"0010 SYSTEM FAILURE 0010" Ransomware - How to remove

“SYSTEM FAILURE” is one name for the new cryptovirus which targets PC users. This virus locks user-created files (like photos and documents) and then presents you with an alarmist message (that vaguely looks like Windows 7’s blue screen error) and includes words like “IMMINENT SHUTDOWN” and “SYSTEM FAILURE“. It’s designed to scare people into acting hastily and writing to the [email protected] email to contact the criminals who caused this.

If you are a victim of the “SYSTEM FAILURE” virus, then whether or not you contacted the extortionists behind [email protected], I suggest you skim over this article and try alternate ways of dealing with the infection. Cryptovirus developers and distributors should not be trusted, not just because what they’re doing is illegal, but also because almost half the time paying the ransom does not work. It’s much easier for ransomware developers to take the money and leave, while others are just too incompetent to properly reverse the encryption.

The harm

In case it’s not from the note, the people who made “SYSTEM FAILURE” are the same people who want to sell the decryptor. Online extortionists usually ask for a few hundred dollars, but the price for “SYSTEM FAILURE” decryption is not specified. DJVU viruses, like Drume, ask for at least $490, Ppam for $700, CryptoID for $400. In general, some victims of ransomware negotiate and get the price lower, others report that the extortionists demand more money after the first payment.

Like the note from the developers says, the documents, media, and other files are locked and can likely only be decrypted with the help of their decryptor. Encryption that “SYSTEM FAILURE” uses is reversible (if properly done), but only with the help of a decryption key — which only the extortionists have. For now, the locked files may as well be lost.

At least the operating system should be intact, as ransomware developers usually try to not encrypt any important system files. So you won’t have to reinstall Windows, but you really should scan it, as sometimes ransomware comes together with other nasty malware.

Details about “SYSTEM FAILURE”

The suffix given to the encrypted files is different for each file, it’s a short random string of characters.

picture.jpg -> picture.jpg.gz2Mc7T

This makes the virus difficult to identify, as usually ransomware are named after that suffix that they give to the locked files. Thus, SYSTEM FAILURE is identified by the ransom note’s first line, or possibly by the email address given to contact the developer — [email protected].

DECRYPT-FILES.html is the name of the file that contains a message from the makers of the SYSTEM FAILURE virus. Here’s the full text:

0010 SYSTEM FAILURE 0010
Attention! Your documents, photos, databases, and other important files have been encrypted!

The only way to decrypt your files, is to buy the private key from us.
You can decrypt one of your files for free, as a proof that we have the method to decrypt the rest of your data.
In order to receive the private key contact us via email: 
[email protected]
Remember to hurry up, as your email address may not be avaliable for very long.
Buying the key immediatly will guarantee that 100% of your files will be restored.
Below you will see a big base64 blob, you will need to email us and copy this blob to us.
you can click on it, and it will be copied into the clipboard.
If you have troubles copying it, just send us the file you are currently reading, as an attachment.

Html are files that are opened by Web browsers, but they are no more than formatted text files, so the note isn’t dangerous.

Be prepared for ransomware

The best defense against ransomware is keeping copies of your files so that even if your computer is infected by something like “SYSTEM FAILURE”, you still have recent versions of all the important files that are safely stored separately from the computer. Some people’s way of dealing with a cryptovirus (or any serious virus) is to wipe the disk and reinstall their OS, then restore the files! File backups are invaluable.

Be aware of how ransomware is distributed and secure any security holes that make your system vulnerable: Remote Desktop should be restricted and protected with complex passwords, your antivirus software should be always updated and free to scan any new files before you open them, and your browsing should be secured against exploitation. Ransomware is often distributed in spam emails, so familiarise yourself with their red flags and avoid opening them (instead, it might be a good idea to report malicious spam to whoever they’re trying to impersonate).

Remove the “SYSTEM FAILURE” virus

The virus should have deleted itself, but it’s possible that it didn’t. Scan your computer with an antivirus program. You can use Spyhunter, or another antivirus program that you trust. Files encrypted by ransomware viruses are generally not a threat, so they won’t be removed, but it’s important to be certain that no malware is left on your PC. Not just “SYSTEM FAILURE”, but also any friends that it might have brought with.

Because “SYSTEM FAILURE” is new, there is no information yet about its possible relations to other ransomware. It’s very unlikely that free decryption will become available. But you can try restoring lost files from a backup. Even if you don’t remember creating restore points, follow the guide below this post to see if any steps work for you.

Automatic Malware removal tools

How to recover "0010 SYSTEM FAILURE 0010" Ransomware encrypted files and remove the virus

Step 1. Restore system into last known good state using system restore

1. Reboot your computer to Safe Mode with Command Prompt:

for Windows 7 / Vista/ XP

• Start → Shutdown → Restart → OK.
• Press F8 key repeatedly until Advanced Boot Options window appears.
• Choose Safe Mode with Command Prompt.

for Windows 8 / 10

• Press Power at Windows login screen. Then press and hold Shift key and click Restart.
• Choose Troubleshoot → Advanced Options → Startup Settings and click Restart.
• When it loads, select Enable Safe Mode with Command Prompt from the list of Startup Settings.

 

2.Restore System files and settings.

• When Command Prompt mode loads, enter cd restore and press Enter.
• Then enter rstrui.exe and press Enter again.
• Click “Next” in the windows that appeared.
• Select one of the Restore Points that are available before "0010 SYSTEM FAILURE 0010" Ransomware has infiltrated to your system and then click “Next”.
• To start System restore click “Yes”.

 

Step 2. Complete removal of "0010 SYSTEM FAILURE 0010" Ransomware

After restoring your system, it is recommended to scan your computer with an anti-malware program, like Spyhunter and remove all malicious files related to "0010 SYSTEM FAILURE 0010" Ransomware. You can check other tools here.  

Step 3. Restore "0010 SYSTEM FAILURE 0010" Ransomware affected files using Shadow Volume Copies

If you do not use System Restore option on your operating system, there is a chance to use shadow copy snapshots. They store copies of your files that point of time when the system restore snapshot was created. Usually "0010 SYSTEM FAILURE 0010" Ransomware tries to delete all possible Shadow Volume Copies, so this methods may not work on all computers. However, it may fail to do so. Shadow Volume Copies are only available with Windows XP Service Pack 2, Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8. There are two ways to retrieve your files via Shadow Volume Copy. You can do it using native Windows Previous Versions or via Shadow Explorer. a) Native Windows Previous Versions Right-click on an encrypted file and select Properties → Previous versions tab. Now you will see all available copies of that particular file and the time when it was stored in a Shadow Volume Copy. Choose the version of the file you want to retrieve and click Copy if you want to save it to some directory of your own, or Restore if you want to replace existing, encrypted file. If you want to see the content of file first, just click Open.

b) Shadow Explorer It is a program that can be found online for free. You can download either a full or a portable version of Shadow Explorer. Open the program. On the left top corner select the drive where the file you are looking for is a stored. You will see all folders on that drive. To retrieve a whole folder, right-click on it and select “Export”. Then choose where you want it to be stored.

Step 4. Use Data Recovery programs to recover "0010 SYSTEM FAILURE 0010" Ransomware encrypted files

There are several data recovery programs that might recover encrypted files as well. This does not work in all cases but you can try this:

• We suggest using another PC and connect the infected hard drive as slave. It is still possible to do this on infected PC though.
• Download a data recovery program.
• Install and scan for recently deleted files.

Note: In many cases it is impossible to restore data files affected by modern ransomware. Thus I recommend using decent cloud backup software as precaution. We recommend checking out Carbonite, BackBlaze, CrashPlan or Mozy Home.