The Loplup virus belongs under the Zeppelin ransomware family. Harmful software of such sort encrypts all the data on your PC (images, text files, excel tables, audio files, videos, etc) and adds its specific extension to every file, creating the !!! ALL YOUR FILES ARE ENCRYPTED !!!.TXT text files in each folder with the encrypted files.
Loplup virus: what is known so far?
☝️ A scientifically correct description for the Loplup would be “a Zeppelin family ransomware infection”.
The renaming will be done by the following scheme: loplup.victimID. In the process of encryption, a file entitled, for example, “report.docx” will be altered to “report.docx.loplup.312-A1A-FD7”.
In every folder containing the encrypted files, a !!! ALL YOUR FILES ARE ENCRYPTED !!!.TXT text document will be found. It is a ransom money note. It contains information about the ways of contacting the racketeers and some other remarks. The ransom note most probably contains a description of how to purchase the decryption tool from the ransomware developers. You can obtain this decoding tool after contacting [email protected] via email. That is it.
Loplup outline:
| Name | Loplup Virus |
| Ransomware family1 | Zeppelin ransomware |
| Extension | .loplup |
| Ransomware note | !!! ALL YOUR FILES ARE ENCRYPTED !!!.TXT |
| Contact | [email protected] |
| Detection | Win32/GenKryptik.FZGI, Ransom:Win32/StopCrypt.PBB!MTB, Win32:Evo-gen [Trj] |
| Symptoms | Your files (photos, videos, documents) have a .loplup extension and you can’t open them. |
| Fix Tool | See If Your System Has Been Affected by Loplup virus |
The !!! ALL YOUR FILES ARE ENCRYPTED !!!.TXT file accompanying the Loplup ransomware states the following:
!!! ALL YOUR FILES ARE ENCRYPTED !!! All your files, documents, photos, databases and other important files are encrypted. You are not able to decrypt it by yourself! The only method of recovering files is to purchase an unique private key. Only we can give you this key and only we can recover your files. To be sure we have the decryptor and it works you can send an email: [email protected] and decrypt one file for free. But this file should be of not valuable! Do you really want to restore your files? Write to email: [email protected] 1. Visit hxxps://tox.chat/download.html 2. Download and install qTOX on your PC. 3. Open it, click \"New Profile\" and create profile. 4. Click \"Add friends\" button and search our contact - 126E30C4CC9DE90F79D1FA90830FDC2069A2E981ED26B6DC148DA8827FB3D63A1B46CFDEC191 Your personal ID: - Attention! * Do not rename encrypted files. * Do not try to decrypt your data using third party software, it may cause permanent data loss. * Decryption of your files with the help of third parties may cause increased price (they add their fee to our) or you can become a victim of a scam.
In the image below, you can see what a directory with files encrypted by the Loplup looks like. Each filename has the “.loplup” extension added to it.
That is how encrypted “.loplup” files look.
How did my computer get infected with Loplup ransomware?
There is a huge number of possible ways of ransomware infiltration.
There are currently three most exploited methods for evil-doers to have the Loplup virus working in your digital environment. These are email spam, Trojan injection and peer-to-peer networks.
If you open your mailbox and see emails that look like familiar notifications from utility services companies, delivery agencies like FedEx, Internet providers, and whatnot, but whose sender is strange to you, beware of opening those emails. They are most likely to have a ransomware file enclosed in them. So it is even more dangerous to download any attachments that come with letters like these.
Another thing the hackers might try is a Trojan horse model2. A Trojan is a program that infiltrates into your computer disguised as something different. Imagine, you download an installer for some program you want or an update for some program. But what is unpacked turns out to be a harmful program that encodes your data. Since the installation 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 companies’ official websites.
As for the peer networks like torrent trackers or eMule, the danger is that they are even more trust-based than the rest of the Internet. You can never guess what you download until you get it. So you’d better be using trustworthy resources. Also, it is reasonable to scan the folder containing the downloaded items with the antivirus as soon as the downloading is done.
How do I get rid of the Loplup virus?
It is crucial to inform you that besides encrypting your data, the Loplup virus will most likely deploy the Azorult Spyware on your computer to seize your credentials to different accounts (including cryptocurrency wallets). That program can derive your logins and passwords from your browser’s auto-filling data.
Sometimes tamperers would unblock several of your files so you know that they indeed have the decryption program. As Loplup virus is a relatively new ransomware, safety measures developers have not yet found a way to reverse its work. Nevertheless, the anti-ransomware instruments are frequently upgraded, so the solution may soon arrive.
Of course, if the malefactors succeed in encrypting victim’s critical files, the desperate person will probably fulfill their demands. Nevertheless, paying a ransom gives no guarantee that you’re getting your files back. It is still risky. After obtaining the ransom, the racketeers may deliver a wrong decryption code to the injured party. There were reports about racketeers just disappearing after getting the ransom without even writing back.
The best solution against ransomware is to have aan OS restore point or the copies of your essential files in the cloud drive or at least on an external disk. Of course, that might be insufficient. Your most crucial thing could be that file you were working upon when it all happened. Nevertheless, it is something. It is also wise to scan your drives with the anti-malware utility after the OS is rolled back.
Loplup is not the only ransomware of its kind, since there are other specimens of ransomware out there that act in the same manner. For instance, Qqlc, Ccew, Qqmt, and some others. The two major differences between them and the Loplup are the ransom amount and the encoding method. The rest is the same: files become encrypted, their extensions altered, ransom notes are found in each directory containing encoded files.
Some fortunate users were able to decode the arrested files with the aid of the free software provided by anti-ransomware specialists. Sometimes the hackers accidentally send the decryption code to the wronged in the ransom readme. Such an epic fail allows the injured part to restore the files. But naturally, one should never rely on such a chance. Remember, ransomware is a bandits’ instrument to pull the money out of their victims.
How do I avoid ransomware attack?
Loplup ransomware has no superpower, neither does any similar malware.
You can protect your PC from ransomware injection within several easy steps:
- Never open any letters from unknown mailboxes with strange addresses, or with content that has nothing to do with something you are expecting (how can you win in a money prize draw without participating in it?). If the email subject is more or less something you are waiting for, check all elements of the suspicious letter with caution. A fake letter will surely contain a mistake.
- Never use cracked or unknown software. Trojans are often distributed as a part of cracked software, possibly under the guise of “patch” to prevent the license check. But untrusted programs are difficult to distinguish from trustworthy ones, because trojans may also have the functionality you seek. You can try searching for information about this software product on the anti-malware forums, 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 software will be a perfect defense 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 system for Loplup 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 “.loplup” files?
Negative. That is why ransomware is so frustrating. Until you decode the “.loplup” files you will not be able to access them.
🤔 I really need to decrypt those “.loplup” files ASAP. How can I do that?
It’s good if you have fаr-sightedly saved copies of these important files elsewhere. 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 Loplup malware, will it also delete my files that were encrypted?
Of course not. Your encrypted files are no threat to your PC.
GridinSoft Anti-Malware will delete the viruses from your system. The virus that has infected your computer is probably still functional and running scans from time to time to encrypt any new files you might create on your PC after the infection. As it has been said above, the Loplup malware comes with the company. It installs backdoors and keyloggers that can take your account passwords by trespass and provide hackers with easy access to your computer in the future.
🤔 What actions should I take if the Loplup virus has blocked my computer and I can’t get the activation key.
In such a case, you need to have a flash memory card with a previously installed Trojan Killer. Use Safe Mode to execute the procedure. You see, the ransomware starts automatically as the system launches and encrypts any new files created or imported into your computer. To block this function – use Safe Mode, which allows only the vital applications to run automatically. Consider reading our manual on running Windows in Safe Mode.
🤔 What can I do right now?
Many of the encoded files might still be at your disposal
- If you exchanged your critical 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. Just ask them to post those images back to you.
- If you have initially got any of your files from the Internet, you can try to do it again.
- Your messengers, social media pages, and cloud disks might have all those files as well.
- It might be that you still have the needed files on your old computer, a laptop, phone, memory stick, etc.
USEFUL TIP: You can employ file recovery utilities5 to get your lost data back since ransomware encodes the copies of your files, removing the authentic ones. In the tutorial 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 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.
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Brendan SmithHow to Remove LOPLUP Ransomware & Recover PC
Name: LOPLUP Virus
Description: LOPLUP Virus is a ransomware-type infections. This virus encrypts important personal files (video, photos, documents). The encrypted files can be tracked by a specific .loplup 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 are Best Data Recovery Software Of 2023.
