[email protected] Ransomware Removal and Restore Guide

Security researchers have found a new ransomware strain that targets computer users. The threat is classified as data locker ransomware as it corrupts essential data stored on infected machines and then asks victims for a ransom payment. Its name comes from the extension it appends to all encrypted files. The [email protected]7 ransomware infection is further associated with a file Readme.txt dropped on the computer. The file contains ransom message send by [email protected] ransomware authors.

This article aims to help all victims of [email protected] ransomware to deal with its complete removal and reveal alternative options for [email protected] files recovery.

Threat Summary

Name	[email protected]
Type	Ransomware
Short Description	The ransomware encrypts files on your computer and displays a ransom message afterward.
Symptoms	The ransomware will encrypt your files and put the extension [email protected] to them after it finishes its encryption process.
Distribution Method	Spam Emails, Email Attachments, Compromised Web Pages
Detection Tool	See If Your System Has Been Affected by [email protected] Download Malware Removal Tool
User Experience	Join Our Forum to Discuss [email protected]
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.

How Does [email protected] Ransomware Infect?

Most of the times ransomware like [email protected] infect systems by dropping a single executable file on the PC. That file can be embedded in word, excel or pdf document and then send to you as an attached file to an email message. This technique is preferred by hackers because it allows them to spoof the email sender name and the address. Thus by impersonating popular business and governmental organizations, they hope to trick you into infecting your device with the ransomware. Another standard way for ransomware payload distribution is web links that redirect to corrupted web pages. Such links are posted in emails, online advertisements, and social media.

What Does [email protected] Ransomware Do to Your Computer?

Once [email protected] payload is running on the computer, it initiates a sequence of malicious actions to complete the attack. First, it may connect its server to send data about the system and download additional malicious components. Then it may create new files in some essential Windows system folders and then activates its malicious processes.

Probably [email protected] ransomware will access Windows Registry editor to create new values that will enable its payload to start on each system turn on. In addition, the same keys –
Run and RunOnce are likely to be modified after the cypto virus drops its ransom note on the PC. As these keys control all processes that need to start when the Windows is launched and all currently running processes, ransomware uses them to display its ransom note at the end of its infection.

Its ransom note might be situated on the Desktop under the name Readme.txt. What it reads is:

Access to your files was limited.
To return your files you have 72 hours. Write to us.
Our contacts.
Our email: [email protected]
ATTENTION. To email ([email protected]) write messages only from these e-mail services. From other email services, messages may not be received by us.
Yahoo. https://mail.yahoo.com
Gmail. https://www.google.com
Mail. https://www.mail.com
ATTENTION. We will reply you within 24 hours. If there is no response from us, please send your message again.
Tor email: [email protected]
To register tor e-mail, use the service http://torbox3uiot6wchz.onion
This link opens in tor browser. Link to tor browser https://www.torproject.org/
Send us 3 encrypted files, each no more than 2 MB (only pictures, text documents or shortcuts).
We will decrypt them to you for free, to confirm that we can help you.
Together with the decrypted files you will receive further instructions

YOUR KEY.
***********************************************************

The given time frame aims to make you anxious and urge you to pay the ransom as soon as possible. Even though the demanded amount is not mentioned, it probably needs to be transferred in Bitcoins. For the sake of your security, it is better to avoid any negotiations with the crooks. There is no guarantee that you will receive a working solution for the encrypted files even if you pay the ransom.

Which Are the Files Encrypted by [email protected] Ransomware?

Like most crypto ransomware [email protected] is likely to have all file types that are frequently used set in its target data list. And the reviewed crypto virus can scan for files with file extensions, associated with the following file types:

• Documents
• Videos
• Audio files
• Pictures
• Archives

The original code of all target files is modified by the ransomware via its built-in encryption module. According to security researchers [email protected] uses AES-ECB or stream cipher to encrypt files. Afterward it marks them all with an extension of the same name [email protected] and drops a ransom message that provides information on their decryption. The transformation restricts you from opening your files until you apply the decryption key.

How to Remove [email protected] Ransomware and Restore Files

All steps that will help you to get rid of [email protected] ransomware completely are covered in our detailed removal guide below. You can choose whether you want to remove it manually or automatically. Have in mind that due to the complexity of ransomware code the manual removal of all its files and objects from the infected host can be a hard task even for the tech savvy guys. So if you [email protected] ransomware is still on the system even after you fulfill all steps from the manual removal, be advised to take the automatic approach.

After the removal, you can check the alternative [email protected] files restore options that we choose for you. You will need to back up all encrypted files before the restore process because if something goes wrong during the restore process, it can be used for the next restore attempts.

Manually delete [email protected] from your computer

Note! Substantial notification about the [email protected] threat: Manual removal of [email protected] 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 [email protected] files and objects

Boot Your PC Into Safe Mode

1. For Windows 7,XP and Vista. 2. For Windows 8, 8.1 and 10. Fix registry entries created by [email protected] on your PC.

For Windows XP, Vista, 7 systems:

1. Remove all CDs and DVDs, and then Restart your PC from the “Start” menu.
2. Select one of the two options provided below:

– For PCs with a single operating system: Press “F8” repeatedly after the first boot screen shows up during the restart of your computer. In case the Windows logo appears on the screen, you have to repeat the same task again.

– For PCs with multiple operating systems: Тhe arrow keys will help you select the operating system you prefer to start in Safe Mode. Press “F8” just as described for a single operating system.

3. As the “Advanced Boot Options” screen appears, select the Safe Mode option you want using the arrow keys. As you make your selection, press “Enter“.

4. Log on to your computer using your administrator account

While your computer is in Safe Mode, the words “Safe Mode” will appear in all four corners of your screen.

Step 1: Open the Start Menu

Step 2: Whilst holding down Shift button, click on Power and then click on Restart.
Step 3: After reboot, the aftermentioned menu will appear. From there you should choose Troubleshoot.

Step 4: You will see the Troubleshoot menu. From this menu you can choose Advanced Options.

Step 5: After the Advanced Options menu appears, click on Startup Settings.

Step 6: Click on Restart.

Step 7: A menu will appear upon reboot. You should choose Safe Mode by pressing its corresponding number and the machine will restart.

Some malicious scripts may modify the registry entries of your computer to change different settings. This is why manual clean up of your Windows Registry Database is strongly recommended. Since the tutorial on how to do this is a bit lenghty, we recommend following our instructive article about fixing registry entries.

2. Find malicious files created by [email protected] on your PC

Find malicious files created by [email protected]

1. For Windows 8, 8.1 and 10. 2. For Windows 7,XP and Vista.

For Newer Windows Operating Systems

Step 1:

On your keyboard press  + R and write explorer.exe in the Run text box and then click on the Ok button.

Step 2:

Click on your PC from the quick access bar. This is usually an icon with a monitor and its name is either “My Computer”, “My PC” or “This PC” or whatever you have named it.

Step 3:

Navigate to the search box in the top-right of your PC’s screen and type “fileextension:” and after which type the file extension. If you are looking for malicious executables, an example may be “fileextension:exe”. After doing that, leave a space and type the file name you believe the malware has created. Here is how it may appear if your file has been found:

N.B. We recommend to wait for the green loading bar in the navination box to fill up in case the PC is looking for the file and hasn’t found it yet.

For Older Windows Operating Systems

In older Windows OS’s the conventional approach should be the effective one:

Step 1:

Click on the Start Menu icon (usually on your bottom-left) and then choose the Search preference.

Step 2:

After the search window appears, choose More Advanced Options from the search assistant box. Another way is by clicking on All Files and Folders.

Step 3:

After that type the name of the file you are looking for and click on the Search button. This might take some time after which results will appear. If you have found the malicious file, you may copy or open its location by right-clicking on it.

Now you should be able to discover any file on Windows as long as it is on your hard drive and is not concealed via special software.

Automatically remove [email protected] by downloading an advanced anti-malware program

1. Remove [email protected] with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool and back up your data

Remove [email protected] with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool

1. Install SpyHunter to scan for and remove [email protected]2. Scan with SpyHunter to Detect and Remove [email protected] Back up your data to secure it against infections and file encryption by [email protected] in the future.

Step 1:Click on the “Download” button to proceed to SpyHunter’s download page.

Download

Malware Removal Tool

It is highly recommended to run a scan before purchasing the full version of the software to make sure that the current version of the malware can be detected by SpyHunter.

Step 2: Guide yourself by the download instructions provided for each browser.
Step 3: After you have installed SpyHunter, wait for it to automatically update.

Step1: After the update process has finished, click on the ‘Scan Computer Now’ button.

Step2: After SpyHunter has finished scanning your PC for any [email protected] files, click on the ‘Fix Threats’ button to remove them automatically and permanently.

Step3: Once the intrusions on your PC have been removed, it is highly recommended to restart it.

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 .

SOS Online Backup

2. Restore files encrypted by [email protected]

Restore Files Encrypted by [email protected]

Ransomware infections like [email protected] aim to encrypt your files using an encryption algorithm which may be very difficult to directly decrypt. This is why we have suggested several alternative methods that may help you go around direct decryption and try to restore your files. Bear in mind that they may not be 100% effective but they may help you little or a lot in some situations.

Method 1: Scanning your drive’s sectors by using Data Recovery software.
Another method of restoring your files is by trying to bring back your files via data recovery software. Here are some suggestions for preferred data recovery software solutions:

• Stellar Phoenix Data Recovery Technicians License(Pro version with more features)
• Stellar Phoenix Windows Data Recovery
• Stellar Phoenix Photo Recovery

Method 2: Trying Kaspersky and EmsiSoft’s decryptors.
If the first method does not work, we suggest trying to use decryptors for other ransomware viruses, in case your virus is a variant of them. The two primary developers of decryptors are Kaspersky and EmsiSoft, links to which we have provided below:

• Kaspersky Decryptors
• Emsisoft Decryptors

Urgent! It is strongly advisable to first remove the [email protected] threat before attempting any decryption, since it may interfere with system files and registries. You can do the removal yourself just in 5 minutes, using an advanced malware removal tool.

Method 3: Using Shadow Explorer

To restore your data in case you have backup set up, it is important to check for shadow copies in Windows using this software if ransomware has not deleted them:

• Shadow Explorer

Method 4: Finding [email protected] decryption key while it communicates it via a network sniffing software.

Another way to decrypt the files is by using a Network Sniffer to get the encryption key, while files are encrypted on your system. A Network Sniffer is a program and/or device monitoring data traveling over a network, such as its internet traffic and internet packets. If you have a sniffer set before the attack happened you might get information about the decryption key. See how-to instructions below:

Instructions on How to Find Decryption Key for Files Encrypted By Ransowmare

Optional: Using Alternative Anti-Malware Tools

Remove [email protected] Using Other Alternative Tools

STOPZilla Anti Malware

1. Download and Install STOPZilla Anti-malware to Scan for And Remove [email protected]
Step 1: Download STOPZilla by clicking here.
Step 2: A pop-up window will appear. Click on the ‘Save File’ button. If it does not, click on the Download button and save it afterwards.

Step 3: After you have downloaded the setup, simply open it.
Step 4: The installer should appear. Click on the ‘Next’ button.

Step 5: Check the ‘I accept the agreement’ check circle if not checked if you accept it and click the ‘Next’ button once again.

Step 6: Review and click on the ‘Install’ button.

Step 7: After the installation process has completed click on the ‘Finish’ button.

2. Scan your PC with STOPZilla Anti Malware to remove all [email protected] associated files completely.
Step 1: Launch STOPZilla if you haven’t launched it after install.
Step 2: Wait for the software to automatically scan and then click on the ‘Repair Now’ button. If it does not scan automatically, click on the ‘Scan Now’ button.

Step 3: After the removal of all threats and associated objects, you should Restart your PC.

Gergana Ivanova

Gergana Ivanova is a computer security enthusiast. She keeps track on the latest malware issues and hopes that more people will outsmart hackers.

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