"Your files are encrypted" Mac Virus (ThiefQuest Ransomware) Removal

by Ventsislav Krastev | July 2, 2020 | 0 Comments How to remove ThiefQuest Ransomware, How to restore ThiefQuest files, Mac ransomware, ransomware, ThiefQuest encryption

What Is “Your files are encrypted” Virus

In case you haven’t heard– the very initial ransomware to effectively attack Mac has currently emerged the Web, spreading by means of the hacked files or apps for Mac. The ransomware, referred to as ThiefQuest (Ransomware.OSX.EvilQuest), has been determined as the really first totally practical ransomware targeting Mac users.

According to researchers, the very first infections occurred in June 2020. Obviously, somebody, a cyber bad guy, has actually hacked an internet site and then replaced the reputable file for the latest Mac version with a jeopardized one that contained “Your files are encrypted” ransomware.

“Your files are encrypted” Ransomware Mac

One may believe that the extremely initial functional Mac ransomware would certainly have imperfections or a minimum of features that need renovation. However, researchers advise that “Your files are encrypted” virus is as unsafe as the average ransomware created for the Windows os. To be much more exact, “Your files are encrypted”
appears to be an outstanding reproduction of both Windows as well as Linux harmful encryptors that have been contaminating users on a worldwide level.

“Your files are encrypted” Summary

Name	ThiefQuest
Type	Ransomware for Mac
Short Description	Aims to encrypt files on your Mac and then ask you to pay $50 in BitCoin.
Symptoms	Your Mac may start seeing the EvilQuest (ThiefQuest) ransom message, headed “Your files are encrypted” and you wont be able to open files.
Distribution Method	Via malicious e-mail spam messages and corrupted installers.
Detection Tool	See If Your System Has Been Affected by malware Download Malware Removal Tool
User Experience	Join Our Forum to Discuss "Your files are encrypted".

“Your files are encrypted” Mac Virus – Description

The encryption made use of by “Your files are encrypted” virus is likely AES. It is deployed against 300+ data extensions. Right here are some of them:

Documents:. doc,. docx,. docm,. dot,. dotm,. ppt,. pptx,. pptm,. pot,. potx,. potm,. pps,. ppsm,. ppsx,. xls,. xlsx,. xlsm,. xlt,. xltm,. xltx,. txt,. csv,. rtf,. tex.
Images:. jpg,. jpeg,.
Audio and also video clip:. mp3,. mp4,. avi,. mpg,. wav,. flac.
Archives:. zip,. rar.,. tar,. gzip.
Resource code:. cpp,. asp,. csh,. class,. java,. lua.
Data source:. db,. sql.
Email:. eml.
Certification:. pem.

Then the virus shows the following pop-up:

Source: Zdnet

The primary message of the virus is sent via a ransom note, called READ_ME_NOW.txt. It has the following contents:

YOUR IMPORTANT FILES ARE ENCRYPTED
Many of your documents, photos, videos, images, and other files are no longer accessible
because they have been encrypted. Maybe you are busy looking for a way to recover your
files but do not waste your time. Nobody can recover your file without our decryption
service.
We use 256-bit AES algorithm so it will take you more than a billion years to break this
encryption without knowing the key (you can read Wikipedia about AES if you don’t believe
this statement).
Anyways, we guarantee that you can recover your files safely and easily. This will require
us to use some processing power, electricity, and storage on our site, so there’s a fixed
processing fee of 56 USD. This is a one-time payment, no additional fees included.
In order to accept this offer, you have to deposit payment within 72 hours (3 days) after
receiving this message, otherwise, this offer will expire and you will lose your files
forever.
Payment has to be deposited in Bitcoin based on the Bitcoin/USD exchange rate at the moment of
payment. The address you have to make payment is:
XXXXXXXX
Decryption will start automatically within 2 hours after the payment has been processed
and will take from 2 to 5 hours depending on the processing power of your computer. After
that, all of your files will be restored.
THIS OFFER IS VALID FOR 72 HOURS AFTER RECEIVING THIS MESSAGE

Interestingly, the file encryption procedure would certainly start immediately after the initial infection. What does this indicate? Individuals that have downloaded the endangered infection file have no way of stopping this virus.

Find out more concerning the AES File Encryption Algorithm.

The required ransom money is estimated at $50 worth of Bitcoin, or approximately $50. The payment should be made using the Dark Net, on a certain (.) onion website.

How to Remove “Your files are encrypted” Ransomware from Infected Macs

An important statement to Mac users who have actually downloaded and install the infection file of this virus – you are very likely contaminated by “Your files are encrypted”. Also in cases when the installer was downloaded from a 3rd party sites or earlier than the defined time, you ought to consider inspecting your system for the ransomware. The just good news right here is that older variations of Transmission seem to be spared.

For now, to remove “Your files are encrypted” Ransomware from Infected Macs it is strongly recommended to follow the instructions for MacOS down below. They contain file recovery methods that could assist to bring your files back to normal again.

Ventsislav Krastev

Ventsislav is a cybersecurity expert at SensorsTechForum since 2015. He has been researching, covering, helping victims with the latest malware infections plus testing and reviewing software and the newest tech developments. Having graduated Marketing as well, Ventsislav also has passion for learning new shifts and innovations in cybersecurity that become game changers. After studying Value Chain Management, Network Administration and Computer Administration of System Applications, he found his true calling within the cybersecrurity industry and is a strong believer in the education of every user towards online safety and security.

How to Remove "Your files are encrypted" from Windows.

Step 1: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove "Your files are encrypted"

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

1. Hold Windows key() + R

2. The "Run" Window will appear. In it, type "msconfig" and click OK.

3. Go to the "Boot" tab. There select "Safe Boot" and then click "Apply" and "OK".

Tip: Make sure to reverse those changes by unticking Safe Boot after that, because your system will always boot in Safe Boot from now on.

4. When prompted, click on "Restart" to go into Safe Mode.

5. You can recognise Safe Mode by the words written on the corners of your screen.

Step 2: Uninstall "Your files are encrypted" 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:

1. Hold the Windows Logo Button and "R" on your keyboard. A Pop-up window will appear.

2. In the field type in "appwiz.cpl" and press ENTER.

3. This will open a window with all the programs installed on the PC. Select the program that you want to remove, and press "Uninstall"

Follow the instructions above and you will successfully uninstall most programs.

Step 3: Clean any registries, created by "Your files are encrypted" 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 "Your files are encrypted" there. This can happen by following the steps underneath:

1. Open the Run Window again, type "regedit" and click OK.

2. When you open it, you can freely navigate to the Run and RunOnce keys, whose locations are shown above.

3. You can remove the value of the virus by right-clicking on it and removing it.

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.

IMPORTANT!
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 "Your files are encrypted" with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool

1. Click on the "Download" button to proceed to SpyHunter's download page.

Download

Malware Removal Tool

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.

2. After you have installed SpyHunter, wait for it to update automatically.

3. After the update process has finished, click on the 'Malware/PC Scan' tab. A new window will appear. Click on 'Start Scan'.

4. 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.

If any threats have been removed, it is highly recommended to restart your PC.

Step 5 (Optional): Try to Restore Files Encrypted by "Your files are encrypted".

Ransomware infections and "Your files are encrypted" 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.

1. Download the reccomended Data Recovery software by clicking on the link underneath:

EaseUS Data Recovery Software

Simply click on the link and on the website menus on top, choose Data Recovery - Data Recovery Wizard for Windows or Mac (depending on your OS), and then download and run the tool.

Windows Mac OS X

Get rid of "Your files are encrypted" from Mac OS X.

Step 1: Uninstall "Your files are encrypted" and remove related files and objects

OFFER

Manual Removal Usually Takes Time and You Risk Damaging Your Files If Not Careful!

We Recommend To Scan Your Mac with SpyHunter for Mac

Keep in mind, that SpyHunter for Mac needs to purchased to remove the malware threats. Click on the corresponding links to check SpyHunter’s EULA and Privacy Policy

1. Hit the ⇧+⌘+U keys to open Utilities. Another way is to click on “Go” and then click “Utilities”, like the image below shows:

2. Find Activity Monitor and double-click it:

3. In the Activity Monitor look for any suspicious processes, belonging or related to "Your files are encrypted":

Tip: To quit a process completely, choose the “Force Quit” option.

4. Click on the "Go" button again, but this time select Applications. Another way is with the ⇧+⌘+A buttons.

5. In the Applications menu, look for any suspicious app or an app with a name, similar or identical to "Your files are encrypted". If you find it, right-click on the app and select “Move to Trash”.

6: Select Accounts, after which click on the Login Items preference. Your Mac will then show you a list of items that start automatically when you log in. Look for any suspicious apps identical or similar to "Your files are encrypted". Check the app you want to stop from running automatically and then select on the Minus (“-“) icon to hide it.

7: Remove any left-over files that might be related to this threat manually by following the sub-steps below:

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 "Your files are encrypted" 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:

Disclaimer! If you are about to tamper with Library files on Mac, be sure to know the name of the virus file, because if you delete the wrong file, it may cause irreversible damage to your MacOS. Continue on your own responsibility!

1: Click on "Go" and Then "Go to Folder" as shown underneath:

2: Type in "/Library/LauchAgents/" and click Ok:

3: Delete all of the virus files that have similar or the same name as "Your files are encrypted". If you believe there is no such file, do not delete anything.

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.

Click the button below below to download SpyHunter for Mac and scan for "Your files are encrypted":

Download

SpyHunter for Mac

Step 3 (Optional): Try to Restore Files Encrypted by "Your files are encrypted".

1. Download the reccomended Data Recovery software by clicking on the link underneath:

EaseUS Data Recovery Software

Simply click on the link and on the website menus on top, choose Data Recovery - Data Recovery Wizard for Windows or Mac (depending on your OS), and then download and run the tool.

"Your files are encrypted" FAQ

What is "Your files are encrypted" ransomware and how does it work?

"Your files are encrypted" 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 "Your files are encrypted" ransomware infect my computer?

Via several ways."Your files are encrypted" 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 "Your files are encrypted" 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 ."Your files are encrypted" files?

You can't. At this point the ."Your files are encrypted" files are encrypted. You can only open them once they are decrypted.

Decryptor did not decrypt my data. What now?

Do not panic and backup the files. If a decryptor did not decrypt your ."Your files are encrypted" files successfully, then do not despair, because this virus is still new.

One way to restore files, encrypted by "Your files are encrypted" 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 "."Your files are encrypted"" files (Other Methods)?

Yes, sometimes files can be restored. We have suggested several file recovery methods that could work if you want to restore ."Your files are encrypted" 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 "Your files are encrypted" 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 "Your files are encrypted" ransomware and then remove it without causing any additional harm to your important ."Your files are encrypted" files.

Also, keep in mind that viruses like "Your files are encrypted" 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?

There is still a lot you can do. 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.

“Your files are encrypted” Mac Virus