NYPD ransomware locks personal files, demands $490-$980 as a ransom_readme.txt note explains what happenedSummaryStay away from suspicious and P2P websites to avoid ransomwareThe safest way to get rid of NYPD ransomware virus
Most victims’ computers are infected via deceptive techniques when they accidentally install the ransomware themselves. The attackers have also created a disguise during the encryption process — people see a fake Windows update screen while the ransomware finishes encoding all information on the targeted system. Usually, NYPD ransomware along with its previous versions (ZWER, KKLL, NLAH, ZIPE, PEZI) aim to append its extension to every file stored on the computer. It can range from videos, photos, audio memories, to exceptionally important work documents and other information. After successful encryption people cannot open or use the affected data in any way. Those who think that this file-encrypting virus only aims to corrupt files for money extortion, it also drops an infamous password-stealing Trojan, named AZORULT. This malware is designed to copy passwords from all user’s accounts and transfer them to the cybercriminals. Later, they might be sold on the black market or used by the attackers right away for further attacks on other platforms.
_readme.txt note explains what happened
The developers of NYPD file virus explain the attack as well as its purpose on the ransom note. Victims are told that the encryption process generates merely one unique decryption key that cannot be recreated, thus, only the attackers have a hold of it. People are demanded to pay enormous money for the decryption tool in Bitcoins. Otherwise, the data remains inaccessible forever. Cybercriminals give a 50% discount within the first 72 hours of infection. During that time victims are asked to transfer $490 to a specific Bitcoin account. After 72 hours, the price increases to $980. This tactic is used to scare innocent people and help criminals extort money quicker. However, there are no guarantees that you will receive the NYPD decryptor. The ransomware attack (file folder encryption) and the contents of the ransom note (_readme.txt) are demonstrated in the animation below. In fact, there are multiple Reddit themes where people complain about being tricked by cybercriminals — they agreed to pay the demanded amount of money but never got the valid decryption tool. Therefore, our experts do not recommend trusting the attackers and especially paying for them since there is a high chance that you will suffer from financial losses. The best option is to remove NYPD ransomware virus straight away. We highly advise using a reputable antivirus to get rid of both, the file-encrypting malware and password-stealing Trojan at once. For that, pick a professional software and run a full system scan. For repairing virus damage, RESTORO is an excellent choice. Note that you might be unable to start NYPD ransomware removal because this cyber threat is capable of blocking the access to security software and websites. You can learn how to circumvent this malicious code by reading the instructions at the end of this article. Make sure that you follow all the indicated steps in order to start a successful virus elimination.
Summary
Stay away from suspicious and P2P websites to avoid ransomware
The most commonly used methods to distribute ransomware is to create deceptive update pop-ups or software downloads and trick people into installing the executable of the virus. For example, people who browse on suspicious websites can encounter a fake Adobe Flash Player update pop-up that asks to update software right away. Description: NYPD ransomware is a malicious variant of STOP/DJVU virus. It encrypts files using military-grade cryptography combination and marks them with .nypd file extension. The aim of this virus is to extort the victim by forcing him pay for a returned right to access personal files. The criminals state that the decryption software and key costs $490 within the first 72 hours, then the ransom price rises to $980. The criminal’s contact addresses provided in the ransom note are helpmanager@mail.ch and restoreadmin@firemail.cc. Offer price: $490-$980 Currency: Bitcoin Operating System: Windows Application Category: Ransomware Author: STOP/DJVU developers Unfortunately, this is merely a trick to lure people into clicking on the update button. As a result, this automatically triggers ransomware installation. Most people fall for this trick because the pop-up seems exceptionally similar to real update notifications. Furthermore, many cybercriminals upload ransomware executables as well-known software on peer-to-peer (P2P) file-sharing websites. Users who search how to get paid software for free often download the deceptive upload and install ransomware on their computers accidentally. Therefore, it is essential to stay away from suspicious pages and P2P networks to avoid infections. If you want to protect your computer from malware attacks, then you should stop browsing on unverified sites and get applications only from original websites or authorized distribution pages. Additionally, refrain from clicking on ads that appear while browsing and always have a professional antivirus running on your system. Luckily, many security software have options to schedule regular scans in order to check the computer files for various types of malware. You can easily modify the settings according to your needs.
The safest way to get rid of NYPD ransomware virus
Since ransomware infections are the most dangerous ones for regular computer users, the safest way to remove NYPD virus is employing a robust antivirus. The antivirus will identify files related to the malware as well as perform NYPD file-encrypting ransomware removal automatically. Additionally, RESTORO offers repair services that can fix virus damage caused to your computer. It will replace corrupted files and other components from a large database. That is the main reason why this software is our number one choice to deal with ransomware infections. However, you will need to use the latest backup to recover the encrypted information on your computer. If you did not enable automatic backups before the attack we strongly suggest you to do so after eliminating the virus. You can find out more about alternative recovery methods in STOP/DJVU virus decryption article. OUR GEEKS RECOMMEND Our team recommends a two-step rescue plan to remove ransomware and other remaining malware from your computer, plus repair caused virus damage to the system: GeeksAdvice.com editors select recommended products based on their effectiveness. We may earn a commission from affiliate links, at no additional cost to you. Learn more. Get INTEGO ANTIVIRUS for Windows to remove ransomware, Trojans, adware and other spyware and malware variants and protect your PC and network drives 24/7. This VB100-certified security software uses state-of-art technology to provide protection against ransomware, Zero-Day attacks and advanced threats, Intego Web Shield blocks dangerous websites, phishing attacks, malicious downloads and installation of potentially unwanted programs. Use INTEGO Antivirus to remove detected threats from your computer. Read full review here. RESTORO provides a free scan that helps to identify hardware, security and stability issues and presents a comprehensive report which can help you to locate and fix detected issues manually. It is a great PC repair software to use after you remove malware with professional antivirus. The full version of software will fix detected issues and repair virus damage caused to your Windows OS files automatically. RESTORO uses AVIRA scanning engine to detect existing spyware and malware. If any are found, the software will eliminate them. Read full review here.
Alternative software recommendations
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware
Method 1. Enter Safe Mode with Networking
Before you try to remove the virus, you must start your computer in Safe Mode with Networking. Below, we provide the easiest ways to boot PC in the said mode, but you can find additional ones in this in-depth tutorial on our website – How to Start Windows in Safe Mode. Also, see a video tutorial on how to do it: Instructions for Windows XP/Vista/7 users Instructions for Windows 8/8.1/10 users Now, you can search for and remove NYPD ransomware virus files. It is very hard to identify files and registry keys that belong to the ransomware virus, Besides, malware creators tend to rename and change them repeatedly. Therefore, the easiest way to uninstall such type of a computer virus is to use a reliable malware removal program. In addition, we suggest trying a combination of INTEGO Antivirus (removes malware and protects your PC in real-time) and RESTORO (repairs virus damage to Windows OS files).
Method 2. Use System Restore
In order to use System Restore, you must have a system restore point, created either manually or automatically. Instructions for Windows XP/Vista/7 users Instructions for Windows 8/8.1/10 users After restoring the system, we recommend scanning the system with antivirus or anti-malware software. In most cases, there won’t be any malware remains, but it never hurts to double-check. In addition, we highly recommend checking ransomware prevention guidelines provided by our experts in order to protect your PC against similar viruses in the future. Removing spyware and malware is one step towards cybersecurity. To protect yourself against ever-evolving threats, we strongly recommend purchasing a Premium version of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, which provides security based on artificial intelligence and machine learning. Includes ransomware protection. See pricing options and protect yourself now.
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