The Linda virus belongs to the VoidCrypt ransomware family. Harmful software of such sort encrypts all user’s data on the computer (photos, text files, excel sheets, audio files, videos, etc) and adds its own extension to every file, creating the !INFO.HTA text files in every directory which contains the encrypted files.
What is known about the Lindavirus?
☝️ A scientifically correct description for the Linda would be “a VoidCrypt family ransomware-type infection”.
The pattern of renaming is this: (%victimID%).(contact_email).linda. During the encryption, a file named, for example, “report.docx” will be renamed to “report.docx.(MJ-CP7541983206).([email protected]).linda”.
In each directory with the encoded files, a !INFO.HTA text file will be created. It is a ransom money note. It contains information about the ways of paying the ransom and some other information. The ransom note most probably contains a description of how to purchase the decryption tool from the ransomware developers. You can obtain this decrypting software after contacting [email protected] via email. That is basically the scheme of the malefaction.
Linda outline:
| Name | Linda Virus |
| Ransomware family1 | VoidCrypt ransomware |
| Extension | .linda |
| Ransomware note | !INFO.HTA |
| Contact | [email protected] |
| Detection | Trojan:Win32/Chapak.DSA!MTB, Win32:GenMalicious-BKS [Trj], Trojan-Ransom.Win32.Blocker.gkht |
| Symptoms | Your files (photos, videos, documents) get a .linda extension and you can’t open them. |
| Fix Tool | See If Your System Has Been Affected by Linda virus |
In the picture below, you can see what a folder with files encrypted by the Linda looks like. Each filename has the “.linda” extension added to it.
That is how encrypted “.linda” files look.
How did Linda 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 ransomware acting in your system. These are email spam, Trojan injection and peer-to-peer networks.
If you access your inbox and see emails that look like familiar notifications from utility services providers, delivery agencies like FedEx, Internet providers, and whatnot, but whose mailer is unknown to you, beware of opening those letters. They are most likely to have a ransomware file attached to them. Therefore, it is even more dangerous to download any attachments that come with emails like these.
Another option for ransom hunters is a Trojan file model2. A Trojan is an object that gets into your PC disguised as something different. For example, you download an installer of some program you need or an update for some program. But what is unboxed turns out to be a harmful agent that compromises your data. Since the update wizard can have any name and any icon, you’d better be sure that you can trust the resource of the files you’re downloading. The optimal way is to use the software companies’ official websites.
As for the peer file transfer protocols like torrents 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 a good idea to scan the directory containing the downloaded objects with the antivirus as soon as the downloading is done.
How to remove the Linda virus?
It is important to inform you that besides encrypting your files, the Linda virus will probably install the Azorult Spyware on your computer to seize your credentials to various accounts (including cryptocurrency wallets). That program can derive your credentials from your browser’s auto-filling cardfile.
Often racketeers would decode several of your files so you know that they really have the decryption program. As Linda virus is a relatively new ransomware, anti-malware engineers have not yet found a way to reverse its work. Nevertheless, the decoding instruments are constantly upgraded, so the solution may soon be available.
Sure thing, if the tamperers do the job of encoding someone’s critical data, the hopeless 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 risky. After getting the ransom, the racketeers may send a wrong decryption code to the injured party. There were reports about hackers simply vanishing after getting the ransom without even writing back.
The best countermeasure to ransomware is to have a system restore point or the copies of your critical files in the cloud storage or at least on an external drive. Obviously, that might be not enough. Your most important thing could be that one you were working on when it all went down. But at least it is something. It is also advisable to scan your drives with the anti-malware utility after the OS restoration.
Linda 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 Dfwe, Zfdv, Fdcv, and some others. The two major differences between them and the Linda are the ransom amount and the method of encryption. The rest is almost identical: documents become encrypted, their extensions altered, ransom notes are found in every directory containing encrypted files.
Some fortunate people were able to decrypt the arrested files with the aid of the free tools provided by anti-malware specialists. Sometimes the criminals accidentally send the decoding code to the victims in the ransom readme. Such an extraordinary fail allows the victim to restore the files. But naturally, one should never expect such a chance. Make no mistake, ransomware is a criminals’ instrument to pull the money out of their victims.
How do I avoid ransomware attack?
Linda ransomware has no endless power, so as any similar malware.
You can armour your PC from ransomware injection within 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 expecting (can you win in a lottery without even taking part in it?). In case the email subject is more or less something you are expecting, scrutinize all elements of the questionable email carefully. A fake email will always have mistakes.
- Do not use cracked or unknown programs. Trojans are often spreaded as an element of cracked products, possibly under the guise of “patch” to prevent the license check. Understandably, potentially dangerous programs are very hard to distinguish from trustworthy software, because trojans sometimes have the functionality you need. Try searching for information about 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, scan them with GridinSoft Anti-Malware. This program will be a powerful 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 system.
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 Linda 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 finished, 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
🤔 Is it possible to open “.linda” files?
Unfortunately, no. You need to decipher the “.linda” files first. Then you will be able to open them.
🤔 The encrypted files are very important to me. How can I decrypt them quickly?
It’s good if you have fаr-sightedly saved copies of these important files elsewhere. Otherwise, you might try to employ System Restore. The only question is whether you have saved any Restore Points that would be helpful now. The rest of the methods require patience.
🤔 If GridinSoft deletes the Linda malware, will it also delete my files that were encrypted?
Absolutely not! Your encrypted files are no threat to your PC.
GridinSoft Anti-Malware only deals with actual threats. The malware that has attacked your device is most likely still functional and launching checks from time to time to encrypt any new files you might create on your PC after the infection. As it has been mentioned above, the Linda ransomware does not come alone. It installs backdoors and keyloggers that can steal your account credentials and provide criminals with easy access to your PC after some time.
🤔 What to do if the Linda malware has blocked my computer and I can’t get the activation code.
If that happened, you need to prepare a flash memory drive with a pre-installed Trojan Killer. Use Safe Mode to execute the procedure. The point is that the ransomware runs automatically as the system boots and encodes any new files created or brought into your PC. To stop this function – use Safe Mode, which allows only the vital programs to run upon system boot. Consider reading our manual on booting Windows in Safe Mode.
🤔 And what should I do now?
Some of the blocked files can be found elsewhere.
- If you exchanged your critical files by email, you could still download them from your online mail server.
- You may have shared images or videos with your friends or relatives. Just ask them to post those images back to you.
- If you have initially downloaded any of your files from the Internet, you can try to do it again.
- Your messengers, social networks pages, and cloud disks might have all those files as well.
- Maybe you still have the needed files on your old PC, a portable device, cellphone, memory stick, etc.
USEFUL TIP: You can employ data recovery utilities5 to retrieve your lost information since ransomware encrypts the copies of your files, removing the original ones. In the video below, you can learn how to recover your files with PhotoRec, but remember: you won’t be able to do it before you remove the ransomware itself with an anti-malware 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.
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Brendan SmithHow to Remove LINDA Ransomware & Recover PC
Name: LINDA Virus
Description: LINDA Virus is a ransomware-type infections. This virus encrypts important personal files (video, photos, documents). The encrypted files can be tracked by a specific ..linda extension. So, you can't use them at all.
Operating System: Windows
Application Category: Virus
User Review
( votes)References
- My files are encrypted by ransomware, what should I do now?
- You can read more on Trojans, their use and types in the Trojan-dedicated 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.
