Ventsislav has been covering the latest malware, software and newest tech developments at SensorsTechForum for 3 years now. He started out as a network administrator. Having graduated Marketing as well, Ventsislav also has passion for discovery of new shifts and innovations in cybersecurity that become game changers. After studying Value Chain Management and then Network Administration, he found his passion within cybersecrurity and is a strong believer in basic education of every user towards online safety.
Ventsislav has been covering the latest malware, software and newest tech developments at SensorsTechForum for 3 years now. He started out as a network administrator. Having graduated Marketing as well, Ventsislav also has passion for discovery of new shifts and innovations in cybersecurity that become game changers. After studying Value Chain Management and then Network Administration, he found his passion within cybersecrurity and is a strong believer in basic education of every user towards online safety.
Ventsislav has been covering the latest malware, software and newest tech developments at SensorsTechForum for 3 years now. He started out as a network administrator. Having graduated Marketing as well, Ventsislav also has passion for discovery of new shifts and innovations in cybersecurity that become game changers. After studying Value Chain Management and then Network Administration, he found his passion within cybersecrurity and is a strong believer in basic education of every user towards online safety.
Note! Your computer might be affected by [email protected] Files Virus and other threats.
Threats such as [email protected] Files Virus may be persistent on your system. They tend to re-appear if not fully deleted. A malware removal tool like SpyHunter will help you to remove malicious programs, saving you the time and the struggle of tracking down numerous malicious files. SpyHunter’s scanner is free but the paid version is needed to remove the malware threats. Read SpyHunter’s EULA and Privacy Policy
Ventsislav has been covering the latest malware, software and newest tech developments at SensorsTechForum for 3 years now. He started out as a network administrator. Having graduated Marketing as well, Ventsislav also has passion for discovery of new shifts and innovations in cybersecurity that become game changers. After studying Value Chain Management and then Network Administration, he found his passion within cybersecrurity and is a strong believer in basic education of every user towards online safety.
This article has been created to help you remove the [email protected] variant of CryptConsole ransomware and show you how you can decrypt files that have been encrypted by this ransomware on your computer.
A new variant of the CryptConsole ransomware virus has been detected by cybersecurity researchers. The malawre now uses the e-mail [email protected] as a name of the files, that are encrypted by it, however it still drops the same README.txt ransom note on the computers of victims to convince them into paying ransom to get the encrypted files to work again. Unfortunately for the cyber-criminals, the ransomware is now decryptable and you can recover your files for free if you keep reading this article.
Aims to encrypt the files on the victim’s computer and then set a random file name, which includes the e-mail [email protected]
Symptoms
Files are no longer openable and are renamed plus contain the [email protected] file extension and a README.txt ransom note, asking victims to pay hefty ransom in BitCoin to get the files decrypted and working.
Distribution Method
Spam Emails, Email Attachments, Executable files
Detection Tool
See If Your System Has Been Affected by [email protected] Files Virus
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.
This variant of CryptConsole ransomware may use more than one methods to find itself on the computers of victims. The main method which is used by most CryptConsole ransomware variants, including [email protected] may be malicious e-mail spam messages, also known as malspam. Such e-mails aim to convince victims into believing that they come from legitimate people or companies and they aim to get victims to download a malicious attachments, posing as receipts, invoices or other urgent documents. The crooks often use deceptive tactics to convince the victims:
In addition to via e-mail, the criminals may take advantage of PUPs (potentially unwanted programs), like adware or browser hijackers, that aim to cause a browser redirect to a malicious URL, causing the infection via a JavaScript – induced drive-by download.
Besides these, there are passive methods that are also often used by the cyber-criminals who are behind this virus and those methods usually include uploading the infection file on software websites. There, it may pose as legitimate software, such as:
The [email protected] files ransomware is a variant of the CryptConsole viruses, which basically is a ransomware that is available for purchase or download in the deep web marketplace. From there, anyone who downloads the malware may modify it according to their needs. This is known as ransomware as a service (RaaS) and it is done to make money for the malware author of this virus, whether it is done by selling the malware or simply taking percentage of BitCoins paid from ransom.
The main files that are associated with the [email protected], may be the following payload files, detected in other variants as well, but under different file names:
smss.exe
svchost.exe
csrss.exe
lsass.exe
After the [email protected] virus has dropped the above mentioned payload files, the malware may perform privilege elevation techniques that allow it to create mutexes, modify system files of Windows and last but not least, set the encryption module of the [email protected] virus to run automatically when your boot Windows. This is done by adding a registry value in the following Windows registry sub-keys:
Furthermore, the ransomware may also focus on deleting the backed up files on your computers. These are known as shadow volume copies and they are mirror files that can be recovered easily with Windows System Recovery. To delete those, the [email protected] may execute a script that may enter the following commands to disable Windows Recovery and delete those shadow volume copies:
After doing so, the ransomware may also show it’s README.txt ransom note to the victim, which ususally asks to contact the crooks via their e-mail and negotiate the future of your files, which is not advisable, because the CrytptConsole family of viruses are all decryptable.
In order to make it possible for the files on your computer to no longer be able to be opened, the [email protected] virus scans for them after which starts to encrypt them based on a pre-set list of file extensions, which often consists of files that are regularly used, like:
After this variant of CryptConsole ransomware has been engaged into usage, and encrypts your files, they no longer look the same and are completely renamed with the e-mail [email protected] at the start of their file names. The files may start to look like the image below shows:
How to Remove [email protected] Virus and Decrypt Files Without Paying
If you want to get rid of the [email protected] version of CryptConsole ransomware, we urge you to follow the removal instructions below. If manual removal does not seem to help, be advised that according to security analysts the best method to remove this virus is automatically with the aid of an advanced anti-malware software. Such tool will effectively scan your computer for malicious files and make sure that it is completely protected from those by removing them and setting up real-time protection in the future.
Furthermore, after removing this variant of CryptConsole ransomware, you can follow the “Decryption Instructions for CryptConsole Ransomware” underneath as they have information how to use the CryptConsole Decrypter by Michael Gillespie (demonslay335) to restore your files for free.
Note! Your computer system may be affected by [email protected] Files Virus and other threats. Scan Your PC with SpyHunter SpyHunter is a powerful malware removal tool designed to help users with in-depth system security analysis, detection and removal of threats such as [email protected] Files Virus. Keep in mind, that SpyHunter’s scanner is only for malware detection. If SpyHunter detects malware on your PC, you will need to purchase SpyHunter’s malware removal tool to remove the malware threats. Read our SpyHunter 5 review. Click on the corresponding links to check SpyHunter’s EULA, Privacy Policy and Threat Assessment Criteria.
1. Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove [email protected] Files Virus files and objects
OFFER
Manual Removal Usually Takes Time and You Risk Damaging Your Files If Not Careful!
We Recommend To Scan Your PC with SpyHunter
Keep in mind, that SpyHunter’s scanner is only for malware detection. If SpyHunter detects malware on your PC, you will need to purchase SpyHunter’s malware removal tool to remove the malware threats. Read our SpyHunter 5 review. Click on the corresponding links to check SpyHunter’s EULA, Privacy Policy and Threat Assessment Criteria
Boot Your PC Into Safe Mode
1. For Windows XP, Vista and 7. 2. For Windows 8, 8.1 and 10. Fix registry entries created by malware and PUPs on your PC.
For Windows XP, Vista and 7 systems:
1. Remove all CDs and DVDs, and then Restart your PC from the “Start” menu. 2. Select one of the two options provided below:
– For PCs with a single operating system: Press “F8” repeatedly after the first boot screen shows up during the restart of your computer. In case the Windows logo appears on the screen, you have to repeat the same task again.
– For PCs with multiple operating systems: Тhe arrow keys will help you select the operating system you prefer to start in Safe Mode. Press “F8” just as described for a single operating system.
3. As the “Advanced Boot Options” screen appears, select the Safe Mode option you want using the arrow keys. As you make your selection, press “Enter“.
4. Log on to your computer using your administrator account
While your computer is in Safe Mode, the words “Safe Mode” will appear in all four corners of your screen.
Step 1: Open up the Start Menu.
Step 2: Click on the Power button (for Windows 8 it is the little arrow next to the “Shut Down” button) and whilst holding down “Shift” click on Restart.
Step 3: After reboot, a blue menu with options will appear. From them you should choose Troubleshoot.
Step 4: You will see the Troubleshoot menu. From this menu choose Advanced Options.
Step 5: After the Advanced Options menu appears, click on Startup Settings.
Step 6: From the Startup Settings menu, click on Restart.
Step 7: A menu will appear upon reboot. You can choose any of the three Safe Mode options by pressing its corresponding number and the machine will restart.
Some malicious scripts may modify the registry entries on your computer to change different settings. This is why cleaning your Windows Registry Database is recommended. Since the tutorial on how to do this is a bit long and tampering with registries could damage your computer if not done properly you should refer and follow our instructive article about fixing registry entries, especially if you are unexperienced in that area.
1. For Windows 8, 8.1 and 10. 2. For Windows XP, Vista, and 7.
For Newer Windows Operating Systems
Step 1:
On your keyboard press + R and write explorer.exe in the Run text box and then click on the Ok button.
Step 2:
Click on your PC from the quick access bar. This is usually an icon with a monitor and its name is either “My Computer”, “My PC” or “This PC” or whatever you have named it.
Step 3:
Navigate to the search box in the top-right of your PC’s screen and type “fileextension:” and after which type the file extension. If you are looking for malicious executables, an example may be “fileextension:exe”. After doing that, leave a space and type the file name you believe the malware has created. Here is how it may appear if your file has been found:
N.B. We recommend to wait for the green loading bar in the navination box to fill up in case the PC is looking for the file and hasn’t found it yet.
For Older Windows Operating Systems
In older Windows OS’s the conventional approach should be the effective one:
Step 1:
Click on the Start Menu icon (usually on your bottom-left) and then choose the Search preference.
Step 2:
After the search window appears, choose More Advanced Options from the search assistant box. Another way is by clicking on All Files and Folders.
Step 3:
After that type the name of the file you are looking for and click on the Search button. This might take some time after which results will appear. If you have found the malicious file, you may copy or open its location by right-clicking on it.
Now you should be able to discover any file on Windows as long as it is on your hard drive and is not concealed via special software.
Use SpyHunter to scan for malware and unwanted programs
3. Scan for malware and unwanted programs with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
Scan your PC and Remove [email protected] Files Virus with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool and back up your data
1. Install SpyHunter to scan for [email protected] Files Virus and remove them.2. Scan with SpyHunter, Detect and Remove [email protected] Files Virus. Back up your data to secure it from malware in the future.
Step 1: Click on the “Download” button to proceed to SpyHunter’s download page.
It is recommended to run a scan before purchasing the full version of the software to make sure that the current version of the malware can be detected by SpyHunter. Click on the corresponding links to check SpyHunter’s EULA, Privacy Policy and Threat Assessment Criteria.
Step 2: Guide yourself by the download instructions provided for each browser.
Step 3: After you have installed SpyHunter, wait for it to update automatically.
Step 1: After the update process has finished, click on the ‘Malware/PC Scan’ tab. A new window will appear. Click on ‘Start Scan’.
Step 2: 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.
Step 3: If any threats have been removed, it is highly recommended to restart your PC.
Back up your data to secure it against attacks in the future
IMPORTANT! Before reading the Windows backup instructions, we highly recommend to back up your data with a cloud backup solution and insure your files against any type of loss, even from the most severe threats. We recommend you to read more about it and to download SOS Online Backup.
Ransomware infections and [email protected] Files Virus aim to encrypt your files using an encryption algorithm which may be very difficult to decrypt. This is why we have suggested several alternative methods that may help you go around direct decryption and try to restore your files. Bear in mind that these methods may not be 100% effective but may also help you a little or a lot in different situations.
Method 1: Scanning your drive’s sectors by using Data Recovery software. Another method for restoring your files is by trying to bring back your files via data recovery software. Here are some suggestions for preferred data recovery software solutions:
Method 2: Trying Kaspersky and EmsiSoft’s decryptors. If the first method does not work, we suggest trying to use decryptors for other ransomware viruses, in case your virus is a variant of them. The two primary developers of decryptors are Kaspersky and EmsiSoft, links to which we have provided below:
To restore your data in case you have backup set up, it is important to check for Volume Shadow Copies, if ransomware has not deleted them, in Windows using the below software:
Method 4: Finding the decryption key while the cryptovirus sends it over a network via a sniffing tool.
Another way to decrypt the files is by using a Network Sniffer to get the encryption key, while files are encrypted on your system. A Network Sniffer is a program and/or device monitoring data traveling over a network, such as its internet traffic and internet packets. If you have a sniffer set before the attack happened you might get information about the decryption key. See how-to instructions below:
Ventsislav has been covering the latest malware, software and newest tech developments at SensorsTechForum for 3 years now. He started out as a network administrator. Having graduated Marketing as well, Ventsislav also has passion for discovery of new shifts and innovations in cybersecurity that become game changers. After studying Value Chain Management and then Network Administration, he found his passion within cybersecrurity and is a strong believer in basic education of every user towards online safety.
Ventsislav has been covering the latest malware, software and newest tech developments at SensorsTechForum for 3 years now. He started out as a network administrator. Having graduated Marketing as well, Ventsislav also has passion for discovery of new shifts and innovations in cybersecurity that become game changers. After studying Value Chain Management and then Network Administration, he found his passion within cybersecrurity and is a strong believer in basic education of every user towards online safety.
This article has been created to help you remove the [email protected] variant of CryptConsole ransomware and show you how you can decrypt files that have been encrypted by this ransomware on your computer.
1. For Windows XP, Vista and 7.
2. For Windows 8, 8.1 and 10.
Fix registry entries created by malware and PUPs on your PC.
1. Install SpyHunter to scan for 
Back up your data to secure it from malware in the future.
