Tocue File-Locker - How to remove

Tocue is a file-locking virus that is designed to lure money out of the victims by denying them access to their own files. After losing your data to the Tocue virus is might look like the situation is hopeless — the decryption is strong and the extortionists have no sympathy — but there are a few possible solutions that could help you get some of your files back.

The best defense against Tocue and other ransomware is a data backup. If anything happens to your files or your computer, it’s very useful to have copies that all the lost data can be restored from. An up-to-date operating system, browser, and other programs can help you avoid malware, too, but Tocue actually tricks people to download it themselves. Tocue is distributed in pirated files, cracks, bundles. The malicious program is disguised as some other program. People then download it and run it, not knowing that it’s the Tocue ransomware.

Tocue is ransomware — a virus designed to infect a computer and restrict access to something on it, such as the user interface or the data on it. File-encrypting types of ransomware, like Tocue, are potentially very harmful because they can irrevocably corrupt the data. If the encryption is well implemented, it’s astronomically unlikely that you can unlock those files without paying the criminals. Modern encryption is powerful and secure, it can’t be broken unless the decryption key is found.

Details about the virus

Tocue locks a variety of files: documents, pictures, songs, various text files. It’s not just the new “.tocue” extension — the contents are also encrypted. After having finished the encryption, Tocue drops this ransom note which is called _readme.txt. There, the extortionists ask for $490 or $980 to be paid to them. Usually, they want the ransom to be paid in Bitcoin or another cryptocurrency to take advantage of the anonymity and digital features that they offer. The criminals use [email protected], [email protected], and @datarestore (Telegram) to talk to the victims and to convince them to pay.

ATTENTION!

Don’t worry, you can return all your files!
All your files like photos, databases, documents and other important are encrypted with strongest encryption and unique key.
The only method of recovering files is to purchase decrypt tool and unique key for you.
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Please note that you’ll never restore your data without payment.
Check your e-mail “Spam” or “Junk” folder if you don’t get answer more than 6 hours.

To get this software you need write on our e-mail:
[email protected]

Reserve e-mail address to contact us:
[email protected]

Our Telegram account:
@datarestore
Mark Data Restore

Tocue is similar to Berosuce (another STOP virus), adobe, and the Djvu ransomware, which is one of the first variants of STOP. Since the start of 2018, there have been dozens of versions and thousands of victims.

How to restore the Tocue files

First, it’s important to get rid of the malicious programs that started the problem. Even if the virus deleted itself, it probably left some spyware after itself. STOP ransomware variants have been distributed with a password-stealing Trojan, and it’s not safe to use your computer as long as it’s still infected with that. Any competent antivirus program should be able to detect Tocue, you can try Spyhunter, or another powerful antivirus tool.

Next, read this FAQ post that the researcher Demonslay335 has compiled, as well as the first post of the topic. Download STOPDecrypter and run it on your files. The program might decrypt some of your files, or all of them, or none. This is possible because, in some circumstances, Tocue uses hardcoded, discoverable keys for encryption.

If your important data is still locked by Tocue and you don’t have a backup, follow the guide below to try and restore the files. It can help people restore lost data in ways that do not rely on decryption. The results will vary for everyone, but, considering how often extortionists fail to restore the files of the victims even after they pay the ransom, it’s worth trying.

Automatic Malware removal tools

How to recover Tocue File-Locker 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 Tocue File-Locker has infiltrated to your system and then click “Next”.
• To start System restore click “Yes”.

 

Step 2. Complete removal of Tocue File-Locker

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 Tocue File-Locker. You can check other tools here.  

Step 3. Restore Tocue File-Locker 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 Tocue File-Locker 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 Tocue File-Locker 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.