Do you know what skynet45@tutanota.com Ransomware is?
All Windows users need to learn about skynet45@tutanota.com Ransomware, a malicious infection that can encrypt files, which basically means that it can destroy them. If your operating system is protected reliably, and all of your personal files are backed up online or on portable drives, you have nothing to worry about. Even if your security system fails you, your files will not be destroyed. Unfortunately, not everyone takes care of their operating systems in the same way. Users who run outdated systems are particularly at risk because cyber attackers can use any vulnerability to drop malware. Even if your system is up-to-date, you could be tricked into letting in malware yourself. Whether you need tips to help you avoid ransomware, or you need to delete skynet45@tutanota.com Ransomware, the information in this report will help you.
Our malware experts discovered skynet45@tutanota.com Ransomware not too long ago, but this threat is not new to us because it is basically identical to raphaeldupon@aol.com Ransomware, blacklist@clock.li Ransomware, and a number of other threats that come from the Crysis (or Dharma) family. All of these threats encrypt files once they are inside the targeted operating system, and they always attach unique extensions to the corrupted files. In our case, it is the “.id-[8 characters].[skynet45@cock.li].combo” extension that includes the victim’s ID and the email address using which victims are meant to contact cyber attackers. This email address is also the name of the window that the threat launches after the files are corrupted and cannot be read as per usual. The window displays a message that lists the said email address along with a second address, skynet45@cock.li. They are also mentioned in the “FILES ENCRYPTED.txt” file that skynet45@tutanota.com Ransomware creates and that you need to remove.
skynet45@tutanota.com Ransomware screenshot
Scroll down for full removal instructions
Although the TXT file message is short, the one represented via the window is quite lengthy. It includes the email addresses, a unique ID code, and it instructs to email within 24 hours. If you do that, you should get additional details on how to pay a ransom and how much you are expected to pay. This should come as no surprise because the ransom note actually mentions that right off the bat: “You have to pay for decryption in Bitcoins. The price depends on how fast you write to us.” This ransom note also suggests sending one file for free decryption, and it explains how to buy Bitcoins, which is a process many victims might not be familiar with at all. The only problem is that you are not given any guarantees, and it is most likely that once you pay the ransom, your files will remain encrypted. If you restart your computer without removing skynet45@tutanota.com Ransomware first, the window ransom note should be launched automatically.
If you have been paying attention to what we were saying, you know that paying a ransom is not a good idea. Also, you now know how important it is to secure your operating system against malware. You can solve both problems – the removal of skynet45@tutanota.com Ransomware and the protection of your system – by installing anti-malware software. Although your files will not be restored when you delete the threat, you will start malware-free, and that is very important. The guide below shows how to delete skynet45@tutanota.com Ransomware manually, but if you are not up to the task (do not jump in if you do not know what you are doing), trust reliable anti-malware software to help you out.
Delete skynet45@tutanota.com Ransomware
- Delete the [RANDOM NAME].EXE file that launched the ransom (location/name unknown).
- Tap keys WIN+E at the exact same time to launch Explorer.
- Enter %APPDATA% into the field at the top of Explorer to access the directory.
- Right-click and Delete the file named INFO.HTA.
- Delete the same file in these directories:
- %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\
- %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\
- %APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\
- %WINDIR%\System32\
- Delete the file named FILES ENCRYPTED.txt that is found in these directories:
- %HOMEDRIVE%
- %PUBLIC%\Desktop\
- %USERPROFILE%\Desktop\
- Delete the [RANDOM NAME].EXE file in these directories:
- %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\
- %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\
- %APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\
- %WINDIR%\System32\
- Exit Explorer and then launch RUN by tapping WIN+R keys at the exact same time.
- Type REGEDIT.EXE into the box opened to you and click OK.
- In Registry Editor navigate to HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run.
- Delete all [RANDOM NAME] values whose value data points to Info.hta and [RANDOM NAME].EXE files.
- Exit Registry Editor and then Empty Recycle Bin to complete the operation.
- Finally, install and run a system scanner to check for malicious leftovers.
In non-techie terms:
You might not notice when skynet45@tutanota.com Ransomware slithers in or when it encrypts files, but you will notice the ransom demands that this malware displays via its window and a text file. According to the demands, you can restore files only if you pay a ransom, and to get more information about that, you are pushed to email cyber criminals at skynet45@tutanota.com or skynet45@cock.li. Do not do this if you do not want your inbox flooded with spam and phishing emails in the future. Also, do not pay the ransom if you do not want to lose your money along with your files. Hopefully, they are not lost because you have backup copies stored online or on portable drives. If that is not the case, keep in mind that you should back up your files in the future. Right now, you need to delete skynet45@tutanota.com Ransomware and secure your operating system, which is easiest to do using anti-malware software.