Scarab-Horsuke Ransomware
Threat Scorecard
EnigmaSoft Threat Scorecard
EnigmaSoft Threat Scorecards are assessment reports for different malware threats which have been collected and analyzed by our research team. EnigmaSoft Threat Scorecards evaluate and rank threats using several metrics including real-world and potential risk factors, trends, frequency, prevalence, and persistence. EnigmaSoft Threat Scorecards are updated regularly based on our research data and metrics and are useful for a wide range of computer users, from end users seeking solutions to remove malware from their systems to security experts analyzing threats.
EnigmaSoft Threat Scorecards display a variety of useful information, including:
Ranking: The ranking of a particular threat in EnigmaSoft’s Threat Database.
Severity Level: The determined severity level of an object, represented numerically, based on our risk modeling process and research, as explained in our Threat Assessment Criteria.
Infected Computers: The number of confirmed and suspected cases of a particular threat detected on infected computers as reported by SpyHunter.
See also Threat Assessment Criteria.
| Threat Level: | 100 % (High) |
| Infected Computers: | 383 |
| First Seen: | May 22, 2018 |
| Last Seen: | March 21, 2019 |
| OS(es) Affected: | Windows |
The Scarab-Horsuke Ransomware is encryption ransomware that belongs to the Scarab family of ransomware, which released numerous updates in April and May 2018. There is very little to differentiate the Scarab-Horsuke Ransomware, and the many variants in this ransomware family released almost at the same time. The high number of releases in a short period has made PC security researchers suspect that the Scarab-Horsuke Ransomware is part of a RaaS (Ransomware as a Service) platform, where variants in the Scarab family can be created by criminals signing up for a service that enables them to create customized versions of this threat. The Scarab-Horsuke Ransomware, like most other encryption ransomware threats in this family, is designed to take the victim's data hostage, encrypting it with a strong encryption algorithm and then demanding a ransom payment to restore access to the affected data.
The Scarab-Horsuke is a Member of a Ransomware Family that Keeps Growing
The Scarab-Horsuke Ransomware was first released on May 16, 2018. The Scarab-Horsuke Ransomware marks the files encrypted by its attack by adding the file extension '.HORSE' to the affected files' names. The Scarab-Horsuke Ransomware also adds the email address '.horsuke@nuke.afrika' to the affected file names, and uses this email address for contact with the victims of the attack. The Scarab-Horsuke Ransomware, like other variants in the malware family, uses the AES encryption to make the victim's files inaccessible. Unfortunately, once the Scarab-Horsuke Ransomware attack has compromised your files, they are no longer recoverable without the decryption key. The files types that may be compromised by these attacks include:
.3dm, .3g2, .3gp, .7zip, .aaf, .accdb, .aep, .aepx, .aet, .ai, .aif, .as, .as3, .asf, .asp, .asx, .avi, .bmp, .c, .class, .cpp, .cs, .csv, .dat, .db, .dbf, .doc, .docb, .docm, .docx, .dot, .dotm, .dotx, .dwg, .dxf, .efx, .eps, .fla, .flv, .gif, .h, .idml, .iff, .indb, .indd, .indl, .indt, .inx, .jar, .java, .jpeg, .jpg, .js, .m3u, .m3u8, .m4u, .max, .mdb, .mid, .mkv, .mov, .mp3, .mp4, .mpa, .mpeg, .mpg, .msg, .pdb, .pdf, .php, .plb, .pmd, .png, .pot, .potm, .potx, .ppam, .ppj, .pps, .ppsm, .ppsx, .ppt, .pptm, .pptx, .prel, .prproj, .ps, .psd, .py, .ra, .rar, .raw, .rb, .rtf, .sdf, .sdf, .ses, .sldm, .sldx, .sql, .svg, .swf, .tif, .txt, .vcf, .vob, .wav, .wma, .wmv, .wpd, .wps, .xla, .xlam, .xll, .xlm, .xls, .xlsb, .xlsm, .xlsx, .xlt, .xltm, .xltx, .xlw, .xml, .xqx, .xqx, .zip.
When the Scarab-Horsuke Ransomware targets a file, it will be encrypted using AES encryption and will be renamed with the added file extension associated with the attack. The Scarab-Horsuke Ransomware encrypts the files and makes them inaccessible without the decryption key, which the criminals hold in their possession. The criminals responsible for the Scarab-Horsuke Ransomware demand a ransom from the victim through a ransom note contained in a text file named 'HOW TO RECOVER ENCRYPTED FILES.txt.' This ransom note is dropped on the affected computer's desktop and contains the following text:
'HORSUKE
Your files are now encrypted?
Your personal identifier:
[RANDOM STRING OF CHARACTERS]
All your files have been encrypted due to a security problem with your PC. Now you should send us email with your personal identifier. This email will be as confirmation you are ready to pay for decryption key. You have to pay for decryption in Bitcoins. The price depends on how fast you write to us. After payment we will send you the decryption tool that will decrypt all your files.
Contact us using this email address: horsuke@nuke.africa If you don't get a reply or if the email dies, then contact us to saviours@airmail.cc'
Dealing with the Scarab-Horsuke Ransomware
Computer users shouldn't contact the criminals responsible for the Scarab-Horsuke Ransomware. It is instead recommended to restore the affected files from a backup copy. An effective security program that is fully up-to-date combined with backup copies of your data is the best way to ensure that your data is safe from threats like the Scarab-Horsuke Ransomware.
