Boot Ransomware

Have you allowed the malicious Boot Ransomware to slither into your Windows operating system? You might rush to claim that you had nothing to do with the invasion of this threat, but, unfortunately, it is likely that you executed it by opening a misleading spam email attachment or downloading something new from an unreliable source. Perhaps you left your operating system unguarded by skipping necessary security updates, and the existing vulnerabilities made it possible for the attackers to strike. Of course, it is possible that someone else was using your computer and let the infection in. Whatever the case is, you have to take some responsibility. In this report, we explain how to take care of the operating system to ensure that new threats could not slither in. We also discuss the damage caused by malware. Needless to say, we also show how to remove Boot Ransomware. If that is the only thing that you care about, please scroll down to the last paragraph in this report.

Boot Ransomware is part of the STOP Ransomware family, and it is pretty much identical to Karl Ransomware, Kuub Ransomware, Seto Ransomware, Kvag Ransomware, Moka Ransomware, and many other dangerous infections. The names of these threats are different because they attach different extensions to the files they corrupt. Boot Ransomware adds the “.boot” extension, of course. This extension is just a marker, and you will gain nothing by removing it. Even the removal of the infection overall will not affect the current state of your personal files. Once the dangerous ransomware slithers in, a complex algorithm is used to encrypt your files, and that renders them unreadable. To make them readable again, you need to obtain the decryptor, but it is in the hands of the attackers. It appears that a free decrypter was created by malware researchers, but it only decrypts files that were encrypted with an offline key. If you do not have backups that you could use to replace the corrupted files, trying out this free tool is definitely an option, but do not get your hopes up because your files might remain locked.

The encryption of files is the first task that Boot Ransomware completes. The second task is to drop a file named _readme.txt. It is created in the %HOMEDRIVE% directory, and you can open it safely before deleting it. The message inside this file is identical to all other messages that have been used by other STOP Ransomware infections. It informs about encryption and reassures that a “decrypt tool” provided by the attackers is the only tool that can help. The price of the tool is $490, but to learn about the method of payment, you are supposed to send your ID to gorentos@bitmessage.ch or gerentoshelp@firemail.cc. As you can see, things are quite complicated. First of all, if you communicate with the attackers, you might open a Pandora’s Box. Second, if you pay the ransom, you are likely to lose money for no good reason. Yes, the attackers promise you a decryptor, but can their promises be trusted? We do not believe that they can, and so we hope that you can use a free decryptor or, better yet, backups to restore files.

Whether or not you get your files back, you must delete Boot Ransomware. This infection might have encrypted most (if not all) of your personal files, and if that is the case, you might be more interested in restoring files than removing the infection. As we have discussed already, paying the ransom is not a good option, but you might be able to use a free decryptor. Of course, it is best if you can use backup copies to replace the corrupted files. Boot Ransomware is just one of the thousands of file-encrypting threats that could invade your system, and you really need to backup your files. We advise using external or online backups. The prevalence of malware is also the reason why we advise implementing trusted anti-malware software as soon as possible. You need a reliable security tool, and this software can ensure full-time protection. Furthermore, it can delete existing malware automatically. Since erasing the devious ransomware manually can be difficult, this is your best option.

Boot Ransomware Removal

1. If you can identify the launcher of the infection, right-click it and choose Delete.
2. Simultaneously tap Win+E keys to access the Windows Explorer window.
3. Type %HOMEDRIVE% into the field at the top and then tap Enter to access the directory.
4. Right-click and Delete a folder named SystemID and a file named _readme.txt.
5. Type %LOCALAPPDATA% into the field at the top and tap Enter.
6. Right-click and Delete the folder created by the infection. The name of this folder should represent a string of random letters and numbers (e.g., 0115174b-bd55-4caf-a89a-d8ff8132151f).
7. Empty Recycle Bin and then quickly install a legitimate malware scanner.
8. Run a full system scan and delete any threats that might be found.