How to Remove JNEC.a Ransomware (+File Recovery)

How to Remove JNEC.a Ransomware?

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

Deposit amount: 0.05 BTC
BTC Address: 1JK1gnn4KEQRf8n7pHZiNvmV8WTXfq7kVa
Your ID: [redacted]
Your Email: [redacted] (Create a mail to get the decryption key)

JNEC.a is yet another ransomware virus. This parasite sneaks into your system through trickery and corrupts everything. The virus spreads its roots around your entire system. It alters settings, modifies the registry, corrupts essential system folders, and starts dangerous processes. This, of course, happens without any noticeable symptoms. You cannot catch the ransomware in time to prevent its infiltration. JNEC.a ransomware infects your entire system without triggering any alarms. It gets your OS under control and starts its malicious operations. This nasty virus follows programming to detect and corrupt the user-generated data. The ransomware is after your pictures, documents, archives, databases. It detects your files and locks them with strong encryption algorithms. The virus gets your data under lock and key and drops its ransom note. This ransomware opens a pop-up window which contains basic information about the virus, as well as lists the hackers’ demands. The threat actors ask for 0.05 BTC paid in Bitcoin. They urge their victims to create a Gmail account with a unique username which they provide in their ransom note. The hackers promise to contact the victims once they receive the ransom. Do not swing into action, though! There is no decryption tool for JNEC.a Ransomware. Due to faulty code, even the hackers are unable to remove the ransomware’s lock. Sadly, your only course of action is the removal of the virus.

How did I get infected with?

JNEC.a ransomware exploits the CVE-2018-20250 vulnerability found in the well-known WinRAR app. The virus sneaks into your system once you open a compromised archive through the vulnerable application. Security researchers report that a malicious file called vk_4221345.rar is the culprit behind the infection. This dangerous archive might reach your system through compromised websites, corrupted links, spam emails, and torrents. As you can see, the Internet is a dangerous place. You can never know where a parasite might strike from. The best way to protect yourself from parasites is to enforce a strong security policy. Do not visit questionable websites. Download software and files from reputable (preferably official) sources only. If your apps have built-in update functions, don’t hesitate to use them. Make sure that your system has the latest security updates. And, of course, be very careful with your inbox. Whether it’s an instant message or an email, treat all unexpected messages as potential threats. Always verify their senders. If, for example, you receive an unexpected email from an organization, go to their official website. Compare the email addresses listed there to the suspicious one. If they don’t match, delete the pretender immediately. You can also enter the suspicious addresses into a search engine. If they were used for questionable business, someone might have complained online. Do not give into naivety. Even a little extra caution can spare you an avalanche of problems!

Why is JNEC.a dangerous?

JNEC.a ransomware is a complete and utter menace. It slithers into your system and wrecks it. The virus locks your files and prevents you from accessing them. You can still see the icons of your pictures, music, databases, archives, but you cannot view or edit them. The virus makes your device useless. Everything you save gets corrupted. JNEC.a ransomware holds your files as hostages and demands an astonishing ransom. Unfortunately, there is no third-party decryption tool for this virus. Paying the ransom is also not an option. Even the threat actors cannot undo the encryption. Don’t waste your time and money. Do not even consider paying the ransom. You will get nothing in return. Do what’s best for you and your system. Remove the ransomware ASAP! Find where this menace lurks and delete it upon detection. If you have file backups saved to external devices, you can use them to recover your data. Just make sure that the virus is completely removed before you attempt any file-recovery operations!

JNEC.a Removal Instructions

STEP 1: Kill the Malicious Process

STEP 2: Reveal Hidden Files

STEP 3: Locate Startup Location

STEP 4: Recover JNEC.a 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 JNEC.a 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 JNEC.a 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.