Remove LPER Ransomware Virus (+DECRYPT .lper Files)

Lper virus is a type of computer virus that injects your PC, encrypts your documents, and then asks to pay the ransom for file decryption. Besides these unpleasant activities, that malware also modifies some important settings and can even disable your antivirus program.

Lper virus – what is it?

Lper virus can correctly be classified as a STOP/Djvu virus family. That sort of malware is targeted at single users. This specification supposes that Lper does not bring any type of additional viruses, which often helps malware of various other families to control your computer. Since the majority people do not have anything valuable , there is no need to inject additional malware that increases the risk of failure of the whole ransomware injection.

The usual signs of this virus activity is the emersion of .lper files in your folders, instead of the files you used to have. The photo.jpg turns into photo.jpg.lper, report.xlsx – into report.xlsx.lper and so on. You cannot to suspend this process, as well as can’t open these files – they are encrypted with quite strong algorithm.

You can also spectate various other signs of ransomware activity. Abruptly suspended Microsoft Defender and inability to open the famous anti-malware forums or web pages, where the virus removal and file decryption guides are published. You will see how it is conducted in the paragraph below. The malware removal and decryption guide are also available – read below how to wipe out Lper ransomware and get the .lper files back.

How did Lper ransomware encrypt my files?

After the injection, the Lper ransomware starts a connection with its command and control server. This server is controlled by ransomware maintainers – people who manage the spreading of this virus. Another activity which is done by those crooks is answering the email messages of victims, who wish to decrypt their files.

The files are ciphered with one of the strongest encryption algorithm – AES-256. The “256” digit in the name of this algo means the power of two – 2^256 for this case. 78-digit number of possible decryption password variations – it is not real to brute force it. As cipher analysts say, it will need more time than the Earth can approximately exist, even in case if you use the most powerful computers. In each folder that contains the encrypted documents, Lper ransomware leaves the _readme.txt file with the following contents:

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.
This software will decrypt all your encrypted files.

What guarantees you have?

You can send one of your encrypted file from your PC and we decrypt it for free.
But we can decrypt only 1 file for free. File must not contain valuable information.

You can get and look video overview decrypt tool:

https://we.tl/t-WJa63R98Ku

Price of private key and decrypt software is $980.
Discount 50% available if you contact us first 72 hours, that's price for you is $490.

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:

support@fishmail.top

Reserve e-mail address to contact us:

datarestorehelp@airmail.cc

Your personal ID:
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Nonetheless, you can still run some of your documents. The Lper ransomware ciphers only the initial 150 KB of each file, but the other part of this file can be accessed. Primarily, it works best with audio/video files, which are likely bigger than 150 kilobytes. Not each media player can open these files – WinAmp is the best solution, since it is free and well-tested. First seconds of each recording will be missing – this part is encrypted – but the rest of the document will be accessible like nothing happened.

Is Lper ransomware dangerous for my PC?

As it was described several paragraphs above, ransomware is not only about ciphering the files. Lper malware makes the changes in your computer in order to prevent looking for the virus removal and file decryption guides. Malware does not establish the software barrier – it just changes the system settings, primarily – networking and security configurations.

Among the networking settings, the most damaged item is the HOSTS configuration file. This text file has the DNS-address configurations, which are used by the browsers while requesting to the website server. If you add a specific DNS-address for the certain website, your browser will connect that page through that DNS next time. Ransomware modifies this file, adding the unknown DNS, so any of the web browsers will show you the “Unable to resolve the DNS-address” error.

Other modifications done by the ransomware are targeted on prevention of early spotting of itself, and also preventing the installation of the majority of antivirus programs. Lper virus implements several modifications in Group Policies – the system setting application which allows to modify the rights of each app. In such a way, malware stops the Microsoft Defender and different other antivirus programs, as well as prevents the launch of anti-malware installation files.

How did I get infected?

Throughout the whole term while STOP/Djvu family existed, it was using questionable software as the main way of ransomware injection. Under the term of dubious software I mean programs that are already not updated by the creator and spread through the file sharing websites. These applications may be hacked, to make them usable without buying any license. One more example of such a program class is various hacking tools – cheat engines, keygens, Windows activation tools and so on.

This kind of software may be spread in many ways – through the web page that offers a downloading link, and also through the peer-to-peer networks – ThePirateBay, eMule and so on. All these sources are well-known as the most popular computer piracy websites. People use these sources to get various programs or games for free, even if these apps must be purchased. Nobody can prevent the users who crack these programs from adding viruses of some sort to the files of the hacked tool. Hacktools, however, are created for outlaw purposes, so their creators may easily embed the malware under the guise of some program element.

These hacked apps, regardless of their source, are one of the most often carriers for various viruses, and surely the most widespread one for Lper ransomware. It is better to stop using of it, and not only because of virus spreading risks. Avoiding the license buying is an illegal action, and both hackers and folks who make use of cracked apps fall under the charge of piracy.

How do I remove Lper virus?

The Lper ransomware is extremely hard to delete manually. In fact, because of the amount of modifications it makes into your Windows, it is almost unreal to detect them all and fix. The best decision is to make use of anti-malware software. But which one to choose?

You may see the offers to use Microsoft Defender, which is already inside of your system. But as it was mentioned earlier, most of STOP/Djvu malware examples disable it even before the encryption procedure. Using the third-party tool is the only option – and I can advice you the GridinSoft Anti-Malware as a solution for this case. It has perfect detection abilities, so the virus will not be missed. It is also capable of system repairing, that is heavily demanded after the Lper virus attack.

To remove Lper malware infections, scan your computer with legitimate antivirus software.

After the ransomware removal, you can go to file decryption. Ransomware removal is required to prevent the repeating encryption of your files: while Lper ransomware is active, it will not miss any unencrypted file.

How to decrypt the .lper files?

There are two ways to recover your files after a Lper virus attack. First one and the most popular is file decryption. It is performed with a special program, designed by Emsisoft, and named Emsisoft Decryptor for STOP/Djvu. This program is free. Analysts update its decryption keys databases as often as possible, so you will surely get your files back, sooner or later.

Another way to get your files back is to try to recover them from your physical disks. Since Lper virus deletes them and substitutes with an encrypted copy, the residue of the documents are still kept on the disk drive. After the removal, the information about them is wiped from the file system, but not from a disk drive. Special apps, like PhotoRec, are able to recover these files. It is free, too, and may also be used for file recovery in case when you have deleted something unintentionally.

Decrypting the .lper files with Emsisoft Decrypter for STOP/Djvu

Download and install Emsisoft Decrypter tool. Agree with its EULA and continue to the interface.

The interface of this program is extremely easy. All you have to do is to select the folder where the encrypted files are stored, and wait. If the program has the decryption key which corresponds to your ransomware case – it will decrypt it.

During the use of Emsisoft Decrypter for STOP/Djvu, you may observe various error messages. Don’t worry, that does not mean that you did something wrong or a program does not work properly. Each of these errors refer to a specific case. Here is the explanation:

Error: Unable to decrypt file with ID: [your ID]

The program does not have a corresponding key for your case. You need to wait for some time until the key database will be updated.

No key for new variant online ID: [your ID]

Notice: this ID appears to be an online ID, decryption is impossible.

This error means that your files are encrypted with an online key. In such a case, the decryption key is unique and stored on the remote server, controlled by crooks. Unfortunately, the decryption is impossible.

Result: No key for new variant offline ID: [example ID]

This ID appears to be an offline ID. Decryption may be possible in the future.

Ransomware uses the offline key to encrypt your files. This key is not unique, so you likely have it in common with another victim. Since offline keys must be collected, too, it is important to keep calm and wait until the analysts team finds one which will fit your case.

Remote name could not be resolved

This error indicates that the program has problems with DNS on your computer. That’s a clear sign of malicious alterations in your HOSTS file. Reset it using the official Microsoft guide.

Recovering the .lper files with PhotoRec tool

PhotoRec is an open-source tool, which is designed to recover the deleted or lost files from the disk drive. It checks each disk sector for the residues of deleted files, and then tries to recover them. That app is able to recover the files of more than 400 different formats. Because of the described feature of ransomware encryption mechanism, it is possible to use this tool to get the original, unencrypted files back.

Download PhotoRec from the official website. It is absolutely free, however, its developer warns that he does not guarantee that this program will be 100% effective for file recovery purposes. Moreover, even paid apps can barely give you such a guarantee, because of the chain of random factors that can make the file recovery harder.

Unzip the downloaded archive to the folder you like. Don’t worry because of its name – TestDisk – this is the name of the utility developed by the same company. They decided to spread it together since PhotoRec and TestDisk are often used together. Among the unzipped files, search for qphotorec_win.exe file. Run this executable file.

Before you can start the recovery process, you need to specify several settings. In the drop-down list, choose the logic disk where the files were stored before the encryption.

Then, you need to specify the file formats you need to recover. It may be difficult to scroll all 400+ formats, luckily, they are sorted by alphabetical order.

Finally, name the folder you want to use as a container for recovered files. The program will likely dig out a lot of useless files, which were deleted intentionally, so desktop is a bad solution. The best option is to use the USB-drive.

After these easy manipulations, you may just press the “Search” button (it turns active if you specified all required parameters). The recovery process may take several hours, so keep patient. It is recommended not to use the computer during this term, since you may overwrite some files you are intending to recover.

Frequently Asked Questions