Remove CryptoMeister Ransomware

How to Remove CryptoMeister Ransomware?

Readers recently started to report the following message being displayed when they boot their computer:

Vérrouillé
Votre ordinateur à été verrouillé
Tous vos fichiers ont été cryptés. Pour récupérer l’accès à votre PC, vous devez envoyer 0.1 bitcoin à l’adresse ci-dessous
loading
Etape 1 : Allez sur xxxxs://wvw.coinbase.com/siqnup
Etape 2: Créez un compte et suivez les instructions
Etape 3 : Allez dans la section “Acheter des bitcoins” puis achetez bitcoin
Etape 4: Allez dans la partie “Envoyer”, entrez l’adresse indiquée ci dessus et le montant (0.1 bitcoin)
Etape 5: Cliquez sur le bouton ci-dessous des que dest fait, vos fichiers seront décryptés et le virus disparaitra
‘Vérifier’
Si vous tentez de contourner le verrouillage, tous les fichiers seront publiés sur internet ainsi que vos identifiants pour tous les sites.

Locked
Your computer has been locked
All your files are encrypted. To gain access to your PC, you need to send to 0,1 Bitcoin address below
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Step 1: Go to the xxxxs: //wvw.coinbase.com/siqnup
Step 2: Create an account and follow the instructions
Step 3: Go to the section “Buy Bitcoins”, and then buy Bitcoin
Step 4: Go to the section “Send”, enter the email address above and the sum of (0,1 Bitcoin)
Step 5: click the button below to verify that the payment, your files will be decrypted and the virus disappear
‘Test’
If you try to bypass the lock, all the files will be published on the Internet, as well as your login for all sites.

CryptoMeister is a ransomware infection that preys on French-speaking users. How come? Well, it seems that way when you take a look at the note, it leaves. It’s written in both French and English. Now, that’s not something completely ground-breaking, but it is a rarity. Most ransomware have ransom notes only in English. This one made an effort to be bilingual, and we at least have to acknowledge that. You’ll find the note on your Desktop, as well as every affected folder. Its message is a standard one. “We have locked your data. Pay us if you wish to unlock it.” It’s a standard threat. But, there’s incentive for you. If you delay your payment, you lose files. Every ten minutes, the tool deletes random files from your computer. Once deleted, they’re gone forever. And, that sure does the trick as many users cave, and pay up. We’re here to say: DON’T DO THAT! Once you discover your files encrypted, say goodbye to them. Accept they are lost to you, right then and there, at that very moment. It’s a battle you cannot win. Whichever way you look at it, you lose the fight against a ransomware. It’s not worth to even try. It’s a harsh truth, but it is a truth. You best accept it. The sooner you come to terms with losing your files, the better. Remember that data is replaceable.

How did I get infected with?

CryptoMeister turns to trickery to invade your system. After all, it doesn’t appear out of thin air. The tool require approval on its admission. Oh, yes. You have to approve its install, or it cannot enter your PC. How do you imagine that went down? If a ransomware sought your permission on its install, wouldn’t you deny it? Well, yes. But only if you’re careful enough to catch it in the act. Don’t think the infection is straightforward. If it were, you can refuse it with ease, and move on. CryptoMeister can’t have that. So, the exchange is sly and subtle. It requires caution and due diligence to spot the tool’s inquiry. More often than not, it uses freeware in its invasive ploy. Or, spam email attachments. Or, bogus system or program updates. Here’s where caution is crucial. Every time, you install a tool or update, be extra attentive! Take as much time as you need to read the terms and conditions, and know what you agree to. That way, if you spot the ransomware trying to slither in undetected, you can stop it. Not get stuck with it. Even a little extra due diligence goes a long way. It can save you a ton of troubles. Always choose caution over carelessness. One keeps infection away. The other opens your system to them.

Why is CryptoMeister dangerous?

CryptoMeister sneaks into your system undetected. But, once inside, it doesn’t take long for it to strike. The infection spreads to every corner of your system, and takes over. It encrypts every single file, you have with a special algorithm. Pictures, videos, documents, music. One day, you find you can no longer access anything. They all have different names, and moving them or renaming them does nothing. The ransom note, you find, clues you into why that is. You fell victim to the CryptoMeister infection. Your data is now under its keep. But there is a way to get them back. The program offers you a solution to the problem, it created. Pay 0.1 BTC, and you’ll receive a decryption key. Apply it, and your files get unlocked. And, that seems like a fair trade, right? Wrong. To pay is to bury yourself deeper in trouble. Let’s play out that scenario, shall we? You transfer the requested amount. Then, what? You wait for the ransomware to send you the key, you need. Well, what if it doesn’t? Or, what if you gt one that doesn’t do the trick? But, even if you get the right one, and free your files, don’t think you’re in the clear. The decryption key, you pay for, removes the encryption. Do you get it now? You pay a ransom to unlock your data, but for how long? The infection remains on your computer. Nothing prevents the ransomware from encrypting your data at any given time, it so wishes. Payment achieves nothing. Compliance is futile. Not to mention, the severe security risk, you get exposed to. When transferring the sum, you leave financial and personal details. Information, the cyber extortionists can find, and exploit. Don’t hand over your private life to cyber criminals. Make the wiser choice, and forsake your files in the name of your privacy. It’s tough, but it’s right.

CryptoMeister Removal Instructions

STEP 1: Kill the Malicious Process

STEP 2: Reveal Hidden Files

STEP 3: Locate Startup Location

STEP 4: Recover CryptoMeister 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 CryptoMeister 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 CryptoMeister 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.