This article has been created to show you how to remove the .katipuneros files virus from your computer and restore files.
New ransomware infection, known as the .katipuneros files virus, has been reported to use encryption on the malicious files of the computers infected by it. This results in the files becoming no longer able to be opened and they assume the .katipuneros file extension. Then, the ransomware drops a README-PAYMENT.txt ransom note, whose primary purpose is to make sure that the victim whose files are encrypted pays a hefty ransom fee in order to get the criminals encrypted by this virus. If you have been infected by this virus, reccomendations are to read the following article and learn how to remove the .katipuneros threat completely.
Threat Summary
| Name | .katipuneros Virus |
| Type | Ransomware, Cryptovirus |
| Short Description | Aims to encrypt the files on your computer and then asks you to pay a hefty ransom fee in order to get the encrypted files restored back to working state. |
| Symptoms | Adds the .katipuneros file extension to the encrypted files and then drops a ransom note, named README-PAYMENT.txt. |
| Distribution Method | Spam Emails, Email Attachments, Executable files |
| Detection Tool | See If Your System Has Been Affected by .katipuneros Virus Download Malware Removal Tool | User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss .katipuneros Virus. |
| 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. |
.katipuneros Files Virus – How Does It Infect
In order to infect a given computer system, the .katipuneros ransomware virus may use spammed e-mail messages whose primary purpose is to deceive potential victims into opening thee malicious attachments in those e-mails. Here is how such e-mails often appear like:
In addition to this, the .katipuneros files virus may also cause an infection via malicious files that are uploaded on various different websites, like files that are:
- Fake setups of programs.
- Fake key generators.
- Fake license activators or game cracks.
.katipuneros Files Virus – More Information
Once an infection by this ransomware virus takes place on your computer system, it may begin to drop it’s payload in the following Windows directories under different file names:
The payload which has been dropped can be either extracted via the malicious file or the other scenario is if the file connects to a distribution site and use it to download the payload of the ransomware virus via an unsecured port of your computer system.
After the malicious files of the .katipuneros ransomware have been dropped on your computer, the virus may begin to perform various different activities on your PC, such as attack it’s registry editor. The virus may attack the following Windows registry sub-keys:
→ 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
After doing so, the .katipuneros ransomware may begin to delete the shadow volume copies of your computer system. This results in the malware erasing all chances of backup on your PC:
→ process call create “cmd.exe /c vssadmin.exe delete shadows /all /quiet & bcdedit.exe /set {default} recoveryenabled no & bcdedit.exe /set {default} bootstatuspolicy ignoreallfailures”
After doing so, the ransomware virus may also display it’s ransom note, named README-PAYMENT.txt, which has the following messages for victims:
In order to decrypt your files. Send 2 Bitcoins of payment to address: 1JcevpifQnJ4P7KFmGFV3P7aECZHM3gx67
Once payment has been sent, files will automatically decrypt back to normal.
.katipuneros Ransomware – Encryption Process
The encryption process of .katipuneros files virus uses various different techniques which scramble the legitimate files of your computer. It results in a unique decryption key being generated which is only known to the cyber-criminals. The files which this virus attacks may contain the following file extensions:
“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 R.BMP .DDS .GIF .JPG ..CRX .PLUGIN .FNT .FON .OTF .TTF .CAB .CPL .CUR .DESKTHEMEPACK .DLL .DMP .DRV .ICNS .ICO .LNK .SYS .CFG”
After the encryption process has completed, the .katipuneros files virus adds it’s distinctive file extension to the encrypted files, making them look like the image below:
How to Remove .katipuneros Files Virus and Restore Your Data
In order to fully remove this ransomware infection from your computer we recommend you to follow the removal instructions down below. They are divided in manual and automatic removal methods and be advised that automatic removal is strongly suggested by security experts. The reason for this is that by downloading and scanning your PC automatically via an advanced anti-malware software, you can not only remove the .katipuneros files virus automatically but also protect your computer against future infections as well.
If you want to restore files, that have been encrypted by this ransomware infection, we advise you to follow alternative file recovery methods in step “2. Restore files encrypted by .katipuneros Virus”. They are in no way 100% effective, but may help you to recover at least some of your encrypted files.
Ventsislav Krastev
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.
Follow Me:
- Guide 1: How to Remove .katipuneros Virus from Windows.
- Guide 2: Get rid of .katipuneros Virus from Mac OS X.
How to Remove .katipuneros Virus from Windows.
Step 1: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove .katipuneros Virus
Step 2: Uninstall .katipuneros Virus 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:
Follow the instructions above and you will successfully uninstall most programs.Step 3: Clean any registries, created by .katipuneros Virus 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 .katipuneros Virus there. This can happen by following the steps underneath:
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 .katipuneros Virus with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
Step 5 (Optional): Try to Restore Files Encrypted by .katipuneros Virus.
Ransomware infections and .katipuneros Virus 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.
If the above link does not work for you and your region, try the other two links below, that lead to the same product:
Get rid of .katipuneros Virus from Mac OS X.
Step 1: Uninstall .katipuneros Virus 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:
- 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 .katipuneros Virus 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:
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 2: Scan for and remove .katipuneros Virus files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as .katipuneros Virus, the recommended way of eliminating the threat is by using an anti-malware program. Combo Cleaner offers advanced security features along with other modules that will improve your Mac’s security and protect it in the future.
Step 3 (Optional): Try to Restore Files Encrypted by .katipuneros Virus on your Mac.
Ransomware for Mac .katipuneros Virus aims to encode all your files using an encryption algorithm which may be very difficult to decode, unless you pay money. This is why we have suggested a data recovery method that may help you go around direct decryption and try to restore your files, but only in some cases. Bear in mind that this method may not be 100% effective but may also help you a little or a lot in different situations.
