Remove Josephnull Ransomware And Recover Encrypted Data

Simple Steps To Delete Josephnull Ransomware From PC

Josephnull Ransomware is a highly malicious file-encrypting malware that locks the data on the Windows PC systems and then blackmails the victimized users to extort ransom money. This notorious crypto-virus was first discovered by security researcher JAMESWT and is able to intrude the targeted systems by stealth without being acknowledged by the users. Soon after the penetration, it scans the entire machine in search of the files that have to be locked and once detected, encodes them at the end. This deadly crypto-virus makes use of a powerful encryption algorithm to encrypt your essential files and makes you unable to open them again.

Depth Analysis of Josephnull Ransomware:

Josephnull Ransomware can compromise almost all types of files including pictures, videos, audios, databases, spreadsheets, documents etc. and make them totally useless. It also appends “.crypted” extension with the name of each infected data and hence, they can be easily identified. Once the encryption process is completed, this precarious malware displays couple of ransom notes in a pop-up window (“HOW_TO_DECYPHER_FILES.hta”) and “HOW_TO_DECYPHER_FILES.txt” file. These notes inform victims regarding the attack and also provide the data-recovery instruction.

Josephnull Ransomware leaves the instruction in the ransom note that includes an email address in order to contact the attackers and get more details. At the end, you might have to pay them a ransom amount of $200 to $1500 in BitCoins or any other digital currency to get the decryption software/key and open the compromised data. You are also warned that of you don’t establish contact with the hackers within 48 hours, you may loss the infected files completely. You are promised that once the payment is made, you will be delivered the required decryptor.

Text Presented In The Pop-up Window:

Your Files are Encrypted.

Don’t worry, you can return all your files!

I don’t want to loose your files too. if i want to do something bad to you i would’ve wipe all of your network but that’s not helping me. 🙂

so temporary all of your files is mine now until you pay the price of them.

If you want to restore them contact me from the address below, i’ll be happy to help you to get out of this situation.

You’ve got 48 hours(2 Days), before you lost your files forever.

I will treat you good if you treat me good too.

The Price to get all things to the normal : 20,000$

My BTC Wallet ID :

1F6sq8YvftTfuE4QcYxfK8s5XFUUHC7sD9

Contact :

[email protected]

Contact: [email protected]

Key Identifier: –

Text Presented In The “HOW_TO_DECYPHER_FILES.txt” File:

Your files were safely cyphered.

Contact: [email protected]

Key Identifier:

–

Should You Pay the Ransom?

You certainly don’t want to lose your crucial data and may consider dealing with Josephnull Ransomware authors but still, we highly advise to not do so. Remember, the only motive of such crooks behind creating such file-encoding viruses is to extort illicit money from the victimized people, they will never provide any decryption tool even after taking the extortion. There are multiple instances when hackers just took the ransom from the victims and then ran away without fulfilling their promises. Paying ransom to the criminals is never recommended as by doing so, you will only end up with losing both files as well as money and also exposing your credentials to the scammers.

Things To Do In Such Perilous Situation:

The first thing you need to do here is to remove Josephnull Ransomware from the computer instantly as the longer it stays inside, it keeps infecting your other essential data. As far as restoring the infected files is concerned, use a backup made on any external drive. However, in the absence of a proper backup, you can try a strong file-recovery application which you can download right here through the link given under this article. Moreover, security experts highly advise to keep making regular backups by the help of which, you can easily restore the infected files at some amount if such hazardous situation occurs whenever.

Threat Details

Name: Josephnull Ransomware

Type: Ransomware, Crypto-virus

Description– Destructive malware that locks users’ crucial files and then asks them to pay the attackers an amount of ransom for the decryption key/tool.

Extension: “.crypted”

Ransom Demanding Message: Pop-up window, HOW_TO_DECYPHER_FILES.txt and text presented in the screen displayed following user log-in

Attackers’ BitCoins wallet: 1F6sq8YvftTfuE4QcYxfK8s5XFUUHC7sD9 (Bitcoin)

Attackers’ Contact: [email protected] and [email protected]

Symptoms: Users can not open files available on their system, previously functional files now have different extensions, A ransom demanding message is displayed on the desktop screen. Users are asked to pay an amount of ransom to unlock their encoded data and files.

Distribution methods: Spam emails, Torrent websites, peer to peer network sharing, unofficial activation and updating tools.

Damage: All files are encrypted and cannot be accessed without paying ransom, Additional password stealing Trojans and malware infections can be installed along with ransomware infections and other malware.

Removal: To remove this virus from the system, we advise you to use a reliable anti-malware tool. Once malware gets removed, you can recover your files by using existing backup or data-recovery software.

Distribution of Josephnull Ransomware:

The method of propagating any type of crypto-virus including this one is always the same. Cyber actors behind this threat are making use of spam mass-mailing campaign in order to reach targeted systems users’ randomly. They often attach executable of the malware on the email and disguise it as valid document. Convincing the email recipient is simply accomplished by making the messages eye-catching and states that further details are in the attached document. However, as soon as the attached file is opened, run or executed, it initiates the infection of Josephnull Ransomware. Other popular way to spread malware threats is software bundles. Hackers are enfolding the virus to certain freeware or cracked programs and upload them to servers like torrents, file-sharing networks and software download websites. When people run the setup, the malware is likewise executed and will start to infect the work-station.

Tips To Prevent Such Attacks:

In order to avoid the risk of being a victim of such deadly crypto-viruses, never open suspicious emails that contain questionable attachment or web links or coming from unknown sender. Cyber actors often send emails that contain vicious attachments. Hackers usually attach MS office, PDF documents, exe files, and JavaScript files. Once you open the attachment, those spiteful files install pernicious application. Moreover, avoid using software cracking tools since it is not legal. They always download and install malware on the computer instead of activating software. Be very care while installing a freeware. Always choose Custom or Advanced settings instead of the Quick or Recommended one and reject the components that give a concerning look. But at the moment, just take an immediate action and remove Josephnull Ransomware from the computer by following the complete removal steps given below.

Antimalware Details And User Guide

Click Here For Windows

Click Here For Mac

Step 1: Remove Josephnull Ransomware through “Safe Mode with Networking”

Step 2: Delete Josephnull Ransomware using “System Restore”

Step 1: Remove Josephnull 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 Josephnull Ransomware using “System Restore”

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