Berta is a dedicated malware researcher, dreaming for a more secure cyber space. Her fascination with IT security began a few years ago when a malware locked her out of her own computer.
Berta is a dedicated malware researcher, dreaming for a more secure cyber space. Her fascination with IT security began a few years ago when a malware locked her out of her own computer.
Berta is a dedicated malware researcher, dreaming for a more secure cyber space. Her fascination with IT security began a few years ago when a malware locked her out of her own computer.
Note! Your computer might be affected by MoneroPay and other threats.
Threats such as MoneroPay may be persistent on your system. They tend to re-appear if not fully deleted. A malware removal tool like SpyHunter will help you to remove malicious programs, saving you the time and the struggle of tracking down numerous malicious files. SpyHunter’s scanner is free but the paid version is needed to remove the malware threats. Read SpyHunter’s EULA and Privacy Policy
Berta is a dedicated malware researcher, dreaming for a more secure cyber space. Her fascination with IT security began a few years ago when a malware locked her out of her own computer.
This article will help you remove MoneroPay virus (SpriteCoin) fully. Follow the ransomware virus removal instructions provided at the end of the article.
MoneroPay is a virus that encrypts your files and demands money as a ransom to get your files recovered. Files are locked with the AES military grade encryption algorithms. The MoneroPay cryptovirus will encrypt your data and files, while also appending the .encrypted extension to each file. The virus will pretend that is actually “SpriteCoin” while locking your files. Read on through the article and see how you could try to potentially restore some of your files.
Threat Summary
Name
MoneroPay
Type
Ransomware, Cryptovirus
Short Description
The ransomware encrypts files on your computer machine and demands a ransom to be paid in Monero to allegedly recover them.
Symptoms
The ransomware will encrypt your files with the AES encryption algorithm. All locked files will have the .encrypted extension.
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.
MoneroPay Virus (SpriteCoin) – Distribution
MoneroPay ransomware might spread its infection in various ways. A payload dropper which initiates the malicious script for this ransomware is being spread around the World Wide Web, and researchers have gotten their hands on a malware sample. If that file lands on your computer system and you somehow execute it – your computer system will become infected. You can see the detections of such a file on the VirusTotal service right here:
MoneroPay ransomware might also distribute its payload file on social media and file-sharing services. Freeware which is found on the Web can be presented as helpful also be hiding the malicious script for the cryptovirus. Refrain from opening files right after you have downloaded them. You should first scan them with a security tool, while also checking their size and signatures for anything that seems out of the ordinary. You should read the tips for preventing ransomware found in the forum section.
MoneroPay Virus (SpriteCoin) – Description
MoneroPay is a cryptovirus that encrypts your files and shows a window with instructions on your computer screen. The ransomware is hidden as the next good Cryptocurrency “SpriteCoin”. The cybercriminals want you to pay a ransom in Monero for the alleged restoration of your files.
MoneroPay ransomware could make entries in the Windows Registry to achieve persistence, and could launch or repress processes in a Windows environment. Such entries are typically designed in a way to launch the virus automatically with each start of the Windows operating system.
When you have the virus downloaded on your computer, you will have a file with the name of SpriteCoin.zip. After extracting the archive and running the executable, you will see the following window popping up:
And when you click to continue, the window will claim that it is downloading the Blockchain for that “SpriteCoin”. While you see that window (shown below) your files will be encrypted in the background:
After encryption the MoneroPay virus shows a ransom message inside a User Interface window titled “MoneroPay”. You can check out the ransom note message from the following screenshot given here:
The ransom note states the following:
Your files are encrypted If you close this window, you can always restart and it should appear again. All your files have been encrypted by us. This means you will be unable to access or use them. In order to retrieve them, you must send 0.3 monero (about $120 USD) to: 46FXmRvyffu59NNUs95rHx5cVQqU2z2zQD5qP7wYfDiGaGjBGtP7cf8EhaQ1qy7wqV7bcNnrNUf2n1gugrQmKPG8U6AqHwy Make sure you include your payment ID: Use CTRL +C to copy both IF YOU DO NOT INCLUDE YOUR PAYMENT ID, YOUR FILES CANNOT BE DECRYPTED. Do not waste your time — only we can decrypt your files. If you have paid, click on the DECRYPT button to return your files to normal. Don’t worry, we’ll give you your files back if you pay. [DECRYPT]
FAQ • What is monero? Monero is a cryptocurrency, like bitcoin. • How do I get monero? You can buy monero in many of the same places you can get bitcoin. [More info]
• What happens if I don’t pay?
The note of the MoneroPay ransomware states that your files are encrypted. You are demanded to pay 120 US dollars in the Monero cryptocurrency. However, you should NOT under any circumstances pay any ransom. Your files may not get recovered, and nobody could give you a guarantee for that. Moreover, giving money to cybercriminals will most likely motivate them to create more ransomware viruses or commit different criminal acts.
MoneroPay Virus (SpriteCoin) – Encryption
What is known for the encryption process of the MoneroPay ransomware is that every file that gets encrypted will receive the .encrypted extension. The encryption algorithm used to lock your files is AES but some malware researchers think otherwise.
The targeted extensions of files which are sought to get encrypted are currently unknown and if a list is discovered, it will be posted here as the article gets updated. The files used most by users and which are probably encrypted are from the following categories:
Audio files
Video files
Document files
Image files
Backup files
Banking credentials, etc
The MoneroPay cryptovirus could be set to erase all the Shadow Volume Copies from the Windows operating system with the help of the following command:
→vssadmin.exe delete shadows /all /Quiet
In case the above-stated command is executed that will make the encryption process more efficient. That is due to the fact that the command eliminates one of the prominent ways to restore your data. If your computer device was infected with this ransomware and your files are locked, read on through to find out how you could potentially restore your files back to normal.
Remove MoneroPay Virus (SpriteCoin) and Restore .Encrypted Files
If your computer got infected with the MoneroPay ransomware virus, you should have a bit of experience in removing malware. You should get rid of this ransomware as quickly as possible before it can have the chance to spread further and infect other computers. You should remove the ransomware and follow the step-by-step instructions guide provided below.
Note! Your computer system may be affected by MoneroPay and other threats. Scan Your PC with SpyHunter SpyHunter is a powerful malware removal tool designed to help users with in-depth system security analysis, detection and removal of threats such as MoneroPay. Keep in mind, that SpyHunter’s scanner is only for malware detection. If SpyHunter detects malware on your PC, you will need to purchase SpyHunter’s malware removal tool to remove the malware threats. Read our SpyHunter 5 review. Click on the corresponding links to check SpyHunter’s EULA, Privacy Policy and Threat Assessment Criteria.
To remove MoneroPay follow these steps:
1. Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove MoneroPay files and objects
OFFER
Manual Removal Usually Takes Time and You Risk Damaging Your Files If Not Careful!
We Recommend To Scan Your PC with SpyHunter
Keep in mind, that SpyHunter’s scanner is only for malware detection. If SpyHunter detects malware on your PC, you will need to purchase SpyHunter’s malware removal tool to remove the malware threats. Read our SpyHunter 5 review. Click on the corresponding links to check SpyHunter’s EULA, Privacy Policy and Threat Assessment Criteria
Boot Your PC Into Safe Mode
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.
For Windows XP, Vista and 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 up the Start Menu.
Step 2: Click on the Power button (for Windows 8 it is the little arrow next to the “Shut Down” button) and whilst holding down “Shift” click on Restart.
Step 3: After reboot, a blue menu with options will appear. From them you should choose Troubleshoot.
Step 4: You will see the Troubleshoot menu. From this menu choose Advanced Options.
Step 5: After the Advanced Options menu appears, click on Startup Settings.
Step 6: From the Startup Settings menu, click on Restart.
Step 7: A menu will appear upon reboot. You can choose any of the three Safe Mode options by pressing its corresponding number and the machine will restart.
Some malicious scripts may modify the registry entries on your computer to change different settings. This is why cleaning your Windows Registry Database is recommended. Since the tutorial on how to do this is a bit long and tampering with registries could damage your computer if not done properly you should refer and follow our instructive article about fixing registry entries, especially if you are unexperienced in that area.
2. Find files created by MoneroPay on your PC
Find files created by MoneroPay
1. For Windows 8, 8.1 and 10. 2. For Windows XP, Vista, and 7.
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.
Use SpyHunter to scan for malware and unwanted programs
3. Scan for malware and unwanted programs with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
Scan your PC and Remove MoneroPay with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool and back up your data
1. Install SpyHunter to scan for MoneroPay and remove them.2. Scan with SpyHunter, Detect and Remove MoneroPay. Back up your data to secure it from malware in the future.
Step 1: Click on the “Download” button to proceed to SpyHunter’s download page.
It is 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. Click on the corresponding links to check SpyHunter’s EULA, Privacy Policy and Threat Assessment Criteria.
Step 2: Guide yourself by the download instructions provided for each browser.
Step 3: After you have installed SpyHunter, wait for it to update automatically.
Step 1: After the update process has finished, click on the ‘Malware/PC Scan’ tab. A new window will appear. Click on ‘Start Scan’.
Step 2: After SpyHunter has finished scanning your PC for any files of the associated threat and found them, you can try to get them removed automatically and permanently by clicking on the ‘Next’ button.
Step 3: If any threats have been removed, it is highly recommended to restart your PC.
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 with a cloud backup solution and insure your files against any type of loss, even from the most severe threats. We recommend you to read more about it and to download SOS Online Backup.
Berta is a dedicated malware researcher, dreaming for a more secure cyber space. Her fascination with IT security began a few years ago when a malware locked her out of her own computer.
Berta is a dedicated malware researcher, dreaming for a more secure cyber space. Her fascination with IT security began a few years ago when a malware locked her out of her own computer.
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.
1. Install SpyHunter to scan for MoneroPay and remove them.
Back up your data to secure it from malware in the future.
