Emsisoft Decrypter for Damage

The best protection against ransomware is to run a permanent antivirus solution and create backups of files periodically, either to the cloud or an external device. If you have a backup, that means you have unencrypted versions of files on your computer, which, in turn, means you can use a tool such as the Emsisoft Decrypter for Damage.

The most widely spread tool for cyber extortion is ransomware, a malware category whose specific behavior is to lock files on the infected computer and ask for a ransom in exchange for the encryption key. First observed in Feburary, 2017, the Delphi-based Damage ransomware executes code on the victim's computer without authorization. This results in the encryption of the first and the last 8 kb of a file using the SHA-1 and the Blowfish algorithms.

Detecting the presence of the Damage ransomware on your computer should be easy, as the encrypted files have the ".damage" extension and they are inaccessible. Usually, Damage targets regular files, such as images, databases, spreadsheets, or documents. It generates a ransom note on the user's desktop, named "[email protected][PC_NAME].txt". However, it is not advisable to pay the demanded sum on money, as there is no guarantee that you will receive the decryption key.

If your files have been locked by the Damage ransomware, the dedicated Emsisoft Decrypter can be of help. But first, it is advisable you run a scan with your antivirus to remove the malware's execution code.

To work, the application requires both an encrypted and an unencrypted version of the file. The decryptor uses brute force to get the encryption key, a process that might take a significant amount of time, so be prepared to wait. And even if the key is retrieved, it is not 100% sure that it is the correct one.

As mentioned above, it is not certain that the Emsisoft Decrypter for Damage will be able to help you get access to your files. It is better to prevent than to repair, so it is highly recommended you use a permanent and reliable security solution with real-time scanning, and create data backups periodically to avoid unpleasant situations, such as a ransomware reaching your system.