What is .popotic files virus .popotic files virus is also known as .popotic ransomware and encrypts users’ files while asking for a ransom.
Computer security researchers have alarmed of the discovery of a new virus threat called the .popotic files virus. It is being spread by an unknown hacker or criminal group and displays classic ransomware characteristics — it will encrypt target user data with a cipher and blackmail them. During the virus execution various other malicious actions can take place.
In the end the victim’s data will be encrypted with the .popotic extension, our in-depth article shows how computer users can attempt to restore their files without paying the hackers.
Threat Summary
| Name | .popotic files virus |
| Type | Ransomware, Cryptovirus |
| Short Description | A data locker ransomware designed to damage computer systems and encrypt valuable personal files. |
| Symptoms | Important files are locked and renamed with the .popotic extension. Ransom message insists on payment for a files decryption tool. |
| Distribution Method | Spam Emails, Email Attachments |
| 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 .popotic files 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. |
.popotic Files Virus – Distribution and Impact
The newly released .popotic files virus is a dangerous ransomware which is currently being distributed against victims worldwide. Currently there is no information available about the hacker or group behind it. We expect that additional research about it will become available as the attacks gain more momentum. At the moment it is being spread worldwide however it poses a more limiting impact.
It is very probable that the most popular distribution tactics are to be used. Among them techniques that are widespread include the coordination of email phishing attacks which are created in a similar to way hacker-made sites — they pose as legitimate and well-known sources. Their contents might be stolen or resemble companies and services presenting various links and multimedia elements to which the users are led to click. As soon as they interact with the malware the .popotic files virus infection will start.
Other ransomware threats make use of the payload carrier delivery mechanism in which legitimate and often used files are modified in order to carry the virus installation code. They can take different forms however the most popular ones are macro-infected documents (of all popular formats) and malicious software installers. This is done as many users download applications from hacker-made sites, portals and file-sharing networks like BitTorrent. Bear in mind that even the installation of browser hijackers which are dangerous plugins made compatible with common web browsers. They are uploaded to the relevant repositories with fake developer credentials in order to attract visitors. En-masse distribution can happen via direct attacks by testing the host for any vulnerabilities or dropping it by other infections.
Like other popular malware of this type the .popotic files virus will probably start an algorithm that will run various components that are built-into it. Many viruses choose to begin their intrusion by harvesting sensitive data which can include information about the victims and the machine. The collected data sets are usually to create an unique ID for each affected computer.
Following the successful intrusion the actual file encryption will take place. This is done with a strong cipher that will target the most commonly used data: backups, archives, databases, multimedia files and etc. When this has completed running the .popotic extension will be applied to all victim data. To blackmail the victims into paying the hackers a fee a ransom note will be crafted in a file called HOW-TO-RESTORE-FILES.txt.
Remove .popotic Files Virus and Attempt to Restore Data
The so-called .popotic files virus is a threat with highly complex code that heavily damages both essential system settings and valuable data. So the only way to use your infected system securely again is to remove all malicious files and objects created by the ransomware. For the purpose, you could follow our step-by-step removal guide.
In the event that you want to attempt to restore .popotic files with the help of alternative data recovery methods, do check step four – Try to Restore files encrypted by .popotic Files Virus. We remind you to back up all encrypted files to an external drive before the recovery process.
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 .popotic files virus from Windows.
- Guide 2: Get rid of .popotic files virus from Mac OS X.
How to Remove .popotic files virus from Windows.
Step 1: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove .popotic files virus
Step 2: Uninstall .popotic files 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 .popotic files 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 .popotic files 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 .popotic files virus with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
Step 5 (Optional): Try to Restore Files Encrypted by .popotic files virus.
Ransomware infections and .popotic files 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 .popotic files virus from Mac OS X.
Step 1: Uninstall .popotic files 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 .popotic files 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 .popotic files virus.
Ransomware infections and .popotic files 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.
.popotic files virus FAQ
What is .popotic files virus ransomware and how does it work?
.popotic files 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 .popotic files virus ransomware infect my computer?
Via several ways..popotic files 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 .popotic files 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 ..popotic files virus files?
You can't. At this point the ..popotic files 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 ..popotic files virus files successfully, then do not despair, because this virus is still new.
One way to restore files, encrypted by .popotic files 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 "..popotic files 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 ..popotic files 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 .popotic files 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 .popotic files virus ransomware and then remove it without causing any additional harm to your important ..popotic files virus files.
Also, keep in mind that viruses like .popotic files 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.
