The Bruhnet virus belongs to the Xorist ransomware family. Ransomware of such sort encrypts all user’s data on the computer (images, documents, excel tables, music, videos, etc) and adds its extra extension to every file, creating the КАК РАСШИФРОВАТЬ ФАЙЛЫ.txt files in every directory with the encrypted files.
What is Bruhnet virus?
☝️ A scientifically accurate description for the Bruhnet is “a Xorist family ransomware infection”.
Bruhnet will add its specific .bruhnet extension to the title of each encrypted file. For example, an image entitled “photo.jpg” will be altered to “photo.jpg.bruhnet”. Just like the Excel sheet named “table.xlsx” will end up as “table.xlsx.bruhnet”, and so forth.
In every folder that contains the encoded files, a КАК РАСШИФРОВАТЬ ФАЙЛЫ.txt text document will be created. It is a ransom money memo. Therein you can find information on the ways of contacting the racketeers and some other remarks. The ransom note usually contains a description of how to purchase the decryption tool from the Bruhnet developers. That is how they do it.
Bruhnet outline:
| Name | Bruhnet Virus |
| Ransomware family1 | Xorist ransomware |
| Extension | .bruhnet |
| Ransomware note | КАК РАСШИФРОВАТЬ ФАЙЛЫ.txt |
| Detection | Win32/TrojanDownloader.Small.ARE, Trojan.Win32.Packre.pef, MSIL/ClipBanker.KY |
| Symptoms | Your files (photos, videos, documents) get a .bruhnet extension and you can’t open them. |
| Fix Tool | See If Your System Has Been Affected by Bruhnet virus |
In the image below, you can see what a folder with files encrypted by the Bruhnet looks like. Each filename has the “.bruhnet” extension added to it.
That is how encrypted “.bruhnet” files look.
How did Bruhnet ransomware end up on my PC?
There is a huge number of possible ways of ransomware infiltration.
There are currently three most exploited ways for tamperers to have the Bruhnet virus settled in your digital environment. These are email spam, Trojan injection and peer-to-peer networks.
If you access your mailbox and see emails that look like familiar notifications from utility services providers, delivery agencies like FedEx, web-access providers, and whatnot, but whose mailer is strange to you, beware of opening those emails. They are most likely to have a malicious file enclosed in them. Thus it is even more dangerous to download any attachments that come with letters like these.
Another option for ransom hunters is a Trojan file model2. A Trojan is a program that infiltrates into your machine pretending to be something else. For instance, you download an installer for some program you need or an update for some service. However, what is unboxed reveals itself a harmful program that encrypts your data. Since the installation package can have any title and any icon, you have to make sure that you can trust the source of the files you’re downloading. The optimal way is to use the software developers’ official websites.
As for the peer file transfer protocols like torrent trackers or eMule, the danger is that they are even more trust-based than the rest of the Web. You can never know what you download until you get it. Our suggestion is that you use trustworthy resources. Also, it is reasonable to scan the folder containing the downloaded items with the antivirus as soon as the downloading is done.
How to remove the Bruhnet virus?
It is important to note that besides encrypting your files, the Bruhnet virus will probably install the Azorult Spyware on your PC to get access to credentials to various accounts (including cryptocurrency wallets). The mentioned program can extract your logins and passwords from your browser’s auto-filling data.
Sometimes racketeers would decode several of your files so you know that they really have the decryption tool. As Bruhnet virus is a relatively recent ransomware, security software designers have not yet found a method to undo its work. Nevertheless, the decryption tools are constantly upgraded, so the solution may soon be available.
Of course, if the evildoers succeed in encoding someone’s critical data, the desperate person will probably fulfill their demands. However, paying a ransom gives no guarantee that you’re getting your data back. It is still dangerous. After getting the ransom, the racketeers may deliver a wrong decryption code to the injured party. There were reports about ransomware developers simply disappearing after getting the money without even writing back.
The optimal solution against ransomware is to have aan OS restore point or the copies of your critical files in the cloud disk or at least on an external disk. Obviously, that might be insufficient. The most important thing could be that one you were working on when it all started. But at least it is something. It is also wise to scan your drives with the antivirus program after the system restoration.
Bruhnet is not the only ransomware of its kind, since there are other specimens of ransomware out there that act in the same manner. Examples of those are Mmvb, Mmdt, Oopu, and some others. The two basic differences between them and the Bruhnet are the ransom amount and the method of encryption. The rest is almost identical: documents become encrypted, their extensions altered, ransom notes are created in every directory containing encrypted files.
Some fortunate users were able to decrypt the arrested files with the aid of the free software provided by anti-malware developers. Sometimes the racketeers mistakenly send the decoding key to the wronged in the ransom readme. Such an extraordinary fail allows the injured part to restore the files. But obviously, one should never expect such a chance. Make no mistake, ransomware is a tamperers’ instrument to lay their hands on the money of their victims.
How to avert ransomware infection?
Bruhnet ransomware doesn’t have a endless power, neither does any similar malware.
You can armour your PC from its attack in three easy steps:
- Never open any emails from unknown mailboxes with strange addresses, or with content that has nothing to do with something you are waiting for (can you win in a money prize draw without participating in it?). In case the email subject is more or less something you are expecting, check all elements of the suspicious letter with caution. A fake email will surely contain mistakes.
- Never use cracked or untrusted software. Trojan viruses are often distributed as a part of cracked software, most likely under the guise of “patch” which prevents the license check. Understandably, untrusted programs are very hard to distinguish from reliable ones, as trojans sometimes have the functionality you need. You can try searching for information on this software product on the anti-malware forums, but the optimal solution is not to use such programs at all.
- And finally, to be sure about the safety of the objects you downloaded, use GridinSoft Anti-Malware. This software will be a perfect shield for your PC.
Reasons why I would recommend GridinSoft3
There is no better way to recognize, remove and prevent ransomware than to use an anti-malware software from GridinSoft4.
Download Removal Tool.
You can download GridinSoft Anti-Malware by clicking the button below:
Run the setup file.
When setup file has finished downloading, double-click on the setup-antimalware-fix.exe file to install GridinSoft Anti-Malware on your PC.
An User Account Control asking you about to allow GridinSoft Anti-Malware to make changes to your device. So, you should click “Yes” to continue with the installation.
Press “Install” button.
Once installed, Anti-Malware will automatically run.
Wait for the Anti-Malware scan to complete.
GridinSoft Anti-Malware will automatically start scanning your system for Bruhnet infections and other malicious programs. This process can take a 20-30 minutes, so I suggest you periodically check on the status of the scan process.
Click on “Clean Now”.
When the scan has finished, you will see the list of infections that GridinSoft Anti-Malware has detected. To remove them click on the “Clean Now” button in right corner.
Frequently Asked Questions
🤔 How can I open “.bruhnet” files?Can I somehow access “.bruhnet” files?
Unfortunately, no. You need to decipher the “.bruhnet” files first. Then you will be able to open them.
🤔 I really need to decrypt those “.bruhnet” files ASAP. How can I do that?
If the “.bruhnet” files contain some really important information, then you probably have them backed up. Otherwise, you might try to employ System Restore. The only question is whether you have saved any Restore Points that would be helpful now. All other solutions require time.
🤔 Will GridinSoft Anti-Malware remove all the encrypted files alongside the Bruhnet virus?
No way! The encrypted files are not harmful, so they won’t be deleted.
GridinSoft Anti-Malware will remove actual threats from your computer. The malware that has infiltrated your PC is most likely still functional and running scans every so often to encrypt any new files you might create on your PC after the infection. As it has been mentioned above, the Bruhnet malware does not come alone. It installs backdoors and keyloggers that can steal your account credentials and provide criminals with easy access to your PC in the future.
🤔 What should I do if the Bruhnet malware has blocked my PC and I can’t get the activation code.
In such a case, you need to have a memory stick with a previously installed Trojan Killer. Use Safe Mode to do the cleaning. The point is that the ransomware starts automatically as the system launches and encodes any new files created or brought into your machine. To stop this function – use Safe Mode, which allows only the vital applications to run automatically. Consider reading our manual on booting Windows in Safe Mode.
🤔 What can I do right now?
Some of the encrypted data can be located elsewhere.
- If you exchanged your important files through email, you could still download them from your online mailbox.
- You might have shared photographs or videos with your friends or family members. Just ask them to give those pictures back to you.
- If you have initially got any of your files from the Internet, you can try downloading them again.
- Your messengers, social networks pages, and cloud storage might have all those files as well.
- It might be that you still have the needed files on your old PC, a laptop, mobile, memory stick, etc.
HINT: You can employ data recovery programs5 to retrieve your lost information since ransomware arrests the copies of your files, removing the authentic ones. In the tutorial below, you can learn how to use PhotoRec for such a recovery, but be advised: you can do it only after you kill the ransomware itself with an antivirus program.
Also, you can contact the following governmental fraud and scam sites to report this attack:
- In the United States: On Guard Online;
- In Canada: Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre;
- In the United Kingdom: Action Fraud;
- In Australia: SCAMwatch;
- In New Zealand: Consumer Affairs Scams;
- In France: Agence nationale de la sécurité des systèmes d’information;
- In Germany: Bundesamt für Sicherheit in der Informationstechnik;
- In Ireland: An Garda Síochána;
To report the attack, you can contact local executive boards. For instance, if you live in USA, you can have a talk with FBI Local field office, IC3 or Secret Service.
I need your help to share this article.
It is your turn to help other people. I have written this guide to help people like you. You can use the buttons below to share this on your favorite social media Facebook, Twitter, or Reddit.
Brendan SmithHow to Remove BRUHNET Ransomware & Recover PC
Name: BRUHNET Virus
Description: BRUHNET Virus is a ransomware-type infections. This virus encrypts important personal files (video, photos, documents). The encrypted files can be tracked by a specific .bruhnet extension. So, you can't use them at all.
Operating System: Windows
Application Category: Virus
User Review
( votes)References
- My files are encrypted by ransomware, what should I do now?
- You can read more on Trojans, their use and types in the Trojan-dedicated section of GridinSoft official website.
- GridinSoft Anti-Malware Review from HowToFix site: https://howtofix.guide/gridinsoft-anti-malware/
- More information about GridinSoft products: https://gridinsoft.com/comparison
- Here are Top 10 Data Recovery Software Of 2023.
