Remove NOOD Ransomware Virus (+DECRYPT .nood Files)

Nood ransomware is a sort of computer virus that injects your PC, encrypts your files, and then asks you to pay the ransom for file decryption. Besides these unpleasant activities, that virus also modifies some important settings and can even stop your security tool.

Nood virus – what is it?

Nood ransomware can correctly be described as a STOP/Djvu malware family. That type of computer virus is targeted at individuals. This specification supposes that Nood does not bring any type of additional viruses, which often helps viruses of other families to control your PC. Because the majority of users do not have anything valuable, there is no reason to use additional viruses that increase the risk of failure of the whole ransomware operation.

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

You can also see different other signs of ransomware activity. Abruptly disabled Microsoft Defender and inability to open the well-known anti-malware forums or web pages, where the virus removal and decryption guides are published. You will see how it works in the paragraph below. The removal and decryption guide are also available – read below how to remove the Nood virus and get the .nood files back.

How did Nood ransomware encrypt my files?

After the injection, the Nood virus starts a connection with its command and control server. This server is commanded by malware maintainers – fraudsters who manage the distribution of this virus. Another activity which is conducted by these crooks is answering the email messages of sufferers, who want to get their files back.

The documents are encrypted with one of the strongest encryption algorithms – AES-256. The digit in the name of this algorithm means the power of two – 2^256 for this case. 78-digit number of possible decryption key variations – it is not real to brute force it. As analysts say, it will take more time than our planet can approximately exist, even if you make use of the most powerful computer system. In each folder that contains the encrypted file(s), Nood virus creates 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 the strongest encryption and unique key.
The only method of recovering files is to purchase a decrypt tool and a unique key for you.
This software will decrypt all your encrypted files.

What guarantees do you have?

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

You can get and look video overview decrypt tool:

https://we.tl/t-WJa63R98Ku

The price of private key and decrypt software is $980.
A discount of 50% is available if you contact us first 72 hours, that 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 an answer for more than 6 hours.

To get this software you need to write to our e-mail:

support@fishmail.top

Reserve an e-mail address to contact us:

datarestorehelp@airmail.cc

Your ID:
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Nevertheless, you can still open some of your files. The Nood virus ciphers only the first 150 KB of each file, but the other piece 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. The first seconds of each file will be silent – this part is encrypted – but the rest of the document will be accessible like nothing happened.

Is Nood ransomware dangerous for my PC?

As it was described several paragraphs above, ransomware is not only about encrypting files. Nood ransomware makes changes in your operating system to prevent searching the ransomware removal and file decryption guides. Malware does not create a software barrier – it just changes the system settings, primarily – networking and security configurations.

Through the networking configurations, the most changed item is the HOSTS configuration file. This text file contains the DNS address configurations, which are used by the browsers while sending a request to the server. If you add a specific DNS address for a certain web page, your web browser will connect that website through that DNS next time. Ransomware alters this file, adding the non-existent DNS, so any of the web browsers will show you the “Unable to resolve the DNS address” error.

Other modifications done by the virus are targeted at the prevention of operative spotting of itself, and also disabling the installation of the majority of security tools. Nood virus implements several changes in Group Policies – the system setting app which allows to change the rights of each app. In such a way, malware stops the Microsoft Defender and several other anti-malware apps, as well as blocks the launch of anti-malware installation files.

How did I get infected?

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

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

These hacked programs, regardless of their source, are one of the most often sources for various viruses, and surely the most popular one for Nood malware. It is better to stop using it, and not only because of ransomware installation risks. Avoiding license buying is an illegal action, and both hackers and users who use hacked programs fall under the charge of piracy.

How do I remove Nood malware?

The Nood malware is really hard to wipe out manually. Really, because of the number of modifications it makes in your Windows, it is almost impossible to detect them all and repair them. The best option is to make use of antivirus programs. But which one to choose?

You may see the advice to use Microsoft Defender, which is already inside of your system. Nonetheless, as it was mentioned earlier, the majority of STOP/Djvu ransomware examples disable it even before the ciphering procedure. Using the third-party tool is the only possible solution – and I can recommend the GridinSoft Anti-Malware as an option for that case. It has impressive detection abilities, so the malware will not be missed. It is also capable of system repairing, which is heavily needed after the Nood virus attack.

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

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

How to decrypt the .nood files?

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

Another option to get your files back is to try to recover them from your disks. Since ransomware deletes them and substitutes them with a ciphered copy, the residue of the documents is still stored on the disk. After the deletion, the information about them is removed from the file system, but not from a disk drive. Special apps, like PhotoRec, can recover these files. It is free, too, and may also be used for file recovery in case when you have deleted some files unintentionally.

Decrypting the .nood 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 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 refers to a specific case. Here is the explanation:

Error: Unable to decrypt a 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 analyst’s team finds one that 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 .nood files with PhotoRec tool

PhotoRec is an open-source tool, that is created to recover 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 can recover files in more than 400 different formats. Because of the described feature of the 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 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 the 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 the 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 specify 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