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 NoobCrypt and other threats.
Threats such as NoobCrypt 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.
NoobCrypt is a ransomware virus, which encrypts files and wants different currency as payment for ransom. The ransomware calls you a noob if you input a wrong decryption key. To remove the ransomware and see how to restore your files, you should read the article till the very end.
Threat Summary
Name
NoobCrypt
Type
Ransomware
Short Description
The ransomware encrypts your files and shows a lockscreen with a ransom note. it gives details on how to pay the ransom.
Symptoms
The ransomware locks your screen and asks for 299 US dollars or 250 NZD paid in Bitcoins after file encryption. If you input a wrong unlock key it calls you a noob.
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.
NoobCrypt Ransomware – Update
UPDATE! Decryption key has been released that is Universal for the new NoobCrypt infections. Simply type “lsakhBVLIKAHg” as the unlock key and you will get your files decrypted. It is preferred that you download the anti-malware tool mentioned above, to make sure the ransomware does not encrypt your files again after decryption.
NoobCrypt Ransomware – Infection Spread
NoobCrypt ransomware could be spread with spam emails. Such type of emails is intended to reach out a lot of people containing a spam message along with an attachment. Opening that attachment triggers the malicious payload and infects your computer. Do not open emails which are suspicious or ones with an unknown origin.
Another possible way of spreading the infection and compromising computers might be via social media and file-sharing networks. Such networks are at times used by cyber-criminals to additionally spread their ransomware viruses. The same advice as before can be applied here – to avoid infection be careful and do not download, open or click anything suspicious or unknown.
NoobCrypt Ransomware – Technical Information
NoobCrypt ransomware is coded on .NET, but has flaws and errors in its code. The virus will display a message that you are a noob if you try to enter an invalid decryption key. But the real noobs here seem to be the cyber-criminals behind it, because of the way they have written the ransomware. Not only there are mistakes in the code, but some of these mistakes show in the ransom note.
NoobCrypt ransomware creates the following registry key:
→HKEY_CURRENT_USER\k1j3jk153kj153
Inside there are these three strings:
(Default)
iv
key
It does not seem to be any registry for automatically launching with the start of Windows, too.
You can see a screenshot of the lockscreen that appears after encryption down here:
You can read the text from the ransom note here:
Your personal files is are encrypted! Coded in R0MANIA Your documents, photos, databases and other important files have been encrypted with strongest encryption and unique key, generated for this computer. Private decryption key is stored on a secret Internet server and nobody can decrypt your files until you pay and obtain the private key. You have 48 hours to pay 250 NZD in Bitcoins to get the decryption key. Every 2 hours files will be deleted.Increasing in amount every time frame. If you do not send money within provided (deadline) your files will be permanently crypted and no one will be able to recover them. Time left until your files will be DELETED! – Don’t try to trick us. Send approximately 250NZD to this BTC Address I have paid, check. $299 1JrYNuMaE4VXKrod2gA9keBo6nzPvtaoZ6 In order to pay use a Phone or a Laptop! Informations CHECK
You can see in the picture above how the counter and one of the $299 are misplaced. Maybe it was intended for the 250 New Zealand dollars to be covered by the sum of 299 US dollars. 250 New Zealand dollars are only 175 American ones, so that can be a good reason, why the criminals maybe wanted to change it.
Whatever the asked sum is, it is not advised to pay the ransom, nor is it advised to contact the criminals in any way. Paying will only support the people behind the ransomware and make them want to continue doing this. Keep reading, to find out how to recover your data.
You can see that the ransomware is detected by security programs already, according to the VirusTotal website:
The NoobCrypt ransomware is a screenlock ransomware, and will not let you access your files while it is on your computer.
NoobCrypt ransomware is not known to delete Shadow Volume Copies from the Windows operating system. That may not be so important as currently there is a way to decrypt your files according to researchers. Read below to see what you can do to unlock your PC.
Remove NoobCrypt Ransomware and Restore Locked Files
If your computer system is infected with the NoobCrypt ransomware, you should have some experience with removing malware. You should get rid of this ransomware before it infects somebody else on the network you use. The recommended action for you is to read the step-by-step instructions manual provided down below, try to restore your files and to remove the ransomware completely.
Note! Your computer system may be affected by NoobCrypt 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 NoobCrypt. 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 NoobCrypt follow these steps:
1. Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove NoobCrypt 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 NoobCrypt on your PC
Find files created by NoobCrypt
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.
IMPORTANT! Before starting the Automatic Removal below, 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.
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 NoobCrypt with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool and back up your data
1. Install SpyHunter to scan for NoobCrypt and remove them.2. Scan with SpyHunter, Detect and Remove NoobCrypt. 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.
4. Try to Restore files encrypted by NoobCrypt
Try to Restore Files Encrypted by NoobCrypt
Ransomware infections and NoobCrypt aim to encrypt your files using an encryption algorithm which may be very difficult to 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 these methods may not be 100% effective but may also help you a little or a lot in different situations.
Method 1: Scanning your drive’s sectors by using Data Recovery software. Another method for 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:
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:
To restore your data in case you have backup set up, it is important to check for Volume Shadow Copies, if ransomware has not deleted them, in Windows using the below software:
Method 4: Finding the decryption key while the cryptovirus sends it over a network via a sniffing tool.
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:
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 NoobCrypt and remove them.
Back up your data to secure it from malware in the future.
