Copa ransomware (Virus Removal Guide) - updated Sep 2020

What is Copa ransomware?

Copa ransomware is money extortion-based malware that belongs to the most prominent family

Copa ransomware - virus that makes files unopenable so Bitcoin payment can be demanded.

Copa ransomware is a data-locking computer infection that first showed up in late September of 2020, which belongs to the broad family of Djvu ransomware. Mainly spreading via software cracks on pirated software installers, the malware locks all the personal files with a sophisticated encryption algorithm. During this process, pictures, documents, videos, databases, and all the other files on the local and networked drives are appended with .copa extension and can no longer be accessed.

Threat actors behind the infection then receive a decryption key that is needed to unlock all the files. As evident, they are not willing to give it away for free and are asking for a $980 (or $490 if the contact is made within 72 hours of the infection) ransom, which is meant to be paid in bitcoin. To ensure that victims can easily contact Copa file virus authors, they leave a ransom note _readme.txt and ask users to email them at restoremanager@mail.ch or restoremanager@airmail.cc.

Since the virus belongs to the STOP/Djvu ransomware strain, there is a free decryption tool available that could help victims whose files were encrypted with an offline ID. Additionally, there are a few alternative methods that could sometimes help to recover .copa files – they can be found at the bottom of this article.

Having your computer infected with Copa ransomware is not a pleasant experience, which can be extremely damaging. Unlike other malware, its effects on files are still present even after its removal, which can be performed with anti-malware tools. However, security software is not equipped with functionality to decrypt .copa files, as specific decryption tools are required.

To stop users from seeking help with Copa ransomware removal and alternative data recovery solutions, hackers also modify the Windows “hosts” file in order to prevent security-focused website access – 2-spyware.com is among them. To revert these changes, you should go to the following location on your PC and either delete the “hosts” file or remove the added web addresses and their IPs:

C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\

Finally, Copa ransomware virus begins the file encryption process – it targets PDF, MS Office, and other popular file types. At this stage, the malware shows using a seemingly legitimate Windows update popup window – it is there to deceive users and prevent them from canceling the encryption procedure. After data is locked, ransomware contacts its remote Command & Control server and retrieves a unique identifier, generating a ransom note in the process.

You can either delete the entries within the hosts file or delete the file altogether to remove site-visiting restrictions set by Copa ransomware

Learn how to recover .copa files without paying the ransom

According to criminals, the only way to open .copa files is by paying them either $980 or $490 (depending on how fast you contact them) ransom:

ATTENTION!

Don't worry, you can return all your files!
All your files like photos, databases, documents and other important are encrypted with strongest encryption and unique key.
The only method of recovering files is to purchase decrypt tool and unique key for you.
This software will decrypt all your encrypted files.
What guarantees you have?
You can send one of your encrypted file from your PC and we decrypt it for free.
But we can decrypt only 1 file for free. File must not contain valuable information.
You can get and look video overview decrypt tool:
hxxps://we.tl/t-NjQb8RxCzz
Price of private key and decrypt software is $980.
Discount 50% available if you contact us first 72 hours, that's price for you is $490.
Please note that you'll never restore your data without payment.
Check your e-mail “Spam” or “Junk” folder if you don't get answer more than 6 hours.

To get this software you need write on our e-mail:
helpmanager@mail.ch

Reserve e-mail address to contact us:
restoremanager@airmail.cc

Your personal ID:

Security experts^[1] to not recommend immediately obliging to the attackers and sending them Bitcoins to recover your files. They might fail to deliver the required decryptor, or it might simply not work, so there is always a risk of losing not only files but also the money.

Unfortunately, in some cases, paying hackers might be the only opportunity at recovering your Copa ransomware-affected data. But businesses, larger targets like companies or healthcare institutions stay away from such options because any contact with hackers that develop such threats like Copa virus can lead to more issues.

Copa files virus is the crypto-malware that shows ransom message with scary message, encouraging to pay up.

Multiple processes ensuring the persistence of .Copa files virus

Copa ransomware is just one of the hundreds of variants that belong to the extensive Djvu virus family, predecessors of which include Kolz, Npph, Kasp, Ogdo, and many others. These malicious programs are mainly spread via fake pirated software installers or cracks/keygens,^[2], downloaded from insecure torrent websites.

The main executable can be named as anything, for example, “BitTorrent Pro v7.10.5 Crack.exe.” Since users would believe they are installing a BitTorrent client, they would not hesitate to open it. As soon as the executable is launched, it begins the infection process of a Windows machine. It is important to note that robust security programs, such as SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes, could stop an intrusion and remove Copa ransomware before it can cause any damage.

Before the virus begins the encryption process, it performs various changes to the Windows system for the attack to be successful (if your anti-malware is not successful with reverting these modifications, we recommend using FortectIntego for this purpose). The threat performs the following:

• Deletes Shadow Volume Copies to prevent easy data recovery;
• Modifies Windows registry^[3] to establish persistence;
• Establishes network communications;
• Injects thousands of malicious files;
• Launches new runtime modules and processes, etc.

During this stage, Copa ransomware virus might also inject additional modules that would harvest sensitive user information, such as login credentials or banking data, and send it directly to the malicious actors. This data can later be sold on underground hacking forums for profits or compromise other user accounts.

One of the most effective methods (besides backups) to restore .copa files is by trying Emsisoft's decryption tool. However, it will not work for every infected user. For the tool to work, your files should be encrypted with an offline ID, which means that the Copa virus is not focusing on keeping contact with its remote servers while creating victim IDs.

It is hard to determine the frequency of such failures, so you should always check by employing the decryptor. Note that somebody with the same .copa extension needs to pay the attackers, retrieve the offline key, and then share it with Emsisoft security researchers. Thus, the recovery might be available only after a significant amount of time has passed.

If your files are encrypted with an online ID, your chances of restoring data are relatively slim. Nonetheless, you can try the following:

• Using automatic System Restore or ShadowExplorer functions if those were not disabled or affected by the Copa virus;
• Employing third-party data recovery software such as Data Recovery Pro.

For more details on how to perform these alternative data restore steps, please check the recovery section at the bottom of this article. You can find tips and functions helping to recover after a ransomware infection. Base your AV detection tool selection on the antivirus detection rate/^[4]

Copa cryptovirus is the one that triggers changes on the machine to disable detection tools.

Correct steps to take when trying to remove Copa ransomware and recover encrypted data

Most users who get infected with the Copa file virus or similar ransomware have never encountered such an infection before. Suddenly, they can not open their files – an event that could cause major panic. However, panicking will not solve anything, and it is important to take the correct steps to maximize your chances of restoring your files without paying the ransom.

First of all, you should not rush the Copa ransomware removal if you have no backups available. You should first make a copy of all the important files – use cloud services or external storage devices such as USB Flash. As soon as that is complete, you should then scan your machine with powerful anti-malware software.

Security applications like SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes should work great for this. Remember that Copa ransomware virus is dangerous and spread silently, so AV detection tools help to find those components. While the payload of the infection might not be present, there are leftovers that should be deleted in order to remediate a Windows machine. PC repair tools and optimization programs like FortectIntego can do that job for you.

After you remove Copa ransomware and are sure that all the malicious files are gone, you can start the file recovery process. We recommend using the free decryption tool, third-party recovery solutions, or attempting to check whether the automatic Windows backups were not deleted.

If none of the methods below help, there is no other way to recover encrypted .copa files at the present time. Nevertheless, keep in mind that paying criminals is always risky, so be warned before making up your mind to transfer Bitcoins.