Copa is a DJVU family of ransomware-type infections1. The infection encrypts important personal files (video, photos, documents). The encrypted files can be tracked by specific “.copa” extension. So, you can’t obtain access to them at all.
In this tutorial I will try to help you remove Copa ransomware without any payment. Also, I will assist you in decoding your encrypted files.
What is “Copa”?
Copa can be correctly identify as a ransomware infection.
Ransomware is a specific kind of virus that encrypted your documents and then forces you to pay for them. Note that DJVU (aka STOP) ransomware family was first revealed and analyzed by virus analyst Michael Gillespie2.Copa is similar to other representatives of the same family: Kolz, Npph, Ogdo. Copa encrypted all popular file types. Hence, users cannot work with the own documents or photos. Copa adds its particular “.copa” extension into all files. For example, the file “video.avi”, will be amended into “video.avi.copa”. As soon as the encryption is successfully accomplished, Copa drops a specific file “_readme.txt” and drop it into all folders that contain the modified files.
Here is a short info for the Copa ransomware:
| Ransomware family3 | DJVU/STOP4 ransomware |
| Extension | .copa |
| Ransomware note | _readme.txt |
| Ransom | From $490 to $980 (in Bitcoins) |
| Contact | helpmanager@mail.ch, restoremanager@airmail.cc |
| Detection | Troj/Ransom-FNA, RiskWare.Decrypter, Graftor.614099 |
| Symptoms | Your files (photos, videos, documents) have a .copa extension and you can’t open it |
| Fix Tool | See If Your System Has Been Affected by .copa file virus |
This text asking payment is for get files back via decryption key:
The scary alert demanding from users to pay the ransom to decrypt the compromised data contains these frustrating warnings
The cryptography algorithm used by Copa is AES-256. So, if your files got encrypted with a specific decryption key, which is totally unique and there are no other copies. The sad reality is that it is impossible to restore the information without the unique key available.
In case if Copa worked in online mode, it is impossible for you to gain access to the AES-256 key. It is stored on a remote server owned by the criminals who promote the Copa virus.
For receiving decryption key the payment should be $980. To obtain the payment details, the victims are encouraged by the message to contact the frauds by email (helpmanager@mail.ch), or via Telegram.
Do not pay for Copa!
Please, try to use the available backups, or Decrypter tool
_readme.txt file also indicates that the computer owners must get in touch with the Copa representatives during 72 hours starting from the moment of files where encrypted. On the condition of getting in touch within 72 hours, users will be granted a 50% rebate. Thus the ransom amount will be minimized down to $490). However, stay away from paying the ransom!
I definitely advise that you do not contact these crooks and do not pay. The one of the most real working solution to recover the lost data – just using the available backups, or use Decrypter tool.
The peculiarity of all such viruses apply a similar set of actions for generating the unique decryption key to recover the ciphered data.
Thus, unless the ransomware is still under the stage of development or possesses with some hard-to-track flaws, manually recovering the ciphered data is a thing you can’t perform. The only solution to prevent the loss of your valuable data is to regularly make backups of your crucial files.
Note that even if you do maintain such backups regularly, they ought to be put into a specific location without loitering, not being connected to your main workstation.
For instance, the backup may be kept on the USB flash drive or some alternative external hard drive storage. Optionally, you may refer to the help of online (cloud) information storage.
Needless to mention, when you maintain your backup data on your common device, it may be similarly ciphered as well as other data.
For this reason, locating the backup on your main PC is surely not a wise idea.
How I was infected?
Copa has a various methods to built into your system. But it doesn’t really matter what concrete method had place in your case.
Copa ransomware attack following a successful phishing attempt.
- hidden installation along with other apps, especially the utilities that work as freeware or shareware;
- dubious link in spam emails leading to the Copa installer
- online free hosting resources;
- using illegal peer-to-peer (P2P) resources for downloading pirated software.
There were cases when the Copa virus was disguised as some legitimate tool, for example, in the messages demanding to initiate some unwanted software or browser updates. This is typically the way how some online frauds aim to force you into installing the Copa ransomware manually, by actually making you directly participate in this process.
Surely, the bogus update alert will not indicate that you are going to actually inject the Copa ransomware. This installation will be concealed under some alert mentioning that allegedly you should update Adobe Flash Player or some other dubious program whatsoever.
Of course, the cracked apps represent the damage too. Using P2P is both illegal and may result in the injection of serious malware, including the Copa ransomware.
To sum up, what can you do to avoid the injection of the Copa ransomware into your device? Even though there is no 100% guarantee to prevent your PC from getting damaged, there are certain tips I want to give you to prevent the Copa penetration. You must be cautious while installing free software today.
Make sure you always read what the installers offer in addition to the main free program. Stay away from opening dubious email attachments. Do not open files from the unknown addressees. Of course, your current security program must always be updated.
The malware does not speak openly about itself. It will not be mentioned in the list of your available programs. However, it will be masked under some malicious process running regularly in the background, starting from the moment when you launch your PC.
The message by the Copa ransomware states the following frustrating information:
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: helpmanager@mail.ch Reserve e-mail address to contact us: restoremanager@airmail.cc Your personal ID: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
The image below gives a clear vision of how the files with “.copa” extension look like:
Example of encrypted .copa files
How to remove Copa virus?
In addition to encode a victim’s files, the Copa virus has also started to install the Azorult Spyware on computer to steal account credentials, cryptocurrency wallets, desktop files, and more.
Reasons why I would recommend GridinSoft5
The is an excellent way to deal with recognizing and removing threats – using Gridinsoft Anti-Malware. This program will scan your PC, find and neutralize all suspicious processes6.
Download Removal Tool.
You can download GridinSoft Anti-Malware by clicking the button below:
Run the setup file.
When setup file has finished downloading, double-click on the setup-antimalware-fix.exe file to install GridinSoft Anti-Malware on your PC.
An User Account Control asking you about to allow GridinSoft Anti-Malware to make changes to your device. So, you should click “Yes” to continue with the installation.
Press “Install” button.
Once installed, Anti-Malware will automatically run.
Wait for the Anti-Malware scan to complete.
GridinSoft Anti-Malware will automatically start scanning your system for Copa infections and other malicious programs. This process can take a 20-30 minutes, so I suggest you periodically check on the status of the scan process.
Click on “Clean Now”.
When the scan has completed, you will see the list of infections that GridinSoft Anti-Malware has detected. To remove them click on the “Clean Now” button in right corner.
How to decrypt .copa files?
Restore solution for big “.copa files“
Try removing .copa extension on a few BIG files and opening them. Either the Copa virus read and did not encrypt the file, or it bugged and did not add the filemarker. If your files are very large (2GB+), the latter is most likely. Please, let me know in comments if that will work for you.
The newest extensions released around the end of August 2019 after the criminals made changes. This includes Ogdo, Kasp, Geno, etc.
As a result of the changes made by the criminals, STOPDecrypter is no longer supported. It has been removed and replaced with the Emsisoft Decryptor for STOP Djvu Ransomware developed by Emsisoft and Michael Gillespie.
You can download free decryption tool here: Decryptor for STOP Djvu.
Download and run decryption tool.
Start downloading the decryption tool.
Make sure to launch the decryption utility as an administrator. You need to agree with the license terms that will come up. For this purpose, click on the “Yes” button:
As soon as you accept the license terms, the main decryptor user interface comes up:
Select folders for decryption.
Based on the default settings, the decryptor will automatically populate the available locations in order to decrypt the currently available drives (the connected ones), including the network drives. Extra (optional) locations can be selected with the help of the “Add” button.
Decryptors normally suggest several options considering the specific malware family. The current possible options are presented in the Options tab and can be activated or deactivated there. You may locate a detailed list of the currently active Options below.
Click on the “Decrypt” button.
As soon as yo add all the desired locations for decryption into the list, click on the “Decrypt” button in order to initiate the decryption procedure.
Note that the main screen may turn you to a status view, letting you know of the active process and the decryption statistics of your data:
The decryptor will notify you as soon as the decryption procedure is completed. If you need the report for your personal papers, you can save it by choosing the “Save log” button. Note that it is also possible to copy it directly to your clipboard and to paste it into emails or forum messages if you need to do so.
Frequently Asked Questions
If your data remained in the .copa files are very valuable, then most likely you made a backup copy.
If not, then you can try to restore them through the system function – Restore Point.
All other methods will require patience.
Of course not. Your encrypted files do not pose a threat to the computer. What happened has already happened.
You need GridinSoft Anti-Malware to remove active system infections. The virus that encrypted your files is most likely still active and periodically runs a test for the ability to encrypt even more files. Also, these viruses install keyloggers and backdoors for further malicious actions (for example, theft of passwords, credit cards) often.
Do not panic. In case if Emsisoft Decryptor is incapable to decrypt the data, encrypted by Copa ransomware, the only option is to try again in a week. The Decryptor gets the database update each week, so, eventually, it can receive an update which will certainly help you. Copa ransomware attack is not a thing that is simple to solve, hence, the more persistence you have – the more the chances you will definitely obtain your documents back.
Another means to get your files back is to utilize the back-ups. The only problem is that most users do not create any backups or make them way too rarely. Thus, when they are attempting to work with these back-ups, the possibility of getting the data they need is minimal.
No. However, a couple of forms of data can be opened as a result of the Copa encryption mechanism. It encrypts just the first 150 kilobytes of each file, therefore, you can try to open big files that are significantly larger than 150KB (MP3, MP4 files). Such action is possible only when you are using the specific players – WinAmp, for example. The only sign of file encryption is that the first 5-10 secs of every file are failing to play – this part of the file is ciphered.
Copa ransomware makers will certainly stop their activity if their product (i.e. ransomware) will stop being profitable. The fewer encryption situations are resolved due to paying the ransom – the less inspiration ransomware makers will certainly have in the future. Unfortunately, large firms that have actually been struck by ransomware often have no time to await the decryption keys. The loss they will have as a result of downtime can be a lot larger than the ransom. But for individuals that can wait until the secrets are available, there is no need to pay a massive ransom.
Ransomware can encrypt only that disk which contained its files prior to the attack. Therefore, all files on other logical drives are secure. However, we have a lot of reports specifying that Copa can cipher the external drives.
The biggest origin of all ransomware is cracked software as well as e-mail attachments. Hence, to protect your information from ransomware hazards, you need to utilize only trusted programs. License cost for Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, or AutoCAD is a lot less than the ransom money, which is demanded file decryption. Be additionally extremely cautious while opening the e-mail attachments from untrustworthy and unknown email addresses. Such documents can contain whatever, instead of the suggested content.
Nonetheless, if the conditions are compelling you to make use of an untrusted website for software downloading (as an example, if you require to use abandonware) – check all of the programs downloaded from the Web with GridinSoft Anti-Malware. You can additionally turn on the On-Run Protection, so GridinSoft Anti-Malware will certainly check all brand-new files automatically.
File pair is the pair of documents that are utilized by the Decryptor to create an image of encryption. To decrypt your documents, you need to discover an unencrypted variant of each data category. For example, if you have image4.png.Copa on your PC, you need to search for an unencrypted image4.png, then Emsisoft STOPDecryptor will have the ability to decrypt all your.png files. The exact same action you need to do with all your documents -. docx, xlsx, pptx, etc.
You can try to find a copy of an original file that was encrypted:
- Files you downloaded from the Internet that were encrypted and you can download again to get the original.
- Pictures that you shared with family and friends that they can just send back to you.
- Photos that you uploaded on social media or cloud services like Carbonite, OneDrive, iDrive, Google Drive, etc)
- Attachments in emails you sent or received and saved.
- Files on an older computer, flash drive, external drive, camera memory card, or iPhone where you transferred data to the infected computer.
Also, you can contact the following government fraud and scam sites to report this attack:
- In the United States: On Guard Online;
- In Canada: Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre;
- In the United Kingdom: Action Fraud;
- In Australia: SCAMwatch;
- In New Zealand: Consumer Affairs Scams;
- In France: Agence nationale de la sécurité des systèmes d’information;
- In Germany: Bundesamt für Sicherheit in der Informationstechnik;
- In Ireland: An Garda Síochána;
To report the attack, you can contact local executive boards. For instance, if you live in USA, you can have a talk with FBI Local field office, IC3 or Secret Service.
Video Guide
It’s my favorite video tutorial: How to use GridinSoft Anti-Malware and Emsisoft Decryptor for fix ransomware infections.
If the guide doesn’t help you to remove Copa infection, please download the GridinSoft Anti-Malware that I recommended. Also, you can always ask me in the comments for getting help.
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Brendan SmithHow to Remove COPA Ransomware & Recover PC
Name: COPA Virus
Description: COPA Virus is a DJVU family of ransomware-type infections. This infection encrypts important personal files (video, photos, documents). The encrypted files can be tracked by a specific .copa extension. So, you can't use them at all.
Operating System: Windows
Application Category: Virus
User Review
( votes)References
- Ransomware-type infection: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ransomware
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/demonslay335
- My files are encrypted by ransomware, what should I do now?
- About DJVU (STOP) Ransomware.
- GridinSoft Anti-Malware Review from HowToFix site: https://howtofix.guide/gridinsoft-anti-malware/
- More information about GridinSoft products: https://gridinsoft.com/comparison
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Hello,,at night my laptop was infect by copa…can you help me? I has used decryption 1.0.0.0,but its still failed..pleasee,help mee..
Hello,,at night my laptop was infect by copa…can you help me? I has used decryption 1.0.0.5,but its still failed..pleasee,help mee
please help me.
File: E:\Z170I PRO GAMING\Intel_LAN_Win7-81-10_V207670\Intel_Lan_Win7-81-10_V 207670\Intel\RIS\Winx64\NDIS65\readme.txt.copa
Error: No key for New Variant offline ID: 5sHsKew2XYnEguRaSVYIA8rudOB16MVLvPgGIOt1
Notice: this ID appears be an offline ID, decryption MAY be possible in the future
Hi, I tried all your steps. After running the anti ransom GordinSoft, my computer shows no threats at all. All files encrypted belong to my External HD, which was my backup. I only use it to backup data and reinstall stuff once I format my computer.
I recently bought one, and used the HD after first Windows installation. (I use a Mac OS with a Windows partition via Bootcamp) So, I don’t know how this could’ve happened and only affected the HD but not the computer… I tried running several ransomware softwares and all of them are the same. No threats found.
On the other hand, I tried to delete the .copa extension and none of the files work without the extension.
I will try again later, but if you could help me out with this, or recommend any further steps… please let me know.
Oh, and the Decryptor says: “Notice: this ID appears to be an online ID, decryption impossible.”
Please help me This prog dont work for this ransomvirus.
That say:
File: C:\MSI\MSIRegister\BMP\default\200s_4.bmp.copa
Error: No key for New Variant online ID: 6ebRnu9ILRuBXluRWTPQYVd3U30A6XkyEwYi2w1A
Notice: this ID appears to be an online ID, decryption is impossible
i have the same problem