Coronavirus Ransomware

Coronavirus Ransomware is proof that cybercriminals are ruthless. They are willing to use anything that could help them invade operating systems and fool gullible Windows users. In this case, the creator of the infection has also employed the name “Coronavirus,” which to people around the world, signifies tragedy, isolation, and fear. It is unclear how this malware spreads, but it is possible that the attackers could have set up misleading spam emails with messages about COVID-19 and the global pandemic. Links or file attached to messages about the virus, a supposed cure, or alleged security guidelines could conceal the launcher of the infection. Of course, there are plenty of other ways in which the malicious threat could spread. Once inside the operating system, it goes after documents, photos, and other types of personal files. As if we didn’t have enough on our plates already, now we need to figure out how to remove Coronavirus Ransomware. If you are in such a position, please continue reading.

As the Coronavirus pandemic is taking over more and more countries every day, hundreds of millions of people are forced to stay home. Children attend online classes and adults are working with the help of virtual conference tools, emails, etc. Now might be the worst time to get our computers and laptops paralyzed, and that is exactly what Coronavirus Ransomware is responsible for. Once inside a computer, this malware encrypts all personal files, and you should discover the “coronaVi2022@protonmail.ch___” prefix attached at the front of their original names. For example, a file named “desert.jpg” is turned into “coronaVi2022@protonmail.ch___desert.jpg.” Even if you delete this prefix, the file stays encrypted, and at the time of research, there were no free tools that could restore the corrupted files. That is what the attackers behind Coronavirus Ransomware expect to happen. Only if they can successfully encrypt important files and only if these files are stuck in that position can the cybercriminals make demands.

A file named “CoronaVirus.txt” is dropped by Coronavirus Ransomware, and since it is a simple text file, you can open it without causing more harm. The message inside informs that your computer is “blocked” and that you need to follow specific instructions to obtain a decryptor that, allegedly, could restore all encrypted files. These instructions suggest purchasing 0.008 Bitcoin – which, at the time of research, was around 50-55 USD – sending it to the bc1q5e8pwyk9rqtq400agngmq5h23cuz42x0wlqw3q Bitcoin Wallet and then confirming the payment by sending a message to coronaVi2022@protonmail.ch. The message ends with a Latin proverb “Desine sperare qui hic intras!,” which translates to “abandon hope, ye who enter here.” Unfortunately, the situation can be pretty hopeless because if you pay the ransom and communicate with the attackers, you will be left empty-handed. The attackers do not need to give you anything because they cannot be held accountable. The only hope is that you have backup copies. Whether you use virtual clouds or physical drives to store these copies, as long as they exist, you can make a replacement after you delete Coronavirus Ransomware from your operating system.

Whether your files are lost forever, or you can replace them with backup copies, you must delete Coronavirus Ransomware from your operating system. How should you take on the removal task? That pretty much depends on your own skill. Do you have experience removing other malicious threats? If you do not, can you really identify malware files? Unfortunately, we cannot give you the exact location of the launcher file or even its name simply because we do not have this information. Check the Desktop, the Downloads folder, or the %TEMP% directory first, but the file could be pretty much anywhere. If you are unable to locate and remove Coronavirus Ransomware, that is not a tragedy. You can install an anti-malware program if you want to have your operating system cleaned professionally. The program will detect and delete all malicious files automatically, and then it will secure your operating system to ensure that you do not need to face other file-encryptors in the future. Of course, even if you take all security measures, you still need to protect your files, and we advise doing that by creating backup copies outside the computer.

Coronavirus Ransomware Removal

1. Delete all recently downloaded suspicious files.
2. Delete the ransom note file named CoronaVirus.txt.
3. Empty Recycle Bin.
4. Install a legitimate malware scanner (free works just fine).
5. Perform a full system scan to see if there is anything that you left behind.