What is Power_user_jo Virus
Power_user_jo is the name of a ransomware infection that belongs to the cryptovirus kind. Its primary purpose is to enter your computer and encrypt the important files in it. The main goal of the virus is not merely this, but to also perform multiple different types of extortion activities. The creators behind the virus want you to pay money to them in the form of BitCoin so that you can be able to use your files once again.
The files that have been encrypted by this ransomware have the _RSA file extension along with a custom identification number. The criminals also use the ransom note, called Data recovery.hta, that contains the extortionist message.
Read this article if you want to remove this ransomware virus completely from your computer system.
Power_user_jo Summary
| Name | Power_user_jo, also known as Ransom:Win32/generic.ali2000027, Trojan/Win32.Filecoder, Trojan.Wacatac, W32.AIDetectVM.malware1, W32/Trojan.XWXR-3622 – VirusTotal |
| File Extension | .{unique ID}_RSA |
| Type | Ransomware, Cryptovirus |
| Short Description | The ransomware encrypts files on your computer system and demands a ransom to be paid to allegedly recover them. |
| Symptoms | The Power_user_jo ransomware will encrypt your files by appending the _RSA extension to them. |
| Ransom Demanding Note | Data recovery.hta |
| Distribution Method | Spam Emails, Email Attachments |
| Detection Tool |
See If Your PC Has Been Affected by Power_user_jo
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Malware Removal Tool
|
User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss Power_user_jo. |
Power_user_jo – What We Know About It
Power_user_jo is a cryptovirus that is pretty standard. Other infections, like it include
Divsouth virus and Motion ransomware. Just like these two viruses, the Power_user_jo ransomware can also infect your computer if it is being sent to you as an e-mail attachment. Such attachments often pretend to be legitimate types of documents that the user is pushed to open. Examples can be an important document from your bank, plane ticket, fake order invoice, etc.
Another way via which the Power_user_jo can infect your computer is by being downloaded and ran on your computer as a program of some sort. Usually, viruses like Power_user_jo are uploaded on sites with low reputation and pretend to be:
- Portable programs.
- Patches.
- Crack for software or game.
- Fake installers of apps.
- Updates.
Once your computer gets infected with this ransomware, it may connect to a command and control server, operated by the criminals behind it. From there they may know all sorts of information from your computer, like Windows version, IP and Mac addresses and other details. Then, the virus may download and place its files in the following Windows directories:
- %LocalLow%.>
- %Temp%.
- %ProgramData%.
- %Windows%.
- %AppData%
- %System%.
- %system32%.
- %Roaming%.
- %Local%
Once the files are set-up on your machine, the Power_user_jo ransomware may begin encrypting your data. It may start scanning for the following types of files:
- Images.
- Videos.
- Documents.
- Audio files.
- Archives.
As soon as the files are detected, the Power_user_jo virus may encrypt them using an advanced encryption algorithm. The main purpose of doing this is to make sure the files cannot be opened, but can still be unlocked if you have a specific decryption key. These decryption keys are known by the cyber-criminals who infected your computer with this ransomware.
After the virus finishes the encryption process, it leaves its ransom note file, called Data recovery.hta. It has the following text:
_RSA Encrypted Files
The files, encrypted by this virus have the _RSA suffix at the end of them. This points out to strong encryption being used, known as RSA cipher (Rivest-Shamir-Adleman). This cipher encrypts parts of files and generates unique keys per each file. After this the keys are sent to the criminals.
For this specific virus, the files are also renamed with a unique number and letter code, that also leaves the files looking like this:
Removal of the virus is highly advisable and we do not recommend negotiating with or trusting these criminals.
Remove Power_user_jo Virus and Try to Restore Files
To remove this ransomware infection, be advised that you can follow the guide below. It can help you find and delete the virus files of this ransomware without causing harm to your important data. For best results, security experts strongly recommend that you download and scan your computer with anti-malware software. This professional tool is made to help automatically detect and delete virus files and protect your PC in the future.
For file recovery, be advised that it takes time for malware researchers and crypto specialists to develop a decrypted. Until then, our best advice is to use the alternative methods for file recovery below. They are made to help you restore at least some or even all of your files, but they are not a direct solution to the virus.
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.
How to Remove Power_user_jo from Windows.
Step 1: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove Power_user_jo
Step 2: Uninstall Power_user_jo 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 Power_user_jo 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 Power_user_jo 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 Power_user_jo with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
Step 5 (Optional): Try to Restore Files Encrypted by Power_user_jo.
Ransomware infections and Power_user_jo 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 Power_user_jo from Mac OS X.
Step 1: Uninstall Power_user_jo 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 Power_user_jo 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 Power_user_jo.
Ransomware infections and Power_user_jo 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.
Power_user_jo FAQ
What is Power_user_jo ransomware and how does it work?
Power_user_jo 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 Power_user_jo ransomware infect my computer?
Via several ways.Power_user_jo 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 Power_user_jo 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 .Power_user_jo files?
You can't. At this point the .Power_user_jo 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 .Power_user_jo files successfully, then do not despair, because this virus is still new.
One way to restore files, encrypted by Power_user_jo 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 ".Power_user_jo" files (Other Methods)?
Yes, sometimes files can be restored. We have suggested several file recovery methods that could work if you want to restore .Power_user_jo 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 Power_user_jo 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 Power_user_jo ransomware and then remove it without causing any additional harm to your important .Power_user_jo files.
Also, keep in mind that viruses like Power_user_jo 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.
