This article has been created to explain to you what is the .DATASTOP ransomware virus and how to remove it from your computer plus how you can restore files, encrypted by it.
A new ransomware virus, using the .DATASTOP file extension to encrypt the files on the computers of victims has been detected by researchers. The virus’s primary purpose is to encrypt the files on the computers infected by it after which to set the .DATASTOP file extension. The ransomware then drops a ransom note type of file, called !!!DATA_RESTORE!!!.txt aiming to convince victims that they should pay ransom if they want to see their files again. If you want to remove this ransomware virus and try to restore .DATASTOP files without having to pay ransom, we advise that you read this article thoroughly.
Threat Summary
| Name | .DATASTOP Ransomware |
| Type | Ransomware, Cryptovirus |
| Short Description | The ransomware aims to encrypt the files on the compromised computers and then ask victims to pay ransom in BitCoin to get the encrypted files back. |
| Symptoms | Files are encrypted with an added .DATASTOP file extension and a ransom note, called !!!DATA_RESTORE!!!.txt. |
| Distribution Method | Spam Emails, Email Attachments, Executable files |
| Detection Tool |
See If Your System Has Been Affected by malware
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Malware Removal Tool
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User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss .DATASTOP Ransomware. |
| Data Recovery Tool | Windows Data Recovery by Stellar Phoenix Notice! This product scans your drive sectors to recover lost files and it may not recover 100% of the encrypted files, but only few of them, depending on the situation and whether or not you have reformatted your drive. |
.DATASTOP Files Virus – Distribution
The .DATASTOP files virus aims to infect the computers of victims via e-mail by sending malicious e-mail attachments, whose primary purpose is to get victims to download and execute the file, believing it is an important documents. The cyber-criminals often tend to use false statements to make it seem like the attachment is an important document, for example:
In addition to this, the .DATASTOP ransomware virus is the type of ransomware that can also infect your computer as a result of you having to download and execute it’s malicious file, while believing it is a legitimate type of file, such as:
- Setup of a program.
- Portable version of software.
- Game patch or crack.
- Key generator.
.DATASTOP Files Virus – Malicious Activity
The .DATASTOP files virus aims to slither into the victims computers undetected. When this happens, the virus aims to check your computer’s version and send information to the cyber-criminals, like your IP address and other types of system data. The malware may also check if the computer it’s running on has previously been infected by it’s variants or if it’s running in a virtual environment. If this is so, the .DATASTOP files virus shuts down and if not, the ransomware virus may drop it’s payload files on the computers of victims. The payload of .DATASTOP files virus may located in the following Windows directories:
- %AppData%
- %Local%
- %LocalLow%
- %Roaming%
- %Temp%
Among the files of the .DATASTOP ransomware dropped is the virus’s ransom note, called !!!DATA_RESTORE!!!.txt, that has the following message for victims to see:
All your important files were encrypted on this PC.
All files with .DATASTOP extension are encrypted.
Encryption was produced using unique private key RSA-1024 generated for this computer.
To decrypt your files, you need to obtain private key + decrypt software.
To retrieve the private key and decrypt software, you need to contact us by email decryptiondata@bitmessage.ch send us an email your !!!DATA_RESTORE!!!.txt file and wait for further instructions.
For you to be sure, that we can decrypt your files – you can send us a 1-3 any not very big encrypted files and we will send you back it in a original form FREE.
Your personal id:
E-mail address to contact us:
decryptiondata@bitmessage.ch
Reserve e-mail address to contact us:
decryptiondata@india.com
In addition to this, the .DATASTOP ransomware virus may also add registry entries in the Run and RunOnce Windows registry sub-keys, which have the following locations:
→ HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Personalization
But the malicious activity of .DATASTOP file ransomware, do not stop there. Since it is a variant of the STOP ransomware virus, it may be updated to perform more malicious activities in addition to the traditional ones, performed by this infection.
One of the activities that may be performed by the .DATASTOP files virus may be to delete the shadow volume copies of the infected computer system, preferrably by running a script that executes the following Windows commands as an administrator in the background:
→ process call create “cmd.exe /c vssadmin.exe delete shadows /all /quiet & bcdedit.exe /set {default} recoveryeenabled no & bcdedit.exe /set {default} bootstatuspolicy ignoreallfailures”
.DATASTOP Files Virus – File Encryption
In order to encrypt the files on the computers that have been compromised by it, the .DATASTOP files virus is the type of ransomware that aims to run a scan of the file types that are often used. These files are documents, videos, images, archives and other importand objects. The virus may scan for them based on their file extensions, for example:
“PNG .PSD .PSPIMAGE .TGA .THM .TIF .TIFF .YUV .AI .EPS .PS .SVG .INDD .PCT .PDF .XLR .XLS .XLSX .ACCDB .DB .DBF .MDB .PDB .SQL .APK .APP .BAT .CGI .COM .EXE .GADGET .JAR .PIF .WSF .DEM .GAM .NES .ROM .SAV CAD Files .DWG .DXF GIS Files .GPX .KML .KMZ .ASP .ASPX .CER .CFM .CSR .CSS .HTM .HTML .JS .JSP .PHP .RSS .XHTML. DOC .DOCX .LOG .MSG .ODT .PAGES .RTF .TEX .TXT .WPD .WPS .CSV .DAT .GED .KEY .KEYCHAIN .PPS .PPT .PPTX ..INI .PRF Encoded Files .HQX .MIM .UUE .7Z .CBR .DEB .GZ .PKG .RAR .RPM .SITX .TAR.GZ .ZIP .ZIPX .BIN .CUE .DMG .ISO .MDF .TOAST .VCD SDF .TAR .TAX2014 .TAX2015 .VCF .XML Audio Files .AIF .IFF .M3U .M4A .MID .MP3 .MPA .WAV .WMA Video Files .3G2 .3GP .ASF .AVI .FLV .M4V .MOV .MP4 .MPG .RM .SRT .SWF .VOB .WMV 3D .3DM .3DS .MAX .OBJ .BMP .DDS .GIF .JPG ..CRX .PLUGIN .FNT .FON .OTF .TTF .CAB .CPL .CUR .DESKTHEMEPACK .DLL .DMP .DRV .ICNS .ICO .LNK .SYS .CFG”
In addition to this, the .DATASTOP ransomware virus may also add important Windows directories, like %Windows%, %System%, etc. to it’s whitelist in order to skip encrypting files in those folders so that you can still use your computer.
The .DATASTOP ransomware uses two ciphers to lock your important files:
- AES encrption algorithm.
- RSA-1024 encryption cipher.
The ransomware then ads the .DATASTOP file extension to the files, encoded by it and the encrypted files may assume the following appearance:
Remove STOP Ransomware and Restore .DATASTOP Files
If you are aiming at getting rid of this virus, it is important to know that you can follow either the manual or the automatic removal instructions for .DATASTOP files virus below. They have been created with the idea in mind that if the manual removal does not work for your or you feel unconfident in performing the removal, you can also remove this ransomware virus automatically by downloading an advanced anti-malware software, which is what experts often outline as the most effective method. Such software aims to scan your computer and completely clean it from absolutely any intrusive and malicious software while ensuring future protection against such threats as well.
If you want to restore files, that have been encrypted with the added .DATASTOP extension, you are welcome to try the alternative methods in step “2. Restore files, encrypted by .DATASTOP Ransomware”. They may not be 100% effective, but might be able to help you to recover most of your files.
Ventsislav Krastev
Ventsislav is a cybersecurity expert at SensorsTechForum since 2015. He has been researching, covering, helping victims with the latest malware infections plus testing and reviewing software and the newest tech developments. Having graduated Marketing as well, Ventsislav also has passion for learning new shifts and innovations in cybersecurity that become game changers. After studying Value Chain Management, Network Administration and Computer Administration of System Applications, he found his true calling within the cybersecrurity industry and is a strong believer in the education of every user towards online safety and security.
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Attention! SensorsTechForum strongly recommends that all malware victims should look for assistance only by reputable sources. Many guides out there claim to offer free recovery and decryption for files encrypted by ransomware viruses. Be advised that some of them may only be after your money.
As a site that has been dedicated to providing free removal instructions for ransomware and malware since 2014, SensorsTechForum’s recommendation is to only pay attention to trustworthy sources.
How to recognize trustworthy sources:
- Always check "About Us" web page.
- Profile of the content creator.
- Make sure that real people are behind the site and not fake names and profiles.
- Verify Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter personal profiles.
About the .DATASTOP Ransomware Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this .DATASTOP Ransomware how-to removal guide included, is the outcome of extensive research, hard work and our team’s devotion to help you remove the specific malware and restore your encrypted files.
How did we conduct the research on this ransomware?
Our research is based on an independent investigation. We are in contact with independent security researchers, and as such, we receive daily updates on the latest malware and ransomware definitions.
Furthermore, the research behind the .DATASTOP Ransomware ransomware threat is backed with VirusTotal and the NoMoreRansom project.
To better understand the ransomware threat, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.
References
1. How to Recognize Spam Emails with Ransomware
2. How Does Ransomware Encryption Work?
3. How to Decrypt Ransomware Files
4. Ransomware Getting Greedier and Bigger, Attacks Increase by 40%
5. 1 in 5 Americans Victim of Ransomware
- Guide 1: How to Remove .DATASTOP Ransomware from Windows.
- Guide 2: Get rid of .DATASTOP Ransomware from Mac OS X.
How to Remove .DATASTOP Ransomware from Windows.
Step 1: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove .DATASTOP Ransomware
1. Hold Windows Key + R.
2. The "Run" Window will appear. In it, type "msconfig" and click OK.
3. Go to the "Boot" tab. There select "Safe Boot" and then click "Apply" and "OK".
4. When prompted, click on "Restart" to go into Safe Mode.
5. You can recognise Safe Mode by the words written on the corners of your screen.
Step 2: Uninstall .DATASTOP Ransomware and related software from Windows
Here is a method in few easy steps that should be able to uninstall most programs. No matter if you are using Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista or XP, those steps will get the job done. Dragging the program or its folder to the recycle bin can be a very bad decision. If you do that, bits and pieces of the program are left behind, and that can lead to unstable work of your PC, errors with the file type associations and other unpleasant activities. The proper way to get a program off your computer is to Uninstall it. To do that:
1. Hold the Windows Logo Button and "R" on your keyboard. A Pop-up window will appear.
2. In the field type in "appwiz.cpl" and press ENTER.
3. This will open a window with all the programs installed on the PC. Select the program that you want to remove, and press "Uninstall"
Follow the instructions above and you will successfully uninstall most programs.
Step 3: Clean any registries, created by .DATASTOP Ransomware on your computer.
The usually targeted registries of Windows machines are the following:
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
You can access them by opening the Windows registry editor and deleting any values, created by .DATASTOP Ransomware there. This can happen by following the steps underneath:
1. Open the Run Window again, type "regedit" and click OK.
2. When you open it, you can freely navigate to the Run and RunOnce keys, whose locations are shown above.
3. You can remove the value of the virus by right-clicking on it and removing it.
Tip: To find a virus-created value, you can right-click on it and click "Modify" to see which file it is set to run. If this is the virus file location, remove the value.
Before starting "Step 4", please boot back into Normal mode, in case you are currently in Safe Mode.
This will enable you to install and use SpyHunter 5 successfully.
Step 4: Scan for .DATASTOP Ransomware with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
1. Click on the "Download" button to proceed to SpyHunter's download page.
2. After you have installed SpyHunter, wait for it to update automatically.
3. After the update process has finished, click on the 'Malware/PC Scan' tab. A new window will appear. Click on 'Start Scan'.
4. After SpyHunter has finished scanning your PC for any files of the associated threat and found them, you can try to get them removed automatically and permanently by clicking on the 'Next' button.
Video Guide for Automatic and Fast Removal
Step 5 (Optional): Try to Restore Files Encrypted by .DATASTOP Ransomware.
Ransomware infections and .DATASTOP Ransomware aim to encrypt your files using an encryption algorithm which may be very difficult to decrypt. This is why we have suggested a data recovery method that may help you go around direct decryption and try to restore your files. Bear in mind that this method may not be 100% effective but may also help you a little or a lot in different situations.
1. Download the recommended Data Recovery software by clicking on the link underneath:
Simply click on the link and on the website menus on the top, choose Data Recovery - Data Recovery Wizard for Windows or Mac (depending on your OS), and then download and run the tool.
Step 6: How to Restore Files Encrypted by Ransomware (Video Guide)
Get rid of .DATASTOP Ransomware from Mac OS X.
Step 1: Uninstall .DATASTOP Ransomware and remove related files and objects
1. Hit the ⇧+⌘+U keys to open Utilities. Another way is to click on “Go” and then click “Utilities”, like the image below shows:
2. Find Activity Monitor and double-click it:
3. In the Activity Monitor look for any suspicious processes, belonging or related to .DATASTOP Ransomware:
4. Click on the "Go" button again, but this time select Applications. Another way is with the ⇧+⌘+A buttons.
5. In the Applications menu, look for any suspicious app or an app with a name, similar or identical to .DATASTOP Ransomware. If you find it, right-click on the app and select “Move to Trash
”.
6. Select Accounts, after which click on the Login Items preference.
Your Mac will then show you a list of items that start automatically when you log in. Look for any suspicious apps identical or similar to .DATASTOP Ransomware. Check the app you want to stop from running automatically and then select on the Minus (“-“) icon to hide it.
7. Remove any left-over files that might be related to this threat manually by following the sub-steps below:
- Go to Finder.
- In the search bar type the name of the app that you want to remove.
- Above the search bar change the two drop down menus to “System Files” and “Are Included” so that you can see all of the files associated with the application you want to remove. Bear in mind that some of the files may not be related to the app so be very careful which files you delete.
- If all of the files are related, hold the ⌘+A buttons to select them and then drive them to “Trash”.
In case you cannot remove .DATASTOP Ransomware via Step 1 above:
In case you cannot find the virus files and objects in your Applications or other places we have shown above, you can manually look for them in the Libraries of your Mac. But before doing this, please read the disclaimer below:
1: Click on "Go" and Then "Go to Folder" as shown underneath:
2: Type in "/Library/LauchAgents/" and click Ok:
3: Delete all of the virus files that have similar or the same name as .DATASTOP Ransomware. If you believe there is no such file, do not delete anything.
You can repeat the same procedure with the following other Library directories:
→ ~/Library/LaunchAgents
/Library/LaunchDaemons
Tip: ~ is there on purpose, because it leads to more LaunchAgents.
Step 3 (Optional): Try to Restore Files Encrypted by .DATASTOP Ransomware.
Ransomware infections and .DATASTOP Ransomware aim to encrypt your files using an encryption algorithm which may be very difficult to decrypt. This is why we have suggested a data recovery method that may help you go around direct decryption and try to restore your files. Bear in mind that this method may not be 100% effective but may also help you a little or a lot in different situations.
1. Download the recommended Data Recovery software by clicking on the link underneath:
Simply click on the link and on the website menus on top, choose Data Recovery - Data Recovery Wizard for Windows or Mac (depending on your OS), and then download and run the tool.
.DATASTOP Ransomware FAQ
What is .DATASTOP Ransomware ransomware and how does it work?
.DATASTOP Ransomware is a ransomware infection - the malicious software that enters your computer silently and blocks either access to the computer itself or encrypt your files.
Many ransomware viruses use sophisticated encryption algorithm how to make your files inaccessible. The goal of ransomware infections is to demand that you pay a ransom payment to get access to your files back.
How does .DATASTOP Ransomware ransomware infect my computer?
Via several ways..DATASTOP Ransomware Ransomware infects computers by being sent via phishing e-mails, containing virus attachment.
This attachment is usually masked as an important document, like an invoice, bank document or even a plane ticket and it looks very convincing to users.
After you download and execute this attachment, a drive-by download occurs and your computer is infected with the ransomware virus.
Another way, you may become a victim of .DATASTOP Ransomware is if you download a fake installer, crack or patch from a low reputation website or if you click on a virus link. Many users report getting a ransomware infection by downloading torrents.
How to open ..DATASTOP Ransomware files?
You can't. At this point the ..DATASTOP Ransomware files are encrypted. You can only open them once they are decrypted.
Decryptor did not decrypt my data. What now?
Do not panic and backup the files. If a decryptor did not decrypt your ..DATASTOP Ransomware files successfully, then do not despair, because this virus is still new.
One way to restore files, encrypted by .DATASTOP Ransomware ransomware is to use a decryptor for it. But since it's a new virus, advised that the decryption keys for it may not be out yet and available to the public. We will update this article and keep you posted as soon as this decryptor is released.
How Do I restore "..DATASTOP Ransomware" files (Other Methods)?
Yes, sometimes files can be restored. We have suggested several file recovery methods that could work if you want to restore ..DATASTOP Ransomware files.
These methods are in no way 100% guarantee that you will be able to get your files back. But if you have a backup, your chances of success are much greater.
How do I get rid of .DATASTOP Ransomware ransomware virus?
The safest way and the most efficient one for the removal of this ransomware infection is the use a professional anti malware software. It will scan for and locate .DATASTOP Ransomware ransomware and then remove it without causing any additional harm to your important ..DATASTOP Ransomware files.
Also, keep in mind that viruses like .DATASTOP Ransomware ransomware also install Trojans and keyloggers that can steal your passwords and accounts. Scanning your computer with an anti-malware software will make sure that all of these virus components are removed and your computer is protected in the future.
What to Do If nothing works?
There is still a lot you can do. If none of the above methods seem to work for you, then try these methods:
- Try to find a safe computer from where you can can login on your own line accounts like One Drive, iDrive, Google Drive and so on.
- Try to contact your friends, relatives and other people so that they can check if they have some of your important photos or documents just in case you sent them.
- Also, check if some of the files that were encrypted it can be re-downloaded from the web.
- Another clever way to get back some of your files is to find another old computer, a flash drive or even a CD or a DVD where you may have saved your older documents. You might be surprised what will turn up.
- You can also go to your email account to check if you can send any attachments to other people. Usually what is sent the email is saved on your account and you can re-download it. But most importantly, make sure that this is done from a safe computer and make sure to remove the virus first.
More tips you can find on our forums, where you can also asks any questions about your ransomware problem.
How to Report Ransomware to Authorities?
In case your computer got infected with a ransomware infection, you can report it to the local Police departments. It can help authorities worldwide track and determine the perpetrators behind the virus that has infected your computer. Below, we have prepared a list with government websites, where you can file a report in case you are a victim of a cybercrime:
Cyber-security authorities, responsible for handling ransomware attack reports in different regions all over the world:
- Germany - Offizielles Portal der deutschen Polizei
- United States - IC3 Internet Crime Complaint Centre
- United Kingdom - Action Fraud Police
- France - Ministère de l'Intérieur
- Italy - Polizia Di Stato
- Spain - Policía Nacional
- Netherlands - Politie
- Poland - Policja
- Portugal - Polícia Judiciária
- Greece - Cyber Crime Unit (Hellenic Police)
- India - Mumbai Police - CyberCrime Investigation Cell
- Australia - Australian High Tech Crime Center
Reports may be responded to in different timeframes, depending on your local authorities.
Good morning Mr…
I was victims of virus ransomeware and all my files was encryptes. Since I read this articles, I tried to following those steps which mentioned above. Unfortunately, I was stagnant and my file still locked or encrypted. Also I have searched software decryptor for .DATASTOPS but I could not find it. Is there any suggestion to unlock or decrypt my files, from you as an expert on cybersecurity maybe you can give suggestion?
Best regards
My laptop was infected by rasomeware and all file was encrypted with extension .DATASTOPS, as expert you might have any ideas or suggestion to solve my problem. I have followed certain steps above but my file still encrypted. Please help me
Best regards
Hello, Mr Nur Rahman.
Currently, there is no official decryption tool available. We from SensorsTechForum suggest that you check out this guide to try restoring some of your data without such a tool:
sensorstechforum.com/restore-files-encrypted-ransomware-without-decryptor/
Best Regards