How to remove ChupaCabra ransomware and recover encrypted files

Easy tips to delete ChupaCabra ransomware and decrypt files

Ransomware-type viruses encrypt stored files and then demand ransom payment for the decryption. During the encryption processes, they modify the filenames of each of the encrypted files. As ChupaCabra ransomware’s encrypt, the affected files will get appended with .ChupaCabra. As an instance, it renames a file named 1.jpg to 1.jpg.ChupaCabra”, “2.jpg” to “2.jpg.ChupaCabra”, and so on. As a ransom note, it creates a text file named HowToDecrypt.txt and displays a pop-up window.

Usually, malware of this kind generate ransom note to provide the victims contact and payment information like email address to contact the attackers, price of the decryption tool, key, cryptocurrency wallet and other details. The ChupaCabra ransomware’s ransom note instructs the users to send 0.00364383 BTC (Bitcoin) to the provided wallet address and then contact to the crooks via Telegram to the account @C_h_u_p_a_K_a_b_r_a for further instructions. Here is the full text presented in the .txt file (HowToDecrypt.txt) created by ChupaCabra ransomware:

IMPORTANT INFORMATION!!! All your files are encrypted with ChupaCabra:v.2.0 Reload To Decrypt: – Send 0.00364383 BTC to: 1Eh4f3p2fQVjfyHAyJ2rCqjUgDxPgjJE5q – Contact me Telegram: @C_h_u_p_a_K_a_b_r_a

It is important to note that crooks behind ransomware attacks often do not send the decryption tool even if all their demands are met. For this reason, it is strongly suggested you not to contact/ pay to the crooks under any circumstances. Instead of this, think of some alternative for the files recovery. The best way to deal with this case is to remove ChupaCabra ransomware and recover the files using existing backups. The malware removal is necessary to prevent further files encryption. Also, this process will prevent various possible issues that the virus may cause on longer presence to the system.

Below the post, you will find complete stepwise guide to remove ChupaCabra ransomware from the system. Rightly upon that, use the existing backups and restore the files to the earlier accessible condition. Even though, there is no backup option available, you have more than one data recovery option still available. One of such is Shadow Copy- an automatically created backup from Windows operating systems. The data recovery section below the post provides you complete guide how to recover files using shadow copies. Other data recovery option is to use third party data recovery tools. These tools are nowadays designed with special functionality added and so you can think of files recovery using them.

How did ChupaCabra ransomware enter my system?

Usually, ransomware type infection are distributed using Trojans, emails, unreliable sources that users use to download files or programs, fake software updaters and unofficial software activation tools. Trojans are used to distribute payload of additional malware. Spam emails trick people into opening presented malicious attachment. The attachment can be a malicious file or website link for this file. The malicious file can be in any formats like malicious Microsoft Office, PDF document, JavaScript file, archive file like ZIP, RAR, executable file (like EXE). The infection is caused when these files are executed, run or otherwise opened.

Furthermore, crooks often use p2p networks, free file hosting sites, unofficial pages, free file hosting sites or freeware download pages, third party downloaders and etc as channels to distribute malicious malware. As a rule, those files appear as legit and regular files that are supposed to download legit software. If downloaded and opened, those files cause the installation of malware. Fake software updaters infect systems by exploiting bugs/ flaws of outdated software or by directly downloading malware instead of providing updates. Cracking tools cause system infection by supposedly bypassing activation keys of paid software.

How to prevent ransomware intrusion?

Third party downloaders/ installers, eMule, torrent clients and other p2p networks, unofficial pages etc should never be used to download any files or install any programs. It is recommended to trust programs or files downloaded from official websites and direct links. Irrelevant emails received from unknown, suspicious addresses containing attachments or website links should never be trusted. It is common that these emails contain malicious files or attachments used to deliver malware. Installed software has to be updated/ activated using tools/ functions from official software developers. Third party, unofficial tools are often used to cause malware infection. Another reason is that it is against the law to activate licensed software with them/ use pirated software.

Antimalware Details And User Guide

Click Here For Windows

Click Here For Mac

Step 1: Remove ChupaCabra ransomware through “Safe Mode with Networking”

Step 2: Delete ChupaCabra ransomware using “System Restore”

Step 1: Remove ChupaCabra ransomware through “Safe Mode with Networking”

For Windows XP and Windows 7 users: Boot the PC in “Safe Mode”. Click on “Start” option and continuously press on F8 during the start process until the “Windows Advanced Option” menu appears on the screen. Choose “Safe Mode with Networking” from the list.

Now, a windows homescreen appears on the desktop and work-station is now working on “Safe mode with networking”.

For Windows 8 Users: Go to the “Start Screen”. In the search results select settings, type “Advanced”. In the “General PC Settings” option, choose “Advanced startup” option. Again, click on the “Restart Now” option. The work-station boots to “Advanced Startup Option Menu”. Press on “Troubleshoot” and then “Advanced options” button.  In the “Advanced Option Screen”, press on “Startup Settings”. Again, click on “Restart” button. The work-station will now restart in to the “Startup Setting” screen. Next is to press F5 to boot in Safe Mode in Networking.

For Windows 10 Users: Press on Windows logo and on the “Power” icon. In the newly opened menu, choose “Restart” while continuously holding “Shift” button on the keyboard. In the new open “Choose an option” window, click on “Troubleshoot” and then on the “Advanced Options”. Select “Startup Settings” and press on “Restart”. In the next window, click on “F5” button on the key-board.

Step 2: Delete ChupaCabra ransomware using “System Restore”

Log-in to the account infected with ChupaCabra ransomware. Open the browser and download a legitimate anti-malware tool. Do a full System scanning. Remove all the malicious detected entries.

In case if you cannot start the PC in “Safe Mode with Networking”, Try using “System Restore”

• During the “Startup”, continuously press on F8 key until the “Advanced Option” menu appears. From the list, choose “Safe Mode with Command Prompt” and then press “Enter”

• In the new opened command prompt, enter “cd restore” and then press “Enter”.

• Type: rstrui.exe and Press “ENTER”

• Click “Next” on the new windows

• Choose any of the “Restore Points” and click on “Next”. (This step will restore the work-station to its earlier time and date prior to ChupaCabra ransomware infiltration in the PC.

• In the newly opened windows, press on “Yes”.

Once your PC gets restored to its previous date and time, download the recommended anti-malware tool and perform a deep scanning in order to remove ChupaCabra ransomware files if they left in the work-station.

In order to restore the each (separate) file by this ransomware, use “Windows Previous Version” feature. This method is effective when “System Restore Function” is enabled in the work-station.

Important Note: Some variants of ChupaCabra ransomware delete the “Shadow Volume Copies” as well hence this feature may not work all the time and is applicable for selective computers only.

How to Restore Individual Encrypted File:

In order to restore a single file, right click on it and go to “Properties”. Select “Previous Version” tab. Select a “Restore Point” and click on “Restore” option.

In order to access the files encrypted by ChupaCabra ransomware, you can also try using “Shadow Explorer”. In order to get more information on this application, press here.

Important: Data Encryption Ransomware are highly dangerous and it is always better that you take precautions to avoid its attack on your work-station. It is advised to use a powerful anti-malware tool in order to get protection in real-time. With this help of “SpyHunter”, “group policy objects” are implanted in the registries in order to block harmful infections like ChupaCabra ransomware.

Also, In Windows 10, you get a very unique feature called “Fall Creators Update” that offer “Controlled Folder Access” feature in order to block any kind of encryption to the files. With the help of this feature, any files stored in the locations such as “Documents”, “Pictures”, “Music”, “Videos”, “Favorites” and “Desktop” folders are safe by default.

It is very important that you install this “Windows 10 Fall Creators Update” in your PC to protect your important files and data from ransomware encryption. The more information on how to get this update and add an additional protection form rnasomware attack has been discussed here.

How to Recover the Files Encrypted by ChupaCabra ransomware?

Till now, you would have understood that what had happed to your personal files that got encrypted and how you can remove the scripts and payloads associated with ChupaCabra ransomware in order to protect your personal files that has not been damaged or encrypted until now. In order to retrieve the locked files, the depth information related to “System Restore” and “Shadow Volume Copies” has already been discussed earlier. However, in case if you are still unable to access the encrypted files then you can try using a data recovery tool.

Use of Data Recovery Tool

This step is for all those victims who have already tries all the above mentioned process but didn’t find any solution. Also it is important that you are able to access the PC and can install any software. The data recovery tool works on the basis of System scanning and recovery algorithm. It searches the System partitions in order to locate the original files which were deleted, corrupted or damaged by the malware. Remember that you must not re-install the Windows OS otherwise the “previous” copies will get deleted permanently. You have to clean the work-station at first and remove ChupaCabra ransomware infection. Leave the locked files as it is and follow the steps mentioned below.

Step1: Download the software in the work-station by clicking on the “Download” button below.

Step2: Execute the installer by clicking on downloaded files.

Step3: A license agreement page appears on the screen. Click on “Accept” to agree with its terms and use. Follow the on-screen instruction as mentioned and click on “Finish” button.

Step4: Once the installation gets completed, the program gets executed automatically. In the newly opened interface, select the file types that you want to recover and click on “Next”.

Step5: You can select the “Drives” on which you want the software to run and execute the recovery process. Next is to click on the “Scan” button.

Step6: Based on drive you select for scanning, the restore process begins. The whole process may take time depending on the volume of the selected drive and number of files. Once the process gets completed, a data explorer appears on the screen with preview of that data that is to be recovered. Select the files that you want to restore.

Step7. Next is to locate the location where you want to saver the recovered files.