The Axxes virus belongs under the ransomware type of infection. Malware of this type encrypts all user’s data on the computer (photos, documents, excel tables, audio files, videos, etc) and adds its extra extension to every file, creating the RESTORE_FILES_INFO.txt text files in each folder containing encrypted files.
What is known about the Axxesvirus?
☝️ A strictly accurate denomination for the Axxes would be “a ransomware infection”.
Axxes appends its extra .axxes extension to the title of every encrypted file. For example, an image named “photo.jpg” will be renamed to “photo.jpg.axxes”. Just like the Excel file named “table.xlsx” will be altered to “table.xlsx.axxes”, and so forth.
In every directory that contains the encoded files, a RESTORE_FILES_INFO.txt text document will be found. It is a ransom money memo. It contains information about the ways of contacting the racketeers and some other information. The ransom note usually contains instructions on how to purchase the decryption tool from the tamperers. That is it.
Axxes summary:
| Name | Axxes Virus |
| Extension | .axxes |
| Ransomware note | RESTORE_FILES_INFO.txt |
| Detection | Trojan:Win32/Otran, Win32/GenKryptik.FTSV, Ransom:Win32/StopCrypt.PBD!MTB |
| Symptoms | Your files (photos, videos, documents) get a .axxes extension and you can’t open them. |
| Fix Tool | See If Your System Has Been Affected by Axxes virus |
In the screenshot below, you can see what a directory with files encrypted by the Axxes looks like. Each filename has the “.axxes” extension appended to it.
An example of encrypted .axxes files.
How did Axxes ransomware end up on my PC?
There is a huge number of possible ways of ransomware infiltration.
Nowadays, there are three most exploited ways for evil-doers to have the Axxes virus working in your system. These are email spam, Trojan injection and peer networks.
If you open your inbox and see letters that look like familiar notifications from utility services companies, postal agencies like FedEx, web-access providers, and whatnot, but whose sender is unknown to you, beware of opening those emails. They are very likely to have a malicious item enclosed in them. So it is even more dangerous to open any attachments that come with letters like these.
Another option for ransom hunters is a Trojan virus scheme1. A Trojan is an object that infiltrates into your machine pretending to be something else. For instance, you download an installer of some program you want or an update for some software. But what is unboxed turns out to be a harmful program that compromises your data. As the installation file can have any title and any icon, you have to make sure that you can trust the source of the files you’re downloading. The best way is to trust the software developers’ official websites.
As for the peer networks like BitTorrent or eMule, the danger is that they are even more trust-based than the rest of the Web. You can never guess what you download until you get it. So you’d better be using trustworthy websites. Also, it is a good idea to scan the directory containing the downloaded files with the antivirus as soon as the downloading is complete.
How to remove the Axxes virus?
It is crucial to note that besides encrypting your data, the Axxes virus will most likely install the Azorult Spyware on your computer to get access to credentials to different accounts (including cryptocurrency wallets). That spyware2 can derive your credentials from your browser’s auto-filling data.
Often criminals would decrypt several of your files so you know that they really have the decryption program. As Axxes virus is a relatively recent ransomware, anti-malware engineers have not yet found a way to reverse its work. Nevertheless, the decryption instruments are frequently upgraded, so the solution may soon arrive.
Understandably, if the hackers do the job of encrypting someone’s essential files, the desperate person will most likely comply with their demands. Nevertheless, paying a ransom does not necessarily mean that you’re getting your blocked information back. It is still dangerous. After receiving the money, the racketeers may deliver a wrong decryption code to the victim. There were reports of criminals simply vanishing after getting the money without even bothering to reply.
The optimal solution against ransomware is to have aan OS restore point or the copies of your essential files in the cloud disk or at least on an external storage. Obviously, that might be insufficient. Your most crucial thing could be that one you were working upon when it all started. Nevertheless, it is something. It is also reasonable to scan your drives with the anti-malware utility after the OS is rolled back.
Axxes is not the only ransomware of its kind, since there are other specimens of ransomware out there that act in the same manner. Examples of those are Ygvb, Tuid, Udla, and some others. The two main differences between them and the Axxes are the ransom amount and the encoding method. The rest is almost identical: files become encrypted, their extensions altered, ransom notes are created in each directory containing encrypted files.
Some lucky victims were able to decrypt the arrested files with the aid of the free tools provided by anti-ransomware experts. Sometimes the hackers mistakenly send the decoding code to the victims in the ransom readme. Such an extraordinary fail allows the user to restore the files. But of course, one should never expect such a chance. Make no mistake, ransomware is a bandits’ tool to lay their hands on the money of their victims.
How to avert ransomware injection?
Axxes ransomware has no endless power, neither does any similar malware.
You can armour yourself from ransomware injection within several easy steps:
- Never open any emails from unknown senders with unknown addresses, or with content that has nothing to do with something you are expecting (how can you win in a money prize draw without even taking part in it?). In case the email subject is more or less something you are waiting for, check all elements of the suspicious letter carefully. A fake letter will surely contain mistakes.
- Never use cracked or untrusted software. Trojans are often spreaded as a part of cracked software, most likely under the guise of “patch” preventing the license check. Understandably, dubious programs are difficult to distinguish from trustworthy ones, as trojans sometimes have the functionality you need. You can try to find information on this software product on the anti-malware message boards, but the optimal way is not to use such software.
- And finally, to be sure about the safety of the files you downloaded, check them with GridinSoft Anti-Malware. This software will be a perfect shield for your PC.
Reasons why I would recommend GridinSoft3
There is no better way to recognize, remove and prevent ransomware than to use an anti-malware software from GridinSoft4.
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 computer.
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 computer for Axxes 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.
FAQ
🤔 How can I open “.axxes” files?Are the “.axxes” files accessible?
There’s no way to do it, unless the files “.axxes” files are decrypted.
🤔 What should I do to make my files accessible as fast as possible?
Hopefully, you have made a copy of those important files. In case you haven’t, there is still a chance that you do have a Restore Point from some time ago to roll back the whole system to the moment when it had no virus yet, but already had your files. All other solutions require time.
🤔 If GridinSoft deletes the Axxes malware, will it also delete my files that were encrypted?
Of course not. Unlike the ransomware program itself, the encrypted files do not jeopardize your system.
With the help of GridinSoft Anti-Malware, you can clean your PC off the actual threats. The malware that has attacked your PC is probably still functional and it scans your system from time to time to arrest any new files you might create on your computer after the attack. As it has been said above, the Axxes ransomware does not come alone. It installs backdoors and keyloggers that can take your account passwords by trespass and provide malefactors with easy access to your PC after some time.
🤔 What to do if the Axxes malware has blocked my computer and I can’t get the activation key.
If that happened, you need to have a flash memory card with a previously installed Trojan Killer. Use Safe Mode to perform the procedure. The point is that the ransomware starts automatically as the system boots and encrypts any new files created or imported into your system. To stop this process – use Safe Mode, which allows only the vital applications to run upon system boot. Consider reading our manual on booting Windows in Safe Mode.
🤔 What can I do right now?
Some of the blocked data can be found elsewhere.
- If you exchanged your important files via email, you could still download them from your online mailbox.
- You may have shared images or videos with your friends or family members. Just ask them to send those pictures back to you.
- If you have initially got any of your files from the Web, you can try downloading them again.
- Your messengers, social networks pages, and cloud storage might have all those files too.
- It might be that you still have the needed files on your old PC, a portable device, phone, external storage, etc.
HINT: You can employ file recovery utilities5 to retrieve your lost information since ransomware blocks the copies of your files, removing the authentic ones. In the video below, you can learn how to use PhotoRec for such a recovery, but be advised: you won’t be able to do it before you eradicate the virus with an antivirus program.
Also, you can contact the following official 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.
I need your help to share this article.
It is your turn to help other people. I have written this guide to help people like you. You can use the buttons below to share this on your favorite social media Facebook, Twitter, or Reddit.
Brendan SmithHow to Remove AXXES Ransomware & Recover PC
Name: AXXES Virus
Description: AXXES Virus is a ransomware-type infections. This virus encrypts important personal files (video, photos, documents). The encrypted files can be tracked by a specific .axxes extension. So, you can't use them at all.
Operating System: Windows
Application Category: Virus
User Review
( votes)References
- You can read more on Trojans, their use and types in the Trojan-dedicated section of GridinSoft official website.
- You can read more on spyware variants and nature in the respective section of GridinSoft official website.
- GridinSoft Anti-Malware Review from HowToFix site: https://howtofix.guide/gridinsoft-anti-malware/
- More information about GridinSoft products: https://gridinsoft.com/comparison
- Here’s the list of Best Data Recovery Software Of 2023.
