Roger Ransomware - How to remove

Roger is file-encrypting ransomware. It attacks Windows PCs and encrypts the files that it finds. It then demands the victim to pay a ransom if they want the data to be repaired.

It’s important to delete Roger ransomware and other infections. But fixing the encrypted files is another matter and it might be impossible to get all the data back.

About Roger ransomware in short:

Threat type	Ransomware.
How Roger spreads	Infected email attachments and links, remote desktop protocol.
How it affects the infected PCs	It encrypts files and changes their names, it might delete backups, break antivirus programs, install other malware.
How to remove Roger ransomware	Use antivirus programs (Spyhunter, others) to remove Roger and other malware, recover the lost files by restoring them from a backup or using data recovery programs.

How Roger ransomware infects PCs

Roger is a type of Dharma ransomware.

It’s a malicious program. Once on a computer, it encrypts files, destroying their data and making them impossible to open. It also changes their names to something like this:

document.pdf.[id number].[email address].ROGER

The email address is one that you’re supposed to write to if you want to contact the cybercriminals who are responsible for the Roger attack. The email address is also given in the ransom note that Roger ransomware leaves behind.

There are a few ways for file-encrypting ransomware to get on computers:

• Infected email attachments.
• Deceptive ads online.
• Infected installers of various free programs (pirated ones, usually).
• RDP attacks.

It’s honestly difficult to say. Roger is part of the Dharma family, which uses the Ransomware-as-a-service model to make money. This means that it’s up to affiliates – various small cybercriminals groups – to distribute Roger ransomware and then share the profits from the paid ransoms with its creators.

An infection through Remote Desktop is very likely. Weak RDP credentials allow criminals to break into networks, disable the security, and then plant Roger ransomware and possibly other malware.

Malicious email attachments could also be responsible. Because of the RaaS model, the people who distribute Roger ransomware could be very specialized – they could craft fake emails that target a specific business.

Antivirus programs do detect Roger ransomware (Virustotal.com) as Trojan, Ransom, Dropper, as well as Crysis or Dharma.

How to remove Roger ransomware

How to get your files back

If you don’t have a backup of your files, then look into data recovery. It could help you restore some of the lost data.

If you consider contacting the people whose emails are given in the names of the encrypted files, be very careful.

• Some of these people are scammers who take the ransom and don’t give you any tools to fix your files. Always look up the specific email address that you’re given and see if there are any reports of victims being scammed.
• If you pay the ransom (which might be up to a few thousand dollars), it’s possible that you’ll be targeted again by these cybercriminals.

There is no way to decrypt the files that Roger ransomware encrypted. So, if anyone suggests to help you get them back, be careful. It might be possible to manually repair some of the files (provided that Roger ransomware left portions of some files unencrypted) but it’s not possible to reverse the encryption done by Roger without having the decryption keys. These keys are only known to the cybercriminals who are responsible for Roger ransomware. There is no easy solution to fixing the files.

This is why it’s so important to always have backups of your files. Just be careful with cloud backups. Depending on how they’re set up, they might still be vulnerable (Ransomware victims thought their backups were safe. They were wrong).

How to delete Roger and other malware

You can use an antivirus program (, others) to scan your computers and remove Roger ransomware and other infections. Even though removing ransomware won’t fix your data, it’ll allow you to use your computer again.

Once you’re sure no spyware is on your devices, reset your passwords so that nobody can break into them again.

Automatic Malware removal tools

How to recover Roger Ransomware encrypted files and remove the virus

Step 1. Restore system into last known good state using system restore

1. Reboot your computer to Safe Mode with Command Prompt:

for Windows 7 / Vista/ XP

• Start → Shutdown → Restart → OK.
• Press F8 key repeatedly until Advanced Boot Options window appears.
• Choose Safe Mode with Command Prompt.

for Windows 8 / 10

• Press Power at Windows login screen. Then press and hold Shift key and click Restart.
• Choose Troubleshoot → Advanced Options → Startup Settings and click Restart.
• When it loads, select Enable Safe Mode with Command Prompt from the list of Startup Settings.

 

2.Restore System files and settings.

• When Command Prompt mode loads, enter cd restore and press Enter.
• Then enter rstrui.exe and press Enter again.
• Click “Next” in the windows that appeared.
• Select one of the Restore Points that are available before Roger Ransomware has infiltrated to your system and then click “Next”.
• To start System restore click “Yes”.

 

Step 2. Complete removal of Roger Ransomware

After restoring your system, it is recommended to scan your computer with an anti-malware program, like Spyhunter and remove all malicious files related to Roger Ransomware. You can check other tools here.  

Step 3. Restore Roger Ransomware affected files using Shadow Volume Copies

If you do not use System Restore option on your operating system, there is a chance to use shadow copy snapshots. They store copies of your files that point of time when the system restore snapshot was created. Usually Roger Ransomware tries to delete all possible Shadow Volume Copies, so this methods may not work on all computers. However, it may fail to do so. Shadow Volume Copies are only available with Windows XP Service Pack 2, Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8. There are two ways to retrieve your files via Shadow Volume Copy. You can do it using native Windows Previous Versions or via Shadow Explorer. a) Native Windows Previous Versions Right-click on an encrypted file and select Properties → Previous versions tab. Now you will see all available copies of that particular file and the time when it was stored in a Shadow Volume Copy. Choose the version of the file you want to retrieve and click Copy if you want to save it to some directory of your own, or Restore if you want to replace existing, encrypted file. If you want to see the content of file first, just click Open.

b) Shadow Explorer It is a program that can be found online for free. You can download either a full or a portable version of Shadow Explorer. Open the program. On the left top corner select the drive where the file you are looking for is a stored. You will see all folders on that drive. To retrieve a whole folder, right-click on it and select “Export”. Then choose where you want it to be stored.

Step 4. Use Data Recovery programs to recover Roger Ransomware encrypted files

There are several data recovery programs that might recover encrypted files as well. This does not work in all cases but you can try this:

• We suggest using another PC and connect the infected hard drive as slave. It is still possible to do this on infected PC though.
• Download a data recovery program.
• Install and scan for recently deleted files.

Note: In many cases it is impossible to restore data files affected by modern ransomware. Thus I recommend using decent cloud backup software as precaution. We recommend checking out Carbonite, BackBlaze, CrashPlan or Mozy Home.