Xaro Virus Ransomware (.xaro File)

Xaro ransomware belongs to the STOP/Djvu ransomware family. This malware family is usually targeted at individuals. Besides the statistics, this targeting can also be figured out through the specific distribution methods and actions this malware does after the injection. It encrypts the files with a robust cipher - Salsa20, which is impossible to “hack”. All decryption keys are kept on the remote server, controlled by cybercriminals.

This malware makes some changes to your system configuration. One of the most significant is stopping Microsoft Defender and preventing the anti-malware software installation files from launching. These changes are done through the Group Policies - a particular interface in Windows for interaction with deep system settings.

Xaro ransomware is usually spread through the dubious sites that offer the programs for free. Usually, you need to buy these programs, but these web pages offer a very tempting offer - get it without any payment. They make the programs usable without any licensing by hacking their source code. These crooks can easily add any virus at the moment of source code editing. Which one? Depending on how much they paid for the certain malware.

Other sources of Xaro ransomware are so-called hack tools. Apps like keygens, Windows activation tools, cheat engines, and so on are perfect carriers for any malware. Using them, you are risking not only getting infected with the Xaro virus but also being fined for unlicensed software usage by local authorities.

Encryption process

The Xaro ransomware uses the Salsa20 encryption algorithm. That is not the strongest method, but it still provides an overwhelming amount of possible decryption keys. To brute force the 78-digit number of keys, you need 3.5 unvigintillion years (1*10^65), even if you use the most powerful regular PC. Quantum computers can show a bit better results, but it is still too slow to get your files back while you are alive.

The exact algorithm of encryption is next: malware scans each folder for the files it is able to encrypt. Then, when it finds the target, it makes a copy of your file, removes the original one, encrypts the copy and leaves it instead of the removed original. Such a procedure is done to prevent the situation when you have already opened the file, so ransomware is not able to read it because of the Windows restrictions. To each encrypted copy, the virus adds the specific extension - ".xaro". Then, ransomware creates a _readme.txt file in the folder where the encrypted file is located, and goes to the next folder.

Such an encryption method can be exploited for file recovery. Since the original file is deleted, you may try to recover it using the file recovery tools. The less time is passed - the bigger the chance to get your files back, so hurry up!

Another specific moment that can help you to use the files even after the encryption is the fact that Xaro ransomware encrypts only the first 150KB of each file. Hence, you can try to run a big file, such as video or music, without the encryption. Similar feature also works with other ransomware families - Dharma, Conti and Makop encrypt the same 150KB.

Ransom note: _readme.txt

Ransom note is the same for the whole ransomware family. In fact, it is one of the main signs of to which family the certain ransomware belongs. Here is the typical note for STOP/Djvu family:

External Links:

🔗 HowToFix.Guide: How To Decrypt .xaro Files?

Indicators of Compromise(IOC)

File Name	MD5	File Size
📜 SAMPLE.EXE	5d75316d7e1bd2022aa89a3051bd59c3	786944
📜 SAMPLE.EXE	53101a13a7f8f817e1a7671cdf9b0b09	786432
📜 SAMPLE.EXE	dc8396334e68e4ad4a8de1ae8dd3fbe8	786432
📜 SAMPLE.EXE	d1e8a193b7e485205611b4496ac0269c	273408
📜 SAMPLE.EXE	596fe9d724dd1a4b95d3bf5f61baf2f2	786432
📜 SAMPLE.EXE	38cfba671f5995985ac13de046a9d6aa	786432
📜 SAMPLE.EXE	ba285fbc050e319860e70bc07dd50c3c	274432
📜 SAMPLE.EXE	1c67e1b83665ef85b38e751c7238803f	145349
📜 SAMPLE.EXE	df32f71d07c4e12ff7d99243237fe266	274944
📜 SAMPLE.EXE	b8dc3028562df4c7d77306ab31778bd6	786432