.iwan file virus (Recovery Instructions Included) - Bonus: Decryption Steps
.iwan file virus Removal Guide
What is .iwan file virus?
Iwan ransomware is a data-locking computer infection built for direct money extortion
The threat is considered ransomware because it asks for the payment on the ransom note
Iwan ransomware is a malicious program designed to encrypt all personal data on the computer and then demand ransom for the return. Once inside the system, it encrypts all personal pictures, videos, documents, archives, and other files by using a strong encryption algorithm, which also appends a .iwan extension in the process. Victims can no longer access these files and require a unique key that is in possession of cybercriminals behind the ransomware. These malicious actors control your files and claim to offer a tool for recovery once the ransom of $980 is paid.
Criminals also offer the discount to encourage people to pay up. However, once the encryption is complete, Iwan virus drops a ransom note _readme.txt – instructions from cybercriminals. These instructions have scary claims that you shouldn't believe blindly. The message explains to victims what happened to their files and claims that the only method to return them is by paying a ransom for a decryption tool. For negotiation purposes, crooks also provide emails manager@mailtemp.ch, managerhelper@airmail.cc.
The cryptovirus belongs to a malware family known as Djvu ransomware. These emails, ransom note, other tactics are not changed for a while. This malware encrypts all the important files on a Windows computer, appends them with the unique appendix, and restricts access to them. On the ransom note, cybercriminals demand a ransom in Bitcoin – the most popular cryptocurrency.[1]
While it is true that encrypted files require a unique decryption key to unlock them, experts[2] recommend not paying the ransom, as cybercriminals might not keep their promises, resulting in financial losses. In this article, we will explain how to get rid of malware and use alternative methods for data recovery.
Name | Iwan virus |
---|---|
Type | Ransomware, crypto-virus, file locking virus |
Malware family | Djvu/STOP |
Extension | Files appended with .iwan extension |
Ransom note | _readme.txt |
Contact | manager@mailtemp.ch, managerhelper@airmail.cc |
File recovery | If no backups are available, recovering data is almost impossible. You can try the decryption tool listed below or the media repair option. Other data recovery possibilities depend on your file backups |
Malware removal | Perform a full system scan with powerful security software |
System fix | Malware can seriously tamper with Windows systems, causing errors, crashes, lag, and other stability issues after it is terminated. To remediate the OS and avoid its reinstallation, we recommend scanning it with the FortectIntego repair tool |
Iwan ransomware is a virus that attacks Windows computers by using various infiltration methods. The most common technique is cracks of video games, software license versions, and other pirated files. Malicious files get dropped silently, and the machine is affected immediately. Once inside, the virus uses an encryption algorithm to lock up all documents, archives, videos, music, and other files, adding extensions to them.
This Iwan is a type of virus classified as ransomware due to direct blackmail and money extortion. These threats are known for accessing user machines without permission and encrypting all files on them. This way, cybercriminals behind the attack can ask for a ransom payment in return for a unique key. The threat is one of the most dangerous and damaging.
Iwan ransomware – a computer infection that encrypts all personal files, restricting access to them. However, the malware also affects machines differently. The infection can easily alter pieces in the system folders to control functions of the computer and ensure persistence.
The file-locker threat asks for payment when data gets locked
Options for threats derived from the Djvu family
Since this virus derives from a well-known family, the danger level is larger. These affected pieces are not decryptable, these more recent versions, including Hoop, Reqg, Muuq, use online IDs, making files encrypted with the unique key. The decryption tool can work, but only for rare cases where offline keys are used instead of the online ID method.
If you have infected your computer with one of the Djvu variants, you should use Emsisoft decryptor for Djvu/STOP. It is important to mention that this tool will not work for everyone – it only works if data was locked with an offline ID due to malware failing to communicate with its remote servers.
Even if your case meets this condition, somebody from the victims has to pay criminals, retrieve an offline key, and then share it with security researchers at Emsisoft. As a result, you might not be able to restore the encrypted files immediately. Thus, if the decryptor says your data was locked with an offline ID but cannot be recovered currently, you should try later. You also need to upload a set of files – one encrypted and a healthy one to the company's servers before you proceed.
- Download the app from the official Emsisoft website.
- After pressing Download button, a small pop-up at the bottom, titled decrypt_STOPDjvu.exe should show up – click it.
- If User Account Control (UAC) message shows up, press Yes.
- Agree to License Terms by pressing Yes.
- After Disclaimer shows up, press OK.
- The tool should automatically populate the affected folders, although you can also do it by pressing Add folder at the bottom.
- Press Decrypt.
From here, there are three available outcomes:
- “Decrypted!” will be shown under files that were decrypted successfully – they are now usable again.
- “Error: Unable to decrypt the file with ID:” means that the keys for this version of the virus have not yet been retrieved, so you should try later.
- “This ID appears to be an online ID; decryption is impossible” – you are unable to decrypt files with this tool.
Ways to fight ransomware before the secure .iwan file recovery
You might have heard the word ransomware thrown around a lot these days. But what does it really mean? Ransomware is malware that locks up your computer and/or files with encryption, then demands payment to decrypt them again. Some types of ransomware are so advanced they can even intercept passwords from web browsers like Chrome or Safari!
This means you may not be able to get back into all accounts on your device – including social media. Recovering affect files and the system when the virus is still active is dangerous. All the changes made in system folders can ensure persistence and affect the difficulty of this removal process. Luckily SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner has been designed specifically with this type of threat in mind; tools like Malwarebytes can remove the infection fully when the app detects any type of unknown file.
The threat is difficult to remove, but many AV tools manage to detect the threat
You should perform a full system scan with powerful anti-malware software to eliminate the threat because leftovers can trigger the encryption process again. Detection rates[3] of the infection pieces show that this is the best way. Other solutions could take of the job as well, but it is crucial to clear the machine fully before you add any backups or file copies on the PC.
Therefore, we highly recommend using a one-of-a-kind, patented technology of FortectIntego. Not only can it fix virus damage after the infection, but it can also remove malware that has already broken into the system thanks to several engines used by the program. Besides, the application can also fix various Windows-related issues caused by malware infections, such as Blue Screen errors, freezes, registry errors, damaged DLLs, etc.
- Download the application by clicking on the link above
- Click on the ReimageRepair.exe
- If User Account Control (UAC) shows up, select Yes
- Press Install and wait till the program finishes the installation process
- The analysis of your machine will begin immediately
- Once complete, check the results – they will be listed in the Summary
- You can now click on each of the issues and fix them manually
- If you see many problems that you find difficult to fix, we recommend you purchase the license and fix them automatically.
File restoring options depend on your backup habits
It’s not always safe to open an email or download a file. There are many risks involved in this activity, and the consequences can be devastating. Luckily though, we have some tips that will help make sure your computer is safe from these malicious programs!
The first thing that should go into consideration before downloading anything: check it against Virus Total; if the software has been scanned by one of more than 60 antivirus scanners, then chances are good there's nothing wrong with it. Remember also that having backups saves lives- so don't put off backing up those essential files on your system again!
The recovery of files after the Iwan ransomware is heavily dependent on those backups of yours. If you have a particular external device with file copies of those pieces that get affected, you can remove the threat and restore data easily. However, that is rare for users to have data backups up-to-date when ransomware encodes their data.
Since many users do not prepare proper data backups before being attacked by ransomware, they might often lose access to their files permanently. Paying Iwan extortionists or other criminals is very risky, as they might not fulfill the promises and never send back the required decryption tool. Since there are thousands of different ransomware strains, it is immediately impossible to tell whether third-party software will work for you.
Therefore, we suggest trying regardless of which ransomware attacked your computer. Before you begin, several pointers are important while dealing with this situation:
- Since the encrypted data on your computer might permanently be damaged by security or data recovery software, you should first make backups of it – use a USB flash drive or another storage.
- Only attempt to recover your files using this method after you perform a scan with anti-malware software.
Install data recovery software
- Download Data Recovery Pro.
- Double-click the installer to launch it.
- Follow on-screen instructions to install the software.
- As soon as you press Finish, you can use the app.
- Select Everything or pick individual folders where you want the files to be recovered.
- Press Next.
- At the bottom, enable Deep scan and pick which Disks you want to be scanned.
- Press Scan and wait till it is complete.
- You can now pick which folders/files to recover – don't forget you also have the option to search by the file name!
- Press Recover to retrieve your files.
Getting rid of .iwan file virus. Follow these steps
Restore Windows "hosts" file to its original state
Some ransomware might modify Windows hosts file in order to prevent users from accessing certain websites online. For example, Djvu ransomware variants add dozens of entries containing URLs of security-related websites, such as 2-spyware.com. Each of the entries means that users will not be able to access the listed web addresses and will receive an error instead.
Here's an example of “hosts” file entries that were injected by ransomware:
In order to restore your ability to access all websites without restrictions, you should either delete the file (Windows will automatically recreate it) or remove all the malware-created entries. If you have never touched the “hosts” file before, you should simply delete it by marking it and pressing Shift + Del on your keyboard. For that, navigate to the following location:
C:\\Windows\\System32\\drivers\\etc\\
Create data backups to avoid file loss in the future
One of the many countermeasures for home users against ransomware is data backups. Even if your Windows get corrupted, you can reinstall everything from scratch and retrieve files from backups with minimal losses overall. Most importantly, you would not have to pay cybercriminals and risk your money as well.
Therefore, if you have already dealt with a ransomware attack, we strongly advise you to prepare backups for future use. There are two options available to you:
- Backup on a physical external drive, such as a USB flash drive or external HDD.
- Use cloud storage services.
The first method is not that convenient, however, as backups need to constantly be updated manually – although it is very reliable. Therefore, we highly advise choosing cloud storage instead – it is easy to set up and efficient to sustain. The problem with it is that storage space is limited unless you want to pay for the subscription.
Using Microsoft OneDrive
OneDrive is a built-in tool that comes with every modern Windows version. By default, you get 5 GB of storage that you can use for free. You can increase that storage space, but for a price. Here's how to setup backups for OneDrive:
- Click on the OneDrive icon within your system tray.
- Select Help & Settings > Settings.
- If you don't see your email under the Account tab, you should click Add an account and proceed with the on-screen instructions to set yourself up.
- Once done, move to the Backup tab and click Manage backup.
- Select Desktop, Documents, and Pictures, or a combination of whichever folders you want to backup.
- Press Start backup.
After this, all the files that are imported into the above-mentioned folders will be automatically backed for you. If you want to add other folders or files, you have to do that manually. For that, open File Explorer by pressing Win + E on your keyboard, and then click on the OneDrive icon. You should drag and drop folders you want to backup (or you can use Copy/Paste as well).
Using Google Drive
Google Drive is another great solution for free backups. The good news is that you get as much as 15GB for free by choosing this storage. There are also paid versions available, with significantly more storage to choose from.
You can access Google Drive via the web browser or use a desktop app you can download on the official website. If you want your files to be synced automatically, you will have to download the app, however.
- Download the Google Drive app installer and click on it.
- Wait a few seconds for it to be installed.
- Now click the arrow within your system tray – you should see Google Drive icon there, click it once.
- Click Get Started.
- Enter all the required information – your email/phone, and password.
- Now pick what you want to sync and backup. You can click on Choose Folder to add additional folders to the list.
- Once done, pick Next.
- Now you can select to sync items to be visible on your computer.
- Finally, press Start and wait till the sync is complete. Your files are now being backed up.
Manual removal using Safe Mode
Important! →
Manual removal guide might be too complicated for regular computer users. It requires advanced IT knowledge to be performed correctly (if vital system files are removed or damaged, it might result in full Windows compromise), and it also might take hours to complete. Therefore, we highly advise using the automatic method provided above instead.
Step 1. Access Safe Mode with Networking
Manual malware removal should be best performed in the Safe Mode environment.
Windows 7 / Vista / XP
- Click Start > Shutdown > Restart > OK.
- When your computer becomes active, start pressing F8 button (if that does not work, try F2, F12, Del, etc. – it all depends on your motherboard model) multiple times until you see the Advanced Boot Options window.
- Select Safe Mode with Networking from the list.
Windows 10 / Windows 8
- Right-click on Start button and select Settings.
- Scroll down to pick Update & Security.
- On the left side of the window, pick Recovery.
- Now scroll down to find Advanced Startup section.
- Click Restart now.
- Select Troubleshoot.
- Go to Advanced options.
- Select Startup Settings.
- Press Restart.
- Now press 5 or click 5) Enable Safe Mode with Networking.
Step 2. Shut down suspicious processes
Windows Task Manager is a useful tool that shows all the processes running in the background. If malware is running a process, you need to shut it down:
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard to open Windows Task Manager.
- Click on More details.
- Scroll down to Background processes section, and look for anything suspicious.
- Right-click and select Open file location.
- Go back to the process, right-click and pick End Task.
- Delete the contents of the malicious folder.
Step 3. Check program Startup
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard to open Windows Task Manager.
- Go to Startup tab.
- Right-click on the suspicious program and pick Disable.
Step 4. Delete virus files
Malware-related files can be found in various places within your computer. Here are instructions that could help you find them:
- Type in Disk Cleanup in Windows search and press Enter.
- Select the drive you want to clean (C: is your main drive by default and is likely to be the one that has malicious files in).
- Scroll through the Files to delete list and select the following:
Temporary Internet Files
Downloads
Recycle Bin
Temporary files - Pick Clean up system files.
- You can also look for other malicious files hidden in the following folders (type these entries in Windows Search and press Enter):
%AppData%
%LocalAppData%
%ProgramData%
%WinDir%
After you are finished, reboot the PC in normal mode.
Finally, you should always think about the protection of crypto-ransomwares. In order to protect your computer from .iwan file and other ransomwares, use a reputable anti-spyware, such as FortectIntego, SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes
How to prevent from getting ransomware
Do not let government spy on you
The government has many issues in regards to tracking users' data and spying on citizens, so you should take this into consideration and learn more about shady information gathering practices. Avoid any unwanted government tracking or spying by going totally anonymous on the internet.
You can choose a different location when you go online and access any material you want without particular content restrictions. You can easily enjoy internet connection without any risks of being hacked by using Private Internet Access VPN.
Control the information that can be accessed by government any other unwanted party and surf online without being spied on. Even if you are not involved in illegal activities or trust your selection of services, platforms, be suspicious for your own security and take precautionary measures by using the VPN service.
Backup files for the later use, in case of the malware attack
Computer users can suffer from data losses due to cyber infections or their own faulty doings. Ransomware can encrypt and hold files hostage, while unforeseen power cuts might cause a loss of important documents. If you have proper up-to-date backups, you can easily recover after such an incident and get back to work. It is also equally important to update backups on a regular basis so that the newest information remains intact – you can set this process to be performed automatically.
When you have the previous version of every important document or project you can avoid frustration and breakdowns. It comes in handy when malware strikes out of nowhere. Use Data Recovery Pro for the data restoration process.
- ^ Arjun Kharpal. Bitcoin tops $50,000, hitting a more than 3-month high. CNBC. IT and security news.
- ^ Dieviren. Dieviren. Spyware related news.
- ^ Virus detection rate. VirusTotal. Online malware scanner.