SSEAR Virus File 🔐 Encryption Attack Ransomware

The Ssear virus falls under the ransomware type of infection. A harmful program of such sort encrypts all the data on your PC (images, text files, excel sheets, music, videos, etc) and appends its own extension to every file.

It is better to prevent, than repair and repent!

When we talk about the intrusion of unfamiliar programs into your computer’s work, the proverb “Forewarned is forearmed” describes the situation as accurately as possible. Gridinsoft Anti-Malware is exactly the tool that is always useful to have in your armory: fast, efficient, up-to-date. It is appropriate to use it as an emergency help at the slightest suspicion of infection.

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What is known about the Ssear virus?

Ssear will append its extra _SSEAR extension to the title of every encrypted file. For instance, an image named “1.jpg” will be altered to “1.jpg_SSEAR“. Likewise, the Excel table with the name “2.jpg” will be renamed to “2.jpg_SSEAR“, and so on.

The ransom note usually contains instructions on how to buy the decryption tool from the tamperers. That is basically the scheme of the crime.

Ssear Summary:

The note coming in package with the Ssear malware states the following:

Encryption Attack Ransomware

Notice:
What happened to my computer?
Don\'t worry, the data in your computer is only encrypted by me, not permanently destroyed by me, please don\'t try to decrypt it yourself, because this is stupid, I used DES and AES256 two encryption methods, AES256 is used to encrypt your files, DES encrypts the public key and key of AES256, so even if the god comes, it is impossible to decrypt
So what should I do to decrypt my files?
You just have to pay the ransom! The ransom is very cheap, just 100USTD, 100USTD for all your files, is it not worth it? For poor people who cannot afford to pay for more than half a year, we have activities that may be discounted! For example, 100USTD discount to 50USTD and other activities,How should I contact you? Please open your telegram,I have a channel on it and can find me
I have paid the ransom fee, and I have been given a program, how should I use it?
It\'s very simple, copy your two codes into that program and decrypt them one by one, note that the two codes change in real time Oh, please decrypt within 5 minutes, otherwise he will change into a brand new code!
I don\'t have time to decrypt the files at the moment, can I turn off the computer
Of course! Your public key and key have been stored by me, but please don\'t try to use the mentally retarded way of shutting down the computer to escape me, unless you don\'t want your files anymore.
My cybersecurity worker, your program has been suspected of breaking the law
I\'m sorry, but I have already indicated when I published that this is malware and the user opens it voluntarily, the original author does not assume any responsibility (including legal responsibility), and this program is only for learning and communication
This is a business server, what should I do?
I said you have to pay a ransom of 100USTD, otherwise even God\'s server will not be able to decrypt the files

That\'s all I left behind, if you have a ransom ready please come to me

In the screenshot below, you can see what a directory with files encrypted by the Ssear looks like. Each filename has the “_SSEAR” extension added to it.

An example of encrypted _SSEAR files.

How did Ssear ransomware end up on my PC?

There are many possible ways of ransomware injection.

There are currently three most exploited methods for tamperers to have ransomware working in your digital environment. These are email spam, Trojan infiltration and peer file transfer.

If you access your inbox and see letters that look like familiar notifications from utility services companies, delivery agencies like FedEx, web-access providers, and whatnot, but whose addresser is unknown to you, be wary of opening those letters. They are most likely to have a malicious item enclosed in them. So it is even riskier to download any attachments that come with letters like these.

Another thing the hackers might try is a Trojan horse model. A Trojan is an object that gets into your PC disguised as something different. For example, you download an installer of some program you need or an update for some software. But what is unpacked reveals itself a harmful agent that encodes your data. Since the installation wizard can have any name and any icon, you have to make sure that you can trust the source of the files you’re downloading. The best thing is to trust the software developers’ official websites.

As for the peer networks like BitTorrent or eMule, the threat 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 websites. Also, it is reasonable to scan the folder containing the downloaded objects with the anti-malware utility as soon as the downloading is finished.

How to remove ransomware?

It is important to note that besides encrypting your files, the Ssear virus will most likely deploy Vidar Stealer on your machine to get access to credentials to different accounts (including cryptocurrency wallets). That program can extract your logins and passwords from your browser’s auto-filling cardfile.

Remove Ssear 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 Ssear 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 “Ssear” 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 Ssear 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.

Often tamperers would decode several of your files so you know that they indeed have the decryption tool. Since Ssear virus is a relatively new ransomware, security software engineers have not yet found a way to reverse its work. Nevertheless, the decoding instruments are frequently updated, so the effective countermeasure may soon arrive.

Understandably, if the hackers do the job of encrypting victim’s essential files, the hopeless person will probably comply with their demands. Nevertheless, paying a ransom gives no guarantee that you’re getting your files back. It is still dangerous. After obtaining the ransom, the racketeers may deliver a wrong decryption code to the victim. There were reports of criminals just disappearing after getting the ransom without even bothering to reply.

The optimal countermeasure to 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. Surely, that might be not enough. The most important thing could be that file you were working on when it all happened. Nevertheless, it is something. It is also wise to scan your PC for viruses with the anti-malware utility after the OS is rolled back.

Ssear is not the only ransomware of its kind, since there are other specimens of ransomware out there that act in the same manner. For instance, Gaqq, Wayn, Agvv, and some others. The two main differences between them and the Ssear are the ransom amount and the encoding method. The rest is the same: files become inaccessible, their extensions changed, ransom notes are created in every folder containing encoded files.

Some lucky users were able to decode the arrested files with the help of the free tools provided by anti-malware developers. Sometimes the racketeers mistakenly send the decoding code to the wronged in the ransom note. Such an extraordinary fail allows the victim to restore the files. But of course, one should never expect such a chance. Make no mistake, ransomware is a bandits’ tool to pull the money out of their victims.

How to avoid ransomware infiltration?

Ssear ransomware doesn’t have a superpower, so as any similar malware.

You can protect your PC from its injection in three easy steps:

• Ignore any emails from unknown mailboxes with strange addresses, or with content that has nothing to do with something you are expecting (how can you win in a money prize draw without participating in it?). In case the email subject is more or less something you are waiting for, check all elements of the questionable email with caution. A fake email will always contain a mistake.
• Avoid using cracked or untrusted programs. Trojans are often spreaded as an element of cracked products, most likely as a “patch” to prevent the license check. But dubious programs are difficult to tell from reliable software, because trojans sometimes have the functionality you need. You can try searching for information about this program on the anti-malware message boards, but the optimal way is not to use such programs at all.
• And to be sure about the safety of the objects you downloaded, scan them with GridinSoft Anti-Malware. This program will be a perfect armor for your personal computer.

FAQ

🤔 How can I open “_SSEAR” files?Can I somehow access “_SSEAR” files?

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

🤔 I really need to decrypt those “_SSEAR” files ASAP. How can I do that?

It’s good if you have fаr-sightedly saved copies of these important files elsewhere. 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. There are other ways to beat ransomware, but they take time.

🤔 If GridinSoft deletes the Ssear malware, will it also delete my files that were encrypted?

No way! The encrypted files are not harmful, so they won’t be deleted.

GridinSoft Anti-Malware only deals with active threats. The malware that has attacked your system is most likely still functional and running scans periodically to arrest any new files you might create on your PC after the infection. As it has already been said, the Ssear malware comes with the company. It installs backdoors and keyloggers that can take your account passwords by trespass and provide criminals with easy access to your system after some time.

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

In such a case, you need to prepare a memory stick with a previously installed Trojan Killer. Use Safe Mode to do the cleaning. The point is that the ransomware runs automatically as the system boots and encrypts any new files created or imported into your system. To suppress this process – use Safe Mode, which allows only the essential programs to run upon system boot. Consider reading our manual on booting Windows in Safe Mode.

🤔 And what should I do now?

Many of the blocked files might still be within your reach

• If you exchanged your critical files via email, you could still download them from your online mail server.
• You may have shared photographs or videos with your friends or family members. Simply 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 media pages, and cloud drives might have all those files as well.
• It might be that you still have the needed files on your old computer, a portable device, phone, memory stick, etc.

USEFUL TIP: You can use data recovery utilities¹ to retrieve your lost information since ransomware blocks 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.

1. Here’s the list of Best Data Recovery Software Of 2023.