Do you know what Josephnull Ransomware is?
Josephnull Ransomware is a harmful application that can take away from you all of your precious and important files. The malware does not damage any files, but it encrypts them with a robust encryption algorithm. As a result, files become unusable without special decryption tools that, sadly, only the malware’s developers might provide. It is terrible news because hackers behind the threat demand paying a ransom and promise to deliver the needed decryption tools afterward. As you can imagine, there are no guarantees that they will hold on to their promise. Thus, whether you pay the ransom or not, your files could be lost forever if you have no backup copies. Further, in the article, we explain more about how the malicious application works. If you are interested in its manual deletion as well, we encourage you to check our removal guide available at the end of this article.
Josephnull Ransomware could be distributed through unsecured RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol) connections. Thus, if you are currently using such connections to work or study remotely, you should secure them at once. Also, the malicious application could be spread through spam emails, pop-ups and ads, as well as unreliable file-sharing websites. Consequently, we advise being cautious when you open files that are downloaded or received through questionable sources. In fact, hackers can easily create email messages, pop-ups, and websites that might look legit. Therefore, you should never lose your guard down. Even if the email message seems reliable, it does not hurt to check its details. As for files downloaded or received from the Internet and other users, we recommend scanning them with a reputable antimalware tool before you open them.
According to our researchers, Josephnull Ransomware might encrypt various valuable data, such as documents, pictures, etc. Files that get encrypted should not only be locked with a robust encryption algorithm but also get a second extension called .crypted. For instance, a file titled penguins.jpg would become penguins.jpg.crypted. If the file is affected in the described manner, you should be unable to open it. That is because your computer should be unable to read the encrypted file. To make matters worse, the threat could also delete shadow copies to make it more challenging to recover encrypted files. The only other way to get them back without shadow copies is to replace them with backup copies. However, this option might not be available to everyone as not all users back up their data. After the encryption, Josephnull Ransomware might change users’ desktop images and open ransom notes called HOW_TO_DECYPHER_FILES.hta.
Josephnull Ransomware screenshot
Scroll down for full removal instructions
The threat’s ransom note may say that you will get the decryption tools that would help you decrypt all of your files as soon as you pay the ransom. The problem is that hackers cannot give any guarantees as they ask to pay first. Needless to say that if you do not want to risk being scammed, we do not recommend putting up with their demands. Another thing that we advise is to erase Josephnull Ransomware because if you leave it be it is possible that it could restart with the operating system and encrypt more data.
Users who want to try to delete Josephnull Ransomware manually could use the removal guide available below. If the task seems too complicated, we advise employing a reputable antimalware tool that could take care f the threat for you.
Erase Josephnull Ransomware
- Restart your computer in Safe Mode with Networking.
- Click Windows Key+E.
- Navigate to the suggested paths:
%TEMP%
%USERPROFILE%Desktop
%USERPROFILE%Downloads - Find a file opened when the device got infected, right-click the malicious file, and select Delete.
- Find this path: %TEMP%
- Find a malicious .exe file with a title from random characters (e.g., maf1udjw.exe), right-click it, and choose Delete.
- Locate and erase files called HOW_TO_DECYPHER_FILES.
- Exit File Explorer.
- Press Windows Key+R, type Regedit, and choose OK.
- Navigate to this path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
- Look for a value names called LegalNoticeCaption and LegalNoticeText.
- Right-click these value names and press Delete or change their values.
- Close the Registry Editor.
- Empty Recycle bin.
- Restart the computer.
In non-techie terms:
Josephnull Ransomware is a malicious application created by cybercriminals seeking to extort money from their victims. Therefore, they have programmed the threat so that it would encrypt valuable files, and users would be unable to access them. To reverse the process, hackers offer their decryption tools in exchange for a particular sum of US dollars. The price might differ depending on who the victim is. For example, cybercriminals might ask much more from business organizations and various institutions. Whatever the price could be, we advise not to pay the ransom if you do not want to risk losing your money in vain. As mentioned earlier, there are no guarantees that hackers will hold on to their end of the deal. We also advise ensuring that the malware gets erased. To remove Josephnull Ransomware, you could use the removal guide available above or a reputable antimalware tool.