Remove GHSD Ransomware Virus (DECRYPT .ghsd FILES)

remove GHSD ransomware virus and learn how to decrypt or repair files with .ghsd extension (free guide)

GHSD Ransomware Is Now a Threat to All Computers

Contents

GHSD Ransomware Is Now a Threat to All Computers
How to Avoid Becoming a Victim of STOP/DJVU Ransomware
Remove GHSD Ransomware & Restore Files
Decrypt GHSD files
Frequently Asked Questions

GHSD ransomware is a malevolent computer virus that has just been released by some notorious cybercriminals called STOP/DJVU ransomware group. After encrypting files, it would append .ghsd extension to each of them, respectively. E.g., files that were previously saved as 1.jpg and 2.jpeg etc., would now become 1.jpg.ghsd and 2.jpeg.ghsd and the same process will be applicable to all other files. While that is still happening, it would also release _readme.txt ransom messages. This would notify the victim about the development and what they’re expected to do. In other words, they would take responsibility for the cyber-attack and would promise to forward decryption tools to the victim if they comply with their ransom demands.

This new virus is believed to be highly destructive and can render files stored in any computer useless through encryption. From what can be detected so far, it is very similar to earlier versions of the STOP/DJVU ransomware series. For instance, those behind it would embed the virus in cloned/pirated software contents and upload them to online torrent platforms. If unsuspecting end users downloads such to their computers, they trigger a ransomware attack.

Another prolific method of distribution used by cybercriminals is through emails and attachments. They would create fake emails and send to random people while impersonating renowned brands or individuals. Either way, if a computer owner opens such content on their computer, they would unknowingly unleash the virus.

Contents of the ransom note

At this point, most victims would be destabilized on discovering they can’t have access to their vital files anymore and would be confused about how best to overcome the challenge. Such a dicey situation would be made worse if they weren’t proactive enough to have backup copies. The cybercriminals would envisage the victim’s dilemma and would equally forward two email addresses, namely: support@bestyourmail.ch and supportsys@airmail.cc with suggestions that their victim should write to them using any of the emails.

If the victim reaches out to them, they would further reel out more conditions and the specific amount the victim must pay as ransom. Specifically, they will inform the victim that the ransom fee is $980 but they would be willing to accept half of it (i.e. $490) provided they would receive it within 3 days. They would also warn that failure to make the payment within the stipulated deadline, the ransom would automatically revert to the maximum amount i.e. $980.

As if such conditions aren’t challenging enough, the cybercriminals would also emphasize that the victim can only make ransom payment through cryptocurrency transfer. The obvious reason they shun payment methods like the use of banks or other money conventional money transfer methods is to avoid anything that exposes their real details or physical address. To assure the victim of their capacity to restore their encrypted files, they may even suggest that parts of the encrypted data should be forwarded to them for test decryption.

However, they would quickly add that such result would only be returned to the victim if they consider it as unimportant; otherwise they would withhold it until the ransom is paid. This is only a mind game they play with the victim just to convince them that they possess the skills to retrieve the encrypted data.

Regardless of what happens, the victim is advised never to comply with the demands of cybercriminals. This message is contained in a memo circulated by the FBI and is also supported by top cyber security experts. Some of the reasons given by them for taking such position are given below:

There is guarantee you will recover your lost data even after paying huge sums of money as ransom.
It is considered illegal to pay ransom in any guise.
When ransom is paid to cybercriminals, it gives them the incentive to continue attacking other computer users so they could get money from them.
Even the paying victim is likely to be attacked again in the future for more extortions.

More information regarding this computer threat

From the studies we conducted, we were able to make some interesting observations about this virus and how those behind it operate. Despite having a global reach, we discovered that the cybercriminals had selected some countries they placed on their exemption list. They include Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Kazachstan, Syria, Kyrygzstan, Armenia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Once the malware determines the geo-location of the computer by connecting with https[:]//api.2ip.ua/geo.json, it would also classify other relevant details like zip code, IP address, town/city, country and longitude/latitude. Such pieces of information would prompt it to continue with the attack or to abort it.

Other dangers associated with GHSD ransomware virus include the spread of RATs i.e. Remote Access Trojans. Although less known, but RATs are equally dangerous. They are purposely used in pilfering vital information such as banking details, passwords, cryptocurrency wallets etc. and can be exploited for stealing or blackmail purposes.

To prevent all these from happening, victims of STOP/DJVU ransomware virus are advised to remove GHSD virus and similar ones ASAP. You can set up the infected computer in Safe Mode with Networking and also make use of genuine antivirus software to effectively get rid of it. For those that may be seeking for ways to recover some files, you should download RESTORO and use it to restore some of the corrupted Windows OS files.

Ransomware Summary

Name	GHSD Ransomware Virus
Type	Ransomware; Crypto-malware; Virtual Extortion Virus
Family	STOP/DJVU
Encryption type	RSA 2048 + Salsa20
Previous versions	LLTT, LLEE, LLQQ, EIUR, DKRF, GHSD (find full list here)
Version	511th
Extension	.ghsd
Cybercriminal emails	support@bestyourmail.ch and supportsys@airmail.cc
Additional malware dropped	Azorult or Vidar Trojan
Damage	The ransomware uses encryption to maliciously modify all files on the PC and marks their original names with .ghsd extension. Ransom notes called as _readme.txt will be dropped in every computer folder. This piece of malware usually drags VIDAR Stealer alongside it and also eliminates VSS from the system. On top of that, it tends to modify Windows HOSTS file to restrict computer user’s access to cybersecurity-related websites online.
Ransom note	_readme.txt
Ransom demand	$490-$980 in Bitcoin
Distribution	Victims often download this ransomware along illegal torrent downloads, cracked software, activators, key generators or tools like KMSPico.
Known software cracks to contain this malware	Corel Draw, Tenorshare 4ukey, Adobe Photoshop, Cubase, Adobe Illustrator, Internet Download Manager, Tally, League of Legends.
Detection names	Ransom:Win32/StopCrypt.PAL!MTB (Microsoft), Trojan.Crypt (A) (Emsisoft), HEUR:Trojan-Ransom.Win32.Stop.gen (Kaspersky), Trojan.GenericKD.47850419 (BitDefender), Trojan.MalPack.GS (Malwarebytes), ML.Attribute.HighConfidence (Symantec) see all detection name variations on VirusTotal
Removal	Remove ransomware and related malware from your PC using trustworthy software. To repair virus damage on Windows OS files, consider scanning with RESTORO (secure download link).

REPAIR VIRUS DAMAGE

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Scan your system for FREE to detect security, hardware and stability issues. You can use the scan results and try to remove threats manually, or you can choose to get the full version of software to fix detected issues and repair virus damage to Windows OS system files automatically. Includes Avira spyware/malware detection & removal engine.

Screenshot demonstrating how files affected by this ransomware appear in data folders.

How to Avoid Becoming a Victim of STOP/DJVU Ransomware

Computer users are advised to work responsibly whenever they’re online. You should avoid illegal or careless activities like going to dubious sites such as online torrent platforms, opening of emails and attachments from unknown sources etc. Cybercriminals usually embed malware in cloned software copies or email attachments. Therefore, being proactive by avoiding them could make all the difference.

From our records, we realized that some popular software copies are often pirated and exploited by cybercriminals in spreading ransomware. Below are some of the cloned software copies often used by cybercriminals:

AutoCad;
Corel Draw;
Adobe Photoshop;
Wondershare Filmora;
VMware Workstation;
Cubase;
Tenorshare 4ukey;
League of Legends;
Internet Download Manager.

Considering the risk factors listed so far, it is evident that trying to make use of freebies like peer-to-peer sharing of software contents as well as downloads from online torrent platforms are not worth it.

Computer users are better off paying the requisite fees and obtaining their software needs legitimately from the original content producers or third party affiliates. By so doing, they won’t be at risk of ransomware attack and the accompanying loss of data, time and possibly money. Also note that cybercriminals often use files like PDF, DOCX or XLS among similar ones they have macro functions that enable malware to be embedded and triggered randomly.

You should also avoid fraudulent sites that claim to have solutions for STOP/DJVU ransomware attacks. They’re mostly dubious with ulterior motives except the duo of Emsisoft/DiskTuna that have proven to be reliable.

Remove GHSD Ransomware & Restore Files

Once again, it is vital to set up the infected computer in Safe Mode with Networking booting process before using genuine antivirus to remove GHSD ransomware virus. Afterwards, the steps outlined below should be taken.

Consider downloading RESTORO for easy reparation of virus-damaged Windows OS files.
Report to the local police or relevant government agencies.
Look for any available backup to restore lost files.
Study means through which files affected by STOP/DJVU ransomware virus could be fixed.
Now is the time to change all passwords used in the compromised computer.

OUR GEEKS RECOMMEND

Our team recommends removing malware using a professional antivirus software and then using the following tool to repair virus damage to Windows system files:

REPAIR VIRUS DAMAGE TO YOUR COMPUTER

DOWNLOAD RESTORO

RESTORO provides a free scan that helps to identify hardware, security and stability issues and presents a comprehensive report which can help you to locate and fix detected issues manually. It is a great PC repair software to use after you remove malware with professional antivirus. The full version of software will fix detected issues and repair virus damage caused to your Windows OS files automatically.

RESTORO uses AVIRA scanning engine to detect existing spyware and malware. If any are found, the software will eliminate them.

Read full review here.

GeeksAdvice.com editors select recommended products based on their effectiveness. We may earn a commission from affiliate links, at no additional cost to you. Learn more.

GHSD Ransomware Virus Removal Guidelines

Method 1. Enter Safe Mode with Networking

Step 1. Start Windows in Safe Mode with Networking

Before you try to remove GHSD Ransomware Virus virus, you must start your computer in Safe Mode with Networking. Below, we provide the easiest ways to boot PC in the said mode, but you can find additional ones in this in-depth tutorial on our website – How to Start Windows in Safe Mode. Also, if you prefer a video version of the tutorial, check our guide How to Start Windows in Safe Mode on Youtube.

Instructions for Windows XP/Vista/7 users

First of all, turn off your PC. Then press the Power button to start it again and instantly start pressing F8 button on your keyboard repeatedly in 1-second intervals. This launches the Advanced Boot Options menu.
Use arrow keys on the keyboard to navigate down to Safe Mode with Networking option and press Enter.

Instructions for Windows 8/8.1/10/11 users

Open Windows Start menu, then press down the Power button. On your keyboard, press down and hold the Shift key, and then select Restart option.
This will take you to Windows Troubleshoot screen. Choose Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Startup Settings > Restart. Tip: If you can't find Startup Settings, click See more recovery options.
In Startup Settings, press the right key between F1-F9 to enter Safe Mode with Networking. In this case, it is the F5 key.

Step 2. Remove files associated with the virus

Now, you can search for and remove GHSD Ransomware Virus files. It is very hard to identify files and registry keys that belong to the ransomware virus, Besides, malware creators tend to rename and change them repeatedly. Therefore, the easiest way to uninstall such type of a computer virus is to use a reliable security program such as INTEGO Antivirus, which also includes data recovery software. For virus damage repair, consider using RESTORO.

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Method 2. Use System Restore

In order to use System Restore, you must have a system restore point, created either manually or automatically.

Step 1. Boot Windows in Safe Mode with Command Prompt

Instructions for Windows XP/Vista/7 users

Shut down your PC. Start it again by pressing the Power button and instantly start pressing F8 button on your keyboard repeatedly in 1-second intervals. You will see Advanced Boot Options menu.
Using arrow keys on the keyboard, navigate down to Safe Mode with Command Prompt option and press Enter.

Instructions for Windows 8/8.1/10/11 users

Launch Windows Start menu, then click the Power button. On your keyboard, press down and hold the Shift key, and then choose Restart option with the mouse cursor.
This will take you to Windows Troubleshoot screen. Choose Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Startup Settings > Restart. Tip: If you can't find Startup Settings, click See more recovery options.
In Startup Settings, press the right key between F1-F9 to enter Safe Mode with Command Prompt. In this case, press F6 key.

Step 2. Start System Restore process

Wait until system loads and command prompt shows up.
Type cd restore and press Enter, then type rstrui.exe and press Enter. Or you can just type %systemroot%system32restorerstrui.exe in command prompt and hit Enter.
This launches System Restore window. Click Next and then choose a System Restore point created in the past. Choose one that was created before ransomware infection.
Click Yes to begin the system restoration process.

After restoring the system, we recommend scanning the system with antivirus or anti-malware software. In most cases, there won't be any malware remains, but it never hurts to double-check. In addition, we highly recommend checking ransomware prevention guidelines provided by our experts in order to protect your PC against similar viruses in the future.

Alternative software recommendations

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware

Removing spyware and malware is one step towards cybersecurity. To protect yourself against ever-evolving threats, we strongly recommend purchasing a Premium version of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, which provides security based on artificial intelligence and machine learning. Includes ransomware protection. See pricing options and protect yourself now.

System Mechanic Ultimate Defense

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Decrypt GHSD files

Fix and open large GHSD files easily:

It is reported that STOP/DJVU ransomware versions encrypt only the beginning 150 KB of each file to ensure that the virus manages to affect all files on the system. In some cases, the malicious program might skip some files at all. That said, we recommend testing this method on several big (>1GB) files first.

Create a copy of encrypted file to a separate folder using Copy > Paste commands.
Now, right-click the created copy and choose Rename. Select the GHSD extension and delete it. Press Enter to save changes.
In the prompt asking whether you want to make the changes as file might become unusable, click OK.
Try opening the file.

STOP/DJVU decryption tool usage guide

STOP/DJVU ransomware versions are grouped into old and new variants. GHSD Ransomware Virus is considered the new STOP/DJVU variant, just like LLTT, LLEE, LLQQ, EIUR, DKRF, GHSD (find full list here). This means full data decryption is now possible only if you have been affected by offline encryption key. To decrypt your files, you will have to download Emsisoft Decryptor for STOP DJVU, a tool created and maintained by a genius security researcher Michael Gillespie.

Note! Please do not spam the security researcher with questions whether he can recover your files encrypted with online key - it is not possible.

In order to test the tool and see if it can decrypt GHSD files, follow the given tutorial.

Download the decryption tool from Emsisoft.
Click the little arrow next to your download and choose Show in Folder.
Now, right-click the file and choose Run as Administrator. If asked, enter administrator's password.
In UAC window, click Yes.
Click Yes to agree to software terms in both windows.
The tool will automatically include C:// disk as a location to decrypt. The file recovery tool will prepopulate the locations to scan, including connected data storage drives or network drives. Click Add folder if you wish to add additional locations.
In Options tab, you can choose to keep encrypted file copies. We recommend leaving this option selected, especially if you do not know if the decryption tool will work.
Click Decrypt to start restoring GHSD files. You will see the progress in the Results tab. Here, you can see messages from the tool, such as whether the decryption procedure is successful, or you need to wait for an update.
You might also be informed that online key was used to encrypt your files. In such case, the decryption tool won't work for you, and the only way to recover your files is to use a data backup.

Meanings of decryptor's messages

The GHSD decryption tool might display several different messages after failed attempt to restore your files. You might receive one of the following messages:

Error: Unable to decrypt file with ID: [example ID]

This message typically means that there is no corresponding decryption key in the decryptor's database.

No key for New Variant online ID: [example ID]
Notice: this ID appears to be an online ID, decryption is impossible

This message informs that your files were encrypted with online key, meaning no one else has the same encryption/decryption key pair, therefore data recovery without paying the criminals 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.

If you were informed that an offline key was used, but files could not be restored, it means that the offline decryption key isn't available yet. However, receiving this message is extremely good news, meaning that it might be possible to restore your GHSD extension files in the future. It can take a few months until the decryption key gets found and uploaded to the decryptor. We recommend you to follow updates regarding the decryptable DJVU versions here. We strongly recommend backing up your encrypted data and waiting.

Report Internet crime to legal departments

Victims of GHSD Ransomware Virus should report the Internet crime incident to the official government fraud and scam website according to their country:

In the United States, go to the On Guard Online website.
In Australia, go to the SCAMwatch website.
In Germany, go to the Bundesamt für Sicherheit in der Informationstechnik website.
In Ireland, go to the An Garda Síochána website.
In New Zealand, go to the Consumer Affairs Scams website.
In the United Kingdom, go to the Action Fraud website.
In Canada, go to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
In India, go to Indian National Cybercrime Reporting Portal.
In France, go to the Agence nationale de la sécurité des systèmes d’information.

If you can't find an authority corresponding to your location on this list, we recommend using any search engine to look up "[your country name] report cyber crime". This should lead you to the right authority website. We also recommend staying away from third-party crime report services that are often paid. It costs nothing to report Internet crime to official authorities.

Another recommendation is to contact your country's or region’s federal police or communications authority.

Frequently Asked Questions

✓ How can I open .GHSD files?

You can only open GHSD files if you have the decryption key, or if you were affected by offline encryption type.

✓ How do I know if my files were encrypted with offline or online encryption?

To figure out whether you were affected by offline encryption, please go to C:/SystemID/PersonalID.txt and see if the string inside of it ends in t1. You can also try using Emsisoft Decryptor for STOP/DJVU.

✓ My files contain very important information (family memories). Every tool I used says it is impossible to decrypt. What should I do?

Please follow the guidances provided by the official GHSD decryption tools and believe what they say. If they say it is impossible to decrypt, it really is so. There is no magic tool or human capable of decrypting your files hiding somewhere. Encryption is a technique created to be nearly impossible to decrypt without a special private key (held by the criminals).

✓ I am afraid virus is still in my computer system. What should I do?

We advise scanning with anti-virus, anti-malware, malware removal tools or software like RESTORO to eliminate virus damage on the system. If you do not trust using a single tool, try running one after another. However, we do not recommend keeping several security programs on a computer at once as they can interfere with each other's work.

✓ I saw several Youtube videos suggesting secret decryption tools. Can I trust them?

Beware of fake GHSD decryption tools circulating around the web. Cyber criminals are uploading them to various shady websites, also might be promoting them via suspicious Youtube videos. These programs can infect your computer even more heavily (Trojans, miners, etc.). We suggest being extremely cautious around the web. If there will be an official STOP/DJVU decryption tool available, it will be widely discussed in public media.

Norbert Webb

Norbert Webb is the head of Geek’s Advice team. He is the chief editor of the website who controls the quality of content published. The man also loves reading cybersecurity news, testing new software and sharing his insights on them. Norbert says that following his passion for information technology was one of the best decisions he has ever made. “I don’t feel like working while I’m doing something I love.” However, the geek has other interests, such as snowboarding and traveling.