How to remove Kolobo ransomware virus

What is known about Kolobo ransomware virus?

Kolobo virus is a variant of Gingerbread ransomware which has been spotted in November 2016. This trojan mostly spreads via malicious email attachments. Thus, when victims click on the infected file attached to the email, the virus is dropped and executed in the system. As soon as it gets inside, it starts scanning the system looking for the targeted files. The virus aims at Microsoft Office documents, PDF files, various pictures, audio and video files, databases and other popular files. Kolobo ransomware encrypts files using XOR^[1] and RSA^[2] algorithms and appends a .kolobocheg@aol.com file extension to each targeted file. Since then users cannot open and use their records. However, it’s not the only way how the ransomware scares victims. It delivers a ransom, not on the lock screen. Usually, file-encrypting viruses drop a .html or .txt file with instructions how to pay the ransom^[3]. However, this one decided to cause more chaos. Indeed, lock screen might terrify many people because they lose access to their computers. Though, the ransom-demanding message there is unique and creative. Kolobo ransomware virus uses the same Russian ransom note delivered by the Gingerbread. You can read the translation below:

The Gingerbread pie left grandmother and grandfather and found out
that he doesn’t have money for an apartment! He tried to find a solution but couldn’t.
So, he needs your help! Help the Gingerbread and he will help you return your files,
send the following information including the identification: Mail: kolobocheg@ао1.com Identification: k1
For additional information – http://www.filesencoded.com’

No one can argue that developers of the ransomware take their highly profitable job seriously.^[4] However, they do not lack creativity as well. Indeed, the developers of the Kolobo virus has a vivid imagination and try to swindle the money from computer users in a creative way. However, we do not recommend contacting the hacker via provided email address. Obviously, the author of the virus offers a risky deal – to transfer some bitcoins in order to get back access to the computer and decrypt the files. No matter how generous you are and how much do you want to help people behind the virus, you should not follow their orders. Remove Kolobo from the computer as soon as it delivers its pity message. If you have data backups, you will be able to restore all your files after virus elimination. If you do not have them, you might be in trouble, but there’s a chance for you too. At the end of the article, you will find our prepared additional data recovery methods that might help to rescue at least the most important files. But first, you need to complete Kolobo removal with FortectIntego or other reputable malware removal tool.

Ransomware distribution methods

As we already mentioned, Kolobo malware might get inside the computer with a help of malicious email attachment. However, there are other ways how the virus might reach computers. For instance, malware might hide under malicious ads that might be delivered even on legitimate websites. Thus, when browsing the web, you should be extremely careful and avoid clicking any suspicious content^[5]. What is more, this trojan might pretend to be a useful program or its update, and trick you into installing it. For this reason, you should set automatic software updates and install new programs from the reliable sources only. Lastly, we recommend strengthening computer’s security with antivirus or anti-malware program.

Terminate Kolobo ransomware virus

First of all, you need to install malware removal program. We recommend choosing from FortectIntego, SpyHunterCombo Cleaner or MalwarebytesMalwarebytes. We can assure that these tools can help to remove Kolobo from the computer entirely. We want to warn you that ransomware might be resistant and prevent you from installing this tools. If it happens, below you will find the instructions how to disable the virus. Once you do that, install your preferred security tool and update it. Then, run a full system scan and let the program perform Kolobo removal. We recommend running malware removal program several times to make sure that all malicious components are deleted.