Ooii ransomware (Virus Removal Guide) - Quick Decryption Solution
Ooii virus Removal Guide
What is Ooii ransomware?
Ooii ransomware is the threat that affects the machine and then requires money for the decryption that might not be possible at all
Criminals develop the Ooii file virus for the purpose of money extortion. This threat locks files once it gets on the machine and scams people into paying the ransom demand. A strong encryption algorithm allows the threat to change the original code of the file and makes it unopenable.[1]
Ooii ransomware is a malicious program designed to encrypt all personal data on the computer and then demand ransom for its return. This virus can be downloaded and carried by using various methods, but one of the more common ways to spread the threat involves downloading pirated content or malicious files from email messages.
You may not see any symptoms until encrypted data gets locked and marked with the .ooii appendix. The threat could run in the background for a while before acting on those commonly used files. But mainly, encryption is the first process and the one that frustrates people the most.
When the encryption is complete, Ooii file virus drops a ransom note – instructions from cybercriminals. It explains to victims what happened and claims that they can only get back their files by paying for an unlocking tool which will be sent after the payment. But that is not always happening. It is dangerous, even contacting criminals via email support@sysmail.ch or helprestoremanager@airmailcc.
| Name | Ooii ransomware |
|---|---|
| Type | Cryptovirus, file-locker |
| Family | STOP file virus/ Djvu ransomware |
| Marker | .ooii appears at the end of the original name of the file |
| Distribution | Ransomware can spread around with the help of pirating platforms, spam email campaigns |
| Ransom note | _readme.txt |
| Ransom amount | $490/ $980 |
| Contact details | support@sysmail.ch, helprestoremanager@airmail.cc |
| Elimination | Antivirus tools can find the threat and all related files to properly remove it from the affected system. It is crucial because leftover can create issues |
| Repair tips | Threats can trigger additional issues and even leftovers can lead to issues, so run FortectIntego for the proper system repair |
Cybercriminals claim that the only way to unlock them is by paying off this ransom, but before you do anything, consider all the risks. The most important thing about the threat is removing it fully from the machine. Ooii virus can lead to serious issues, money losses, permanent file damage if not terminated properly.
Unfortunately, there is no way for victims of this malware to recover their files without paying the ransom. There can be decryption tools officially developed for this, but this version is not decryptable. The best way is to remove infection and use data backups to replace affected files.
Eliminating the threat
There is a common belief that paying the ransom will guarantee your data's security and recovery, but experts[2] recommend against this practice. Cybercriminals might not keep their promises resulting in financial losses for you.[3] In this article, we'll explain how to get rid of the Ooii file virus by properly using the available alternative methods.
The first tip is to ignore criminals and not consider paying or contacting them. These people are not to be trusted. The crypto-virus or file locking malware encrypts all important files on a Windows computer and restricts access. In the ransom note left by criminals, they mention giving discounts in exchange. Do not fall for this trick.
Ooii ransomware can be removed with the help of SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes and similar security or AV tools. Anti-malware programs can detect the files on the system and find all the associated threats, so those pieces can be terminated. Elimination of ransomware can help stop all the processes and stop worries about your system. It is important because removing the threat guarantees that all malware is not causing additional issues.
Once a computer is infected with malware, its system is changed to operate differently. For example, an infection 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 is not capable of doing anything about it, leaving it just the way it is. Consequently, users might experience performance, stability, and usability issues, to the point where a full Windows reinstall is required.
Therefore, we highly recommend using a one-of-a-kind, patented technology of FortectIntego repair. Not only can it fix virus damage after the infection, but it is also capable of removing malware that has already broken into the system thanks to several engines used by the program. Besides, the application is also capable of fixing various Windows-related issues that are not caused by malware infections, for example, 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.
Options for file recovery
Ooii ransomware comes from the particular ransomware family that releases different versions constantly and affects machines quickly. Recent changes to the Djvu ransomware doing methods allow to spread new versions each week, so all the recent releases are more dangerous than those decryptable versions that got distributed in 2019. This threat and previously released Gcyi, Ccps, Eucy are non-decryptable due to the use of inline ids only.
Cracking the encrypted files on your device can be difficult if you don't know which ID was given to the machine. There are both offline and online keys in use, but they're not always used interchangeably because there's a difference. Sometimes the use of servers is not possible, so while others have built-in codes and use offline ids with less unique patterns, other infections manage to carry out processes with online IDs.
With offline keys, you can use the same ID for all affected devices. It is universal for all victims of the same virus. Ooii file virus relies on online IDs nowadays, so each device gets a different key that is needed for file recovery. However, until the official tool is developed, options are limited. You can find a tip for Emsisofts' tool below, but options now rely on backups.
Since many users do not prepare proper data backups prior to being attacked by ransomware, they might often lose access to their files permanently. Paying criminals is also very risky, as they might not fulfill the promises and never send back the required decryption tool.
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 from.
- 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.
Anti-malware tools should be kept on the machine and launched from time to time, so an infection like this Ooii file virus is avoided. Tools like SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes not only can find active malware but detect potentially dangerous files and block them from accessing the system. You should update security tools to keep the PC virus-free.
In addition to the proper tools for the Ooii ransomware removal, we also recommended having applications properly keep processes of the machine running. FortectIntego is not removing the threat or decrypting files, but some of the features that are inbuilt on the Windows machines can significantly improve the file repair and virus removal success.
Getting rid of Ooii 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\\
Use Emsisoft decrytor for Djvu/STOP
If your computer got infected with one of the Djvu variants, you should try using 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 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.
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.
Report the incident to your local authorities
Ransomware is a huge business that is highly illegal, and authorities are very involved in catching malware operators. To have increased chances of identifying the culprits, the agencies need information. Therefore, by reporting the crime, you could help with stopping the cybercriminal activities and catching the threat actors. Make sure you include all the possible details, including how did you notice the attack, when it happened, etc. Additionally, providing documents such as ransom notes, examples of encrypted files, or malware executables would also be beneficial.
Law enforcement agencies typically deal with online fraud and cybercrime, although it depends on where you live. Here is the list of local authority groups that handle incidents like ransomware attacks, sorted by country:
- USA – Internet Crime Complaint Center IC3
- United Kingdom – ActionFraud
- Canada – Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre
- Australia – ScamWatch
- New Zealand – ConsumerProtection
- Germany – Polizei
- France – Ministère de l'Intérieur
If your country is not listed above, you should contact the local police department or communications center.
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 Ooii 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.
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- ^ Ransomware explained: How it works and how to remove it. CSOonline. Tech news.
- ^ Novirus. Novirus. Spyware news.
- ^ Alex Scroxton. Cost of ransomware attack in financial sector exceeds $2m. Computerweekly. Computer news and insights.