Homer Ransomware

Homer Ransomware is a malicious file-encrypting application from hackers who are probably fascinated with the fictional character known as Homer Simpson. As you see, the cybercriminals used his name while creating an email account that they use to receive messages from the threat’s victims. As you see, once the malware gets in, it encrypts files, and then shows a ransom note. In the note, victims can see not only the hacker’s email address but also a message claiming that the only way to get their files decrypted is to pay a ransom and get unique decryption tools in exchange. Unfortunately, there are no reassurances that such tools will reach users who pay the ransom. What we are trying to say is that it is possible that you could get scammed. If you have no wish to take any chances, we advise removing Homer Ransomware. To find out how to do this manually, you could use the instructions available below. For more information, we encourage you to read the rest of this article.

Homer Ransomware belongs to the Dharma/Crysis Ransomware family, and just like other threats belonging to this group, it could be spread through unreliable file-sharing websites, pop-ups or ads, spam emails, and so on. Therefore, you have to pay attention to all data encountered while surfing the Internet or received from anyone you do not know if you want to avoid ransomware and malicious applications alike. Of course, even the most attentive users can be tricked into opening files that are harmful but do not look dangerous. Thus, we highly recommend having a reliable antimalware tool that should be used every time before opening a suspicious or unexpectedly received data. All you have to do is scan the file in question, and the chosen antimalware tool ought to tell you if it is safe to open it or not.

If Homer Ransomware gets launched, the malware may create some files on the infected device to settle in. If you want to know what kind of files it could create, you could check the deletion instructions available below this article. Next, the malicious application should encrypt all files that could be valuable to you, for example, your photos, various documents, videos, etc. Once encrypted, a file ought to receive a partly unique second extension. For instance, the title of one of the files on our test computer changed from invoice.xlsx to invoice.xlsx.id-F89048I9.[wecanhelpu@tuta.io].wch. The data that the malware should not encrypt would be the one belonging to the operating system. That is because hackers behind the malicious application need their victims to see the ransom note that the threat shows after encrypting all targeted files. In fact, Homer Ransomware ought to create a couple of ransom notes.

One of the malware’s ransom notes should carry a short message providing the hacker’s contact information. It should be called FILES ENCRYPTED.txt, and it ought to be available on the Desktops of the threat’s victims. The other note should be called Info.hta, and it should be launched as soon as the malicious application finishes encrypting files. According to it, users can get tools that would decrypt all their files, but they must pay ransom to receive them first. What is wrong with this deal is that you cannot be sure that you will receive the promised tools after paying. In other words, Homer Ransomware’s creators could scam you, and inf they do, your money might be lost in vain. Consequently, we advise you to think carefully if you want to deal with people that cannot be trusted and may have taken all of your precious files as hostages.

If you have no intention to do as the malware’s developers tell you to do, we encourage you to concentrate on the threat’s removal. The instructions available below show how to remove Homer Ransomware manually. The task might be difficult, and if you find that it is too challenging for you, we recommend getting a reputable antimalware tool that could delete Homer Ransomware for you.

Restart the computer in Safe Mode

Windows 8/Windows 10

1. Press Win+I for Windows 8 or open Start menu for Windows 10.
2. Click the Power button.
3. Tap and hold Shift, then click Restart.
4. Pick Troubleshoot and choose Advanced Options.
5. Go to Startup Settings and click Restart.
6. Click F5 to restart the PC.

Windows XP/Windows Vista/Windows 7

1. Go to Start, select Shutdown options, and pick Restart.
2. Click and hold F8 when the PC starts restarting.
3. Select Safe Mode with Networking.
4. Press Enter and log on.

Remove Homer Ransomware

1. Click Win+E.
2. Find these paths:
   %TEMP%
   %USERPROFILE%\Downloads
   %USERPROFILE%\Desktop
3. Locate the malicious application’s launcher (some suspicious file downloaded before the infection appeared).
4. Right-click it and select Delete.
5. Find these locations:
   %APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
   %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
   %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
   %WINDIR%\System32
   %APPDATA%
6. Locate files called Info.hta, right-click them and select Delete.
7. Find these specific Startup directories:
   %WINDIR%\System32
   %APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
   %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
   %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
8. Find suspicious executable files, for example, file.exe; right-click them and choose Delete.
9. Exit File Explorer.
10. Press Win+R.
11. Insert Regedit and click Enter.
12. Find the given directory: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
13. Search for value names dropped by the threat, e.g., {random title}.exe, right-click them, and select Delete.
14. Exit Registry Editor.
15. Empty Recycle Bin.
16. Restart the computer.