Remove Captcha ransomware and secure your files

Easy methods to delete Captcha ransomware

Captcha ransomware is newly detected ransomware threat that belongs to the family of Makop ransomware. It is able to take complete control over your entire system. It drops rootkit in your computing machine and detects all kinds of files and documents stored in your PC including texts, documents, presentations, videos, pictures and many more. Well, it uses very strong cryptographic algorithm and quickly encrypt all your important files without wasting any time. After that, it encrypts files by adding cyber criminals email address, users ID and by appending “.captcha” extension to the end of every encrypted file.

After completing the locking process, Captcha ransomware creates a ransom note named “build note.txt” which is placed to the every folder where encryption occurred. As written in the ransom note that there is only one way to decrypt files is to purchase tool that can only be provided by its developers. In order to get instructions on how to purchase decryption tools from the cyber criminals users are instructed them to write an email to the provided email address. Users are also warned not to decrypt files with third party tools as it might damage data.

Text presented in Captcha ransomware ransomware’s text file (“build note.txt”):

We took advantage of your server’s weakness and blocked your files.
Server protection is an important part of successful and trouble-free
use of files and sharing of your company’s private information.

PLEASE note that third-party recovery programs will DAMAGE your files
and cause permanent loss of important data. Any experiments on recovery
are done at your own risk.

When requesting recovery assistance, please specify the KEY
that can be found in the name of the blocked files.

If you refuse to restore your files, they will remain locked forever.

=======Mailing address for communication =======

Main = [email protected] (we respond within 24 hours)
Spare = [email protected] (write here if you have not received a response from the main email address)

Please pay attention
We will also help you protect your server from threats from the
network and point out errors made by the administrator and moderators.

–The time limit for recovery is limited!—

Should I trust on the cyber-hackers?

However, victims may feel clueless of how they can restore their files. But paying ransom to them should never be an option as cyber security expert always advises not to pay money to them. Being a cyber criminal, they should not be trusted in any way. As there is no any guarantee that they will provide the decryptors tool after paying. So, in such case, it is better to create a copy of the encrypted files and keep them safe to a separate location. As the researcher often release the decryptors tool for the infected users. For now, you should remove Captcha ransomware by using reliable anti-malware tool.

How to recover the files?

Security experts never recommend paying the ransom as the extortionists does not have any guarantee to provide the decryption tool even after paying the ransom. Besides that, paying money encourages such crimes and earns profit by illegal ways. Thus, you should remove Captcha ransomware threat completely from the system and then find out the recovery methods. It is better to keep backup of all your important files in a separate flash drive and later use it in order to get back all encrypted files. The other option is to use third party data recovery tool.

Few points concluded from the ransom note:

• The files on the computer including images, audios, videos, documents, backups etc are encrypted with unique key.
• The users can only recover them back by paying money to the authors and by purchasing the decryption key from them.
• To contact the authors, users can email them at [email protected].
• Although, the ransom amount is not mentioned but the authors asks to buy the Bitcoin which the ransom is demanded in the form of Bitcoin.
• However, to clear the doubts victims can send them some of their encrypted files that should not contain any sensitive information.

Distribution methods of Captcha ransomware:

Ransomware and other malware distribution occur commonly through scam campaigns, untrustworthy download channels, fake software updaters and unofficial software activation tools. Scam campaigns contain some infectious files/links on them. When users click such attachments, they are asked to enable macros commands. If done, the users are tricked into the process of download/install malware.

Fake software updaters exploit bugs/flaws of outdated software or directly download malware instead of providing updates. Untrustworthy download channels such as free file hosting sites, p2p sharing networks, third party installer and others offer rogue applications. Finally, unofficial software activation tools infect computer by supposedly bypassing the activation key for paid software.

Short description

Name: Captcha ransomware

Type: Ransomware, Cryptovirus, Files locker

Extension: .captcha  

Ransom demanding message: build note.txt

Cyber Criminal Contact: [email protected]  

Symptoms: The ransomware will encrypt your files by appending the extension .captcha to them making them inaccessible. Ransom fee demanded.

Distribution methods: Infected email attachments (macros), torrent websites, malicious ads, unofficial activation and updating tools and many more.

Removal: To remove Captcha ransomware or similar malware, we recommend you to scan your PC without strong anti-malware removal tool and use data recovery software to restore files encrypted by ransomware.

Antimalware Details And User Guide

Click Here For Windows

Click Here For Mac

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

Step 2: Delete Captcha ransomware using “System Restore”

Step 1: Remove Captcha 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 Captcha ransomware using “System Restore”

Log-in to the account infected with Captcha 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 Captcha 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 Captcha 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 Captcha 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 Captcha 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 Captcha 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 Captcha 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 Captcha 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 Captcha 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.