Do you know what Teamo Ransomware is?
Another HiddenTear-based ransomware infection has been detected recently by our specialists. It is called Teamo Ransomware. As in the case of other crypto-threats based on the HiddenTear engine, it slithers onto computers with the intention of completely encrypting users’ personal files. Because of this, its entrance always results in the loss of a number of personal files. Speaking specifically, your images, pictures, slides, videos, and other valuable files will be locked after its entrance thus making it impossible to access them. We know you need your files back badly, but their decryption is not what you should focus on right now. Instead, you should go to remove the ransomware infection from your computer as soon as possible so that it will not have a chance to encrypt your new files again. It seems that Teamo Ransomware targets Spanish-speaking users primarily because the entire ransom it leaves for users after encrypting their files is in Spanish, but, of course, it might reach all users no matter where they live. Delete the ransomware infection from your system as soon as possible even if you do not speak Spanish.
Teamo Ransomware is a new crypto-threat, but it does not differ much from other ransomware infections analyzed by our malware researchers. Since it has been developed for money extortion, it goes to do its main job right away following the successful entrance. To put it differently, it goes to encrypt users’ personal files. Research has shown that it targets the following directories: %USERPROFILE%\Desktop, %USERPROFILE%\Pictures, %USERPROFILE%\Downloads, and %USERPROFILE%\Videos. These directories have been chosen not without reason – they usually contain files users consider the most valuable, i.e. pictures, downloads, documents, videos, and more. You will realize immediately which of your files have been encrypted because they will all get the .teamo extension appended to them. Another symptom showing that Teamo Ransomware has infiltrated the computer is the presence of two ransom notes Hello Hi Hola como sea jaja.txt and ransom.jpg. The ransomware infection should also change your Wallpaper.
Users are told to contact the author to get files decrypted, but its contacts, e.g. an email address are not left for users, which suggests that it is impossible to purchase the decryption key from cyber criminals. Of course, this might change with new versions of Teamo Ransomware. Frankly speaking, it is never a good idea to send money to developers of malicious software. Even though victims are told that it is the only way to get files back, there are no guarantees that they will get the special decryption tool. Also, by sending money to cyber criminals, users encourage them to continue developing more harmful threats.
Teamo Ransomware screenshot
Scroll down for full removal instructions
Teamo Ransomware should not differ much from older ransomware infections, specialists say. Because of this, it is very likely that it is also primarily distributed via spam emails as an attachment. Since these attachments often look like harmless documents, the majority of users find out about the successful entrance of the ransomware infection only after they find a bunch of their files encrypted. According to our researchers, this ransomware infection should be spread using other distribution methods too. For example, it might be uploaded to corrupted websites administered by cyber criminals. In most cases, it is not very easy to prevent crypto-malware from slithering onto the computer illegally, so what we recommend for you is installing security software on your computer. This will only take several minutes, but you will be sure that you will not lose your personal data ever again.
You need to remove Teamo Ransomware from your computer as soon as possible even though your files will stay encrypted because this infection might strike again at any time and lock more data. You will just need to delete two files dropped by this infection and the malicious file launched. Additionally, you will need to remove the image set as your Desktop background. Below this article you will find the step-by-step instructions – feel free to use them.
How to remove Teamo Ransomware
- Press Win+R.
- Type regedit.exe and press Enter on your keyboard.
- Move to HKCU\Control Panel\Desktop.
- Delete the WallPaper Value.
- Close Registry Editor and open Explorer by tapping Win+E simultaneously.
- Open %USERPROFILE% and delete ransom.jpg.
- Delete Hello Hi Hola como sea jaja.txt from %USERPROFILE%\Desktop.
- Remove suspicious files you have downloaded recently from %USERPROFILE%\Downloads and %USERPROFILE%\Desktop.
- Empty Recycle bin.
In non-techie terms:
Teamo Ransomware is one of those malicious applications we are sure you would not want to encounter. Following the successful entrance, it always encrypts users’ personal files. Unlike other ransomware infections, it does not demand a ransom, but it does not mean that it will be easier to decrypt these affected files. Frankly speaking, it might even be impossible to get them back if you have never backed up your files. In any event, the ransomware infection must be deleted from the system as soon as possible.