Remove AnonPop Fake Ransom Virus and Restore Deleted Files

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	See If Your System Has Been Affected by AnonPop Download Malware Removal Tool
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:

%Documents%, %Downloads%, %Pictures%, %Music%, %Videos%, %Contacts%, %Favorites%, %Searches%, Google’s Folders, Windows Defender’s Folders, Mozilla Firefox’s Folders, Internet Explorer’s Folders, %AppData%\Local\Temp\, %Desktop%
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:

In the key:
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:

Shadow Explorer

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:

Manually delete AnonPop from your computer

Note! Substantial notification about the AnonPop threat: Manual removal of AnonPop requires interference with system files and registries. Thus, it can cause damage to your PC. Even if your computer skills are not at a professional level, don’t worry. You can do the removal yourself just in 5 minutes, using a malware removal tool.

1. Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove AnonPop files and objects

2.Find malicious files created by AnonPop on your PC

3.Fix registry entries created by AnonPop on your PC

Automatically remove AnonPop by downloading an advanced anti-malware program

1. Remove AnonPop with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool

2. Back up your data to secure it against infections and file encryption by AnonPop in the future

Back up your data to secure it against attacks in the future

IMPORTANT! Before reading the Windows backup instructions, we highly recommend to back up your data automatically with cloud backup and insure it against any type of data loss on your device, even the most severe. We recommend reading more about and downloading SOS Online Backup .

To back up your files via Windows and prevent any future intrusions, follow these instructions:

1. For Windows 7 and earlier

1. For Windows 8, 8.1 and 10

1. Enabling the Windows Defense Feature (Previous Versions)

1-Click on Windows Start Menu

2-Type Backup And Restore
3-Open it and click on Set Up Backup

4-A window will appear asking you where to set up backup. You should have a flash drive or an external hard drive. Mark it by clicking on it with your mouse then click on Next.

5-On the next window, the system will ask you what do you want to backup. Choose the ‘Let Me Choose’ option and then click on Next.

6-Click on ‘Save settings and run backup’ on the next window in order to protect your files from possible attacks by AnonPop.

1-Press Windows button + R

2-In the window type ‘filehistory’ and press Enter

3-A File History window will appear. Click on ‘Configure file history settings’

4-The configuration menu for File History will appear. Click on ‘Turn On’. After its on, click on Select Drive in order to select the backup drive. It is recommended to choose an external HDD, SSD or a USB stick whose memory capacity is corresponding to the size of the files you want to backup.

5-Select the drive then click on ‘Ok’ in order to set up file backup and protect yourself from AnonPop.

1- Press Windows button + R keys.

2- A run windows should appear. In it type ‘sysdm.cpl’ and then click on Run.

3- A System Properties windows should appear. In it choose System Protection.

5- Click on Turn on system protection and select the size on the hard disk you want to utilize for system protection.
6- Click on Ok and you should see an indication in Protection settings that the protection from AnonPop is on.

Restoring a file via Windows Defense feature:
1-Right-click on the encrypted file, then choose Properties.

2-Click on the Previous Versions tab and then mark the last version of the file.

3-Click on Apply and Ok and the file encrypted by AnonPop should be restored.

Optional: Using Alternative Anti-Malware Tools

Vencislav Krustev

A network administrator and malware researcher at SensorsTechForum with passion for discovery of new shifts and innovations in cyber security. Strong believer in basic education of every user towards online safety.

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Threat Summary

AnonPop Fake Ransomware Virus – Spread

AnonPop Fake Ransomware – In Depth Analysis

AnonPop Fake Ransomware – Conclusion, Remove It and Restore Deleted Files

Manually delete AnonPop from your computer

Boot Your PC Into Safe Mode

Find malicious files created by AnonPop

For Newer Windows Operating Systems

Step 1:

Step 2:

Step 3:

For Older Windows Operating Systems

Step 1:

Step 2:

Step 3:

Fix registry entries created by AnonPop on your PC.

Automatically remove AnonPop by downloading an advanced anti-malware program

Remove AnonPop with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool

Back up your data to secure it against attacks in the future

Remove AnonPop Using Other Alternative Tools

Vencislav Krustev