How to remove Kopytzempereebet ransomware

Kopytzempereebet ransomware can use encryption to lock users' personal files

Kopytzempereebet ransomware is a dangerous file-locking virus that uses complicated encryption algorithms to lock users' personal files, like photos, videos, and documents. If a file was previously named picture.jpg, after encryption, it would appear as picture.jpg.KOPYTZEMPEREEBET. The icons are also changed to white pages, so thumbnails are unavailable.

Ransomware attacks can cause a lot of damage and result in permanent data loss. If people do not have backups, it is almost impossible to get the data back.  Shortly after the encryption process is done, a ransom note #Decrypt_files#.txt is generated on the machine. This is where victims can find out the cybercriminals' demands.

The ransom note

The full #Decrypt_files#.txt ransom note reads as follows:

Dear Sir or Madam,
  ———————————————-
 Congratulations!
 Id like to inform you that your company has been randomly chosen for audit and that you haven't
 passed it.
 All of your servers are encrypted, same as your backups. Our encryption algorithms impossible to
 decrypt, same as your company data and infrastructure. However, do not get nervous, as you shall
 restore all of your all your infrastructure and data! In order to do that, follow simple steps  
  that are described bellow:  
 1. Buy decryption program.  
 2. Restore all of the company data and infrastructure.
 ———————————————-
 The system hack wasnt done eiter by your competitors or 3rd party, it was strictly our
 initiative. Our main and only interest is money.
 Also, to be mentioned, we value our reputation and principles a lot, therefore any amateur
 attempts will be strictly suppressed and will make current situation worse. In addition, all of
 decryption software mentioned above is tested, as a proof of our abilities, there is a
 possibility of decrypting few small files for free, for your understanding.
———————————————-
To decrypt your files you need to write on our mail – kopytzempereebet@onionmail.
 But we recommend to write on our ICQ account to talk in a live chat
 Install ICQ software on your PC hxxps://icq.com/windows/ or on your mobile phone search in Appstore / Google market ICQ
 Write to our account – @KOPYTZEMPEREEBET
hxxps://icq.im/KOPYTZEMPEREEBET
 
 We work 24/7 and if you write in 12h after decryption – you will get 50% discount
 Start messaging with an incident ID and 2-3 test files up to 1mb
 Your personal ID
–

As the note suggests, Kopytzempereebet ransomware targets businesses more than home users. Threat actors use various scare tactics to prevent people from trying other recovery options. They state that the files are impossible to decrypt without the key^[1] that only they hold.

Cybercriminals want to be paid for the decryption key. The price is not specified in the note. However, if victims contact them within 12 hours of infection, they will get a 50% discount. Users can also send up to 3 files for decryption for free because cybercriminals want to appear trustworthy.

We strongly advise against paying the ransom as ransomware developers cannot be trusted. Many previous ransomware victims have come forward and revealed that they never received the promised decryption tools after paying. Crooks usually choose cryptocurrencies^[2] as a form of payment because it provides anonymity.

Once a cryptocurrency transaction is complete, it is impossible to get the money back. There are no refunds and no disputes. There are third-party recovery options that help in some cases, so we suggest you follow our guide fully to learn about the possibilities.

Start the removal process

The important thing to do is to disconnect the affected machine from the local network. For home users, disconnecting the ethernet cable should do the job. If this happened at your workplace, doing that might be complicated, so we have instructions for corporate environments at the bottom of this post.

If you try to recover your data first, it can result in permanent loss. It can also encrypt your files the second time. It will not stop until you remove the malicious files causing it first. You should not attempt removing the malicious program yourself unless you have experience. Manual removal of ransomware is extremely complicated and is suitable for people with advanced IT skills.

Use anti-malware tools like SpyHunterCombo Cleaner or MalwarebytesMalwarebytes to scan your system. This security software should find all the related files and entries and remove them automatically for you. In some cases, malware does not let you use antivirus in normal mode, so you need to access Safe Mode and perform a full system scan from there:

Windows 7 / Vista / XP

1. Click Start > Shutdown > Restart > OK.
2. 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.
3. Select Safe Mode with Networking from the list.

Windows 10 / Windows 8

1. Right-click on Start button and select Settings.
   
2. Scroll down to pick Update & Security.
3. On the left side of the window, pick Recovery.
4. Now scroll down to find Advanced Startup section.
5. Click Restart now.
6. Select Troubleshoot.
7. Go to Advanced options.
8. Select Startup Settings.
9. Click Restart.
10. Press 5 or click 5) Enable Safe Mode with Networking.

Repair corrupted system files

Performance, stability, and usability issues, to the point where a full Windows reinstall is required, are nothing unusual after malware infection. These types of viruses can alter the Windows registry database, damage vital bootup, and other sections, delete or corrupt DLL files, etc. Once a system file is damaged by malware, antivirus software cannot fix it.

Manual troubleshooting of such damage is also very complicated and can take a long time. This is why FortectIntego was developed. It can fix a lot of the damage caused by an infection like this. Blue Screen errors,^[3] freezes, registry errors, damaged DLLs, etc., can make your computer completely unusable. By using this maintenance tool, you could prevent yourself from having to reinstall Windows completely.

• 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.

Try recovering data with third-party software

Only hackers hold the decryption key, which can unlock your files, so if you did not back them up previously, there is a good chance that you will never get them back. You can try using data recovery software, but keep in mind that third-party programs cannot always decrypt the files. Whatever the situation may be, we suggest at least trying this method. Before you proceed, copy the corrupted files and place them in a USB flash drive or another external storage device. And remember – only do this if you have already removed the Kopytzempereebet ransomware.

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

1. Download Data Recovery Pro.
2. Double-click the installer to launch it.
3. Follow on-screen instructions to install the software.
4. As soon as you press Finish, you can use the app.
5. Select Everything or pick individual folders where you want the files to be recovered from.
6. Press Next.
7. At the bottom, enable Deep scan and pick which Disks you want to be scanned.
8. Press Scan and wait till it is complete.
9. You can now pick which folders/files to recover – don't forget you also have the option to search by the file name!
10. Press Recover to retrieve your files.