The .cesar file virus is yet another new strain of the infamous Dharma ransomware. The thorough examination of Dharma’s code and its behavior confirms that it belongs to the CrySiS ransomware family. This new iteration of the ransomware is known to encrypt valuable data and demand a ransom payment for its decryption. All corrupted files are renamed with the malicious extension .cesar until they are decrypted.
Manual Removal Guide
Recover .cesar Files
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How .Cesar File Virus Infects Computers
The .cesar file virus is a typical ransomware that infects computer hosts via the most popular tactics. There are two main types of attacks that are associated with these type of threats:
- Social Engineering Attacks – The hackers attempt to lure the users into infecting themselves by employing different tactics. They can include spam email messages, counterfeit software installers, infected documents and other means. All of them depend on the inability of the targets to distinguish between a legitimate and a counterfeit payload. Usually, these attacks are much more successful as they are far greater in volume than the direct hacker intrusion attempts.
- Hacker Attacks – Direct hacker intrusion attempts are usually done by using redirection means. The criminals employ dangerous web scripts, browser hijackers, ad networks and vulnerability testing to attempt to infect the computers with the virus.
How .Cesar File Virus Works
The .cesar file virus also is a data locker ransomware known to be a new version of the infamous Dharma ransomware. Hackers use variety of Dharma ransomware strains like .cezar, .wallet and .onion are previously spotted to infect PCs and corrupt stored files.
The .cesar ransomware virus infection is triggered by an executable file running on the system. It controls all malicious actions performed by the virus. In addition the ransomware may drop other malicious files on the system to complete all stages of the infection. These malicious files may be dropped or created in following folders:
%UserProfile%
%AppData%
%Temp%
%Roaming%
%Common%
The Dharma ransomware or .cesar file virus is reported to infect terminal and exchange servers. It may encrypt substantial data like documents, images, audio files, video files, Microsoft Office files, PDF files and database files. The encrypted files get the malicious extension .cesar appended to their original names. 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 .cesar Dharma ransomware aims to find all target files mentioned above so it can implement the AES encipher algorithm and render them completely unusable. Hackers drop a ransom note on the infected PC as a way to contact victims for the ransom payment process. They usually leave email and urge victims to negotiate for the ransom payment through it. For the decryption is demanded a ransom which should be paid in Bitcoins. According to reports of infected users, the current amount is 2 BTC that equals to the insane amount of 7830.60 US Dollars.
The ransomware code is designed to modify system registry keys in order to replace the current desktop wallpaper with its ransom note. Furthermore, it creates new registry values that enable the automatic start of its malicious executables each time the Windows OS is started.
The .cesar file virus has the functionality to perform the command line vssadmin.exe delete shadows /all /Quiet in Command Prompt which automatically removes all Shadow Volume Copies stored on the infected host and eliminates the chance to restore some .cesar files via the Shadow Explorer method.
What Should Be Done in Case of .cesar Ransomware Virus Infection?
In a case of infection with .cesar 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.
WARNING! Manual removal of .cesar 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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.Cesar 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 .cesar Files
WARNING! All files and objects associated with .cesar 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
