HORSEMONEY
HORSEMONEY is a hazardous Windows infection that will lock your files without getting detected by your antivirus. The lockdown on the files caused by HORSEMONEY is supposed to force you to pay a ransom in order to restore access to the sealed files.
The HORSEMONEY Ransomware virus is highly dangerous computer infection that typically target Windows systems.
If your files are locked up and you cannot access or use them, then this is probably the result of a Ransomware infection in your computer. The Ransomware viruses are highly dangerous computer infections that typically target Windows systems. They encrypt the files located in the computer and seek to blackmail the user for the private key that will supposedly set the locked-up data free. If you are among the numerous users who have come under the attack of such malware, you must know what your options are and make an informed decision about what your next step should be. There are typically not many ways to handle such a virus attack and, what’s more, important to remember, oftentimes no recovery method would guarantee full restoration of the locked data. Below, we will explain to you some of the options and provide you with instructions on how to apply them.
The HORSEMONEY ransomware
The HORSEMONEY virus is an advanced form of computer malware known as Ransomware. The HORSEMONEY ransomware changes the extension of its victims’ files and encrypts them. The encrypted data remains inaccessible until a unique private key gets applied to the locked-up files.
The best case scenario if your computer has been attacked by a Ransomware such as HORSEMONEY or Reqg is if you have backups of your important files. This would allow you to restore your valuable data back to your computer without the need to pay the requested ransom. However, you will first need to make sure to remove the virus from the system in order to prevent it from encrypting the files stored in your backup sources. Only connect backups to your computer if you are sure that the system has been thoroughly cleaned. The advanced removal tool you will find in our guide can help you with that by scanning your system for malware and removing anything potentially malicious it detects.
The HORSEMONEY file
The HORSEMONEY file is a file that the HORSEMONEY virus has managed to lock through the use of its encryption. Any HORSEMONEY file can be freed but in order to achieve this, a special key is needed. Unfortunately, only the hackers have the needed key.
The real problem comes if there aren’t any backups of your files on external devices or in your cloud accounts. This means that you will have to choose between paying the ransom or opting for some alternative recovery options that may or may not work. Our advice is to always go for the alternatives first, as this will not require you to make a payment to the hackers. On the other hand, if you directly pay the ransom, you may end up wasting your money and still not receiving a decryption key that can allow you to reopen your data. Therefore, carefully consider your priorities and options and then act accordingly.
SUMMARY:
| Name | HORSEMONEY |
| Type | Ransomware |
| Danger Level | High (Ransomware is by far the worst threat you can encounter) |
| Symptoms | Ransomware threats don’t reveal themselves until they are ready with the encryption process. |
| Distribution Method | Ransomware can be distributed using fake ads, spam letters, misleading update requests, and Trojan Horses. |
| Data Recovery Tool | Not Available |
| Detection Tool |
HORSEMONEY Ransomware Removal
Some of the steps will likely require you to exit the page. Bookmark it for later reference.
Reboot in Safe Mode (use this guide if you don’t know how to do it).
WARNING! READ CAREFULLY BEFORE PROCEEDING!
Press CTRL + SHIFT + ESC at the same time and go to the Processes Tab. Try to determine which processes are dangerous.
Right click on each of them and select Open File Location. Then scan the files with our free online virus scanner:
After you open their folder, end the processes that are infected, then delete their folders.
Note: If you are sure something is part of the infection – delete it, even if the scanner doesn’t flag it. No anti-virus program can detect all infections.
Hold the Start Key and R – copy + paste the following and click OK:
notepad %windir%/system32/Drivers/etc/hosts
A new file will open. If you are hacked, there will be a bunch of other IPs connected to you at the bottom. Look at the image below:
If there are suspicious IPs below “Localhost” – write to us in the comments.
Type msconfig in the search field and hit enter. A window will pop-up:
Go in Startup —> Uncheck entries that have “Unknown” as Manufacturer.
- Please note that ransomware may even include a fake Manufacturer name to its process. Make sure you check out every process here is legitimate.
Type Regedit in the windows search field and press Enter. Once inside, press CTRL and F together and type the virus’s Name.
Search for the ransomware in your registries and delete the entries. Be extremely careful – you can damage your system if you delete entries not related to the ransomware.
Type each of the following in the Windows Search Field:
- %AppData%
- %LocalAppData%
- %ProgramData%
- %WinDir%
- %Temp%
Delete everything in Temp. The rest just check out for anything recently added. Remember to leave us a comment if you run into any trouble!
How to Decrypt HORSEMONEY files
We have a comprehensive (and daily updated) guide on how to decrypt your files. Check it out here.
If the guide doesn’t help, download the anti-virus program we recommended or try our free online virus scanner. Also, you can always ask us in the comments for help!
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