The .OFFWHITE virus is a ransomware that is currently set against target end users on a global scale. There is no information available about the hacking group behind it. It is believed to be a new iteration of the famous Nefilim ransomware family. This is one of the reasons why we believe that the hackers are experienced.
Once the .OFFWHITE virus has started it will execute its built-in sequence of dangerous commands. Depending on local conditions or the specific hacker instructions various actions will take place. The file encryption will begin after them — the encrypting component will use a built-in list of target file type extensions. In the end the victim files will be renamed with the .OFFWHITE extension.
Threat Summary
| Name | .OFFWHITE Virus |
| Type | Ransomware, Cryptovirus |
| Short Description | The ransomware encrypts files on your computer machine and demands a ransom to be paid to allegedly restore them. |
| Symptoms | The ransomware will blackmail the victims to pay them a decryption fee. Sensitive user data may be encrypted by the ransomware code. |
| Distribution Method | Spam Emails, Email Attachments |
| Detection Tool |
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User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss .OFFWHITE 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. |
The .OFFWHITE virus is a dangerous ransomware release attributed to the NEFILIM virus family. This file encrypting threat is designed to encrypt user files and also to execute other dangerous malware modules. Depending on the exact version and hacking group the sequence can change and as such the different modules can be run.
As a derivative of the NEFILIM virus family the .OFFWHITE virus can be spread using different techniques, among the most popular ones are the following:
- Social Engineering Techniques — The hackers can create email messages and hacker-controlled landing pages which impersonate well-known companies and services. They are hosted on similar sounding domain names and are using them in order to deliver the virus files.
- Virus Infected Files — Criminal groups can integrate the .OFFWHITE virus code into files of different types such as documents (of popular formats) and application installers of software which are widely installed by end users.
- Direct Attacks — The hacking groups can attempt to use various direct exploits which can be loaded in toolkits. If a weakness is identified in a given network it will be used to automatically deploy the threat.
Nefilim Virus Ransomware – Removal and Recovery GUIDE
The identified samples of the .OFFWHITE ransomware indicate that as a a derivative of the previous NEFILIM family it includes an extensive list of modules that are to be launched. The main malware engine will be launched with a distinct process that will have a special section in the virtual memory allocated. This will make it harder to stop by security software that may be installed on the system. The .OFFWHITE virus infection can hookup to running processes – both system ones and those belonging to individual applications. This allows them not only to hide their presence from the users, but also to hijack data accessed by them.
The next step is the harvesting of sensitive information that is found on the machines: both system information and user data. As this is relayed to the hackers it can be used for crimes such as identity theft, financial abuse and blackmail. An additional step which is often made is the creation of an unique ID which can be assigned to every separate computer host. All files that are found on the hacked computers can be hijacked by the dangerous viuses and made available to the hackers. They can also be modified or deleted from the infected hosts.
The main virus engine has been found to be able to read the Windows Registry and edit out configuration files found on the system. This can lead to issues in the performance of the computers, unexpected errors and further data loss. Due to the fact that the included sequence in the viruses can incorporate commands in some cases the infections can be used to lead to arbitrary code execution. This is particularly useful for downloading and installing other threats. The .OFFWHITE virus can be used to deploy remote control Trojans, browser redirects and similar viruses.
When all associated commands have finished running the actual ransomware operation will run. This will engage the built-in cipher to process user data: databases, multimedia files, archives, backups and more. All processed files will be renamed with the .OFFWHITE extension. To blackmail the victims a desktop wallpaper will be applied and a ransom note will be created in a file called offwhite-manual.txt. The users will be blackmailed to pay the hackers a decryption fee to gain back access to their files.
Remove .OFFWHITE Virus
If your computer system got infected with the .OFFWHITE Files ransomware virus, you should have a bit of experience in removing malware. You should get rid of this ransomware as quickly as possible before it can have the chance to spread further and infect other computers. You should remove the ransomware and follow the step-by-step instructions guide provided below.
Martin Beltov
Martin graduated with a degree in Publishing from Sofia University. As a cyber security enthusiast he enjoys writing about the latest threats and mechanisms of intrusion.
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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.
- Guide 1: How to Remove .OFFWHITE Virus from Windows.
- Guide 2: Get rid of .OFFWHITE Virus from Mac OS X.
How to Remove .OFFWHITE Virus from Windows.
Step 1: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove .OFFWHITE Virus
Step 2: Uninstall .OFFWHITE 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 .OFFWHITE 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 .OFFWHITE 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 .OFFWHITE Virus with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
Step 5 (Optional): Try to Restore Files Encrypted by .OFFWHITE Virus.
Ransomware infections and .OFFWHITE 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.
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.
Get rid of .OFFWHITE Virus from Mac OS X.
Step 1: Uninstall .OFFWHITE 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 .OFFWHITE 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 3 (Optional): Try to Restore Files Encrypted by .OFFWHITE Virus.
Ransomware infections and .OFFWHITE 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.
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.
.OFFWHITE Virus FAQ
What is .OFFWHITE Virus ransomware and how does it work?
.OFFWHITE Virus 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 .OFFWHITE Virus ransomware infect my computer?
Via several ways..OFFWHITE Virus 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 .OFFWHITE Virus 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 ..OFFWHITE Virus files?
You can't. At this point the ..OFFWHITE Virus 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 ..OFFWHITE Virus files successfully, then do not despair, because this virus is still new.
One way to restore files, encrypted by .OFFWHITE Virus 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 "..OFFWHITE Virus" files (Other Methods)?
Yes, sometimes files can be restored. We have suggested several file recovery methods that could work if you want to restore ..OFFWHITE Virus 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 .OFFWHITE Virus 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 .OFFWHITE Virus ransomware and then remove it without causing any additional harm to your important ..OFFWHITE Virus files.
Also, keep in mind that viruses like .OFFWHITE Virus 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.
