the ransom note. As the previous .wallet and .onion variants, .cezar Dharma ransom message instructs victims how to contact hackers at a given email in order to follow their further instructions and transfer Bitcoins to a given bitcoin address.
The Dharma .cezar file virus is also likely to change and create objects in the Windows Registry editor. Modifications of Run and RunOnce registry keys allow the threat to run automatically its malicious files on each Windows startup. The syntax of some the affected registry keys is:
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
What Should Be Done in Case of .cezar Ransomware Virus Infection?
In a case of infection with .cezar ransomware, the computer is still usable but whenever a new file is added it is automatically encrypted too, if not immediately then after a PC reboot. This is why we recommend to all victims of the threat to remove the malware from the computer. The removal could be done manually, and for this purpose, we recommend following the step-by-step guide below. However, until there is no information about all malicious files and objects associated with it, the best results can be achieved with the help of a real-time anti-malware. Furthermore, such software will protect the system against future malware attacks.
WARNING! Manual removal of .cezar File Virus requires being familiar with system files and registries. Removing important data accidentally can lead to permanent system damage. If you don’t feel comfortable with manual instructions, download a powerful anti-malware tool that will scan your system for malware and clean it safely for you.
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.Cezar Ransomware Virus – Manual Removal Steps
Start the PC in Safe Mode with Network
This will isolate all files and objects created by the ransomware so they will be removed efficiently. The steps bellow are applicable to all Windows versions.
1. Hit the WIN Key + R
2. A Run window will appear. In it, write msconfig and then press Enter
3. A Configuration box shall appear. In it Choose the tab named Boot
4. Mark Safe Boot option and then go to Network under it to tick it too
5. Apply -> OK
Show Hidden Files
Some ransomware threats are designed to hide their malicious files in the Windows so all files stored on the system should be visible.
1. Open My Computer/This PC
2. Windows 7
- – Click on Organize button
– Select Folder and search options
– Select the View tab
– Go under Hidden files and folders and mark Show hidden files and folders option
3. Windows 8/ 10
- – Open View tab
– Mark Hidden items option
4. Click Apply and then OK button
Enter Windows Task Manager and Stop Malicious Processes
1. Hit the following key combination: CTRL+SHIFT+ESC
2. Get over to Processes
3. When you find suspicious process right click on it and select Open File Location
4. Go back to Task Manager and end the malicious process. Right click on it again and choose End Process
5. Next, you should go folder where the malicious file is located and delete it
Repair Windows Registry
1. Again type simultaneously the WIN Key + R key combination
2. In the box, write regedit and hit Enter
3. Type the CTRL+ F and then write the malicious name in the search type field to locate the malicious executable
4. In case you have discovered registry keys and values related to the name, you should delete them, but be careful not to delete legitimate keys
Click for more information about Windows Registry and further repair help
Recover .cezar Files
WARNING! All files and objects associated with .cezar ransomware virus should be removed from the infected PC before any data recovery attempts. Otherwise the virus may encrypt restored files. Furthermore, a backup of all encrypted files stored on external media is highly recommendable.
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1. Use present backups
2. Use professional data recovery software
Stellar Phoenix Data Recovery – a specialist tool that can restore partitions, data, documents, photos, and 300 more file types lost during various types of incidents and corruption.
3. Using System Restore Point
- – Hit WIN Key
– Select “Open System Restore” and follow the steps
4. Restore your personal files using File History
- – Hit WIN Key
– Type restore your files in the search box
– Select Restore your files with File History
– Choose a folder or type the name of the file in the search bar
– Hit the “Restore” button
