Remove Coverton Ransomware and Restore .Coverton Encrypted Files

Ventsislav Krastev

Ventsislav has been covering the latest malware, software and newest tech developments at SensorsTechForum for 3 years now. He started out as a network administrator. Having graduated Marketing as well, Ventsislav also has passion for discovery of new shifts and innovations in cybersecurity that become game changers. After studying Value Chain Management and then Network Administration, he found his passion within cybersecrurity and is a strong believer in basic education of every user towards online safety.

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A new devastating ransomware and it’s variants have been reported to infect users on a global scale. It’s name is Coverton, and it is reported to use several extensions that it ads after data encryption. One of the extensions is .Coverton – its name, however, the ransomware may also generate random extensions. This variant has also been reported by several sources that it may contain a bad code and even paying the ~400 USD for the decryption of the files in BitCoins may not restore 100% of them. Either way, we strongly advise against Paying any ransom money and for looking towards an alternative solution.

Coverton Ransomware – How Is It Spread?

Coverton is reported by researchers to spread its payload via different type of spam:

• Spam links by social media spam bots.
• Email attachments or links redirecting to malicious URLs.
• Malicious URLs featured in comments.

The executable of the dropper of Coverton may resemble a legitimate Windows application, and it may also resemble a program user is trying to download and install. Either way the final method Coverton uses to spread is very effective since it has quickly gained popularity.

Coverton Ransomware In Detail

Once the payload carrying file is executed, it may drop the following modules:

→ In %Users%/%user’s profile%:
userlog.exe
Desktop\!!!-WARNING-!!!.html
Desktop\!!!-WARNING-!!!.txt
In %System%
crrss.exe

After it drops the data, the ransomware is reported by malware researchers to create a registry entry so that it automatically runs when you turn on your computer:

→ HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\userlog $user’s profile%\userlog.exe

Once it has been activated on Windows startup, the “userlog.exe” file may begin to scan over 950 of the most commonly used types of files. This is an unusually big number of file extensions, and most of them may even be unfamiliar to experienced users. This indicates that a very experienced hacker or hacker group has created the malware.

After the data scanned by Coverton has been encrypted with the .Coverton extension, the ransomware displays the following ransom message:

→ “Warning!
What happened to your computer?
All your files on hard drives, removable media and network files were encrypted by a cryptographically strong algorithm AES-256 with encryption key RSA-2048.
The expansion of encrypted files is: .Coverton
For the time the decryption of AES-256 is impossible.
What have you to do?
To receive a pair of keys for decrypting your files you have to go through the following steps:
Simple variant: click to {custom URL for the infected user} and follow the instructions OR complex variant:
1. Download TOR Browser: {tor download page}
2. Open link in TOR Browser: {custom URL for the infected user via TOR}
3. Follow the instructions.
We recommend you not to disconnect your computer from the electrical supply.
We recommend you not to disconnect your computer from the Internet.
We recommend you not to extract the encrypted electronic data carriers.
Danger!
Do not try to cheat the system, do not attempt to edit encrypted files, do not attempt to remove the program.
Such actions can easily bring to the inability to recover your files and data, so we can not help.
Danger!
The key to decrypt your files is stored on our remote server.”

The encrypted files look like the following example:

After encrypting the data, Symantec researchers report that the malware may connect to these hosts:

• 190.10.8.128
• 81.2.237.32
• 172.81.176.146
• bitgotothetoma.bit

Remove Coverton Ransomware and Restore Your Files

To remove this ransomware, you should act as if you have a Trojan or another malicious software on your computer. But never underestimated it, because it might as well have Rootkit capabilities. This is why we advise you to follow the step by step removal instructions below and install an advanced anti-malware software. It will make sure that all files and other objects associated with this malicious software are permanently gone and protect you in the future as well.

Regarding the recovery of the data, the bad news is that there was most likely a mistake during the coding of this ransomware. This is why several users who paid the ransom money have complained in security forums that despite that, they managed to restore around 80% of their data best case scenario. Below, we have suggested several free alternatives that you cannot try. We suggest you not to try direct decryption until a specific decryptor for this Ransomware comes out. And even though it may come out, it may take a lot of time to deal with the combination of two of the strongest ciphers in the world(RSA and AES).

1. Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove Coverton

Boot Your PC Into Safe Mode

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

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.

2. Remove Coverton with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool

Remove Coverton with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool

1. Install SpyHunter to scan for and remove Coverton.2. Scan with SpyHunter to Detect and Remove Coverton.

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

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 Coverton 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.

3. Back up your data to secure it against infections and file encryption by Coverton 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 .

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 Coverton.

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 Coverton.

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 Coverton 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 Coverton should be restored.

4. Restore files encrypted by Coverton

Restore Files Encrypted by Coverton

Security engineers strongly advise users NOT to pay the ransom money and attempt restoring the files using other methods. Here are several suggestions:

To restore your data, your first bet is to check again for shadow copies in Windows using this software:

Shadow Explorer

If this method does not work, Kaspersky have provided a decryptors for files encrypted with the this and other encryption algorithms:

Kaspersky Decryptors

Another method of restoring your files is by trying to bring back your files via data recovery software. Here are some examples of data recovery programs:

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

There is also the technical option to use a network sniffer:

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.

Optional: Using Alternative Anti-Malware Tools

Remove Coverton Using Other Alternative Tools

STOPZilla Anti Malware

1. Download and Install STOPZilla Anti-malware to Scan for And Remove Coverton.
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 Coverton 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.

Ventsislav Krastev

Ventsislav has been covering the latest malware, software and newest tech developments at SensorsTechForum for 3 years now. He started out as a network administrator. Having graduated Marketing as well, Ventsislav also has passion for discovery of new shifts and innovations in cybersecurity that become game changers. After studying Value Chain Management and then Network Administration, he found his passion within cybersecrurity and is a strong believer in basic education of every user towards online safety.

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