Esmeralda Ransomware

The Esmeralda Ransomware is an encryption ransomware Trojan that is used to force computer users to pay large amounts of money to recover their files after they have been taken hostage. The Esmeralda Ransomware is a variant of a ransomware Trojan that had already been uncovered by PC security analysts. This ransomware Trojan, known as the Apocalypse Ransomware, was first observed in June of 2016. The Esmeralda Ransomware is distributed in a similar way, through corrupted email attachments in spam email campaigns. The corrupted files delivering the Esmeralda Ransomware may be Microsoft Office or PDF files that exploit macros to execute corrupted code on victims' computers. The Esmeralda Ransomware will be installed on the victim's computer in the background when the victim enables the macros in the corrupted document.

There’s Something New on the Esmeralda Ransomware Attack

The Esmeralda Ransomware asks victims to contact the email address Esmeraldaencryption@mail.ru to receive instructions on how to pay the ransom. This is why PC security analysts have given the Esmeralda Ransomware its name. The Esmeralda Ransomware's ransom note looks like a notification from a system administrator, an approach to ransomware notes that hasn't been observed in previous attacks from other ransomware Trojans. The Esmeralda Ransomware tries to fool computer users into believing that the files were hacked as a way to prevent damage from hackers. Computer users that are not very experienced may believe the Esmeralda Ransomware's claims. PC security researchers advise computer users to avoid contacting the Esmeralda Ransomware's associated email address. The ransom note linked to the Esmeralda Ransomware attack reads:

'Windows has encountered a critical problem and needs your immediate action to recover your data. The system access is locked, and all the data have been encrypted to avoid the information be published or misused. You will not be able to access to your files and ignoring this message may cause the total loss of the data. We are sorry for the inconvenience.
You need to contact the email below to restore the data of your system.
Email : the Esmeraldaencryption@mail.ru
You will have to order the Unlock-Password and the Esmeralda Decryption Software. All the instructions will be sent to you by email.'

The Esmeralda Ransomware Infection Process

Although most ransomware Trojans will identify the files that have been encrypted with a custom file extension, the Esmeralda Ransomware doesn't do this. In fact, the files that have been encrypted by the Esmeralda Ransomware will look normal, retaining their file icon (although they may no longer have a thumbnail image). Like other ransomware Trojans, the Esmeralda Ransomware will delete the Shadow Volume Copies of corrupted files, to make it more difficult for computer users to recover from an Esmeralda Ransomware attack. Although it is possible that PC security analysts will be able to develop a decryption utility for the Esmeralda Ransomware in the future, it may not be possible to decrypt the files encrypted by the Esmeralda Ransomware without access to the decryption key currently.

Preventing the Esmeralda Ransomware Attacks and Infections

Attacks like the Esmeralda Ransomware can be prevented easily by having backups of all files on an external memory device. If all files are properly backed up, then computer users can recover from an attack by simply restoring their files from that backup. Unfortunately, in many cases, computer users will not have backups or the Esmeralda Ransomware will have access to the backup drive through the local network or drives physically connected to the infected computer and encrypt its contents as well. In these cases, it is impossible to recover without paying the ransom. However, PC security analysts strongly advise computer users to refrain from paying the Esmeralda Ransomware's ransom. There is no guarantee that the people responsible for the Esmeralda Ransomware attack will keep their promise to provide the decryption key after the payment has been made.