Do you know what Nols Ransomware is?
Perhaps you have failed to realize this, but your operating system is vulnerable. If you do not protect it, Nols Ransomware could slither in and take over your personal files. Although this infection does not remove files, it changes the data within them, and that, in many cases, means that files are basically lost. The infection comes from the STOP Ransomware family (other threats that belong to it include Noos Ransomware, Reco Ransomware, and hundreds of others), and a free STOP Decrypter exists. If files are corrupted using an offline key, this tool is usually able to help some. Unfortunately, the Nols version was not decryptable at the time of research. Well, if you cannot restore files, perhaps you can replace them? If there are copies of your personal files stored in backup, you should have this option. In any case, deleting Nols Ransomware is important, and this is what we focus on in this report.
It is impossible to know for sure how Nols Ransomware entered your operating system, but there is a good chance that you opened a corrupted spam email or that you left your remote access vulnerable. Note that cybercriminals can exploit even the tiniest security backdoors to execute malware. When file-encrypting ransomware slithers in, files are corrupted immediately. The data is changed, and then the “.nols” extension is added to the original names. You can remove this extension, but what’s the point? It is the data of your files that is changed and that you need to restore. Unfortunately, as you now know, a free decryptor does not exist, which means that you are more likely to be pushed into wasting money on the decryptor that is introduced to you via the “_readme.txt” file. We believe that doing that would be a waste of money because cybercriminals’ promises to give you something in return for money are likely to be empty.
Nols Ransomware screenshot
Scroll down for full removal instructions
According to the Nols Ransomware ransom note represented via the TXT file, you only have 72 hours to contact the attackers at gorentos@bitmessage.ch or amundas@firemail.cc and pay the ransom of $490. After that, the ransom should go up to $980, which is a significant increase. Even if the attackers decrypt one file for free, you cannot know for sure whether or not your files would be decrypted if you paid the ransom? In fact, we are pretty sure that you would not get a decryptor in return, and that is why we hope that backups exist and that you can replace the corrupted files. If you think that you can make a deal with cybercriminals, you need to think once again because all they care about is money, and once they know that you need a decryptor, they are unlikely to discuss other options. On top of that, if you email the attackers, you could put yourself at risk of receiving misleading messages containing new malware launchers.
Even if Nols Ransomware is not decryptable at this time, perhaps you will be able to use the STOP Decrypter in the future. Of course, it is most ideal if you can delete the corrupted files and drop the backup copies in their place. If you do not have backup copies, make it a point to always backup all files in the future. We advise using cloud storage platforms or external drives because using internal backups is too risky. Of course, if you have backups, you want to handle them AFTER you remove Nols Ransomware. Manual removal can be too complex due to the random location and name of the main launcher file. However, if you employ an anti-malware program, it will have no problem finding and erasing all malware components. Even more, it will have no problem protecting you against new infections in the future.
Delete Nols Ransomware
- If you can identify the malicious file that launched the infection, right-click and Delete it.
- Tap Win+E to access Explorer and then enter %homedrive% into the box at the top.
- Right-click and Delete the file called _readme.txt and a folder called SystemID.
- Enter %localappdata% into the box at the top.
- Right-click and Delete the folder that contains ransomware files.
- Exit Explorer and then Empty Recycle Bin.
- Run a full system scan using a trusted malware scanner.
In non-techie terms:
Nols Ransomware is an infection that was designed to corrupt your personal files. They are corrupted using a special encryption key, and after the process is complete, the corrupted files can be read only if a decryption key is applied. Where is this key, and how can you get it? It should be in the hands of cybercriminals, and they want you to pay money for it, but, as you know, cybercriminals are not to be trusted, and if you pay for the decryptor, you are most likely to get nothing in return. Please keep this in mind. Ideally, you can replace the corrupted files with backups stored someplace safe. First, you want to remove Nols Ransomware, and while some people should have no trouble doing that manually, we advise implementing anti-malware software. It will automatically erase threats and also secure your system against attacks in the future.