Horsedeal is a BigBossHorse family of ransomware-type infections1. This ransomware encrypts your private files (video, photos, documents). The infected files can be tracked by specific “.horsedeal” extension. So, you can’t open them at all.
In this article I will try to help you remove Horsedeal virus without any payment. As bonus I will assist you in decoding your crypted files.
What is “Horsedeal”?
Horsedeal can be correctly identify as a ransomware-type infection.
Ransomware is a kind of virus that crypted your documents and then forces you to pay to restore them. BigBossHorse family was first revealed and discovered by virus analyst Michael Gillespie2.Horsedeal is basically similar to other the same family: Piny, Redl, Mkos. It crypted all common file types. Hence, users cannot open the your documents or photos. Horsedeal adds its particular “.horsedeal” extension into all files. For example, the file “video.avi”, will be changed into “video.avi.horsedeal”. As soon as the encryption is accomplished, Horsedeal drops a special text file “#Decryption#.txt” and adds it into all folders that contain the modified files.
Here is a info for the Horsedeal :
| Ransomware family3 | BigBossHorse ransomware |
| Extension | .horsedeal |
| Ransomware note | #Decryption#.txt |
| Ransom | in Bitcoins |
| Contact | ICQ: @bigbosshorse XMPP: [email protected] |
| Detection4 | Win32/TrojanDownloader.Agent.EXU, Trojan.Downloader.fmqaa08eR0ii, TrojanDownloader:Win32/Huskfim.A |
| Symptoms | Your files (photos, videos, documents) have a .horsedeal extension and you can’t open it |
| Fix Tool | See If Your System Has Been Affected by .horsedeal file virus |
The cryptography algorithm used by Horsedeal is AES-256. So, if your files got encrypted with a specific decryption key, which is totally distinct and there are no other copies. The sad reality is that it is impossible to recover the information without the unique key available.
In case if Horsedeal worked in online mode, it is impossible for you to gain access to the AES-256 key. It is stored on a remote server owned by the frauds who distibute the Horsedeal ransomware.
Do not pay for Horsedeal!
Please, try to use the available backups, or Decrypter tool
I definitely advise that you do not contact these crooks and do not pay. The one of the most real working solution to recover the lost data – just using the available backups.
The peculiarity of all such viruses apply a similar set of actions for generating the unique decryption key to recover the ciphered data.
Thus, unless the ransomware is still under the stage of development or possesses with some hard-to-track flaws, manually recovering the ciphered data is a thing you can’t really perform. The only solution to prevent the loss of your valuable data is to regularly make backups of your crucial files.
Note that even if you do maintain such backups regularly, they ought to be put into a specific location without loitering, not being connected to your main workstation.
For instance, the backup may be kept on the USB flash drive or some alternative external hard drive storage. Optionally, you may refer to the help of online (cloud) information storage.
Needless to mention, when you maintain your backup data on your common device, it may be similarly ciphered as well as other data.
For this reason, locating the backup on your main device is surely not a good idea.
How I was infected?
Horsedeal has a various methods to built into your system. But it doesn’t really matter what way had place in your case.
Horsedeal attack following a successful phishing attempt.
- hidden installation along with other apps, especially the utilities that work as freeware or shareware;
- dubious link in spam emails leading to the Horsedeal installer
- online free hosting resources;
- using illegal peer-to-peer (P2P) resources for downloading pirated software.
There were cases when the Horsedeal virus was disguised as some legitimate tool, for example, in the messages demanding to initiate some unwanted software or browser updates. This is typically the way how some online frauds aim to force you into installing the Horsedeal ransomware manually, by actually making you directly participate in this process.
Surely, the bogus update alert will not indicate that you are going to actually inject the Horsedeal ransomware. This installation will be concealed under some alert mentioning that allegedly you should update Adobe Flash Player or some other dubious program whatsoever.
Of course, the cracked apps represent the damage too. Using P2P is both illegal and may result in the injection of serious malware, including the Horsedeal ransomware.
To sum up, what can you do to avoid the injection of the Horsedeal ransomware into your device? Even though there is no 100% guarantee to prevent your PC from getting damaged, there are certain tips I want to give you to prevent the Horsedeal penetration. You must be cautious while installing free software today.
Make sure you always read what the installers offer in addition to the main free program. Stay away from opening dubious email attachments. Do not open files from the unknown addressees. Of course, your current security program must be always updated.
The malware does not speak openly about itself. It will not be mentioned in the list of your available programs. However, it will be masked under some malicious process running regularly in the background, starting from the moment when you launch your computer.
The message by the Horsedeal ransomware states the following frustrating information:
All your files have been ENCRYPTED!!! Write to our ICQ https://icq.im/bigbosshorse Or contact us via jabber - [email protected] Jabber client installation instructions: Download the jabber (Pidgin) client from https://pidgin.im/download/windows/ After installation, the Pidgin client will prompt you to create a new account. Click - Add In the -Protocol field, select XMPP In -Username - come up with any name In the field -domain - enter any jabber-server, there are a lot of them, for example - exploit.im Create a password At the bottom, put a tick -Create account Click add If you selected -domain - exploit.im, then a new window should appear in which you will need to re-enter your data: User password You will need to follow the link to the captcha (there you will see the characters that you need to enter in the field below) If you don't understand our Pidgin client installation instructions, you can find many installation tutorials on youtube - https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=pidgin+jabber+install If you have not received a response from us then we may have technical problems and please write to us using Jaber here [email protected] or on icq Attention! Do not rename encrypted files. Do not try to decrypt your data using third party software, it may cause permanent data loss. Decryption of your files with the help of third parties may cause increased price (they add their fee to our) or you can become a victim of a scam. tell your unique ID
The image below gives a clear vision of how the files with “.horsedeal” extension look like:
Example of crypted .horsedeal files
How to remove Horsedeal virus?
In addition to encode a victim’s files, the Horsedeal virus has also started to install the Azorult Spyware on system to steal account credentials, cryptocurrency wallets, desktop files, and more.
Reasons why I would recommend GridinSoft5
Download Removal Tool.
Run the setup file.
Press “Install” button.
Once installed, Anti-Malware will automatically run.
Wait for the Anti-Malware scan to complete.
Click on “Clean Now”.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I open “.horsedeal” files?
horsedeal files contain important information. How can I decrypt them urgently?
If not, then you can try to restore them through the system function – Restore Point.
All other methods will require patience.
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