This article explains the issues that occur when .adobe files virus infects a target system. It also provides a step-by-step guide on how to remove malicious files and how to potentially recover files encrypted by this ransomware.
The .adobe files virus is yet another ransomware that belongs to STOP ransomware family. Various versions of the same threat have been circling around the net for quite some time. In case that .adobe files virus has managed to infect your system, your access to some of the most important files of yours will be restricted. This is due to changes applied to their original code. As a consequence of this impact, hackers attempt to blackmail into paying a ransom fee.
Threat Summary
| Name | .adobe Files Virus (STOP) |
| Type | Ransomware, Cryptovirus |
| Short Description | Encrypts valuable files stored on the compromised computer. Then asks for a ransom payment in cryptocurrency. |
| Symptoms | Some of your files appear with the extension .adobe in their names. You cannot opened them. A ransom note loads on screen to extort a ransom fee. |
| Distribution Method | Spam Emails, Email Attachments |
| Detection Tool | See If Your System Has Been Affected by .adobe Files Virus (STOP) Download Malware Removal Tool | User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss .adobe Files Virus (STOP). |
| 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. |
.adobe Files Virus (STOP) – Distribution
There are several channels that may be used for the distribution of STOP .adobe ransomware. Among them the most preferred ones is the so-called malwspam. It is a technique that enables hackers to deliver malicious on computer devices with the help of email messages.
Where malware is usually presented is in a file attachment or URL address. In addition, emails’ senders often present their selves as representatives of legitimate businesses or well-known services.
The main purpose of these emails is to trick you into opening the corrupted file or link on your device as this action is needed for the ransomware payload to load on your system. A variety of common file types such as documents, PDFs, images could be transformed into carriers of ransomware code.
These files are often presented as the following:
- Invoices coming from reputable sites, like PayPal, eBay, etc.
- Commonly used financial documents sent by your bank.
- An online order confirmation note.
- Receipt for a purchase.
- Others.
Malware authors may be also using compromised sites to spread this variant of STOP ransomware infection. This method enables them to upload the ransomware configuration file to a compromised web page and set its automatic execution every time a user visits this page.
.adobe Files Virus (STOP) – Overview
The nasty infection STOP ransomware has been released in active attack campaigns once again. This time hackers modified it to append the extension .adobe to corrupted files’ names. And here is where the name of this threat ( .adobe files virus )originates.
Like its predecessors, .adobe files virus is designed to interfere with settings of essential system components in an attempt to reach data encryption infection stage. When first loaded on a target computer system, the payload of this ransomware initiates a long sequence of malicious activities beginning with the creation of additional malicious files. As malicious files locations, .adobe STOP ransomware could choose some of the following system folders:
- %AppData%
- %Local%
- %LocalLow%
- %Roaming%
- %Temp%
Once the threat establishes all needed files on the system, it starts executing them in a predefined order. By doing this, it becomes able to plague various system components without being detected by active security measures. Affected is likely to be the registry key Run as manipulation of its functionalities could enable the automatic execution of .adobe files virus on each system start.
Another registry key called RunOnce is also likely to be among the targets of .adobe ransomware. Since this key is designed to immediately load all files and objects listed under it, the threat could add there the file name of its ransom note. This, in turn, will result in the automatic display of the note on the screen. In case that you want to find and open this note by yourself, you should search for a text file called _openme.txt
And here is a list of exact registry key locations you should check for malicious entries:
→ 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
As of the ransom message we mentioned, once you open it the following text could be presented:
———————————————- ALL YOUR FILES ARE ENCRYPTED ———————————————–
Don’t worry, you can return all your files!
All your files documents, photos, databases and other important are encrypted with strongest encryption and unique key.
The only method of recovering files is to purchase decrypt tool and unique key for you.
This software will decrypt all your encrypted files.
What guarantees do we give to you?
You can send one of your encrypted file from your PC and we decrypt it for free.
But we can decrypt only 1 file for free. File must not contain valuable information
Don’t try to use third-party decrypt tools because it will destroy your files.
Discount 50% available if you contact us first 72 hours.—————————————————————————————————————————
To get this software you need write on our e-mail:
Reserve e-mail address to contact us:
Your personal ID:
[redacted 43 alphanumeric characters]
Apparently, the purpose of this message is to extort a ransom payment for the recovery of corrupted .adobe files. However, beware that even a successful ransom payment does not guarantee the recovery of your files. There is always a chance that hackers will send you broken decryption key or skip sending you any reply.
The good news is that the security researchers Michael Gillespie managed to crack the code of many STOP ransomware stains which resulted in the release of a free decryption tool. Currently, the tool is known to support versions .puma, .pumax, .pumas, .djvu, .djvuq, .djvur, .djvut, .djvuu, .pdff, .tfude, .tfudeq, .tro, .udjvu, .tfudet, .rumba. Since the nasty .adobe files virus is a strain of the same ransomware you can attempt to decode your files by downloading the tool via the Decryption Tool link here. The tool requires a pair of an original file and its encrypted version.
In case this new STOP ransomware version is not supported by the decrypter, you could attempt to restore .adobe files with the help of the alternative methods explained in our removal guide.
.adobe Files Virus (STOP) – Encryption Process
For purposes of data encryption, .adobe STOP ransomware utilizes a combination of two sophisticated cipher algorithms (RSA and AES). What these algorithms do are series of modifications that transform the code of target files so they could become inaccessible. In order to make its victims more prone to pay the ransom, .adobe files virus encrypts files like:
- Audio files
- Video files
- Document files
- Image files
- Backup files
- Banking credentials, etc
Following encryption, you will see all your corrupted files marked with the extension .adobe
The .adobe cryptovirus is also likely to be able to perform the following command in order to erase all the Shadow Volume Copies:
→ vssadmin.exe delete shadows /all /Quiet
The execution of the above-stated command strengthens the effect data encryption process as it eliminates one of the prominent ways to restore your data.
Remove .adobe Files Virus (STOP) and Restore Data
The STOP ransomware version associated with .adobe extension is a threat with highly complex code that plagues not only your files but your whole system. So you should properly clean and secure your infected system before you could regularly use it again. Below you could find a step-by-step removal guide that may be helpful in attempting to remove this ransomware. Choose the manual removal approach if you have previous experience with malware files. If you don’t feel comfortable with the manual steps select the automatic section from the guide. Steps there enable you to check the infected system for ransomware files and remove them with a few mouse clicks.
In order to keep your system safe from ransomware and other types of malware in future, you should consider the installation of a reliable anti-malware program. As an additional security layer that could prevent the occurrence of ransomware attacks you could install an
If you want to understand how to potentially fix encrypted files with the help of alternative data recovery approaches, make sure to read carefully all details mentioned in the step “Restore files”. We remind you that before you begin with the data recovery process, you should back up all encrypted files to an external drive as this will help you to prevent their irreversible loss.
To remove .adobe Files Virus (STOP) follow these steps:
1. For Windows XP, Vista and 7.
2. For Windows 8, 8.1 and 10.
Fix registry entries created by malware and PUPs on your PC.
Before starting the Automatic Removal below, 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.
Use SpyHunter to scan for malware and unwanted programs
1. Install SpyHunter to scan for .adobe Files Virus (STOP) and remove them.
Back up your data to secure it from malware in the future.
Gergana Ivanova
Gergana has completed a bachelor degree in Marketing from the University of National and World Economy. She has been with the STF team for three years, researching malware and reporting on the latest infections. She believes that in times of constantly evolving dependency of network connected technologies, people should spread the word not the war.
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