The Ldhy virus, known as a ransomware infection, is part of the STOP family. This malware is famous for its malicious file encryption capabilities. When the Ldhy virus infects a computer, it scans the system for files like videos, photos, documents, and more. It modifies the file structure and appends the “.ldhy” extension to each encrypted file, making them inaccessible and unusable without the decryption.
Ldhy Virus Overview
Ldhy
🤔 Ldhy malware belongs to ransomware that originates from the DJVU/STOP ransomware family. Its primary purpose is to cipher all of your files it can reach. Then, the ransomware virus asks to pay the ransom – ($499 – $999) in Bitcoin.
The Ldhy virus is a malicious program that encrypts your files and coerces you into paying for their recovery. This ransomware encrypts a wide selection of file types. Encrypted files can be identified by a distinct “.ldhy” extension. As a result, the files touched by ransomware become inaccessible and unusable.
After that, the ransomware asks for a ransom payment in Bitcoin from the victims, which ranges from $499 to $999, depending on the time passed after the attack. Typically, a ransom text file is named as “_readme.txt“.
Ldhy Ransomware operates by Salsa20 encryption algorithms to cipher the targeted files. Since Ldhy virus utilizes such a robust encryption method, it becomes really hard, if even possible, to find the decryption key without cooperating with the attackers.
Once Ldhy malware finishes the encryption, it shows a ransom note to the user, asking for a ransom payment in exchange for the decryption key. The ransom note contains instructions on the ways of making the payment and often includes threats of data loss or increased ransom amounts if the ransom is not paid within a specified timeframe.
I have compiled an all-encompassing list of the solutions, tips, and approaches to neutralize the Ldhy ransomware and recover access to your files. There are situations when it may be possible to restore your files, while sometimes, it may be impossible.
📌 Important Note!
It is critical to say that paying off the ransom does not guarantee the successful files recovery. The cybercriminals behind the Ldhy virus are known for their untrustworthiness. There were cases where people have paid the ransom, only to be denied by the cyber criminals with the decryption key provision.
Ldhy uses a unique key for each victim, with one exception:
- If Ldhy fails to connect the command and control server (C2) before starting the encryption process, it uses offline keys. An offline key is the same for all users, which allows for the decryption of files encrypted by the ransomware.
The Ldhy virus is highly similar to other DJVU ransomware variants such as Lkhy, Cdxx, Wisz, Cdtt, and Lkfr. This virus encrypts a wide range of common file types and appends its distinct “.ldhy” extension to all files. For instance, a file named “1.jpg” would be altered to “1.jpg.ldhy” and “2.png” to “2.png.ldhy“.
Upon successful encryption, the virus creates a special text file named “_readme.txt” and places it in every folder containing the encrypted files. It also adds the readme file to the desktop, so the user will not miss its appearance even without opening folders.
The image below provides a visual representation of files with the “ldhy” extension:
Encrypted Files by STOP/DJVU Ransomware
| Name | Ldhy Virus |
| Ransomware family1 | DJVU/STOP2 ransomware |
| Extension | .ldhy |
| Ransomware note | _readme.txt |
| Ransom | From $499 to $999 (in Bitcoins) |
| Contact | support@freshingmail.top, datarestorehelpyou@airmail.cc |
| Symptoms |
|
| Fix Tool | To remove possible malware infections, scan your PC: 6-day free trial available. |
The frightening warning demanding users to pay the ransom to unlock the encrypted data contains these exasperating warnings:
_readme.txt (STOP/DJVU Ransomware) – This message asks for payment to restore files via decryption key.[/caption>Ldhy ransomware performs a set of operations that execute certain activities on a victim’s computer. One of the first operations launched is winupdate.exe, a deceptive process that displays a fake Windows update notification during the attack. This trick helps convince the victim that a sudden PC slowdown is caused by a Windows update.
Simultaneously, the ransomware runs another process (named 4 random chars) which initiates scanning the PC for target files and ciphering them. Then the ransomware deletes Volume Shadow Copies from the disk using the following CMD command:
vssadmin.exe Delete Shadows /All /Quiet
Once erased, it becomes virtually impossible to recover the previous computer state using System Restore Points. The problem is, that ransomware operators are getting rid of any built-in Windows techniques that could aid the victim to regain files for free. In addition, the crooks modify the Windows HOSTS file by including a list of domains to it and directing them to the localhost IP. As a result, the victim will encounter a DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN error when trying to open one of the listed websites.
We’ve observed that ransomware endeavors to block websites that promote various how-to guides for computer users. It is obvious that by limiting specific domains, the crooks are attempting to prevent the victim from connecting to relevant and helpful ransomware-attack-related information online. This malware also keeps two .txt files on the victim’s computer that offer information related to the attack – the public key of this victim and personal ID. These two files are named bowsakkdestx.txt and PersonalID.txt.
After all these changes, the malware doesn’t stop. Variants of STOP/DJVU tend to deploy Vidar password-stealing Trojan on compromised systems. This threat carries an extensive list of capabilities, including:
- Gathering sensitive data by running malicious software on the victim’s computer.
- Acquiring unauthorized login credentials of Steam, Telegram, and Skype accounts.
- Manipulating and viewing files on the victim’s computer without their knowledge.
- Stealing cryptocurrency wallets from the victim’s system.
- Granting the hackers remote control over the victim’s computer for various malicious activities.
- Extracting sensitive information such as browser cookies, saved passwords, and browsing history.
The cryptography algorithm used by the DJVU/STOP virus is AES-256. So, if your data got encrypted with an online decryption key, the possibility of getting your files back is quite low. The thing is, the online key is unique for each victim, and brute forcing will take too much time.
Retrieving the online key in any other way is also nearly impossible. It is kept on a remote server controlled by the criminals who spread the Ldhy malware. For receiving the unlocking key the payment should be $999. To obtain the payment details, the victims should contact the hackers by email (support@fishmail.top).
The message by the ransomware states the following information:
ATTENTION! Don't worry, you can return all your files! All your files like pictures, databases, documents, and other important are encrypted with the strongest encryption and unique key. The only method of recovering files is to purchase a decrypt tool and a unique key for you. This software will decrypt all your encrypted files. What guarantees do you have? You can send one of your encrypted files from your PC and we decrypt it for free. But we can decrypt only 1 file for free. The file must not contain valuable information. Do not ask assistants from YouTube and recovery data sites for help in recovering your data. They can use your free decryption quota and scam you. Our contact is emails in this text document only. You can get and look video overview decrypt tool: https://we.tl/t-hPAqznkJKD The price of private key and decrypt software is $999. A discount of 50% is available if you contact us first 72 hours, that's the price for you is $499. Please note that you'll never restore your data without payment. Check your e-mail "Spam" or "Junk" folder if you don't get an answer for more than 6 hours. To get this software you need to write to our e-mail: support@freshingmail.top Reserve an e-mail address to contact us: datarestorehelpyou@airmail.cc Your personal ID: Your personal ID: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
How To Remove STOP/Djvu Ransomware?
Remove Ldhy Virus with Gridinsoft Anti-Malware
We have also been using this software on our systems ever since, and it has always been successful in detecting viruses. It has blocked the most common Ransomware as shown from our tests with the software, and we assure you that it can remove Ldhy Virus as well as other malware hiding on your computer.
To use Gridinsoft for remove malicious threats, follow the steps below:
1. Begin by downloading Gridinsoft Anti-Malware, accessible via the blue button below or directly from the official website gridinsoft.com.
2.Once the Gridinsoft setup file (setup-gridinsoft-fix.exe) is downloaded, execute it by clicking on the file.
3.Follow the installation setup wizard's instructions diligently.
4. Access the "Scan Tab" on the application's start screen and launch a comprehensive "Full Scan" to examine your entire computer. This inclusive scan encompasses the memory, startup items, the registry, services, drivers, and all files, ensuring that it detects malware hidden in all possible locations.
Be patient, as the scan duration depends on the number of files and your computer's hardware capabilities. Use this time to relax or attend to other tasks.
5. Upon completion, Anti-Malware will present a detailed report containing all the detected malicious items and threats on your PC.
6. Select all the identified items from the report and confidently click the "Clean Now" button. This action will safely remove the malicious files from your computer, transferring them to the secure quarantine zone of the anti-malware program to prevent any further harmful actions.
8. If prompted, restart your computer to finalize the full system scan procedure. This step is crucial to ensure thorough removal of any remaining threats. After the restart, Gridinsoft Anti-Malware will open and display a message confirming the completion of the scan.
Remember Gridinsoft offers a 6-day free trial. This means you can take advantage of the trial period at no cost to experience the full benefits of the software and prevent any future malware infections on your system. Embrace this opportunity to fortify your computer's security without any financial commitment.
Trojan Killer for “Ldhy Virus” removal on locked PC
In situations where it becomes impossible to download antivirus applications directly onto the infected computer due to malware blocking access to websites, an alternative solution is to utilize the Trojan Killer application.
There is a really little number of security tools that are able to be set up on the USB drives, and antiviruses that can do so in most cases require to obtain quite an expensive license. For this instance, I can recommend you to use another solution of GridinSoft - Trojan Killer Portable. It has a 14-days cost-free trial mode that offers the entire features of the paid version. This term will definitely be 100% enough to wipe malware out.
Trojan Killer is a valuable tool in your cybersecurity arsenal, helping you to effectively remove malware from infected computers. Now, we will walk you through the process of using Trojan Killer from a USB flash drive to scan and remove malware on an infected PC. Remember, always obtain permission to scan and remove malware from a computer that you do not own.
Step 1: Download & Install Trojan Killer on a Clean Computer:
1. Go to the official GridinSoft website (gridinsoft.com) and download Trojan Killer to a computer that is not infected.
2. Insert a USB flash drive into this computer.
3. Install Trojan Killer to the "removable drive" following the on-screen instructions.
4. Once the installation is complete, launch Trojan Killer.
Step 2: Update Signature Databases:
5. After launching Trojan Killer, ensure that your computer is connected to the Internet.
6. Click "Update" icon to download the latest signature databases, which will ensure the tool can detect the most recent threats.
Step 3: Scan the Infected PC:
7. Safely eject the USB flash drive from the clean computer.
8. Boot the infected computer to the Safe Mode.
9. Insert the USB flash drive.
10. Run tk.exe
11. Once the program is open, click on "Full Scan" to begin the malware scanning process.
Step 4: Remove Found Threats:
12. After the scan is complete, Trojan Killer will display a list of detected threats.
13. Click on "Cure PC!" to remove the identified malware from the infected PC.
14. Follow any additional on-screen prompts to complete the removal process.
Step 5: Restart Your Computer:
15. Once the threats are removed, click on "Restart PC" to reboot your computer.
16. Remove the USB flash drive from the infected computer.
Congratulations on effectively removing Ldhy Virus and the concealed threats from your computer! You can now have peace of mind, knowing that they won't resurface again. Thanks to Gridinsoft's capabilities and commitment to cybersecurity, your system is now protected.
Video Guide
How To Decrypt .ldhy Files?
How to restore big files?
Try deleting .ldhy extension on a few big files and opening them. This malware has issues with large file encryption. Either the virus scanned and did not lock the file, or it bugged and did not add the filemarker. If you have very large files (2GB+), such a situation is highly probable. Please, let me know in the comments if that will work for you.
The newest extensions were released around the end of August 2019 after the criminals made changes. This includes Cdcc, Cdxx, Cdtt etc.
As a result of the changes made by the criminals, STOPDecrypter is no longer supported. It has been replaced with the Emsisoft Decryptor for STOP Djvu Ransomware developed by Emsisoft.
You can download free decryption tool here: Decryptor for STOP Djvu.
Download and run the decryption tool.
Start downloading the decryption tool.
Make sure to launch the decryption utility as an administrator. You need to agree with the license terms that will come up. For this purpose, click on the “Yes” button:
As soon as you accept the license terms, the main decryptor user interface comes up:
Select folders for decryption.
Based on the default configurations, the decryptor will automatically choose the accessible directories to decrypt the currently accessible drives (the connected ones), including the network drives. You can choose other locations with the “Add” button.
Decryptors typically offer several options considering the specific malware family. The present possible options are shown in the Options tab and can be activated or disabled there. You may discover a detailed list of the currently active Options below.
Click on the “Decrypt” button.
As soon as you add all the desired locations for decryption to the list, click on the “Decrypt” button to initiate the decryption procedure.
Note that the main screen may turn you to a status view, letting you know of the active process and the decryption statistics of your data:
The decryptor will notify you as soon as the decryption procedure is completed. If you need the report for your papers, you can save it by choosing the “Save log” button. Note that it is also possible to copy it directly to your clipboard and paste it into emails or messages here if you need to do so.
The Emsisoft Decryptor might display different messages after a failed attempt to restore your files:
✓ Error: Unable to decrypt a file with ID: [your ID]
Emsisoft does not have a corresponding key in the database.
✓ No key for New Variant online ID: [your ID]
Notice: this ID appears to be an online ID, decryption is impossible
Malware uses an online key to cipher your files. Your key is unique and is kept on the command server, controlled by criminals. File recovery without paying the ransom is impossible. 🙁
✓ Result: No key for new variant offline ID: [example ID]
This ID appears to be an offline ID. Decryption may be possible in the future.
An offline key was used, but files could not be restored (the offline decryption key isn’t available yet). But, this message is good news for you, because it is possible to restore your files in the future. 🙂
It can take a few weeks or months until the decryption key gets found and uploaded to the decryptor. Please follow updates regarding the decryptable DJVU versions here.
✓ Remote name could not be resolved
This stands for a DNS issue. Consider resetting your HOSTS file to default.
How to Restore .ldhy Files?
In some cases ransomware is not doom for your files…
The Ldhy ransomware encryption algorithm is next: it encodes every file byte-by-byte, then saves a file copy, removing (not overriding!) the original file. Hence, the data of the file placement on the physical disk is lost, but the original file is not removed from the disk. The cell, or the sector where this file was kept, can still hold this file, but it is not present in the file system and can be overwritten by data that has been loaded to this drive after the deletion. Hence, it is possible to restore your files using special software.
Anyway, after realizing it was an online algorithm, it was impossible to retrieve my encrypted files. I also had my backup drive plugged in at the time of the virus, and this was also infected, or so I thought. Every folder within my backup drive had been infected and was encrypted. However, despite losing some important files, I retrieved almost 80% of my 2TB storage.
When I started going through the folders, I noticed the readme.txt ransom note in every folder. I opened some of the folders and found that all files that were not in a subfolder within that folder had been encrypted. However, I found a flaw and a glimmer of hope when I went into the subfolders in other folders and found that these files had not been encrypted. Every folder within my c and d drives, including subfolders, had been encrypted, but this was not the case with the backup drive. Having subfolders created within a folder has saved 80% of my data.
As I said, I believe this to be only a small loophole on a backup drive. I’ve since found a further 10 % of my data on another hard drive on a different PC. So my advice is if you use a backup drive, create subfolders. I was lucky, I guess. But I was also unlucky that the virus hit as I was transferring some files from my backup.
Hopefully, this can help others in my situation.
Jamie NewlandRecovering your files with PhotoRec
PhotoRec is a free open-source program, which is initially created for data recovery from damaged disks, or files recovery in case they are unintentionally deleted. However, as time has gone by, this program adopted the ability to restore the files of 400 different extensions. Hence, it can be used for file recovery after the Ldhy attack.
First, you need to download this app. It is 100% free, but the developer states that there is no assurance that your files will be recovered. PhotoRec is distributed together with another program of the same developer – TestDisk. The program archive will have a TestDisk name but don’t worry. PhotoRec files are right inside.
To run PhotoRec, you need to find and open “qphotorec_win.exe” file. No setup is needed – the program has all the files it needs inside of the archive, hence, you can fit it on your USB drive, and help your friends/parents/anyone who has been attacked by Ldhy ransomware.
After the launch, you will observe the screen showing you the complete list of your disks. However, this data is probably unhelpful, because the required menu is a bit higher. Click this menu, then choose the disk which was attacked by ransomware.
After choosing the disk, you need to opt for the destination folder for the reclaimed files. This menu is located at the lower part of the PhotoRec window. The best option is to export them on a USB drive or any other type of removable disk.
Then, you need to define the file formats. This choice is located at the bottom, too. As mentioned, PhotoRec can regain the files in about 400 different formats.
Finally, you can begin file restoration by pressing the “Search” button. You will view the screen where the results of the scan and recovery are shown.
Ldhy files recovery Video Guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
No way. These files are encrypted by ransomware. The contents of encrypted files are not available until they are decrypted.
In this situation, you need to prepare the memory stick with a pre-installed Trojan Killer.
Have patience. You are infected with the new version of STOP/DJVU ransomware, and decryption keys have not yet been released. Follow the news on our website.
We will keep you posted when new keys or new decryption programs appear.
The Ldhy ransomware encrypts only the first 150KB of files. So MP3 files are rather large, some media players (Winamp for example) may be able to play the files, but – the first 3-5 seconds (the encrypted portion) will be missing.
You can try to find a copy of an original file that was encrypted:
- Files you downloaded from the Internet that were encrypted and you can download again to get the original.
- Pictures that you shared with family and friends that they can just send back to you.
- Photos that you uploaded on social media or cloud services like Carbonite, OneDrive, iDrive, Google Drive, etc
- Attachments in emails you sent or received and saved.
- Files on an older computer, flash drive, external drive, camera memory card, or iPhone where you transferred data to the infected computer.
If the guide doesn’t help you to remove the infection, please download the GridinSoft Anti-Malware that I recommended. Do not forget to share your experience in solving the problem. Please leave a comment here! This can help other victims to understand they are not alone. And together we will find ways to deal with this issue.
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