A devastating virus has appeared on the malware radar, known as AnonPop has been deleting files of infected computers, reports indicate. The virus has been reported to infect users via several different techniques. The worst part is that the sinister individuals behind this twisted cyber threat do not encrypt your files, and they delete them instead. This is particularly frustrating. However, researchers report that there are several methods to restore the files using special software. For more information on how to delete this ransomware yourself and restore the deleted files, make sure to go through this article to find out.
Threat Summary
| Name | AnonPop |
| Type | Fake ransomware. Lockscreen. |
| Short Description | AnonPop immediately deletes files of all drives and folders possible and leaves a fake ransom note asking the user to pay and lying to him/her that the files are encrypted. |
| Symptoms | Files are deleted and a fake ransom note is set as what appears to be a screensaver, locking the user out of the computer. |
| Distribution Method | Spam Emails, Email Attachments, File Sharing Networks. |
| Detection Tool |
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| User Experience | Join our forum to Discuss Locky 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. |
AnonPop Fake Ransomware Virus – Spread
To effectively infect users on a massive scale, the AnonPop ransomware may be spread via massive spam campaigns which can distribute it either via malicious URLs or malicious files, both of which may be posted in spam messages all over the web:
- Referral spam on blogs.
- Forums.
- Social media spam.
- Spam e-mail messages with malicious URLs or attachments.
Such attachments may turn to be dangerous because a malicious macro, an Exploit Kit or even a malicious JavaScript attack may be used to infect unsuspecting users.
AnonPop Fake Ransomware – In Depth Analysis
As soon as it has infected the computer of the user, AnonPop immediately deletes every file with the exceptions of files that belong to Windows so that it does not break it. The virus looks in the following folders for files and erases them:
D:\ ,E:\ ,F:\ ,H:\ ,G:\ ,I:
In addition to this nightmare, the AnonPop Virus not only deletes the files but also locks the screen of the infected computer, setting an Anonymous-themed wallpaper which lies to the user that his files are encrypted:
The lock screen locks the user out of his computer by staying over the desktop. This strongly suggests that the registry keys for the ScreenSaver of the infected machine have been infected. This immediately points out to the following keys and values being affected:
HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Control Panel\Desktop
The values:
ScreenSaveActive
SCRNSAVE.EXE
ScreenSaveTimeOut
ScreenSaverIsSecure
The AnonPop ransomware also can shut down your computer after displaying a similar pop-up message with the following text:
AnonPop Fake Ransomware – Conclusion, Remove It and Restore Deleted Files
It is so far unclear what kind of sick individuals are behind this ransomware and go around and delete users’ files left and right. The good news is that they did not use unconventional methods to erase the files from the sectors of the Hard Drive of the infected computers. This is why we have suggested a solution below, but for it to work you must do two things:
1. Remove the ransomware using either the manual(if you know where its files and registries are) or automatic instructions which are illustrated after this article. They will help you deal with it without reinstalling Windows and formatting your drive which is what we are aiming at for this method do work. For maximum effectiveness, experts advise scanning in safe mode with an anti-malware scanner which will automatically take care of AnonPop fake ransomware.
2.Do not reinstall Windows and do not format your hard drive.
3.1 Check your computer for enabled “File History,” any backup or Shadow Volume Copies. This will help you to immediately get all your files back if you have it enabled. To restore your data, your first bet is to check again for shadow copies in Windows using this software:
3.2 Download Data Recovery Software – we have suggested few data recovery programs which you can download and use. They will automatically scan the sectors of your hard drive and recover what can be recovered. Bear in mind that you may not recover 100% of your files, but there is a high possibility that you may get most of your files back especially if this has happened very soon to you and you haven’t reformatted the memory of your drive.
Here are some of our suggestions for data recovery software:
- Stellar Phoenix Data Recovery Technicians License(Pro version with more features)
- Stellar Phoenix Windows Data Recovery
- Stellar Phoenix Photo Recovery
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.
Follow Me:
- Guide 1: How to Remove AnonPop from Windows.
- Guide 2: Get rid of AnonPop from Mac OS X.
- Guide 3: Remove AnonPop from Google Chrome.
- Guide 4: Erase AnonPop from Mozilla Firefox.
- Guide 5: Uninstall AnonPop from Microsoft Edge.
- Guide 6: Remove AnonPop from Safari.
- Guide 7: Eliminate AnonPop from Internet Explorer.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
How to Remove AnonPop from Windows.
Step 1: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove AnonPop
Step 2: Uninstall AnonPop 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 AnonPop 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 AnonPop 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.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Get rid of AnonPop from Mac OS X.
Step 1: Uninstall AnonPop 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 AnonPop 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 2: Scan for and remove AnonPop files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as AnonPop, the recommended way of eliminating the threat is by using an anti-malware program. SpyHunter for Mac offers advanced security features along with other modules that will improve your Mac’s security and protect it in the future.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Remove AnonPop from Google Chrome.
Step 1: Start Google Chrome and open the drop menu
Step 2: Move the cursor over "Tools" and then from the extended menu choose "Extensions"
Step 3: From the opened "Extensions" menu locate the unwanted extension and click on its "Remove" button.
Step 4: After the extension is removed, restart Google Chrome by closing it from the red "X" button at the top right corner and start it again.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Erase AnonPop from Mozilla Firefox.
Step 1: Start Mozilla Firefox. Open the menu window
Step 2: Select the "Add-ons" icon from the menu.
Step 3: Select the unwanted extension and click "Remove"
Step 4: After the extension is removed, restart Mozilla Firefox by closing it from the red "X" button at the top right corner and start it again.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Uninstall AnonPop from Microsoft Edge.
Step 1: Start Edge browser.
Step 2: Open the drop menu by clicking on the icon at the top right corner.
Step 3: From the drop menu select "Extensions".
Step 4: Choose the suspected malicious extension you want to remove and then click on the gear icon.
Step 5: Remove the malicious extension by scrolling down and then clicking on Uninstall.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Remove AnonPop from Safari.
Step 1: Start the Safari app.
Step 2: After hovering your mouse cursor to the top of the screen, click on the Safari text to open its drop down menu.
Step 3: From the menu, click on "Preferences".
Step 4: After that, select the 'Extensions' Tab.
Step 5: Click once on the extension you want to remove.
Step 6: Click 'Uninstall'.
A pop-up window will appear asking for confirmation to uninstall the extension. Select 'Uninstall' again, and the AnonPop will be removed.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Eliminate AnonPop from Internet Explorer.
Step 1: Start Internet Explorer.
Step 2: Click on the gear icon labeled 'Tools' to open the drop menu and select 'Manage Add-ons'
Step 3: In the 'Manage Add-ons' window.
Step 4: Select the extension you want to remove and then click 'Disable'. A pop-up window will appear to inform you that you are about to disable the selected extension, and some more add-ons might be disabled as well. Leave all the boxes checked, and click 'Disable'.
Step 5: After the unwanted extension has been removed, restart Internet Explorer by closing it from the red 'X' button located at the top right corner and start it again.
