KITU Virus (.KITU File) 🔐 Decrypt + Removal Guide

The Kitu virus, also known as a ransomware infection, is part of the STOP/DJVU family, which is notorious for its malicious file encryption capabilities. When the Kitu virus infects a computer system, it targets various types of files, such as videos, photos, documents, and more. It modifies the file structure and appends the “.kitu” extension to each encrypted file, making them inaccessible and unusable without the decryption key.

What Is Kitu Virus?

The Kitu virus is a type of malware that encrypts your files and coerces you into paying for their restoration. This ransomware encrypts various file types which become identifiable by a distinct “.kitu” extension. As a result, the affected files become inaccessible and unusable. Subsequently, the ransomware demands a ransom payment in Bitcoin from its victims, ranging from $490 to $980. Typically, a ransom text file named “_readme.txt“.

Kitu Ransomware operates by Salsa20 encryption algorithms to scramble the contents of the targeted files. In the case of the Kitu virus, it utilizes a robust encryption method that makes it incredibly difficult, if not impossible, to calculate the decryption key without the assistance of the attackers.

Once the files are encrypted, the Kitu virus displays a ransom note to the victim, demanding a ransom payment in exchange for the decryption key. The ransom note provides instructions on how to make the payment and often includes threats of permanent data loss or increased ransom amounts if the demands are not met within a specified timeframe.

I have compiled a comprehensive list of potential solutions, tips, and practices to neutralize the Kitu virus and decrypt file encryption. In some cases, it may be feasible to restore your files, while in others, it may be impossible.

Kitu employs a unique key for each victim, with one exception:

Kitu virus is basically similar to other representatives of DJVU ransomware like: Kizu, Kiqu, Mitu. This virus encrypt all popular file types and adds its own “.kitu” extension into all files. For instance, the file “1.jpg”, will be amended into “1.jpg.kitu“. As soon as the encryption is successfully accomplished, virus generates a specific message file “_readme.txt” and adds it into all folders that contain the modified files.

The image below gives a clear vision of how the files with “.kitu” extension look like:

Kitu File (STOP/DJVU Ransomware)

This message asking payment is for restore files via decryption key:

_readme.txt (STOP/DJVU Ransomware) – The scary alert demanding from users to pay the ransom to decrypt the encoded data contains these frustrating warnings

Kitu ransomware arrives as a set of processes that are meant to perform different tasks on a victim’s computer. One of the first ones being launched is winupdate.exe, a tricky process that displays a fake Windows update prompt during the attack. This is meant to convince the victim that a sudden system slowdown is caused by a Windows update. However, at the same time, the ransomware runs another process (usually named by four random characters) which starts scanning the system for target files and encrypting them. Next, the ransomware deletes Volume Shadow Copies from the system using the following CMD command:

vssadmin.exe Delete Shadows /All /Quiet

Once deleted, it becomes impossible to restore the previous computer state using System Restore Points. The thing is, ransomware operators are getting rid of any Windows OS-based methods that could help the victim to restore files for free. In addition, the crooks modify the Windows HOSTS file by adding a list of domains to it and mapping them to the localhost IP. As a result, the victim will run into a DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN error when accessing one of the blocked websites.

We noticed that ransomware attempts to block websites that publish various how-to guides for computer users. It is evident that by restricting specific domains, the crooks are trying to prevent the victim from reaching relevant and helpful ransomware-attack-related information online. The virus also saves two text files on the victim’s computer that provide attack-related details – the victim’s public encryption key and personal ID. These two files are called bowsakkdestx.txt and PersonalID.txt.

After all these modifications, the malware doesn’t stop. Variants of STOP/DJVU tend to drop Vidar password-stealing Trojan on compromised systems. This threat has a lengthy list of capabilities, such as:

• Stealing Steam, Telegram, Skype login / password;
• Stealing cryptocurrency wallets;
• Downloading malware to the computer and running it;
• Stealing browser cookies, saved passwords, browsing history, and more;
• Viewing and manipulating files on victim’s computer;
• Allowing the hackers to perform other tasks on the victim’s computer remotely.

The cryptography algorithm used by DJVU/STOP virus is AES-256. So, if your documents got encrypted with an online decryption key, which is totally unique. The sad reality is that it is impossible to decrypt the files without the unique key.

In case if Kitu 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 distibute the Kitu ransomware.

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 ([email protected]).

The message by the ransomware states the following 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:

[email protected]

Reserve e-mail address to contact us:

[email protected]

Your personal ID:
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Do not pay for Kitu!

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 Kitu representatives during 72 hours starting from the moment of files were 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). Yet, stay away from paying the ransom!

I certainly advise that you do not contact these frauds 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 good idea.

How I was infected?

Ransomware has a various methods to built into your system. But it doesn’t really matter what concrete method was used in your case.

Kitu ransomware attack following a successful phishing attempt.

How To Remove Kitu Virus?

In addition to encode a victim’s files, the Kitu virus has also started to install the Vidar Stealer on system to steal account credentials, cryptocurrency wallets, desktop files, and more.³

Reasons why I would recommend GridinSoft⁴

1. Run the setup file.

   
   

2. Press “Install” button.

   

3. Once installed, Anti-Malware will automatically run.

   

4. Wait for complete.

   

5. Click on “Clean Now”.