The Gachimuchi virus belongs under the ransomware type of infection. Ransomware of this type encrypts all user’s data on the computer (images, documents, excel tables, music, videos, etc) and adds its own extension to every file, leaving the #HOW_TO_DECRYPT#.txt files in every directory with the encrypted files.
What is Gachimuchi virus?
☝️ A scientifically accurate designation for the Gachimuchi would be “a ransomware-type malicious agent”.
The pattern of renaming is the following: [victimID].[BillyHerrington].Gachimuchi. In the process of encryption, a file named, for example, “report.docx” will be turned into “report.docx.[033859fde3].[BillyHerrington].Gachimuchi”.
In each directory containing the encoded files, a #HOW_TO_DECRYPT#.txt text file will be created. It is a ransom money note. It contains information on the ways of contacting the racketeers and some other remarks. The ransom note most probably contains a description of how to purchase the decryption tool from the Gachimuchi developers. You can get this decrypting software after contacting gachimuchi@onionmail.org by email. That is basically the scheme of the crime.
Gachimuchi summary:
| Name | Gachimuchi Virus |
| Extension | .Gachimuchi |
| Ransomware note | #HOW_TO_DECRYPT#.txt |
| Contact | gachimuchi@onionmail.org |
| Detection | Win32/Injector.EJDH, MSIL/Shutdowner.CA, Trojan:Win32/Anomaly!C |
| Symptoms | Your files (photos, videos, documents) have a .Gachimuchi extension and you can’t open them. |
| Fix Tool | See If Your System Has Been Affected by Gachimuchi virus |
The #HOW_TO_DECRYPT#.txt file coming in package with the Gachimuchi malware states the following:
ALL YOUR DOCUMENTS PHOTOS DATABASES AND OTHER IMPORTANT FILES HAVE BEEN ENCRYPTED! ======================== Your files are NOT damaged! Your files are modified only. This modification is reversible. The only 1 way to decrypt your files is to receive the private key and decryption program. Any attempts to restore your files with the third party software will be fatal for your files! ======================== To receive the private key and decryption program follow the instructions below: 1. Write to our skype - Gachimuchi DECRYPTION Also you can write ICQ live chat which works 24/7 @Gachimuchi Install ICQ software on your PC hxxps://icq.com/windows/ or on your mobile phone search in Appstore / Google market ICQ Write to our ICQ @Gachimuchi hxxps://icq.im/Gachimuchi If we not reply in 6 hours you can write to our mail but use it only if previous methods not working - gachimuchi@onionmail.org 2. Our company values its reputation. We give all guarantees of your files decryption,such as test decryption some of them We respect your time and waiting for respond from your side tell your MachineID: - and LaunchID: - ========================
In the picture below, you can see what a directory with files encrypted by the Gachimuchi looks like. Each filename has the “.Gachimuchi” extension appended to it.
An example of encrypted .Gachimuchi files.
How did Gachimuchi ransomware end up on my PC?
There are plenty of possible ways of ransomware infiltration.
There are currently three most popular methods for tamperers to have the Gachimuchi virus planted in your system. These are email spam, Trojan injection and peer file transfer.
If you open your mailbox and see emails that look just like notifications from utility services providers, postal agencies like FedEx, Internet providers, and whatnot, but whose addresser is strange to you, beware of opening those emails. They are most likely to have a ransomware item enclosed in them. So it is even more dangerous to open any attachments that come with letters like these.
Another option for ransom hunters is a Trojan virus model1. A Trojan is an object that gets into your computer pretending to be something legal. For example, you download an installer for some program you want or an update for some program. But what is unpacked turns out to be a harmful agent that compromises your data. Since the installation file 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 thing 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. So you’d better be using trustworthy resources. Also, it is reasonable to scan the directory containing the downloaded items with the anti-malware utility as soon as the downloading is done.
How to remove the Gachimuchi virus?
It is crucial to inform you that besides encrypting your data, the Gachimuchi virus will most likely install the Azorult Spyware on your PC to get access to credentials to different accounts (including cryptocurrency wallets). The mentioned program can extract your credentials from your browser’s auto-filling cardfile.
Often criminals would decrypt few of your files to prove that they indeed have the decryption tool. As Gachimuchi virus is a relatively recent ransomware, security software engineers have not yet found a way to reverse its work. Nevertheless, the anti-ransomware tools are frequently upgraded, so the solution may soon arrive.
Understandably, if the tamperers do the job of encoding victim’s critical data, the desperate person will probably comply with their demands. However, paying to criminals gives no guarantee that you’re getting your data back. It is still dangerous. After receiving the ransom, the racketeers may deliver a wrong decryption key to the injured party. There were reports of criminals just disappearing after getting the ransom without even bothering to reply.
The best countermeasure to ransomware is to have aan OS restore point or the copies of your critical files in the cloud storage or at least on an external disk. Obviously, that might be not enough. Your most crucial thing could be that file you were working on when it all happened. But at least it is something. It is also wise to scan your drives with the anti-malware utility after the system is rolled back.
Gachimuchi 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 Qqlc, Ccew, Qqmt, and some others. The two main differences between them and the Gachimuchi are the ransom amount and the encoding method. The rest is almost identical: files become encrypted, their extensions altered, ransom notes emerge in each directory containing encrypted files.
Some fortunate victims were able to decrypt the blocked files with the help of the free software provided by anti-malware developers. Sometimes the hackers accidentally send the decryption code to the victims in the ransom note. Such an epic fail allows the victim to restore the files. But naturally, one should never expect such a chance. Make no mistake, ransomware is a bandits’ instrument to lay their hands on the money of their victims.
How to avert ransomware infiltration?
Gachimuchi ransomware has no superpower, so as any similar malware.
You can protect your computer from its attack within three easy steps:
- Never open any letters from unknown mailboxes with strange addresses, or with content that has nothing to do with something you are waiting for (how can you win in a money prize draw without participating in it?). If the email subject is more or less something you are expecting, scrutinize all elements of the dubious letter carefully. A fake email will always contain a mistake.
- Never use cracked or untrusted software. Trojans are often distributed as an element of cracked products, most likely as a “patch” which prevents the license check. Understandably, dubious programs are very hard to distinguish from trustworthy ones, because trojans sometimes have the functionality you need. You can try to find information on this program on the anti-malware forums, but the best way is not to use such software.
- And to be sure about the safety of the objects you downloaded, use GridinSoft Anti-Malware. This program will be a perfect shield for your personal computer.
Reasons why I would recommend GridinSoft2
There is no better way to recognize, remove and prevent ransomware than to use an anti-malware software from GridinSoft3.
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 system.
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 PC for Gachimuchi 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 completed, 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
🤔 Is it possible to open “.Gachimuchi” files?
Unfortunately, no. You need to decipher the “.Gachimuchi” files first. Then you will be able to open them.
🤔 The encrypted files are very important to me. How can I decrypt them quickly?
If the “.Gachimuchi” files contain some really important information, then you probably have them backed up. In case you haven’t, there is still a chance that you do have a Restore Point from some time ago to roll back the whole system to the moment when it had no virus yet, but already had your files. The rest of the methods require patience.
🤔 Will GridinSoft Anti-Malware remove all the encrypted files alongside the Gachimuchi virus?
No way! The encrypted files are not harmful, so they won’t be deleted.
With the help of GridinSoft Anti-Malware, you can clean your PC off the actual threats. The malware that has attacked your computer is must be still active and launching checks from time to time to encrypt any new files you might create on your PC after the infection. As it has been mentioned above, the Gachimuchi ransomware comes with the company. It installs backdoors and keyloggers that can take your account passwords by trespass and provide hackers with easy access to your system in the future.
🤔 What actions should I take if the Gachimuchi ransomware has blocked my PC and I can’t get the activation key.
In such an unfortunate situation, you need to prepare a flash memory card with a pre-installed Trojan Killer. Use Safe Mode to execute the procedure. You see, the ransomware starts automatically as the system boots and encrypts any new files created or brought into your machine. To block this process – use Safe Mode, which allows only the vital programs to run upon system boot. Consider reading our manual on running Windows in Safe Mode.
🤔 What could help the situation right now?
Many of the encoded files might still be within your reach
- If you sent or received your critical files via email, you could still download them from your online mailbox.
- You might have shared images or videos with your friends or relatives. Just ask them to give those pictures back to you.
- If you have initially got any of your files from the Web, you can try doing it 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 portable device, mobile, flash memory, etc.
HINT: You can use data recovery programs4 to get your lost data back since ransomware blocks the copies of your files, deleting the authentic ones. In the tutorial below, you can see how to recover your files with PhotoRec, but remember: you won’t be able to do it before you remove the virus 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.
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Brendan SmithHow to Remove GACHIMUCHI Ransomware & Recover PC
Name: GACHIMUCHI Virus
Description: GACHIMUCHI Virus is a ransomware-type infections. This virus encrypts important personal files (video, photos, documents). The encrypted files can be tracked by a specific .Gachimuchi extension. So, you can't use them at all.
Operating System: Windows
Application Category: Virus
User Review
( votes)References
- 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 Best Data Recovery Software Of 2023.
