What is .skymap files virus? How to remove it from infected PC? Can .skymap files be recovered?
There is a new STOP ransomware variant and it is called .skymap files virus. It has been spotted in the wild in active attack campaigns. The threat is designed to infect common computer systems in order to reach personal files stored on it and encodes them by applying sophisticated cipher algorithms. The ransomware appends the extension .skymap to files names to mark them as corrupted. At the end of the attack, the ransomware displays a ransom message that extorts ransom fee for files recovery.
Keep up with our guide and find out how to completely remove .skymap files virus from your infected PC. If you are looking for reliable data recovery solutions, you can also check the restore files step from the guide.
Threat Summary
| Name | .skymap Files Virus |
| Type | Ransomware, Cryptovirus |
| Short Description | Encrypts files on your computer and extorts a ransom fee for their recovery. |
| Symptoms | Important files are locked and renamed with .skymap extension. You see a ransom message that forces you to contact hackers for a decryption tool. |
| Distribution Method | Spam Emails, Email Attachments |
| Detection Tool | See If Your System Has Been Affected by .skymap Files Virus Download Malware Removal Tool | User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss .skymap Files Virus. |
| 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. |
.skymap Files Virus – Update June 2019
The good news for all victims of STOP .skymap ransomware is that the security researcher Michael Gillespie cracked the code of this variant and released an updated version of his STOP ransomware decrypter.
So the moment you remove all malicious files and objects from your infected system you can enter our data recovery guide where you will find a download link for the free .skymap decryption tool and learn how to proceed with the decryption process.
Have in mind that the tool is designed to support specific offline IDs, so it may not be effective for all occasions of .skymap ransomware infections.
.skymap Files Virus – How Does It Infect and What Does It Do?
The .skymap files virus has been identified as a strain of
STOP ransomware. In fact, strains of the same threat have been circling around the web since the end of 2017. The good news is that many of them were decrypted by the security researcher Michael Gillespie. So it is very likely that he will soon manage to find a way to update his decrypter to support .skymap variant.
As reported by security researchers, the .skymap STOP ransomware has recently been released in active attack campaigns against computer users worldwide. The primary attack vector used by cyber criminals who stand behind .skymap operations is not known. However, they are likely to be using some well-known mechanisms that exploit both system and human vulnerabilities. Among these mechanisms, malspam is known to be the most preferred one.
Malspam is realized via spam email messages. These messages usually have common traits like file attachments that are presented as important documents, URL addresses that appear like in-text links, buttons, images, coupon offers, etc., and spoofed email senders and email addresses. The moment you open the file on your PC or load the link in the browser, the ransomware starts its attack.
Soon after .skymap files virus loads on the machine, it becomes able to establish and run additional malicious files. By doing this the ransomware disrupts system security, evades detection, corrupts major system components’ settings and sets the automatic load of malicious files on every system start.
Similar to the majority of data locker ransomware, .skymap primarily aims to find and encrypt certain personal files. Unfortunately, it is likely that all common files listed below are among the targets of this nasty ransomware:
- Audio files
- Video files
- Document files
- Image files
- Backup files
- Banking credentials, etc
The main trait of an encrypted file is the extension .skymap that is appended to its name. Once a file gets encrypted by STOP .skymap ransomware, it becomes inaccessible. This is due to the fact that the threat is designed to transform the original code of target files with the help of sophisticated cipher algorithms like AES, RSA and Salsa 20. As a consequence, you are asked to pay hackers a ransom fee for a specific decryption tool. For the extortion, the threat drops a ransom message and loads it on your screen.
Beware that by paying the ransom you may still be unable to recover .skymap files. Cyber criminals may send you a broken decryptor. They may also neglect your messages and stop answering you.
Remove .skymap Files Virus and Restore Data
The so-called .skymap files virus is a threat with highly complex code that corrupts both system settings and valuable data. So the only way to use your infected system in a secure manner again is to remove all malicious files and objects created by the ransomware. For the purpose, you could use our removal guide that reveals how to clean and secure your system step by step. In addition, in the guide, you will find several alternative data recovery approaches that may be helpful in attempting to restore .skymap files. We remind you to back up all encrypted files to an external drive before the recovery process.
Bonus: Video containing step-by-step removal and file recovery instructions for threats, like .skymap Files Virus:
Gergana Ivanova
Gergana has a bachelor's degree in Marketing. She has been with the STF team for five years, researching malware, reporting on the latest computer infections, and following digital marketing trends.
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- Guide 1: How to Remove .skymap Files Virus from Windows.
- Guide 2: Get rid of .skymap Files Virus from Mac OS X.
How to Remove .skymap Files Virus from Windows.
Step 1: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove .skymap Files Virus
Step 2: Uninstall .skymap Files Virus and related software from Windows
Here is a method in few easy steps that should be able to uninstall most programs. No matter if you are using Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista or XP, those steps will get the job done. Dragging the program or its folder to the recycle bin can be a very bad decision. If you do that, bits and pieces of the program are left behind, and that can lead to unstable work of your PC, errors with the file type associations and other unpleasant activities. The proper way to get a program off your computer is to Uninstall it. To do that:
Follow the instructions above and you will successfully uninstall most programs.Step 3: Clean any registries, created by .skymap Files Virus on your computer.
The usually targeted registries of Windows machines are the following:
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
You can access them by opening the Windows registry editor and deleting any values, created by .skymap Files Virus there. This can happen by following the steps underneath:
Tip: To find a virus-created value, you can right-click on it and click "Modify" to see which file it is set to run. If this is the virus file location, remove the value.Before starting "Step 4", 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.
Step 4: Scan for .skymap Files Virus with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
Step 5 (Optional): Try to Restore Files Encrypted by .skymap Files Virus.
Ransomware infections and .skymap Files Virus aim to encrypt your files using an encryption algorithm which may be very difficult to decrypt. This is why we have suggested a data recovery method that may help you go around direct decryption and try to restore your files. Bear in mind that this method may not be 100% effective but may also help you a little or a lot in different situations.
If the above link does not work for you and your region, try the other two links below, that lead to the same product:
Get rid of .skymap Files Virus from Mac OS X.
Step 1: Uninstall .skymap Files Virus and remove related files and objects
1. Hit the ⇧+⌘+U keys to open Utilities. Another way is to click on “Go” and then click “Utilities”, like the image below shows:
- Go to Finder.
- In the search bar type the name of the app that you want to remove.
- Above the search bar change the two drop down menus to “System Files” and “Are Included” so that you can see all of the files associated with the application you want to remove. Bear in mind that some of the files may not be related to the app so be very careful which files you delete.
- If all of the files are related, hold the ⌘+A buttons to select them and then drive them to “Trash”.
In case you cannot remove .skymap Files Virus via Step 1 above:
In case you cannot find the virus files and objects in your Applications or other places we have shown above, you can manually look for them in the Libraries of your Mac. But before doing this, please read the disclaimer below:
You can repeat the same procedure with the following other Library directories:
→ ~/Library/LaunchAgents
/Library/LaunchDaemons
Tip: ~ is there on purpose, because it leads to more LaunchAgents.
Step 2: Scan for and remove .skymap Files Virus files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as .skymap Files Virus, the recommended way of eliminating the threat is by using an anti-malware program. Combo Cleaner offers advanced security features along with other modules that will improve your Mac’s security and protect it in the future.
Step 3 (Optional): Try to Restore Files Encrypted by .skymap Files Virus on your Mac.
Ransomware for Mac .skymap Files Virus aims to encode all your files using an encryption algorithm which may be very difficult to decode, unless you pay money. This is why we have suggested a data recovery method that may help you go around direct decryption and try to restore your files, but only in some cases. Bear in mind that this method may not be 100% effective but may also help you a little or a lot in different situations.
.skymap Files Virus FAQ
What is .skymap Files Virus ransomware and how does it work?
.skymap Files Virus is a ransomware infection - the malicious software that enters your computer silently and blocks either access to the computer itself or encrypt your files. Many ransomware viruses use sophisticated encryption algorithm how to make your files inaccessible. The goal of ransomware infections is to demand that you pay a ransom payment to get access to your files back.
How does .skymap Files Virus ransomware infect my computer?
.skymap Files Virus Ransomware infects computers by being sent via phishing e-mails, containing virus attachment. This attachment is usually masked as an important document, like an invoice, bank document or even a plane ticket and it looks very convincing to users. After you download and execute this attachment, a drive-by download occurs and your computer is infected with the ransomware virus.
Another way, you may become a victim of .skymap Files Virus is if you download a fake installer, crack or patch from a low reputation website or if you click on a virus link. Many users report getting a ransomware infection by downloading torrents.
How to open ..skymap Files Virus files?
You can't. At this point the ..skymap Files Virus files are encrypted. You can only open them once they are decrypted.
Decryptor did not decrypt my data. What now?
If a decryptor did not decrypt your ..skymap Files Virus files successfully, then do not despair, because this virus is still new.
One way to restore files, encrypted by .skymap Files Virus ransomware is to use a decryptor for it. But since it's a new virus, advised that the decryption keys for it may not be out yet and available to the public. We will update this article and keep you posted as soon as this decryptor is released.
How Do I restore "..skymap Files Virus" files (Other Methods)?
We have suggested several file recovery methods that could work if you want to restore ..skymap Files Virus files. These methods are in no way 100% guarantee that you will be able to get your files back. But if you have a backup, your chances of success are much greater.
How do I get rid of .skymap Files Virus ransomware virus?
The safest way and the most efficient one for the removal of this ransomware infection is the use a professional anti malware software. It will scan for and locate .skymap Files Virus ransomware and then remove it without causing any additional harm to your important ..skymap Files Virus files.
Also, keep in mind that viruses like .skymap Files Virus ransomware also install Trojans and keyloggers that can steal your passwords and accounts. Scanning your computer with an anti-malware software will make sure that all of these virus components are removed and your computer is protected in the future.
What to Do If nothing works?
If none of the above methods seem to work for you, then try these methods:
Try to find a safe computer from where you can can login on your own line accounts like One Drive, iDrive, Google Drive and so on.
Try to contact your friends relatives and other people so that they can check if they have some of your important photos or documents just in case you sent them.
Also, check if some of the files that were encrypted it can be re downloaded from the web.
Another clever way to get back some of your files is to find another old computer, a flash drive or even a CD or a DVD where you may have saved your older documents. You might be surprised what will turn up.
You can also go to your email account to check if you can send any attachments to other people. Usually what is sent the email is saved on your account and you can re-download it. But most importantly, make sure that this is done from a safe computer and make sure to remove the virus first.
More tips you can find on our forums, where you can also asks any questions about your ransomware problem.
