How to remove Txt (JobCrypter) ransomware from the operating system

What is Txt (JobCrypter)?

Discovered by Ravi, Txt (JobCrypter) is malware and a ransomware-type program. Following successful infiltration, Txt (JobCrypter) encrypts data in order to demand payment for decryption. During the encryption process, files are appended with the ".txt" extension.

For example, a file originally named something like "1.jpg" would appear as "1.jpg.txt" and "2.jpg" as "2.jpg.txt", and so on. Additionally, this ransomware inserts a ransom-demand message into all of the affected files.

The ransom message inserted into the compromised files, reassures victims that they can recover their data. To restore their files, they are instructed to firstly download the Tor browser. Secondly, they are to use this browser to open a website, the URL of which is provided in the message.

One encrypted file (containing no valuable information) can be decrypted for US$5 (USD), and this will serve as 'proof' that recovery is possible. Victims are given seven days to purchase decryption keys. Should the deadline be missed, the ransom will increase by US$100 each consecutive day.

The website informs users that the ransom must be paid in the Bitcoin cryptocurrency. They must also provide a valid email address, so that they can obtain the decryption key once it is sent. This key is sent within a half-hour to an hour following payment.

If there are any questions, there is a contact email listed on the site. Furthermore, the messages victims are to send must contain the IDs assigned to them (this can be found in the ransom-demand messages).

Unfortunately, in most cases of ransomware infections, decryption is impossible without involvement of the cyber criminals responsible, unless the malicious program has significant bugs/flaws or is still in development. Whatever the case, meeting the ransom demands is not advised.

Despite paying, victims do not receive the promised decryption keys/tools. Therefore, they experience financial loss and their data remains encrypted and essentially, useless. To prevent Txt (JobCrypter) ransomware from further encryption, it must be eliminated from the operating system, however, removal will not restore already affected files.

The only solution is to recover them from a backup, if one was created before the infection and was stored in a separate location.

Screenshot of a message encouraging users to pay a ransom to decrypt their compromised data:

FIXI, AB89 and Protomolecule are some examples of other ransomware-type programs. They encrypt files and demand ransoms for decryption tools. There are several crucial differences between these programs/infections: the cryptographic algorithms they use (symmetric or asymmetric) and size of the demanded payment.

The ransoms typically vary from three to four digits sums (in USD). Digital currencies (e.g. cryptocurrencies, pre-paid vouchers, etc.) are often used, since these transactions are difficult/impossible to trace. To avoid permanent data loss, you are strongly advised to keep backups on remote servers and/or unplugged storage devices (preferably, in multiple different locations).

How did ransomware infect my computer?

Ransomware and other malware infections are primarily distributed via Trojans, spam campaigns, untrusted download channels, illegal activation ("cracking") tools and bogus updaters. Trojans are malicious programs with a wide variety of functionality, which can include the capability to cause chain infections (i.e. to download/install additional malware).

The term "spam campaign" is used to define a large-scale operation, during which thousands of deceptive/scam emails are sent. The messages are typically disguised as "official", "priority", "important" and similar. These emails have infectious files attached to and/or linked inside them.

Infectious files can be in various formats (e.g. PDF and Microsoft Office documents, executable and archive files, JavaScript, etc.) and when they are executed, run or otherwise opened, the infection process/chain is initiated.

Dubious download sources such as unofficial and free file-hosting websites, Peer-to-Peer sharing networks and other third party downloaders can offer malicious software for downloading, disguised as or packed with normal content. Rather than activating licensed products, "cracking" tools can download/install malware.

Fake updaters infect systems by exploiting flaws of outdated products and/or simply by installing malicious programs rather than the promised updates.

Threat Summary:

Name	Txt (JobCrypter) virus
Threat Type	Ransomware, Crypto Virus, Files locker.
Encrypted Files Extension	.txt
Ransom Demand Message	Text inserted into compromised files.
Cyber Criminal Contact	jobcrypter@protonmail.com, jobcrypter@tutanota.com, warlockdediehard4@protonmail.com, olaggoune235@protonmail.ch, ouardia11@tutanota.com
Detection Names	Avast (Win32:MalwareX-gen [Trj]), BitDefender (Trojan.GenericKD.34338956), ESET-NOD32 (A Variant Of MSIL/Filecoder.ABC), Kaspersky (HEUR:Trojan.MSIL.Dnoper.gen), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal).
Rogue Process Name	succeeded (process name may vary).
Symptoms	Cannot open files stored on your computer, previously functional files now have a different extension (for example, my.docx.locked). A ransom demand message is displayed on your desktop. Cyber criminals demand payment of a ransom (usually in bitcoins) to unlock your files.
Distribution methods	Infected email attachments (macros), torrent websites, malicious ads.
Damage	All files are encrypted and cannot be opened without paying a ransom. Additional password-stealing Trojans and malware infections can be installed together with a ransomware infection.
Malware Removal (Windows)	To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your computer with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Combo Cleaner. ▼ Download Combo Cleaner To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. 7 days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by Rcs Lt, the parent company of PCRisk.com read more.

How to protect yourself from ransomware infections

To avoid infecting systems with malware spread through spam emails, you are strongly advised against opening suspicious and/or irrelevant messages. Any attachments or links present in suspect messages must not be opened, as this is the origin of potential infections.

You are advised to only use official and verified download channels. Additionally, all products must be activated and updated with tools/functions provided by legitimate developers. Illegal activation tools ("cracks") and third party updaters must not be used, as they commonly proliferate malicious programs.

To ensure device and user safety, it is paramount to have reputable anti-virus/anti-spyware installed and kept up to date. Furthermore, this software must be used to run regular system scans and to remove detected/potential threats.

If your computer is already infected with Txt (JobCrypter), we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this ransomware.

Text presented in Txt (JobCrypter) ransom messages (inserted into affected files):

*******you can't open files???****
Do not be afraid, you can recover all your files please follow the following steps
*** Step 1 Download Tor Browser ***
                                                        
Here is the link to download Tor Browser: hxxps: //www.torproject.org/en/download/languages/

 

Here is the link How to install TOR Browser on Windows: hxxps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehQcx_6DsTw

*******Step 2 accessing our site*****
    
Open this site In the Tor browser : hxxp://diehard4uty2z5cs.onion/    

 

(Important)
This site only works with the Tor browser                                

 

***** What guarantees you have?****
You can send one of your encrypted file from your PC and we decrypt it for 5 dollar
But we can decrypt only 1 file for 5 dollar File must not contain valuable information.

 

Your personal ID: -

 

You have 7 days To buy your key from this date:
If you exceed the deadline will increase by 100 dollar per day, we therefore advise you to respect the deadlines mentioned above.

 

Thank you.
cordially Die Hard 4

Screenshot of Txt (JobCrypter) website (GIF):

Text presented in the website:

Background:

 

Die Hard 4

 

Click on the (Pay WITH Btcion) button and pay

 

You receive your decryption key 30 minutes or 1 hour maximum after payment

 

Don't forget to write a valid email in the payment box

 

So that we can send your decryption key

 

We guarantee you the total unlocking of your files and never to hear from us again

 

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us at JOBCRYPTER@protonmail.com

 

Don't forget to write your personal ID: is a valid email

 

--------------------

 

Pop-up:

 

Die Hard 4

Don't forget to write a valid email in the payment box
So that we can send your decryption key
Amount
5
Email
Your personal ID
Pay 5 USD

Screenshot of files encrypted by Txt (JobCrypter) (".txt" extension):

A French variant of the ransom note dropped by Txt (JobCrypter) ransomware:

Text presented within:

Bonjour,
Nous sommes des êtres humains sans emploi on cherche pas les problèmes, On veut juste nourrir nos familles,
Nous vous demandons de ne pas faire des bêtises avec nous parce que ce n'est pas bien pour vous
Nous avons crypté tous vos fichiers En utilisant un algorithme renforcer,
Et nous vous demandons de nous payer une rançon de 300 Euros pour décrypter et récupérer vos fichiers,
Nous vous garantissons le déblocage total de vos fichiers et ne plus jamais entendre parler de nous,

Contactez-nous sur l'un des e-mails citer là-dessous pour vous communiquer le moyen de paiement
Pour vous prouver que nous pouvons décryptées et récupérer vous fichier,
Envoyez nous un seul fichier de format photo ou vidéo ou bien une musique pour le décryptage et nous le feront gratuitement,
N'oubliez pas de citer sur l'e-mail identifiants suivants: -
Votre identifiant nous permettra de localiser votre clé de décryptage parmi celles de nos clients,

jobcrypter@tutanota.com

ou sur tor browser

diehard4uty2z5cs.onion

Si vous effectuer le payement dans la matinée du samedi au jeudi vous aurez la clé de décryptage après une ou deux heures au plus tard
Sinon vous serez obligé d'attendre 24 heures

Vous avez 7 jours pour payer à partir de cette date: 2/10/2021 11:44:26 AM ,
Si vous dépasser ce délai la rançon augmentera de 50 euros par jour, nous vous conseillons donc de respecter les délais citer là dessus

Ne supprimer surtout pas ce fichier, car si vous le faites vous supprimer aussi votre fichier, descendez pour voir,
Le texte que vous voyez en dessous si votre fichier crypté.

Merci.

Ransom note delivered by yet another Txt (JobCrypter) ransomware variant:

Text presented within:

We are human beings without a job, we are not looking for problems, we just want to feed our families,
We encrypted all your files using a powerful algorithm.
We ask you to pay a ransom of 500 euros to decrypt and restore your files.
We guarantee your files will be fully opened
Contact us by email to communicate the payment method :

olaggoune235@protonmail.ch
ouardia11@tutanota.com

***** What guarantee you? ****
You can send one of your encrypted files on your computer and we decrypt it for free
But we can only decrypt one file for free. The file must not contain valuable information.
Write this ID - in the title of your message

You have 7 days to purchase your key from this date:
If you exceed the deadline it will increase by $ 100 per day, so we advise you to respect the above mentioned deadlines;

Screenshot of a spam email used to spread Txt (JobCrypter) ransomware (the download button downloads a .js file which, in turn downloads and executes the ransomware):

Text presented within:

Subject: Order Summary (Order# 71786758)

Order# 71786758

Thank you for choosing IONOS by 1&1. Here's a summary of your order. :

Download

Txt (JobCrypter) ransomware removal:

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Video suggesting what steps should be taken in case of a ransomware infection:

Quick menu:

• What is Txt (JobCrypter) virus?
• STEP 1. Reporting ransomware to authorities.
• STEP 2. Isolating the infected device.
• STEP 3. Identifying the ransomware infection.
• STEP 4. Searching for ransomware decryption tools.
• STEP 5. Restoring files with data recovery tools.
• STEP 6. Creating data backups.

Reporting ransomware to authorities:

If you are a victim of a ransomware attack we recommend reporting this incident to authorities. By providing information to law enforcement agencies you will help track cybercrime and potentially assist in the prosecution of the attackers. Here's a list of authorities where you should report a ransomware attack. For the complete list of local cybersecurity centers and information on why you should report ransomware attacks, read this article.

List of local authorities where ransomware attacks should be reported (choose one depending on your residence address):

•  USA - Internet Crime Complaint Centre IC3
•  United Kingdom - Action Fraud
•  Spain - Policía Nacional
•  France - Ministère de l'Intérieur
•  Germany - Polizei
•  Italy - Polizia di Stato
•  The Netherlands - Politie
•  Poland - Policja
•  Portugal - Polícia Judiciária

Isolating the infected device:

Some ransomware-type infections are designed to encrypt files within external storage devices, infect them, and even spread throughout the entire local network. For this reason, it is very important to isolate the infected device (computer) as soon as possible.

Step 1: Disconnect from the internet.

The easiest way to disconnect a computer from the internet is to unplug the Ethernet cable from the motherboard, however, some devices are connected via a wireless network and for some users (especially those who are not particularly tech-savvy), disconnecting cables may seem troublesome. Therefore, you can also disconnect the system manually via Control Panel:

Navigate to the "Control Panel", click the search bar in the upper-right corner of the screen, enter "Network and Sharing Center" and select search result:

Click the "Change adapter settings" option in the upper-left corner of the window:

Right-click on each connection point and select "Disable". Once disabled, the system will no longer be connected to the internet. To re-enable the connection points, simply right-click again and select "Enable".

Step 2: Unplug all storage devices.

As mentioned above, ransomware might encrypt data and infiltrate all storage devices that are connected to the computer. For this reason, all external storage devices (flash drives, portable hard drives, etc.) should be disconnected immediately, however, we strongly advise you to eject each device before disconnecting to prevent data corruption:

Navigate to "My Computer", right-click on each connected device, and select "Eject":

Step 3: Log-out of cloud storage accounts.

Some ransomware-type might be able to hijack software that handles data stored within "the Cloud". Therefore, the data could be corrupted/encrypted. For this reason, you should log-out of all cloud storage accounts within browsers and other related software. You should also consider temporarily uninstalling the cloud-management software until the infection is completely removed.

Identify the ransomware infection:

To properly handle an infection, one must first identify it. Some ransomware infections use ransom-demand messages as an introduction (see the WALDO ransomware text file below).

This, however, is rare. In most cases, ransomware infections deliver more direct messages simply stating that data is encrypted and that victims must pay some sort of ransom. Note that ransomware-type infections typically generate messages with different file names (for example, "_readme.txt", "READ-ME.txt", "DECRYPTION_INSTRUCTIONS.txt", "DECRYPT_FILES.html", etc.). Therefore, using the name of a ransom message may seem like a good way to identify the infection. The problem is that most of these names are generic and some infections use the same names, even though the delivered messages are different and the infections themselves are unrelated. Therefore, using the message filename alone can be ineffective and even lead to permanent data loss (for example, by attempting to decrypt data using tools designed for different ransomware infections, users are likely to end up permanently damaging files and decryption will no longer be possible even with the correct tool).

Another way to identify a ransomware infection is to check the file extension, which is appended to each encrypted file. Ransomware infections are often named by the extensions they append (see files encrypted by Qewe ransomware below).

This method is only effective, however, when the appended extension is unique - many ransomware infections append a generic extension (for example, ".encrypted", ".enc", ".crypted", ".locked", etc.). In these cases, identifying ransomware by its appended extension becomes impossible.

One of the easiest and quickest ways to identify a ransomware infection is to use the ID Ransomware website. This service supports most existing ransomware infections. Victims simply upload a ransom message and/or one encrypted file (we advise you to upload both if possible).

The ransomware will be identified within seconds and you will be provided with various details, such as the name of the malware family to which the infection belongs, whether it is decryptable, and so on.

Example 1 (Qewe [Stop/Djvu] ransomware):

Example 2 (.iso [Phobos] ransomware):

If your data happens to be encrypted by ransomware that is not supported by ID Ransomware, you can always try searching the internet by using certain keywords (for example, a ransom message title, file extension, provided contact emails, crypto wallet addresses, etc.).

Search for ransomware decryption tools:

Encryption algorithms used by most ransomware-type infections are extremely sophisticated and, if the encryption is performed properly, only the developer is capable of restoring data. This is because decryption requires a specific key, which is generated during the encryption. Restoring data without the key is impossible. In most cases, cybercriminals store keys on a remote server, rather than using the infected machine as a host. Dharma (CrySis), Phobos, and other families of high-end ransomware infections are virtually flawless, and thus restoring data encrypted without the developers' involvement is simply impossible. Despite this, there are dozens of ransomware-type infections that are poorly developed and contain a number of flaws (for example, the use of identical encryption/decryption keys for each victim, keys stored locally, etc.). Therefore, always check for available decryption tools for any ransomware that infiltrates your computer.

Finding the correct decryption tool on the internet can be very frustrating. For this reason, we recommend that you use the No More Ransom Project and this is where identifying the ransomware infection is useful. The No More Ransom Project website contains a "Decryption Tools" section with a search bar. Enter the name of the identified ransomware, and all available decryptors (if there are any) will be listed.

Restore files with data recovery tools:

Depending on the situation (quality of ransomware infection, type of encryption algorithm used, etc.), restoring data with certain third-party tools might be possible. Therefore, we advise you to use the Recuva tool developed by CCleaner. This tool supports over a thousand data types (graphics, video, audio, documents, etc.) and it is very intuitive (little knowledge is necessary to recover data). In addition, the recovery feature is completely free.

Step 1: Perform a scan.

Run the Recuva application and follow the wizard. You will be prompted with several windows allowing you to choose what file types to look for, which locations should be scanned, etc. All you need to do is select the options you're looking for and start the scan. We advise you to enable the "Deep Scan" before starting, otherwise, the application's scanning capabilities will be restricted.

Wait for Recuva to complete the scan. The scanning duration depends on the volume of files (both in quantity and size) that you are scanning (for example, several hundred gigabytes could take over an hour to scan). Therefore, be patient during the scanning process. We also advise against modifying or deleting existing files, since this might interfere with the scan. If you add additional data (for example, downloading files/content) while scanning, this will prolong the process:

Step 2: Recover data.

Once the process is complete, select the folders/files you wish to restore and simply click "Recover". Note that some free space on your storage drive is necessary to restore data:

Create data backups:

Proper file management and creating backups is essential for data security. Therefore, always be very careful and think ahead.

Partition management: We recommend that you store your data in multiple partitions and avoid storing important files within the partition that contains the entire operating system. If you fall into a situation whereby you cannot boot the system and are forced to format the disk on which the operating system is installed (in most cases, this is where malware infections hide), you will lose all data stored within that drive. This is the advantage of having multiple partitions: if you have the entire storage device assigned to a single partition, you will be forced to delete everything, however, creating multiple partitions and allocating the data properly allows you to prevent such problems. You can easily format a single partition without affecting the others - therefore, one will be cleaned and the others will remain untouched, and your data will be saved. Managing partitions is quite simple and you can find all the necessary information on Microsoft's documentation web page.

Data backups: One of the most reliable backup methods is to use an external storage device and keep it unplugged. Copy your data to an external hard drive, flash (thumb) drive, SSD, HDD, or any other storage device, unplug it and store it in a dry place away from the sun and extreme temperatures. This method is, however, quite inefficient, since data backups and updates need to be made regularly. You can also use a cloud service or remote server. Here, an internet connection is required and there is always the chance of a security breach, although it's a really rare occasion.

We recommend using Microsoft OneDrive for backing up your files. OneDrive lets you store your personal files and data in the cloud, sync files across computers and mobile devices, allowing you to access and edit your files from all of your Windows devices. OneDrive lets you save, share and preview files, access download history, move, delete, and rename files, as well as create new folders, and much more.

You can back up your most important folders and files on your PC (your Desktop, Documents, and Pictures folders). Some of OneDrive’s more notable features include file versioning, which keeps older versions of files for up to 30 days. OneDrive features a recycling bin in which all of your deleted files are stored for a limited time. Deleted files are not counted as part of the user’s allocation.

The service is built using HTML5 technologies and allows you to upload files up to 300 MB via drag and drop into the web browser or up to 10 GB via the OneDrive desktop application. With OneDrive, you can download entire folders as a single ZIP file with up to 10,000 files, although it can’t exceed 15 GB per single download.

OneDrive comes with 5 GB of free storage out of the box, with an additional 100 GB, 1 TB, and 6 TB storage options available for a subscription-based fee. You can get one of these storage plans by either purchasing additional storage separately or with Office 365 subscription.

Creating a data backup:

The backup process is the same for all file types and folders. Here’s how you can back up your files using Microsoft OneDrive

Step 1: Choose the files/folders you want to backup.

Click the OneDrive cloud icon to open the OneDrive menu. While in this menu, you can customize your file backup settings.

Click Help & Settings and then select Settings from the drop-down menu.

Go to the Backup tab and click Manage backup.

In this menu, you can choose to backup the Desktop and all of the files on it, and Documents and Pictures folders, again, with all of the files in them. Click Start backup.

Now, when you add a file or folder in the Desktop and Documents and Pictures folders, they will be automatically backed up on OneDrive.

To add folders and files, not in the locations shown above, you have to add them manually.

Open File Explorer and navigate to the location of the folder/file you want to backup. Select the item, right-click it, and click Copy.

Then, navigate to OneDrive, right-click anywhere in the window and click Paste. Alternatively, you can just drag and drop a file into OneDrive. OneDrive will automatically create a backup of the folder/file.

All of the files added to the OneDrive folder are backed up in the cloud automatically. The green circle with the checkmark in it indicates that the file is available both locally and on OneDrive and that the file version is the same on both. The blue cloud icon indicates that the file has not been synced and is available only on OneDrive. The sync icon indicates that the file is currently syncing.

To access files only located on OneDrive online, go to the Help & Settings drop-down menu and select View online.

Step 2: Restore corrupted files.

OneDrive makes sure that the files stay in sync, so the version of the file on the computer is the same version on the cloud. However, if ransomware has encrypted your files, you can take advantage of OneDrive’s Version history feature that will allow you to restore the file versions prior to encryption.

Microsoft 365 has a ransomware detection feature that notifies you when your OneDrive files have been attacked and guide you through the process of restoring your files. It must be noted, however, that if you don’t have a paid Microsoft 365 subscription, you only get one detection and file recovery for free.

If your OneDrive files get deleted, corrupted, or infected by malware, you can restore your entire OneDrive to a previous state. Here’s how you can restore your entire OneDrive:

1. If you're signed in with a personal account, click the Settings cog at the top of the page. Then, click Options and select Restore your OneDrive.

If you're signed in with a work or school account,  click the Settings cog at the top of the page. Then, click Restore your OneDrive.

2. On the Restore your OneDrive page, select a date from the drop-down list. Note that if you're restoring your files after automatic ransomware detection, a restore date will be selected for you.

3. After configuring all of the file restoration options, click Restore to undo all the activities you selected.

The best way to avoid damage from ransomware infections is to maintain regular up-to-date backups.

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