How to remove Ragnarok ransomware

Ragnarok ransomware is the threat that marks encoded data with a .thor file extension after encryption

Ragnarok ransomware is the cryptovirus that encrypts audio, video, image files, documents, databases, archives, and other common file types, so developers have a reason to demand large payments for the alleged file recovery. The ransomware delivers a note called “!!Read_me_How_To_Recover_My_Files.html” – it provides more details to victims and asks them to contact the attackers via ragnar0k@tutanota.com ragnarok_recover@secmail.pro, or r19nar0k@airmail.cc emails.

All the Ragnarok virus encrypted files are modified with an extension and a unique identifier. For example, a file “picture.jpg” is transformed into “picture.jpg.T1FURFU.thor,” and can no longer be accessed by victims. Just as it is the case with any other ransomware, the attackers demand a ransom of $980, with a 50% discount available if contacted within 72 hours of the infection. Unfortunately, no free decryption tools are currently available for this malware.

The initial version of the Ragnarok files virus was deployed in mid-January 2020 when a researcher Karsten Hahn^[1] reported seeing the strain being involved in attacks against companies and their customers.^[2] It appended .ragnarok_cry or .ragnarok extensions, although later variants use names of other known mythological Nordic gods, e.g., Odin. Malware is also known for its ability to avoid infecting users and companies from countries such as China, Kazakhstan, Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, and others.

The name of this Ragnarok ransomware virus was in the headlines of news sources when it was discovered that specific vulnerability in the Citrix Application Delivery Controller allowed attackers to execute the arbitrary code and install malware on the targeted network. The company released patches for their software and the particular CVE-2019-1978 flaw, but many potential victims may not get the patch for their software or might already be affected by the cryptovirus, so you if you might be one of them, take actions immediately.

Ragnarok ransomware infection spreads with the help f payload droppers that initiate the installation of the threat when the malicious script gets triggered by enabling the macro viruses or when the other malware injects already infected machine with a payload of cryptovirus. Once it gets on the machine t can run in the background and change needed system settings or disable/ install programs and functions. However, the first and the most dangerous, noticeable feature if this type of malware is encryption.

Ragnarok ransomware changes the original code of the chosen data by relying on the encryption algorithms that allow the virus to make files useless and unopenable. When that is done, the virus shows instructions in the form of a text file, in this case, named How_To_Decrypt_My_Files.txt that presents the following message to victims:

#what happend?

Unfortunately your files are encrypted, To decrypt your files follow the instructions

1. you need a decrypt tool so that you can decrypt all of your files
2. contact with us for our btc address if you want decrypt your files or you can do nothing just wait your files gona be deleted
3. you can provide a file which size less than 3M for us to prove that we can decrypt your files after you paid
4. it is wise to pay in the first time it wont cause you more losses

DEVICE ID:
—————————-
–
—————————-

you can send your DEVICE ID to mail address below

asgardmaster5@protonmail.com

Even though all the claims seem convincing and the message scares you into consideration to pay these criminals, there is no reason to pay extortionists, especially, when money is the only aim of such malicious actors. You should remove Ragnarok ransomware instead and try to recover the system back to normal to restore those encrypted files using third-party programs or some system functions that could help.

The best way to react after you got affected by a threat like Ragnarok ransomware is to gather some of those encrypted files alongside other data related to this infection and store on an external drive, in case, decryption tool will be released by some experts^[3] or malware researchers. Then you should get a tool falling into the anti-malware software category and scan the system fully.

Ragnarok ransomware removal cannot be that difficult, especially when AV detection is pretty high for the payload of this particular cryptovirus. That means that most of the anti-malware available to this day can find the threat and remove it from the machine, you just need to choose the proper program and run a full system scan. Then follow the suggested steps and clean the system from malware traces. 

Unfortunately, Ragnarok ransomware is not the threat that only encrypts files ad awaits for payment transfers to come. Extorsiotinsts want victims to pay for the alleged restoration of files but there are more changes the threat manages to do in the background of the system to keep running on the device. 

Ragnarok ransomware can make entries in the Windows registry, launch and repress processes in the system, inject other malware directly or open backdoors for remote access. There are many versions of secondary payload that ransomware can execute behind the victim's back and do that successfully while the person is focusing on recovering those encoded files. Some files can get deleted to keep fewer data recovery methods for the person.

Nevertheless, altering those parts of the system yourself can be as damaging as the changes the virus does on the machine, so we don't recommend searching for manual solutions with virus damage as well as with the termination of this infection. To tackle those affected parts and damaged data, get a tool that can run a scan on the system and find changes that Ragnarok ransomware did. FortectIntego could be the tool that finds and fixes damaged files for you. Then you can be sure that ransomware is not going to renew itself and that your recovered files are safe. 

Pay attention to details and avoid malware infiltrations

When you get emails on the daily, you should consider every one of them as potential spam and pay attention to the sender and the topic before you even get to open the notification. If you are not expecting to get financial information-related emails from a company or service, you should never open such a message.

Malicious actors use company names, services, government agencies to trick people that they have received an order or receipt details, payment information and so on, so the victim falls for the scam. Once the message is opened and the file attached to the email downloaded the only step left is to enable macros or visit the linked URL. Users often go straight to the suggested step and do that without thinking.

You need to look out for any misspelled company names, typos or grammar mistakes and letters from companies you don't have a relation with. This is how you can avoid serious infections. Also, keeping the system virus free with a proper anti-malware or security tool.

Prepare for file recovery be eliminating Ragnarok ransomware completely

Ragnarok ransomware virus may disable your AV tools like Windows Defender and other security programs, so it is easier to perform malicious operations, so you may need to enter the Safe Mode with networking to fully detect and remove the threat from the machine. You can find instructions on that below.

When you enter the safe mode, you can freely run the anti-malware tool of your choice and remove Ragnarok ransomware using the software designed to detect malicious threats and indicate the dangerous behavior. SpyHunterCombo Cleaner or MalwarebytesMalwarebytes could be the programs that we recommend using, but feel free to select a reliable program yourself.

The only tip from us for the best Ragnarok ransomware removal would be choosing trustworthy professional tools. You cannot remove such malware yourself, so the less damage is left the better. AV tools remove malware from the machine and the applications designed to optimize the performance like FortectIntego can fix the damage and repair additional system changes that malware caused.