DATAH Ransomware ([email protected])

The Datah virus belongs to the Makop ransomware family. Malware of this type encrypts all user’s data on the PC (images, documents, excel sheets, music, videos, etc) and adds its extra extension to every file, creating the +README-WARNING+.txt files in every folder with the encrypted files.

What is Datah virus?

☝️ Datah is a Makop family ransomware infection.

The renaming will be executed according to this pattern: .datah. As a part of encryption, a file named, for instance, “report.docx” will be renamed to “report.docx.[2AF20FA3].[[email protected]].datah”.

In each folder with the encoded files, a +README-WARNING+.txt file will appear. It is a ransom money memo. Therein you can find information on the ways of paying the ransom and some other information. The ransom note usually contains a description of how to buy the decryption tool from the racketeers. You can get this decryptor after contacting [email protected] by email. That is how they do it.

Datah Summary:

The +README-WARNING+.txt document accompanying the Datah malware provides the following discouraging information:

::: Greetings :::

Little FAQ:

.1.
Q: Whats Happen?
A: Your files have been encrypted. The file structure was not damaged, we did everything possible so that this could not happen.

.2.
Q: How to recover files?
A: If you wish to decrypt your files you will need to pay us.

.3.
Q: What about guarantees?
A: Its just a business. We absolutely do not care about you and your deals, except getting benefits. If we do not do our work and liabilities - nobody will cooperate with us. Its not in our interests.
To check the ability of returning files, you can send to us any 2 files with SIMPLE extensions(jpg,xls,doc, etc... not databases!) and low sizes(max 1 mb), we will decrypt them and send back to you. That is our guarantee.

.4.
Q: How to contact with you?
A: You can write us to our mailbox: [email protected]
Or you can contact us via TOX: B99CB0C13B44E2A1AEBAEB28E70371D6E3DB35DA801721930B53B0E787433270665DA610BAB0
You can download TOX: hxxps://qtox.github.io/

.5.
Q: How will the decryption process proceed after payment?
A: After payment we will send to you our scanner-decoder program and detailed instructions for use. With this program you will be able to decrypt all your encrypted files.

.6.
Q: If I don t want to pay bad people like you?
A: If you will not cooperate with our service - for us, its does not matter. But you will lose your time and data, cause only we have the private key. In practice - time is much more valuable than money.

:::BEWARE:::
DON\'T try to change encrypted files by yourself!
If you will try to use any third party software for restoring your data or antivirus solutions - please make a backup for all encrypted files!
Any changes in encrypted files may entail damage of the private key and, as result, the loss all data.

In the picture below, you can see what a folder with files encrypted by the Datah looks like. Each filename has the “.datah” extension appended to it.

How did my machine catch Datah ransomware?

There are many possible ways of ransomware injection.

There are currently three most popular methods for hackers to have the Datah virus settled in your digital environment. These are email spam, Trojan injection and peer-to-peer networks.

• If you open your mailbox and see letters that look like familiar notifications from utility services providers, postal agencies like FedEx, Internet providers, and whatnot, but whose “from” field is strange to you, beware of opening those letters. They are most likely to have a ransomware item enclosed in them. So it is even more dangerous to download any attachments that come with emails like these.
• Another option for ransom hunters is a Trojan virus model. A Trojan is an object that infiltrates into your machine pretending to be something different. For example, you download an installer for some program you need or an update for some service. However, what is unpacked reveals itself a harmful program that corrupts your data. Since the installation wizard can have any name and any icon, you’d better be sure that you can trust the source of the files you’re downloading. The best way is to use the software developers’ official websites.
• As for the peer-to-peer file transfer protocols like torrents or eMule, the danger is that they are even more trust-based than the rest of the Internet. You can never guess what you download until you get it. Our suggestion is that you use trustworthy resources. Also, it is a good idea to scan the folder containing the downloaded items with the antivirus as soon as the downloading is finished.

How do I get rid of ransomware?

It is crucial to note that besides encrypting your files, the Datah virus will most likely deploy Vidar Stealer on your machine to get access to credentials to different accounts (including cryptocurrency wallets). That spyware can derive your credentials from your browser’s auto-filling cardfile.

How сan I avoid ransomware infiltration?

Datah ransomware has no endless power, neither does any similar malware.

You can defend your computer from ransomware attack within several easy steps:

• Ignore any emails from unknown mailboxes with unknown addresses, or with content that has nothing to do with something you are waiting for (can you win in a lottery without participating in it?). In case the email subject is likely something you are waiting for, scrutinize all elements of the dubious email carefully. A hoax email will surely have mistakes.
• Avoid using cracked or unknown software. Trojans are often shared as a part of cracked products, most likely under the guise of “patch” which prevents the license check. But dubious programs are difficult to distinguish from reliable software, as trojans sometimes have the functionality you seek. Try to find information on this program on the anti-malware message boards, but the optimal way is not to use such software.

FAQ

🤔 Are the “.datah” files accessible?

There’s no way to do it, unless the files “.datah” files are decrypted.

🤔 The encrypted files are very important to me. How can I decrypt them quickly?

Hopefully, you have made a copy of those important files. If not, there is still a function of System Restore but it needs a Restore Point to be previously saved. All other solutions require time.

🤔 What actions should I take if the Datah malware has blocked my computer and I can’t get the activation key.

🤔 And what should I do now?

Many of the encoded files might still be at your disposal

• If you sent or received your critical files through email, you could still download them from your online mailbox.
• You might have shared images or videos with your friends or family members. Simply ask them to post those images back to you.
• If you have initially got any of your files from the Internet, you can try downloading them again.
• Your messengers, social media pages, and cloud drives might have all those files as well.
• Maybe you still have the needed files on your old computer, a notebook, cellphone, flash memory, etc.

HINT: You can use file recovery utilities² to retrieve your lost information since ransomware blocks the copies of your files, removing the original ones. In the tutorial below, you can learn how to use PhotoRec for such a recovery, but remember: you won’t be able to do it before you kill the ransomware itself with an antivirus program.

1. My files are encrypted by ransomware, what should I do now?
2. Here are Top 10 Data Recovery Software Of 2024.