INTEL Virus 🔐 (.INTEL Files) — How to Remove?

The Intel virus belongs under the Dharma ransomware family. Ransomware of this type encrypts all the data on your computer (photos, text files, excel sheets, music, videos, etc) and adds its extra extension to every file, leaving the README!.txt files in each directory containing encrypted files.

Intel virus: what is known so far?

☝️ Intel is a Dharma family ransomware infection.

The pattern of renaming is the following: id-xxxxx.[contact-email].intel. In the course of encryption, a file entitled, for example, “report.docx” will be changed to “report.docx.id-9ECFA84E.[intellent@ai_download_file].intel”.

In every folder with the encoded files, a README!.txt file will be created. It is a ransom money memo. It contains information about the ways of paying the ransom and some other remarks. The ransom note usually contains a description of how to buy the decryption tool from the racketeers. You can get this decrypting software after contacting [email protected] through email. That is it.

Intel Overview:

The README!.txt file accompanying the Intel malware states the following:

intellent.ai We downloaded to our servers and encrypted all your databases and personal information!


If you do not write to us within 24 hours, we will start publishing and selling your data on the darknet on hacker sites and offer the information to your competitors
email us: [email protected] YOUR ID -
If you haven\'t heard back within 24 hours, write to this email:[email protected]


IMPORTANT INFORMATION!
Keep in mind that once your data appears on our leak site,it could be bought by your competitors at any second, so don\'t hesitate for a long time.The sooner you pay the ransom, the sooner your company will be safe..
we\'ve looked at all of your reports and your company\'s revenue.
Guarantee:If we don\'t provide you with a decryptor or delete your data after you pay,no one will pay us in the future. We value our reputation.
Guarantee key:To prove that the decryption key exists, we can test the file (not the database and backup) for free.
Do not try to decrypt your data using third party software, it may cause permanent data loss.
Don\'t go to recovery companies - they are essentially just middlemen.Decryption of your files with the help of third parties may cause increased price (they add their fee to our) we\'re the only ones who have the decryption keys.

In the screenshot below, you can see what a directory with files encrypted by the Intel looks like. Each filename has the “.intel” extension appended to it.

How did my machine catch Intel ransomware?

There are many possible ways of ransomware injection.

There are currently three most exploited methods for tamperers to have ransomware planted in your system. These are email spam, Trojan introduction and peer file transfer.

• If you access your mailbox and see letters that look just like notifications from utility services providers, postal agencies like FedEx, web-access providers, and whatnot, but whose mailer is unknown to you, beware of opening those letters. They are very likely to have a viral file enclosed in them. Therefore, it is even riskier to open any attachments that come with letters like these.
• Another thing the hackers might try is a Trojan virus model. A Trojan is a program that gets into your computer disguised as something different. Imagine, you download an installer of some program you want or an update for some program. However, what is unpacked turns out to be a harmful agent that encodes your data. Since the update package can have any name and any icon, you have to make sure that you can trust the source of the things you’re downloading. The best way is to use the software developers’ official websites.
• As for the peer-to-peer file transfer protocols like BitTorrent or eMule, the threat 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 reasonable to scan the folder containing the downloaded items with the anti-malware utility as soon as the downloading is finished.

How do I get rid of ransomware?

It is crucial to note that besides encrypting your files, the Intel virus will most likely deploy Vidar Stealer on your computer to get access to credentials to different accounts (including cryptocurrency wallets). The mentioned spyware can derive your credentials from your browser’s auto-filling cardfile.

How сan I avert ransomware infiltration?

Intel ransomware has no superpower, so as any similar malware.

You can defend your computer from its attack taking several easy steps:

• Ignore any emails from unknown mailers with strange addresses, or with content that has nothing to do with something you are waiting for (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 questionable email carefully. A fake letter will always have mistakes.
• Never use cracked or untrusted programs. Trojan viruses are often spreaded as an element of cracked software, possibly as a “patch” preventing the license check. But potentially dangerous programs are difficult to tell from trustworthy ones, because trojans sometimes have the functionality you seek. Try to find information about this program on the anti-malware forums, but the optimal way is not to use such software.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

There’s no way to do it, unless the files “.intel” 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. If not, there is still a function of System Restore but it needs a Restore Point to be previously saved. The rest of the methods require patience.

🤔 What should I do if the Intel virus has blocked my PC and I can’t get the activation code.

🤔 What could help the situation right now?

Many of the blocked files might still be within your reach

• If you exchanged your important files through email, you could still download them from your online mail server.
• You may have shared photographs or videos with your friends or family members. Simply ask them to send those images back to you.
• If you have initially downloaded any of your files from the Web, you can try doing it again.
• Your messengers, social media pages, and cloud storage might have all those files as well.
• It might be that you still have the needed files on your old computer, a portable device, cellphone, memory stick, etc.

USEFUL TIP: You can use file recovery programs² to retrieve your lost information since ransomware blocks the copies of your files, removing the original ones. In the tutorial below, you can learn how to recover your files with PhotoRec, but be advised: you can do it only after you eradicate the virus with an antivirus program.

1. My files are encrypted by ransomware, what should I do now?
2. Here’s the list of Best Data Recovery Software Of 2023.