Cerber Ransomware, Cerber 2.0 Ransomware, Cerber 3.0 Ransomware, and Cerber 4.0 / 5.0 Ransomware are all file-encrypting ransomware programs.

Cerber Ransomware was first spotted in the wild in early 2016 and since then, three new versions of Cerber have been released. Cerber 2.0 was released in March 2016, and Cerber 3.0 was released in April 2016. Cerber 4.0 / 5.0, dubbed as the most dangerous version yet, was released in May 2016.Cerber Ransomware is a ransomware program that targets all versions of Windows, from XP to 10. Cerber uses AES-256 and RSA-2048 encryption to encrypt files on the victim’s computer. Cerber appends the “.cerber” extension to the encrypted files. For example, “sample.jpg” would be renamed to “sample.jpg.cerber”.Someone distributes Cerber Ransomware through various means, including exploit kits, malicious email attachments, and drive-by downloads. Cerber has also been distributed through the Cerber Decryptor Pro software, which pretends to be a legitimate decryption tool.

When Cerber Ransomware is installed on a computer, it will create the following files:

C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\_HELP_instructions.bmpC:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\_HELP_instructions.htmlC:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\_HELP_instructions.rtfThese files are the Cerber ransom note, which contains instructions on how to pay the ransom and decrypt the encrypted files. Cerber Ransomware will also modify the HOSTS file to redirect traffic from various antivirus and security websites.Cerber Ransomware, Cerber 2.0 Ransomware, Cerber 3.0 Ransomware, and Cerber 4.0 / 5.0 Ransomware were all created by the same person or group of people. Cerber Ransomware is a fork of the Dharma ransomware program. Cerber 2.0 was created by modifying the source code of the EDA2 ransomware program. Cerber 3.0 was created by modifying the source code of the Stampado ransomware program. Cerber 4.0 and 5.0 were both created by modifying the source code of the Locky ransomware program.Cerber Ransomware is currently one of the most prevalent ransomware programs in the wild. Cerber has been spotted in various countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom. Cerber has also been spotted in various industries, including healthcare, education, and government. Cerber has been known to target large organizations, such as hospitals and universities. Cerber has also been known to target small businesses and individual users.Cerber Ransomware is a serious threat that can cause a lot of damage. Cerber Ransomware is difficult to remove and can encrypt many files.Cerber Ransomware will encrypt files on local drives, network shares, and removable drives. Cerber will skip files that are larger than 50 MB in size. The following file types are encrypted by Cerber:.3fr, .accdb, .ai, .arw, .bay, .cdr, .cer, .cr2, .crt, .crw, .csv, .daf,.dbf, .dcr, .der, .dng, .doc, .docm, .docx, .dwg, .dxf, .dxg, .eps,.erf, .indd, .jpe, .jpg, .kdc, .mdf, .mef, .mkv, .mos, .mrw, .nef,.nrw, .odb, .odc, .odm, .odp, .ods, .odt, .orf, .p12, .p7b, .p7c,.pdb, .pdf, .pef, .pem, .pfx, .ppt, .pptm, .pptx, .prf, .PSD, .pst,.ptx, .r3d, .raf, .raw, .rtf, .rw2, .rwl, .sr2, .srf, .srw, .tif,.wb2., wpd , wps, .xlk, .xlr, .xls, .xlsb, .xlsm, .xlsx

How to prevent Cerber Ransomware infections?

We recommend that you take the following steps to prevent Cerber infections:- Install and maintain an antivirus program.- Install and maintain a firewall.- Keep your operating system and software up to date.- Use strong passwords.- Do not open email attachments from unknown senders.- Do not click on links in email messages from unknown senders.

What should you do if it infected you with Cerber?

You should do the following:- Do not pay the ransom. There is no guarantee that you will receive the decryption key even if you do pay the ransom.- Use a Cerber Ransomware removal tool to remove Cerber Ransomware and decrypt your files.- If you have backups, restore your files from the backup.- If you do not have backups, we recommend that you try to use file recovery software to recover your files.Cerber Ransomware does not delete files, so there is a chance that you can recover your files.

Is there a public decryption tool for Cerber?

Yes, there is a public decryption tool for Cerber Ransomware. The Cerber decryptor can be downloaded from here. But we cannot guarantee that it will work for all Cerber variants. Anyway, it is worth a try.

Contact a data recovery service

If something goes wrong during the Cerber Ransomware removal process or you are not able to decrypt your files, we recommend that you contact a data recovery service. Data recovery services specialize in recovering data from infected computers.Contact SalvageData now to get help. SalvageData experts can help you remove Cerber Ransomware and decrypt your files without having to pay the ransom.