Remove Ciop Virus Ransomware (+.Ciop File Recovery)

How to Remove Ciop Ransomware?

Ciop is the name of a ransomware infection. It’s an atrocious cyber threat that’s hazardous and harmful. The tool finds a way into your system via slyness and finesse. Then, once it settles, proceeds to spread corruption. It uses cryptography algorithms to lock your files. Then, demands payment for their release. Yes, you’ve fallen victim to an extortion scam. Ciop encrypts every single file on your PC. Photographs, videos, music, archives, documents. Only files that are of the utmost importance to your operating system are without encryption. Everything else falls under the tool’s clutches. You discover your files renamed. The infection adds the ‘ciop’ extension at the end of each one. That’s how it gets its name. Say, you have a file called ‘sunday.jpg.’ After the ransomware’s done with it, it becomes ‘sunday.jpg.ciop.’ You can try changing its name, or moving it, but it’s futile. The only way to remove the encryption, and free your files, is via a decryption key. A special decryption key, that only the people behind the ransomware can provide. And, you’ve guessed it! If you wish to get a hold of you, you have to comply and pay up. Do NOT! Don’t pay. Don’t reach out to these people. Don’t follow their instructions. Compliance guarantees you nothing. Well, nothing but regret. Don’t comply.

How did I get infected with?

The Ciop tool uses slyness to slither into your system. It resorts to the old but gold invasive methods. That includes, posing as a fake system or program update. Lurking behind freeware, corrupted links, sites, or torrents. And, more often than not, it invades via spam email messages. One day, you get an email that seems to be legitimate. It claims to come from a well-known company, like Amazon or PayPal. And, the email claims that you need to click a link, or download an attachment. If you’re foolish enough to do so, you get stuck with Ciop. Do your best not to get tricked. Be extra attentive, and don’t give into naivety and distraction. Don’t rush, but take your time to be thorough. Even a little extra attention can save you a ton of troubles. Remember to always choose caution over carelessness.

Why is Ciop dangerous?

Once the encryption is complete, you get a ransom note. The Ciop tool provides you with instructions on what’s expected of you. The note is usually a text file, you can find on your Desktop. As well as, in each folder that contains affected files. It’s a pretty standard one. It clues you into your predicament, and gives you a way out. If you pay the ransom, you’ll get sent the decryption key you need. Apply it, and you’ll free your files. The ransom is to get paid in Bitcoin. The exact amount isn’t specified. But it can vary from $500 to $1000 US Dollars. Or, even more than that. Supposedly, if you comply, you’ll get your data unlocked. But what guarantees do you have of that happening? None! The infection provides no assurances, other than the word of the cyber kidnappers. And, they’re hardly a trustworthy source. These are strangers, who seized control of your files, and extort you for monetary gain. Can you trust them to follow through on their promise to send you the key, you pay for? No. No, you cannot. The extortionists give you a deadline of only a few days to decide whether to pay, or not. And, then, they threaten to delete the decryption key that unlocks your files. That’s yet another ploy, they use, to incentivize you into payment. It’s classic scare tactics. Don’t fall for it. Don’t let them push you into acting against your best interests. You cannot trust them to keep their word. These cyber criminals only care for your money. They don’t care whether you get your files back, or not. You can pay them, and they can choose NOT to send you a key. Or, send one that doesn’t work. Ans, even if you do get the right one, there’s still a ransomware on your PC. You pay to remove the encryption not the encryptor. So, the Ciop tool is free to strike again mere seconds after you decrypt your data. Then, you’re back to square one. Don’t pay. Don’t comply.

Ciop Removal Instructions

STEP 1: Kill the Malicious Process

STEP 2: Reveal Hidden Files

STEP 3: Locate Startup Location

STEP 4: Recover Ciop Encrypted Files

STEP 1: Stop the malicious process using Windows Task Manager

• Open your task Manager by pressing CTRL+SHIFT+ESC keys simultaneously
• Locate the process of the ransomware. Have in mind that this is usually a random generated file.
• Before you kill the process, type the name on a text document for later reference.

• Locate any suspicious processes associated with Ciop encryption Virus.
• Right click on the process
• Open File Location
• End Process
• Delete the directories with the suspicious files.
• Have in mind that the process can be hiding and very difficult to detect

STEP 2: Reveal Hidden Files

• Open any folder
• Click on “Organize” button
  
• Choose “Folder and Search Options”
• Select the “View” tab
• Select “Show hidden files and folders” option
• Uncheck “Hide protected operating system files”
• Click “Apply” and “OK” button

STEP 3: Locate Ciop encryption Virus startup location

• Once the operating system loads press simultaneously the Windows Logo Button and the R key.

• A dialog box should open. Type “Regedit”
• WARNING! be very careful when editing the Microsoft Windows Registry as this may render the system broken.

Depending on your OS (x86 or x64) navigate to:

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run] or
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run] or
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run]

• and delete the display Name: [RANDOM]

• Then open your explorer and navigate to:

Navigate to your %appdata% folder and delete the executable.

You can alternatively use your msconfig windows program to double check the execution point of the virus. Please, have in mind that the names in your machine might be different as they might be generated randomly, that’s why you should run any professional scanner to identify malicious files.

STEP 4: How to recover encrypted files?

• Method 1: The first and best method is to restore your data from a recent backup, in case that you have one.

• Method 2: File Recovery Software – Usually when the ransomware encrypts a file it first makes a copy of it, encrypts the copy, and then deletes the original. Due to this you may try to use file recovery software to recover some of your original files.
• Method 3: Shadow Volume Copies – As a last resort, you can try to restore your files via Shadow Volume Copies. Open the Shadow Explorer part of the package and choose the Drive you want to recover. Right click on any file you want to restore and click Export on it.