In just a few years, ransomware threats have risen up the ranks to be the greatest headache for cybersecurity experts. In 2016, for instance, there was a ransomware attack every 14 seconds! These kinds of attacks target everyone from individuals to corporations and they all come with devastating consequences.
The Foop Ransomware is one of the many ransomware threats to rear its ugly head in the past few years. Foop is a file-encrypting ransomware that once inside a victim’s computer, will encrypt files and folders and append them with a .foop extension. So, if your original file was mydocument.docx, it will be converted to mydocument.docx.foop.
Once the encryption process is complete, the malware will leave a ransom note (readme.txt) that tells victims what they need to do to recover their data. Usually, the victims are asked to send a ransom of $980 in bitcoins to a bitcoin address that can only be viewed in the dark web. Victims that are quick to pay the ransom get a 50% discount on the ransom amount.
Where Does the Foop Ransomware Come From?
Cybercriminals rely on a number of vectors to distribute their malware creations. The most common of these is spam mail that contains infected attachments.
Other than infected email attachments, the Foop malware is also spread via infected sites and pirated software. When a user visits a contaminated site, the mere clicking links or adverts instigates the process of infection. When it comes to pirated software, the ransomware is bundled as part of the software package so that when installing the software, the victims are also unwittingly infecting their computer.
How to Detect the Foop Ransomware
The most obvious way to detect an infection by the Foop ransomware is to view the files and folders and see if they are encrypted with the .foop extension. The malware also leaves a readme.txt file detailing the steps that you can take to have your files decrypted.
This is the ransom note that the Foop ransomware will leave behind after encrypting your files:
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:
https://we.tl/t-Oc0xgfzC7q
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@firemail.cc
Reserve e-mail address to contact us:
helpmanager@iran.ir
Your personal ID:
How to Remove the Foop Ransomware
If your valuable files are under siege by the Foop ransomware, you might be tempted to pay the ransom amount demanded of you and be done with. That is not the wisest thing to do as it only encourages the cybercriminals behind the malware to continue with their malevolence.
What you should do instead is report the ransomware incident to authorities so that they can alert others about the cybersecurity danger that such malware poses. Many countries, especially in North America, Asia Pacific, and Europe, have hotlines that you can use to report ransomware cases.
That said, you can remove the Foop ransomware from your device with the help of a reliable anti-malware tool such as Outbyte Antivirus. Using an anti-malware software will not help you recover your files as the program is not a decryptor, rather, it will only get rid of the ransomware and all its files and dependencies.
When using the anti-malware to remove the Foop ransomware, it is best to run your computer in Safe Mode with Networking. When in this mode, only a handful of programs, settings, and apps will be running, and this makes troubleshooting far easier.
Here is how to get to Safe Mode with Networking on a Windows PC:
- Shut and restart repeatedly until you enter the Windows Recovery Environment (winRE).
- On the Choose an Option screen, go to Troubleshoot > Advanced Option > Startup > Settings > Restart.
- As soon as your device restarts, press the F5 or 5 keys to select Safe Mode with Networking.
Safe Mode with Networking allows you to access network resources such as the internet, which you can then use to download utility tools such as an anti-malware software.
After you are done clearing your computer of malware, you need to clean it with a PC repair tool just to make sure that all the files and folders such as downloads and the %Temp% folder are empty as these places are where malware entities normally hide. A PC repair tool will also repair broken or corrupt registry entries and improve the performance of your computer in the process.
Windows Recovery Options
Getting rid of the Foop ransomware with an anti-malware program is just the first step in the process. You still need to make good use of Windows recovery tools such as System Restore, the Refresh, and the Reset options. Using any of these options will ensure that the virus is gone for good.
System Restore
If you have a restore point on your computer, there is no better time to use it than after a malware attack of the kind that we are discussing.
The following are the steps get to the System Restore utility:
- Into Windows search, type ‘create a restore point’. This should take you to the System Properties app.
- On the System Properties app and under the System Security tab click System Restore.
- Select a restore point from the list of the available restore points.
- Click on Scan for affected programs to see what programs will no longer be available after the system restore process is complete.
- Follow instructions to complete the process.
If you don’t have a restore point on your computer, you can also choose to either Refresh or Reset your computer. Both of these options will return your computer to its default Windows settings.
How to Prevent the Foop Ransomware
Here are a few things that you can do to lessen the likelihood of a malware infection:
- Buy an anti-malware tool and use it often.
- Verify the authenticity of emails before opening attachments.
- Avoid downloading and using pirated software.
- Refrain from visiting unsecure sites.
- Clear your web browsing history and the %Temp% folder as often as possible.
- Have a backup of your files and folders at all times.