DONEX Virus 🔐 (.F58A66B51 Files) — How to Remove?

The Donex virus belongs under the ransomware type of infection. Harmful software of this type encrypts all user’s data on the computer (photos, documents, excel tables, music, videos, etc) and adds its specific extension to every file, leaving the Readme.[victim\’s_ID].txt text files in each directory with the encrypted files.

It is better to prevent, than repair and repent!

When we talk about the intrusion of unfamiliar programs into your computer’s work, the proverb “Forewarned is forearmed” describes the situation as accurately as possible. Gridinsoft Anti-Malware is exactly the tool that is always useful to have in your armory: fast, efficient, up-to-date. It is appropriate to use it as an emergency help at the slightest suspicion of infection.

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Donex virus: what is known so far?

The renaming will be executed by the following scheme: %filename%.victim_ID. In the course of encryption, a file named, for example, “report.docx” will be renamed to “report.docx.f58A66B51”.

In every directory that contains the encrypted files, a Readme.[victim\’s_ID].txt text file will appear. In our case, it was named Readme.f58A66B51.txt. It is a ransom money note. Therein you can find information about the ways of contacting the racketeers and some other remarks. The ransom note usually contains a description of how to buy the decryption tool from the tamperers. You can obtain this decryptor after contacting donexsupport@onionmail.org by email. That is pretty much the scheme of the felony.

Donex Summary:

The Readme.[victim\’s_ID].txt document accompanying the Donex ransomware provides the following dispiriting information:

!!! DoNex ransomware warning !!!

>>>> Your data are stolen and encrypted

The data will be published on TOR website if you do not pay the ransom

Links for Tor Browser:

-

>>>> What guarantees that we will not deceive you?

We are not a politically motivated group and we do not need anything other than your money.
    
If you pay, we will provide you the programs for decryption and we will delete your data.
    
If we do not give you decrypters, or we do not delete your data after payment, then nobody will pay us in the future.

Therefore to us our reputation is very important. We attack the companies worldwide and there is no dissatisfied victim after payment.

>>>> You need contact us and decrypt one file for free on these TOR sites with your personal DECRYPTION ID

Download and install TOR Browser hxxps://www.torproject.org/
Write to a chat and wait for the answer, we will always answer you.

You can install qtox to contanct us online hxxps://tox.chat/download.html
Tox ID Contact: 2793D009872AF80ED9B1A461F7B9BD6209 744047DC1707A42CB622053716AD4BA624193606C9

Mail (OnionMail) Support: donexsupport@onionmail.org

>>>> Warning! Do not DELETE or MODIFY any files, it can lead to recovery problems!

>>>> Warning! If you do not pay the ransom we will attack your company repeatedly again!

In the screenshot below, you can see what a folder with files encrypted by the Donex looks like. Each filename has the “.f58A66B51” extension added to it.

That is how encrypted “.f58A66B51” files look.

How did Donex ransomware end up on my PC?

There are many possible ways of ransomware infiltration.

Nowadays, there are three most popular methods for tamperers to have the Donex virus settled in your system. These are email spam, Trojan injection and peer-to-peer networks.

• If you access your inbox and see emails that look just like notifications from utility services providers, postal agencies like FedEx, Internet providers, and whatnot, but whose mailer is strange to you, be wary of opening those emails. They are very likely to have a harmful file enclosed in them. So it is even riskier to download any attachments that come with letters like these.
• Another option for ransom hunters is a Trojan file model. A Trojan is a program that infiltrates into your computer disguised as something legal. For instance, you download an installer for some program you need or an update for some software. However, what is unpacked turns out to be a harmful agent that compromises your data. As the installation wizard can have any name and any icon, you’d better be sure that you can trust the source of the things you’re downloading. The optimal thing is to use the software developers’ official websites.
• As for the peer-to-peer file transfer protocols like torrents or eMule, the threat is that they are even more trust-based than the rest of the Internet. You can never know what you download until you get it. Our suggestion is that you use trustworthy websites. Also, it is a good idea to scan the directory containing the downloaded objects with the anti-malware utility as soon as the downloading is complete.

How do I get rid of ransomware?

It is crucial to inform you that besides encrypting your files, the Donex virus will most likely install Vidar Stealer on your PC to seize your credentials to various accounts (including cryptocurrency wallets). The mentioned spyware can extract your credentials from your browser’s auto-filling cardfile.

Remove Donex with Gridinsoft Anti-Malware

We have also been using this software on our systems ever since, and it has always been successful in detecting viruses. It has blocked the most common Ransomware as shown from our tests with the software, and we assure you that it can remove Donex as well as other malware hiding on your computer.

To use Gridinsoft for remove malicious threats, follow the steps below:

1. Begin by downloading Gridinsoft Anti-Malware, accessible via the blue button below or directly from the official website gridinsoft.com.

2.Once the Gridinsoft setup file (setup-gridinsoft-fix.exe) is downloaded, execute it by clicking on the file.

3.Follow the installation setup wizard's instructions diligently.

4. Access the "Scan Tab" on the application's start screen and launch a comprehensive "Full Scan" to examine your entire computer. This inclusive scan encompasses the memory, startup items, the registry, services, drivers, and all files, ensuring that it detects malware hidden in all possible locations.

Be patient, as the scan duration depends on the number of files and your computer's hardware capabilities. Use this time to relax or attend to other tasks.

5. Upon completion, Anti-Malware will present a detailed report containing all the detected malicious items and threats on your PC.

6. Select all the identified items from the report and confidently click the "Clean Now" button. This action will safely remove the malicious files from your computer, transferring them to the secure quarantine zone of the anti-malware program to prevent any further harmful actions.

8. If prompted, restart your computer to finalize the full system scan procedure. This step is crucial to ensure thorough removal of any remaining threats. After the restart, Gridinsoft Anti-Malware will open and display a message confirming the completion of the scan.

Remember Gridinsoft offers a 6-day free trial. This means you can take advantage of the trial period at no cost to experience the full benefits of the software and prevent any future malware infections on your system. Embrace this opportunity to fortify your computer's security without any financial commitment.

Trojan Killer for “Donex” removal on locked PC

In situations where it becomes impossible to download antivirus applications directly onto the infected computer due to malware blocking access to websites, an alternative solution is to utilize the Trojan Killer application.

There is a really little number of security tools that are able to be set up on the USB drives, and antiviruses that can do so in most cases require to obtain quite an expensive license. For this instance, I can recommend you to use another solution of GridinSoft - Trojan Killer Portable. It has a 14-days cost-free trial mode that offers the entire features of the paid version. This term will definitely be 100% enough to wipe malware out.

Trojan Killer is a valuable tool in your cybersecurity arsenal, helping you to effectively remove malware from infected computers. Now, we will walk you through the process of using Trojan Killer from a USB flash drive to scan and remove malware on an infected PC. Remember, always obtain permission to scan and remove malware from a computer that you do not own.

Step 1: Download & Install Trojan Killer on a Clean Computer:

1. Go to the official GridinSoft website (gridinsoft.com) and download Trojan Killer to a computer that is not infected.

2. Insert a USB flash drive into this computer.

3. Install Trojan Killer to the "removable drive" following the on-screen instructions.

4. Once the installation is complete, launch Trojan Killer.

Step 2: Update Signature Databases:

5. After launching Trojan Killer, ensure that your computer is connected to the Internet.

6. Click "Update" icon to download the latest signature databases, which will ensure the tool can detect the most recent threats.

Step 3: Scan the Infected PC:

7. Safely eject the USB flash drive from the clean computer.

8. Boot the infected computer to the Safe Mode.

9. Insert the USB flash drive.

10. Run tk.exe

11. Once the program is open, click on "Full Scan" to begin the malware scanning process.

Step 4: Remove Found Threats:

12. After the scan is complete, Trojan Killer will display a list of detected threats.

13. Click on "Cure PC!" to remove the identified malware from the infected PC.

14. Follow any additional on-screen prompts to complete the removal process.

Step 5: Restart Your Computer:

15. Once the threats are removed, click on "Restart PC" to reboot your computer.

16. Remove the USB flash drive from the infected computer.

Congratulations on effectively removing Donex and the concealed threats from your computer! You can now have peace of mind, knowing that they won't resurface again. Thanks to Gridinsoft's capabilities and commitment to cybersecurity, your system is now protected.

Often criminals would unblock some of your files so you know that they indeed have the decryption program. As Donex virus is a relatively new ransomware, security software developers have not yet found a method to reverse its work. Nevertheless, the anti-ransomware instruments are frequently upgraded, so the solution may soon arrive.

Understandably, if the evildoers succeed in encoding someone’s essential files, the hopeless person will probably comply with their demands. Despite that, paying to racketeers gives no guarantee that you’re getting your blocked information back. It is still dangerous. After getting the money, the racketeers may send a wrong decryption code to the victim. There were reports about ransomware developers simply disappearing after getting the money without even bothering to reply.

The optimal solution against ransomware is to have a system restore point or the copies of your essential files in the cloud storage or at least on an external drive. Obviously, that might be insufficient. Your most important thing could be that file you were working upon when it all happened. Nevertheless, it is something. It is also advisable to scan your PC for viruses with the anti-malware utility after the OS restoration.

There are other ransomware products, besides Donex, that work similarly. For instance, Reload, Zarik, Payuranson, and some others. The two basic differences between them and the Donex are the ransom amount and the method of encryption. The rest is almost identical: files become encoded, their extensions changed, ransom notes emerge in each folder containing encrypted files.

Some fortunate users were able to decode the blocked files with the help of the free software provided by anti-ransomware experts. Sometimes the hackers accidentally send the decryption code to the wronged in the ransom readme. Such an epic fail allows the victim to restore the files. But of course, one should never expect such a chance. Make no mistake, ransomware is a bandits’ technology to pull the money out of their victims.

How сan I avoid ransomware infection?

Donex ransomware doesn’t have a endless power, so as any similar malware.

You can armour yourself from ransomware injection in several easy steps:

• Never open any letters from unknown senders with strange addresses, or with content that has likely no connection to something you are waiting for (how can you win in a money prize draw without even taking part in it?). In case the email subject is likely something you are waiting for, check all elements of the dubious email carefully. A fake email will surely have a mistake.
• Avoid using cracked or unknown programs. Trojans are often spreaded as an element of cracked products, possibly as a “patch” preventing the license check. Understandably, dubious programs are difficult to tell from trustworthy ones, because trojans may also have the functionality you seek. You can try searching for information on this program on the anti-malware message boards, but the optimal way is not to use such programs at all.
• And to be sure about the safety of the objects you downloaded, use GridinSoft Anti-Malware. This program will be a perfect defense for your PC.

Frequently Asked Questions

🤔 Is it possible to open “.f58A66B51” files?

There’s no way to do it, unless the files “.f58A66B51” 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. Otherwise, you might try to employ System Restore. The only question is whether you have saved any Restore Points that would be helpful now. There are other ways to beat ransomware, but they take time.

🤔 Will GridinSoft Anti-Malware remove all the encrypted files alongside the Donex virus?

Absolutely not! The encrypted files are not harmful, so they won’t be deleted.

GridinSoft Anti-Malware only deals with actual threats. The virus that has infiltrated your PC is most likely still active and running scans from time to time to encrypt any new files you might create on your PC after the attack. As it has been said above, the Donex malware comes with the company. It installs backdoors and keyloggers that can steal your account credentials and provide hackers with easy access to your PC in the future.

🤔 What to do if the Donex ransomware has blocked my PC and I can’t get the activation key.

In such a case, you need to have a flash memory card with a pre-installed Trojan Killer. Use Safe Mode to execute the procedure. You see, the ransomware runs automatically as the system boots and encrypts any new files created or imported into your computer. To suppress this process – use Safe Mode, which allows only the vital programs to run automatically. Consider reading our manual on booting Windows in Safe Mode.

🤔 What can I do right now?

Many of the encoded files might still be within your reach

• If you exchanged your important files by email, you could still download them from your online mailbox.
• You might have shared images or videos with your friends or relatives. Just ask them to give those images back to you.
• If you have initially got any of your files from the Web, you can try downloading them again.
• Your messengers, social media pages, and cloud drives might have all those files as well.
• It might be that you still have the needed files on your old PC, a portable device, cellphone, external storage, etc.

USEFUL TIP: You can employ file recovery programs¹ to get your lost data back since ransomware encrypts the copies of your files, deleting the original ones. In the tutorial below, you can see how to recover your files with PhotoRec, but remember: you won’t be able to do it before you eradicate the ransomware itself with an anti-malware program.

1. Here are Top 10 Data Recovery Software Of 2024.