FileFrozr ransomware - How to remove

FileFrozr is a RaaS and this abbreviation refers to the concept of ransomware as a service. What does that mean? Well, this innovation surfaced quite recently and it first began its activity on the Dark Web. RaaS offers wannabe-hackers to purchase an already developed ransomware sample which won’t require programming skills. The FileFrozr service is advertised as low-priced, 100% stealthy during the encryption process and objectives before it, capable of encrypting more than 250 types of files. The data is explained to be ruined with AES-256 and RSA-4096 algorithms for encryption. This RaaS service is offered for 0.09BTC which is approximately 94.67 USD. We have already encountered similar threats that offered ransomware as a service: Ranion and PetrWrap.

FileFrozr ransomware and its RaaS

In Sinister.ly site, FileFrozr is explained not as a shabby ransomware. No open source codes are allegedly used for the sake of generating a sophisticated infection. Hackers explain that their product is coded from starch in C#. Thanks to this feature, anti-virus tools won’t be able to detect FileFrozr ransomware while its in the middle of its objectives.

The ransomware also deals with victims via TOR browser which reassures the surfing would be a private experience. Even though most of the crypto-viruses are barely functional if an infected device is in an offline mode, but FileFrozr is different. It won’t see offline mode as an end-game.

We do not recommend becoming involved in a RaaS service: it will make you a cybercriminal, attempting to swindle money out of innocent users. Anyone that agrees to participate in this sham is sentencing himself/herself for an unfortunate ending. You should not waste money on attempts to spread viruses. The infection can be customized to a certain degree, meaning that every vile buyer will be able to incorporate something original into this virus.

The distributed infection is highlighted for its sophisticated encryption. Especially, for the fact that it is designed to encode files of more than 200 different types. For this reason, no data is safe from this ransomware infection. As we have mentioned, powerful encoding is achieved through two powerful ciphers. AES-256 is applied to selected data and RSA is used on the private key for decryption that AES generates. A default ransom note is seen below:

 

Is it possible to decrypt files that FileFrozr ruins?

FileFrozr ransomware has not been solved with a free decryption tool. There are also no reports of people actually paying for this variant. However, the distribution of viruses that are created via this RaaS might reveal themselves in the future. If this happens, we will inform you. For now, this service is available for a specific fee, but we are definitely against such services. You are to be involved in lawful affairs. If you wish to be immune to ransomware variants, please upload your data in backup storages and try to keep your files in more than one location. This means that if all of your data will become encrypted, you will only have to delete the infection and move onto the retrieval of files for the backup storage.

Methods that FileFrozr ransomware would be delivered

There are a couple of basic ways that ransomware viruses are released into the Internet. One of the methods is to distribute payloads as attachments in email letters. If users are successfully deceived into downloading malicious executables, their device will be compromised by a file-encrypting monster. Our recommendation would be to download attachments or follow links to websites from those sources that are definitely legitimate and safe. Odd email letters that originate from unknown sources are definitely not a place to download data from. Additionally, vulnerable websites can be modified to foster malicious scripts and executables as well. Therefore, we advise our visitors to visit only those websites that have a good reputation and won’t be interested in any shady activity.

FileFrozr ransomware and other malware samples can be easily detected by anti-malware tools. Even though the founders of this RaaS indicate that their virus will act stealthy and won’t reveal its presence to any of the security tools, but we are sure that sophisticated programs won’t be easily tricked. Spyhunter, Plumbytes or Hitman can assist you with the removal of ransomware infections and take care of your system in the future.

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

 

Step 2. Complete removal of FileFrozr 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 FileFrozr virus. You can check other tools here.  

Step 3. Restore FileFrozr 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 FileFrozr virus 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 FileFrozr 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.