Do you know what the Coban ransomware is?
The Coban ransomware is a malicious threat that freezes the computer by making different files inaccesible. Upon installation, the infection scans different directories to encode files and skips the directories Windows and Program files. Unlike the vast majority of ransomware infections, the Coban ransomware does not have it interface containing some logo and detailed instructions on what and why just has happened on your PC. Instead, the infection creates multiple files containing brief requirements for the victims. If your computer is infected with the Coban ransomware or any other threat attempting to obtain your money, you should ignore its requirements and remove the infection from the computer.
The Coban ransomware is one of many money extortion-oriented threats circulating on the Internet. Ransomware, as well as other types of threats, is categorized into families because of shared coding or other characteristics. Coban is attributed to a family that also includes the Mole ransomware, CryptoShield ransomware, and Revenge ransomware.
After encrypting files, the Coban ransomware adds the extension .coban. Moreover, it creates ransom notes named _HELP_INSTRUCTION in every directory affected. In the ransom file, which is a .txt file, the victim is informed that the encryption has taken place because of some vulnerability in the system. In order to decode files, the victim is supposed to purchase a certain sum of bitcoins, which is not specified, and send them to attackers. The ransom warning does not provide the digital wallet address but contains the email address ms.decry@aol.com to which the unique identification code created by the infection has to be send. If you do not want to lose a big sum of money, do not bother writing an email to the attackers. Instead, remove the Coban ransomware from the computer as soon as you can and shield the system against ransomware and other threats.
Malware researchers and law enforcement institutions work on raising awareness of ransomware and its danger because of the increasing numbers of victimized computer users. Ransomware creators seek to gain profit, and they do not care about helping their victims to restore the data lost. It is essential to ignore the demands of ransomware infections to pay a release fee even though the attackers promise to decrypt a few files before the victim submits the fee required. The probability of regaining access to encrypted data is extremely low, which means that paying up is just a waste of time.
Coban Ransomware screenshot
Scroll down for full removal instructions
A lot of affected PC users give in to the demands to pay hefty fees because of the fear to lose access to their data for good. This is proved by the substantial sums earned by the hackers over the last years. In addition, people take the risk of paying ransoms because they do not have backups of their files. Making a copy of your valuable file, be it photos, excel sheets, word documents, or any other files that you might need in the future, is crucial. Ransomware is one of the most destructive type of malware, and if you continue using the PC without reputable protection against different strains of threats, you risk your privacy and valuable data.
When it comes to removal, we recommend that you rely on an anti-malware program so that you can be sure that every nook and cranny is scanned and checked for dangerous files. If you want to remove the Coban ransomware manually, the removal instructions will guide you through the whole process. After terminating the threat, considering scanning the system to find whether some part of the system needs another check-up.
How to remove the Coban ransomware
- Use the keyboard shortcut Win+R to open Run.
- Type in regedit and click Ok.
- Follow the path HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run | BC0EBCF2F2 and delete the value BC0EBCF2F2.
- Follow the path HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce | *BC0EBCF2F2and delete the value*BC0EBCF2F2.
- Use the Win+R shortcut to open the %ALLUSERSPROFILE% directory.
- Remove the file BC0EBCF2F2.exe.
- Access the Application data directory and delete BC0EBCF2F2.exe.
In non-techie terms:
The Coban ransomware is a dangerous computer infection that takes the vast majority of files hostage in exchange for an unspecified release fee. Such threats get on the computer sneakily alongside other software programs or disguised as a legitimate desktop application. In order to prevent further damage or financial loss, it is highly advisable to ignore the requirement to pay a ransom. Instead of paying up, you should remove the infection and implement a tool that can fight off malware of different types.