Scarab-Skype Ransomware

Are you wondering why there is a .skype extension in all of your photos, documents, and other similar files’ titles? If so, you might have encountered a malicious application known as Scarab-Skype Ransomware that encrypts data on an infected device and appends the mentioned extension. Meaning your Skype application is not to blame. Unfortunately, the malware’s enciphered files cannot be opened without a decryptor that probably no one besides the threat’s developers could have. They can try to prove it by letting you send them up to three files for free decryption. Nonetheless, there is no way they can guarantee they will give the needed decryptor to you. Thus, if you do not like the idea you could get tricked, we do not advise putting up with any demands. Instead of restoring files, you could replace encrypted ones with backup copies. Of course, to be safe, we recommend doing so only after removing Scarab-Skype Ransomware, which you could erase with the instructions located below.

In the rest of the article, we discuss the malicious application in more detail. To start with, users should know that Scarab-Skype Ransomware might be distributed with unreliable data obtained through malicious websites, Spam emails, and so on. Therefore, avoiding files from untrustworthy sources is crucial if you want to keep your computer safe. Always keep it in mind that malicious data does not necessarily has to look harmful. You may not notice anything about it from just looking at a file’s name. However, the fact it may come from unreliable sources should alert you that something could be wrong. In such a case, it is best to employ a reliable antimalware tool. In other words, we recommend against opening suspicious data unless you scan it with an antimalware tool first. All you have to do is pick a reputable tool and wait a moment until the scanning is over whenever you come across email attachments from unknown senders or installers from questionable file-sharing websites.

The malicious application should start running the moment a victim launches its installer (some recently downloaded suspicious file). It does not drop any other data on the computer. Therefore, it can start encrypting targeted files without any delays. Our researchers say Scarab-Skype Ransomware should be after pictures, photos, videos, and other similar data. It encrypts it all with a secure encryption algorithm. During this process, the encrypted files should receive the earlier mentioned extension called .skype, for example, picture.jpg.skype, text.docx.skype, and so on. The next thing Scarab-Skype Ransomware ought to do is open a window containing a ransom note or a message from the malware’s creators. It should start with: “YOU FILES WAS ENCRYPTED.”

As for explanation why it happened, the ransom note may claim that “Your important files produced on this computer have been encrypted due a security problem.” On the one hand, the message is at least partly right. Whether it was the victim’s careless behavior or computer’s vulnerabilities that led to the malware being able to settle in, one could say it happened because a device was unprotected. However, it is essential to point out that Scarab-Skype Ransomware encrypts files to extort money from victims and not to protect them from cyber threats or to educate users.

Furthermore, the note may also say victims can send up to three files for free decryption and even purchase a decryptor to restore the rest of their data. The hackers could sound friendly and sincere, but do not forget that in the end, all they care about is getting paid and not about you being able to restore your files. If you do not think it to be wise to trust them either, we advise not to contact the malicious application’s developers. If you have a backup, you could use it to replace encrypted files as soon as your system is clean from the malware. To eliminate Scarab-Skype Ransomware manually, you could use the instructions located at the end of this paragraph. Of course, if the process is too complicated or you prefer using automatic features, we recommend using a reliable antimalware tool instead.

Erase Scarab-Skype Ransomware

1. Click Ctrl+Alt+Delete.
2. Choose Task Manager and select Processes.
3. Find a process belonging to the threat.
4. Mark it and click End Task.
5. Exit Task Manager.
6. Click Win+E.
7. Find these paths:
   %TEMP%
   %USERPROFILE%\Downloads
   %USERPROFILE%\Desktop
8. See if the malicious application’s launcher (suspicious recently downloaded file) is still there.
9. Right-click the installer and press Delete.
10. Exit File Explorer.
11. Empty your Recycle Bin.
12. Restart the computer.