This article will aid you to remove .prus Ransomware. Follow the ransomware removal instructions provided at the end of the article.
.prus Ransomware is one that encrypts your data and demands money as a ransom to get it restored. Files will receive the .prus extension. The .prus Ransomware will leave ransomware instructions as a desktop wallpaper image. Keep on reading the article and see how you could try to potentially recover some of your locked files and data.
Threat Summary
| Name | .prus Ransomware |
| Type | Ransomware, Cryptovirus |
| Short Description | The ransomware encrypts files by placing the .prus extension on the target files on your computer system and demands a ransom to be paid to allegedly recover them. |
| Symptoms | The ransomware will encrypt your files and leave a ransom note with payment instructions. |
| 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 .prus Ransomware. |
| 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. |
.prus Ransomware – Distribution Techniques
The .prus ransomware is a newly discovered strain that is descendant from the RotorCrypt family of viruses. The identified attack campaign has been found in small-sized batches of samples. We anticipate that as the virus starts to infect the target computers a wider range of the distribution types will be used.
One of the main tactics that are widely used by criminals is the use of email phishing messages — they are modeled as notifications that appear as being sent by a well-known company or service. Their body contents can contain links to the virus files or they can be directly attached. In most cases stolen multimedia elements and texts can be stolen from the legitimate variants and to deceive the users.
In many cases the hackers can craft hacker-controlled sites that are hosted on domains that sound similar to well-known portals. They are designed to appear like popular search engines, download portals and other pages. To coerce the visitors into thinking that they are visiting a safe place self-signed security certificates can be added.
.Prus ransomware variants as RotorCrypt malware samples are very likely to be integrated in payload carriers of which there are two main types:
- Dangerous Documents — The criminals can embed macros that contain the virus installation instructions in documents across all popular file formats: presentations, text documents, databases and spreadsheets. Whenever such a file is opened by the victims a prompt will appear asking them to enable the built-in commands, this will trigger the infection.
- Application Installers — The virus code can also be made part of application setup files — the criminals will typically target the most popular software types used by end users: system utilities, creativity suites, productivity and office programs and etc.
All of these file types can be spread using file sharing networks such as BitTorrent where both legitimate and pirate software is distributed.
Larger infection campaigns can be distributed to victims via browser hijackers, they are modified plugins made for the most popular web browsers aiming to persuade the users that they are safe. While they are found mostly on the associated repositories using fake developer credentials, they can be found on hacker-made sites as well. Those that are found on the plugin repositories typically post descriptions that promise new features addition, performance optimizations and etc. Whenever they are installed the RotorCrypt ransomware sample will be deployed.
.prus Ransomware – Detailed Analysis
Due to the fact that the .prus ransomware is confirmed as a RotorCrypt sample a detailed code analysis has been made. Upon infection a built-in behavior pattern will be started which depending on the current version will launch a sequence of modules.
So far the confirmed actions are the removal of sensitive user data: system backups, shadow volume copies and restore points. This is done by interacting with the necessary Windows services. This shows that the ransomware can use various types of system modules.
We anticipate that other type of dangerous behavior can be programmed:
- Windows Registry Changes — The ransomware engine can modify the relevant Registry values that are used both by the operating system and any third-party installed applications. This can lead to serious performance issues to the point of rendering the computers unusable if the virus is not removed from the system. Changed values that are attributed to third-party applications or services can lead to unexpected errors, problems with usability and data loss.
- Boot Options Change — The other dangerous tactic employed by many RotorCrypt ransomware samples such as .prus is the engine’s ability to install itself as a persistent threat. This means that it will reconfigure the boot options, Registry values and operating system preferences in order to automatically start as soon as the computer is powered on. In most of the cases this will also block access to these places thereby making it impossible to follow the majority of user remoal guides.
- Additional Payload Delivery — The made .prus RotorCrypt ransomware infections can be used to deliver a wide range of other threats to the victim computers.
- Security Software Removal — Most advanced virus types are capable of finding out what security software is installed on the victim computers. This includes all popular anti-virus programs, firewalls, intrusion detection systems and virtual machine hosts.
Many virus files are also capable of hijacking user data. This is done primarily in order expose their identities. This procedure is done by a special engine that searches for certain strings such as a person’s name, address, phone number, location and any stored account credentials.
This same component is also capable of harvesting enough data in order to create an unique ID that is to be asssigned to each affected computer. The information that is hijacked in this particular case can be details about the installed hardware components, user settings and operating system conditions.
The .prus ransomware is fully capable of installing a Trojan module that will connect to a hacker-controlled server. This is a secure and persistent connection that allows the hackers to take over control of the affected machines, install other threats and hijack user data.
.prus Ransomware – Encryption Process
Like other popular malware samples the .prus ransomware will launch the encryption engine once all prior modules have finished running. It will probably use a built-in list of target file type extensions which are to be processed by a strong cipher. An example list can include the following data types:
- Backups
- Databases
- Archives
- Images
- Music
- Videos
All affected files are renamed with the .prus extension. A ransomware note will be created in a file called “informprus.txt” alongside a desktop wallpaper that will be applied to to infected computers. As the base engine is modular in nature it can be extended with additional components and behavior patterns.
Remove .prus Ransomware and Try to Restore Data
If your computer system got infected with the .prus 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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Step 1: Scan for .prus Ransomware with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
Ransomware Automatic Removal - Video Guide
Step 2: Uninstall .prus Ransomware and related malware 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 delete most unwanted and malicious programs.
Step 3: Clean any registries, created by .prus Ransomware 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 .prus Ransomware 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: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove .prus Ransomware
Step 5: Try to Restore Files Encrypted by .prus Ransomware.
Method 1: Use STOP Decrypter by Emsisoft.
Not all variants of this ransomware can be decrypted for free, but we have added the decryptor used by researchers that is often updated with the variants which become eventually decrypted. You can try and decrypt your files using the instructions below, but if they do not work, then unfortunately your variant of the ransomware virus is not decryptable.
Follow the instructions below to use the Emsisoft decrypter and decrypt your files for free. You can download the Emsisoft decryption tool linked here and then follow the steps provided below:
1 Right-click on the decrypter and click on Run as Administrator as shown below:
2. Agree with the license terms:
3. Click on "Add Folder" and then add the folders where you want files decrypted as shown underneath:
4. Click on "Decrypt" and wait for your files to be decoded.
Note: Credit for the decryptor goes to Emsisoft researchers who have made the breakthrough with this virus.
Method 2: Use data recovery software
Ransomware infections and .prus Ransomware 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 the top, choose Data Recovery - Data Recovery Wizard for Windows or Mac (depending on your OS), and then download and run the tool.
.prus Ransomware-FAQ
What is .prus Ransomware Ransomware?
.prus Ransomware 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 algorithms 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.
What Does .prus Ransomware Ransomware Do?
Ransomware in general is a malicious software that is designed to block access to your computer or files until a ransom is paid.
Ransomware viruses can also damage your system, corrupt data and delete files, resulting in the permanent loss of important files.
How Does .prus Ransomware Infect?
Via several ways..prus Ransomware Ransomware infects computers by being sent via phishing emails, 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.
Another way you may become a victim of .prus Ransomware 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 ..prus Ransomware files?
You can't without a decryptor. At this point, the ..prus Ransomware files are encrypted. You can only open them once they are decrypted using a specific decryption key for the particular algorithm.
What to Do If a Decryptor Does Not Work?
Do not panic, and backup the files. If a decryptor did not decrypt your ..prus Ransomware files successfully, then do not despair, because this virus is still new.
Can I Restore "..prus Ransomware" Files?
Yes, sometimes files can be restored. We have suggested several file recovery methods that could work if you want to restore ..prus Ransomware files.
These methods are in no way 100% guaranteed that you will be able to get your files back. But if you have a backup, your chances of success are much greater.
How To Get Rid of .prus Ransomware Virus?
The safest way and the most efficient one for the removal of this ransomware infection is the use a professional anti-malware program.
It will scan for and locate .prus Ransomware ransomware and then remove it without causing any additional harm to your important ..prus Ransomware files.
Can I 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.
Can You Stop Ransomware from Encrypting Your Files?
Yes, you can prevent ransomware. The best way to do this is to ensure your computer system is updated with the latest security patches, use a reputable anti-malware program and firewall, backup your important files frequently, and avoid clicking on malicious links or downloading unknown files.
Can .prus Ransomware Ransomware Steal Your Data?
Yes, in most cases ransomware will steal your information. It is a form of malware that steals data from a user's computer, encrypts it, and then demands a ransom in order to decrypt it.
In many cases, the malware authors or attackers will threaten to delete the data or publish it online unless the ransom is paid.
Can Ransomware Infect WiFi?
Yes, ransomware can infect WiFi networks, as malicious actors can use it to gain control of the network, steal confidential data, and lock out users. If a ransomware attack is successful, it could lead to a loss of service and/or data, and in some cases, financial losses.
Should I Pay Ransomware?
No, you should not pay ransomware extortionists. Paying them only encourages criminals and does not guarantee that the files or data will be restored. The better approach is to have a secure backup of important data and be vigilant about security in the first place.
What Happens If I Don't Pay Ransom?
If you don't pay the ransom, the hackers may still have access to your computer, data, or files and may continue to threaten to expose or delete them, or even use them to commit cybercrimes. In some cases, they may even continue to demand additional ransom payments.
Can a Ransomware Attack Be Detected?
Yes, ransomware can be detected. Anti-malware software and other advanced security tools can detect ransomware and alert the user when it is present on a machine.
It is important to stay up-to-date on the latest security measures and to keep security software updated to ensure ransomware can be detected and prevented.
Do Ransomware Criminals Get Caught?
Yes, ransomware criminals do get caught. Law enforcement agencies, such as the FBI, Interpol and others have been successful in tracking down and prosecuting ransomware criminals in the US and other countries. As ransomware threats continue to increase, so does the enforcement activity.
About the .prus Ransomware Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this .prus Ransomware how-to removal guide included, is the outcome of extensive research, hard work and our team’s devotion to help you remove the specific malware and restore your encrypted files.
How did we conduct the research on this ransomware?
Our research is based on an independent investigation. We are in contact with independent security researchers, and as such, we receive daily updates on the latest malware and ransomware definitions.
Furthermore, the research behind the .prus Ransomware ransomware threat is backed with VirusTotal and the NoMoreRansom project.
To better understand the ransomware threat, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.
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