KoKoKrypt ransomware / virus (Virus Removal Guide)
KoKoKrypt virus Removal Guide
What is KoKoKrypt ransomware virus?
What makes KoKoKrypt virus a nasty cyber infection?
KoKoKrypt virus is a ransomware known as Koko Locker, for short. It belongs to the category of crypto-ransomware [1] infections that hold infected computer files in captivity to extort money from their owners. The poor victims are coaxed into paying the demanded ransom within 72 hours after the attack, fearing that otherwise, the files will remain encrypted without an ability to retrieve them. Luckily, this is not technically true. There are alternative ways [2] the encryption can be bypassed and the files rolled back to their original state. Some of the most promising data recovery options are provided below the article. While making your way there, you will also come across manual KoKoKrypt removal guidelines which you might need to use in order to decontaminate the infection and complete a smooth virus removal. We suggest employing FortectIntego or similar anti-malware solution for this purpose.
KoKoKrypt malware is a typical ransomware example in a sense that its creators put a lot of effort into obfuscating [3] its activity on the affected device and preventing the malicious files from being detected by security software or terminated by the users themselves. The virus may run on the infected device disguised as legitimate Windows processes, including Svchost.exe, Vssadmin, etc. This way the virus may continue running on the computer unnoticed until all of the predetermined documents, images, archives, video and audio files and programs are encrypted and appended with .kokolocker file extensions. After the encryption is complete, though, the contents of the files are already damaged so it does not matter whether the virus gets exposed or not. The final touch is the ransom note this malware drops on every folder containing infected files. The note goes like this:
— KoKoKrypt —
All of your personal data got encrypted by KokoKrypt!
To unlock all your data of this computer, you have to do the following steps:
1. Get a Bitcoin Wallet
2. Get 0.1 BTC on it
3. Put your BTC Address below
4. Wait for decryption process
Payment may be delayed for 24/48 hours, so don’t worry! You have 78h to pay!
After 78h, KoKoKrypt will uninstall itself and leave your files encrypted!
Button “Pay using Bitcoin.”
When this note is deployed on the computer, then comes the victim’s turn to decide whether to pay the ransom or not. The experts speak strongly against that and point out that by paying up, you only support the scammers and provide them with more motivation to continue their fraudulent activities in the future. However, if you remove KoKoKrypt virus or wait until it deletes itself from the computer automatically, the scammers will lose the chance of earning easy money. By avoiding collaboration with the cyber criminals, you also reduce other risks such as data leaks, financial loss or privacy infringements.
Can you avoid ransomware attack?
KoKoKrypt virus is a dangerous parasite that can mess up your system and the containing files. By far, this virus is undecryptable, and there are a lot of other viruses that rampage through the computers uncontrollably. Unfortunately, if you are already infected with KoKoKrypt, you will have no other choice but to acknowledge the fact that most of your precious files are probably good as gone. Nevertheless, for similar situations not to recur in the future, we suggest following three basic rules. First, you should always back up your files [4]. This will guarantee that your important documents are safe and always there in case of need. Secondly, do not install unfamiliar programs or download suspicious attachment files you may receive in your email. Always double-check the legitimacy and trustworthiness [5] of the content entering your computer. Finally, obtain a reliable anti-malware solution and make sure it is always running an updated version.
How to remove KoKoKrypt virus?
If you have been infected with KoKoKrypt virus, do not rush and take appropriate actions one step at a time. First and foremost, do not make any transactions to the hackers’ accounts. Paying up simply helps the cyber criminals to achieve their initial goal — raise some easy money. Instead, you should remove KoKoKrypt with all of its malicious files from your system. Extermination of the virus should go smooth if you use specialized tools, such as antivirus or anti-malware programs for this purpose. Nevertheless, you may encounter trouble launching the security tools. To stop the virus from blocking them, please look through the manual KoKoKrypt removal instructions below the article.
Getting rid of KoKoKrypt virus. Follow these steps
Manual removal using Safe Mode
In case KoKoKrypt virus is blocking your antivirus and you cannot get it running to remove the parasite from the computer, please follow the comprehensive instructions below and stop the malicious processes
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.
Remove KoKoKrypt using System Restore
Another way to unblock your antivirus and continue with KoKoKrypt removal is presented below. Feel free to use these instructions but don’t forget to scan your device with anti-malware afterwards.
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Step 1: Reboot your computer to Safe Mode with Command Prompt
Windows 7 / Vista / XP- Click Start → Shutdown → Restart → OK.
- When your computer becomes active, start pressing F8 multiple times until you see the Advanced Boot Options window.
-
Select Command Prompt from the list
Windows 10 / Windows 8- Press the Power button at the Windows login screen. Now press and hold Shift, which is on your keyboard, and click Restart..
- Now select Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Startup Settings and finally press Restart.
-
Once your computer becomes active, select Enable Safe Mode with Command Prompt in Startup Settings window.
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Step 2: Restore your system files and settings
-
Once the Command Prompt window shows up, enter cd restore and click Enter.
-
Now type rstrui.exe and press Enter again..
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When a new window shows up, click Next and select your restore point that is prior the infiltration of KoKoKrypt. After doing that, click Next.
-
Now click Yes to start system restore.
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Once the Command Prompt window shows up, enter cd restore and click Enter.
Bonus: Recover your data
Guide which is presented above is supposed to help you remove KoKoKrypt from your computer. To recover your encrypted files, we recommend using a detailed guide prepared by 2-spyware.com security experts.If your files are encrypted by KoKoKrypt, you can use several methods to restore them:
Data Recovery Pro: how can it be useful?
Data Recovery Pro is definitely a useful tool which you can use in case you want to recover your files automatically, without spending hours at your computer. Below you will learn how to use this tool and recover your files.
- Download Data Recovery Pro;
- Follow the steps of Data Recovery Setup and install the program on your computer;
- Launch it and scan your computer for files encrypted by KoKoKrypt ransomware;
- Restore them.
Use Windows Previous Versions feature to recover data:
If you are desperate to recover some important files, you can definitely try using Windows Previous Versions feature. We should remind you, though, that this method requires System Restore function to be enabled before the virus attack. If you have taken care of this beforehand, follow the instructions below to see how exactly Windows Previous Versions feature should be used.
- Find an encrypted file you need to restore and right-click on it;
- Select “Properties” and go to “Previous versions” tab;
- Here, check each of available copies of the file in “Folder versions”. You should select the version you want to recover and click “Restore”.
The data recovery possibilities using ShadowExplorer:
ShadowExplorer will recover files from Volume Shadow Copies if, of course, these files are not deleted from the device in the process of system hijack. ShadowExplorer operating instructions are indicated below.
- Download Shadow Explorer (http://shadowexplorer.com/);
- Follow a Shadow Explorer Setup Wizard and install this application on your computer;
- Launch the program and go through the drop down menu on the top left corner to select the disk of your encrypted data. Check what folders are there;
- Right-click on the folder you want to restore and select “Export”. You can also select where you want it to be stored.
Finally, you should always think about the protection of crypto-ransomwares. In order to protect your computer from KoKoKrypt and other ransomwares, use a reputable anti-spyware, such as FortectIntego, SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes
How to prevent from getting ransomware
Stream videos without limitations, no matter where you are
There are multiple parties that could find out almost anything about you by checking your online activity. While this is highly unlikely, advertisers and tech companies are constantly tracking you online. The first step to privacy should be a secure browser that focuses on tracker reduction to a minimum.
Even if you employ a secure browser, you will not be able to access websites that are restricted due to local government laws or other reasons. In other words, you may not be able to stream Disney+ or US-based Netflix in some countries. To bypass these restrictions, you can employ a powerful Private Internet Access VPN, which provides dedicated servers for torrenting and streaming, not slowing you down in the process.
Data backups are important – recover your lost files
Ransomware is one of the biggest threats to personal data. Once it is executed on a machine, it launches a sophisticated encryption algorithm that locks all your files, although it does not destroy them. The most common misconception is that anti-malware software can return files to their previous states. This is not true, however, and data remains locked after the malicious payload is deleted.
While regular data backups are the only secure method to recover your files after a ransomware attack, tools such as Data Recovery Pro can also be effective and restore at least some of your lost data.
If this free guide helped you and you are satisfied with our service, please consider making a donation to keep this service alive. Even a smallest amount will be appreciated.
- ^ Crypto-Ransomware: When Encryption Breaks Bad. Trendmicro news blog.
- ^ Ransomware Happy Ending: 10 Known Decryption Cases. Tripwire. State of Security.
- ^ Joshua Cannell. Obfuscation: Malware’s best friend. Malwarebytes Labs blog.
- ^ What’s the Best Way to Back Up My Computer?. How-to-geek. For geeks, by geeks.
- ^ How Do I Know if My Computer Is Infected with Malicious Software?. Webroot antivirus blog.