Kiss Ransomware

Kiss Ransomware is another version of Paradise Ransomware. Threats from this family encrypt data with a robust encryption algorithm and append unique extensions consisting of parts of random characters, hackers’ email addresses, and a particular word, for example, in this case, the word is "kiss." This file-encrypting threat should also drop a ransom note. Unlike other malicious applications from this family, Kiss Ransomware displays a note with a concise message. It merely asks to contact the malware’s developers. If you received this threat and wish to know more about how it works and what is advisable to do after receiving it, we encourage you to read our full article. The comments section available at the end of this page if you want to ask something about this malicious application. Also, below the text, you can find the malware’s deletion instructions, which might be helpful if you decide to remove Kiss Ransomware manually.

Most victims of malicious applications like Kiss Ransomware get tricked into launching them without even realizing it. Some hackers distribute them via unreliable file-sharing websites or malicious sites, while others disguise malicious installers to look like text documents or pictures and send them to potential victims via email or messengers.

Therefore, if you want to be safe from such threats, you should be more suspicious of files received or downloaded from the Internet. If you are not entirely sure a file comes from a reputable source, you should not hesitate to scan it with a reliable antimalware tool. Emails and messages from strangers should be carefully inspected. Even if a message says it is vital that you open a file or a link immediately, you should not rush into it and check the received message carefully. Again, email attachments and any other data received from unknown senders should be scanned with a trustworthy antimalware tool to make sure it is not malicious.

If a user is tricked into launching Kiss Ransomware, the malware ought to encrypt his personal files. As a result, such data should receive a second extension that might look like this: [id-M6KpNO4n].[decodor@airmail.cc].kiss, for example, picture.jpg.[id-M6KpNO4n].[decodor@airmail.cc].kiss. Note that the characters in the ID part are random and should be unique to each infected device. The malware can encrypt files without a user noticing anything as it works silently in the background. Thus, by the time you realize your system was infected, the damage could be already done. As you see, encrypted files become unreadable. It means you will not be able to launch them. Encryption is a reversible process, but only if you have a unique decryption key that is usually generated during the encryption process. Plus, one would need a decryptor that could decrypt files while using the unique decryption key.

The bad news is that both the decryption tool and the decryptor that could unlock files affected by Kiss Ransomware could be available only to the malware’s creators. The malicious application should drop a text document in which it ought to ask to contact the threat’s developers via email or Telegram. We believe users who contact them would be asked to pay a ransom. In exchange, cybercriminals should offer decryption tools. The price hackers may ask could be substantial and let us not forget that there are no guarantees they will deliver what they may promise. In short, it could be risky to deal with cybercriminals. Consequently, we recommend against putting up with any demands if you do not want to take any risks.

Lastly, we recommend removing Kiss Ransomware for those who encounter it. Even though it does not look like the malware can auto start with the operating system, it might be still dangerous to leave it on your system. If you think it would be safest to eliminate it too, we encourage you to employ a reputable antimalware tool and let it erase Kiss Ransomware for you or follow the instructions provided at the end of this paragraph to delete it manually.

Erase Kiss Ransomware

1. Click Ctrl+Alt+Delete.
2. Choose Task Manager and select Processes.
3. Find a process belonging to the threat.
4. Mark it and click End Task.
5. Exit Task Manager.
6. Click Win+E.
7. Find these paths:
   %TEMP%
   %USERPROFILE%\Downloads
   %USERPROFILE%\Desktop
8. Find the malicious application’s launcher (suspicious file downloaded before your computer became infected).
9. Right-click it and select Delete.
10. Locate a file called %$ BACK FILES !#.html, right-click it, and press Delete to erase it.
11. Exit File Explorer.
12. Empty Recycle Bin.
13. Restart the computer.