Boop Ransomware - How to remove

Did your files get turned into Boop-type files? Boop is a file-locking virus that uses cryptography to encrypt (corrupt) data. There’s a key that could reverse that. In exchange for that decryption key, Boop asks you for money – from $490 to $980. This is why Boop is called “ransomware”.

Although Boop can be deleted from your computer, that doesn’t fix the encrypted files. Getting your data back is a bit more complicated, and unfortunately, it’s not always possible.

Also, though it might not steal your data, it is likely to install password-stealing spyware.

About Boop:

Classification	Ransomware, spyware.
How Boop spreads	Uploaded online, disguised as safe files and programs.
Can the files be fixed	Restore files from a backup, recover deleted files, repair corrupted files (this only applies to some files), decrypt the files.
How to remove Boop	Delete it and other threats with an antivirus program (Spyhunter, others), unblock websites, update your software, set new passwords.

What is Boop

Downloaded unintentionally

Boop is malware, a virus, a file locker that malicious actors use to ransom money from people. Boop is part of DJVU, along with Vari, Oonn, and others. Boop is currently very new. Soon, it’ll be replaced with another Djvu virus.

Boop gets uploaded on various websites as free to download files and programs, or it gets bundled with the installers of free programs. Anyone could download Boop unknowingly. Of course, the sites that are used (misused by malicious actors) to spread it tend to have lax moderation. Else, Boop would have been noticed and removed earlier. These sites are usually pirating sites.

Boop could also be downloaded by a trojan or sent to you in a suspicious email.

Once you download the infected file and run it, it downloads Boop and, possibly, other malicious software (malware).

Effects on the computer

When it’s active, Boop ransomware starts by changing some of your computer settings:

• Boop hides the Task Manager, making it harder to kill malicious processes.
• It adds new entries to your hosts file, which it uses to block various websites. It does this to make it harder for the victim to look for solutions.
• It also deletes backup files, restore points, shadow copies, default antivirus updates.
• It may download and install a spyware program.

Most importantly, Boop encrypts your files. It scrambles their data, assigns a new file extension (“.boop”), and leaves you ransom notes (“_readme.txt”) asking for hundreds of dollars if you want to get your files back. If you get your files to display in the Details view, these files have their type listed as “BOOP”.

If you don’t see file extensions, then open File Explorer, click on the View tab at the top, and make sure that the File name extensions box is ticked.

Can you get your files back

Restore backups

If you had backups of your data form before Boop attacked, and if those backups remained untouched, then you don’t have to care about restoring your files. Just delete Boop and other malware, install security updates, delete the encrypted Boop files, and replace them with the files from your backup.

Decrypt the files

Getting your files back if you don’t have a backup is harder. Encryption is no joke, it can’t be broken (Practicalcryptography.com). There’s no trick to reverse it if you don’t have the decryption key and there’s no way to guess this key. Scammers might try to convince Boop’s victims that they have a way, but they’re just scamming desperate victims.

Boop’s makers can fix the files, but they’re asking for a lot of money and there’s no guarantee that they’ll keep their end of the bargain. Not to mention, dealing with these criminals could be dangerous. They might think you’re rich and an easy target, so they might come after you again. If you decide to contact Boop’s developers, do not reveal any personal information, do not use your own email (create a new one), be extremely cautious.

Boop used cryptography to lock your files. The only way to reverse this is to get the decryption key (unique to each victim) from the attackers, and they’re asking for hundreds of dollars for it. Luckily, there’s a small chance of a key being shared by multiple victims (in special circumstances), so there’s a bit of hope for decryption (Emsisoft.com).

Other options

You can also look into data recovery (restoring deleted data from your drive). We mention that in the last section.

Even if that doesn’t work, not all is lost. Keep the encrypted Boop files and look into ways to repair corrupted files. Because Boop leaves some data unencrypted (encrypting your biggest files would take Boop way too long, so it only does enough damage to break your files, then moves on). Meaning, you might be able to manually repair (or hire someone to do that for you) photographs, databases, audio recordings. You will still lose some data (a few seconds of a recording, for example).

How to remove Boop

In theory, Boop ransomware should be detected by your antivirus software. It might be flagged as Suspicious, Malicious, Trojan, Ransom, and other names. So, you can use an antivirus program, such as Spyhunter, or any program that you are comfortable using. Remove all the malicious files that are detected.

You don’t have to delete the files that Boop encrypted, they are not dangerous. But do delete the file that originally infected your computer and don’t download it again.

Change your passwords once your computer is clean. Especially if your antivirus scan detected a spyware program.

Remember that Boop deleted backups, so create a new restore point. Also, check that the latest updates are installed for your browser and for Windows.

Important -- edit the hosts file to unblock security websites

TL DR : The hosts file is edited to block security sites Before the virus can be removed, it's necessary to fix the hosts file (the file which controls which addresses connect to which IPs). That is the reason the majority of security websites is inaccessible when infected with this particular parasite. This infection edits this file to stop certain websites, including anti-malware download sites, from being accessed from the infected computer, making browsers return the "This site can't be reached" error. Luckily, it's trivial to fix the file and remove the edits that were made to it.

Find and edit the hosts file

The hosts file can be found on C:/Windows/System32/Drivers/etc/hosts. If you don't see it, change the settings to see hidden files.

1. In the Start Menu, search for Control Panel.
2. In the Control Panel, find Appearance and Personalization.
3. Select Folder Options.
4. Open the View tab.
5. Open Advanced settings.
6. Select "Show hidden files...".
7. Select OK.

Open this file with administrator privileges.

1. Open the Start Menu and enter "notepad".
2. When Notepad shows up in the result, right-click on it.
3. In the menu, choose "Run as administrator"
4. File->Open and browse for the hosts file.

The hosts file should look like this: Delete additional lines that they connect various domain names to the wrong IP address. Save the file.

Download and run the antivirus program

After that, download antivirus programs and use them to remove the ransomware, the trojan, and other malware. Spyhunter (https://www.2-viruses.com/reviews/spyhunter/dwnld/).

Automatic Malware removal tools

How to recover Boop 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 Boop Ransomware has infiltrated to your system and then click “Next”.
• To start System restore click “Yes”.

 

Step 2. Complete removal of Boop 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 Boop Ransomware. You can check other tools here.  

Step 3. Restore Boop 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 Boop 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 Boop 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.