NetForceZ Ransomware

The Netforcez virus falls within the ransomware type of malicious agent. Malware of this type encrypts all the data on your computer (images, text files, excel sheets, music, videos, etc) and appends its own extension to every file, creating the ReadMe.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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What is Netforcez virus?

Netforcez will append its specific .NetForceZ extension to every file’s name. For example, a file named “photo.jpg” will be changed to “photo.jpg.NetForceZ”. Likewise, the Excel sheet named “table.xlsx” will end up as “table.xlsx.NetForceZ”, and so forth.

In each directory that contains the encrypted files, a ReadMe.txt text document will appear. It is a ransom money note. It contains information on the ways of paying the ransom and some other remarks. The ransom note usually contains a description of how to purchase the decryption tool from the racketeers. You can get this decrypting software after contacting @xpolarized via email. That is how they do it.

Netforcez Summary:

The ReadMe.txt document coming in package with the Netforcez malware states the following:

=== README ===

Greet citizen of the world.

Your files have been encrypted by the NetForceZ\'s Ransomware.

Your documents, photos, databases, and other important files have been encrypted with the strongest encryption and a unique key.

The files are no longer usable as they have been encrypted. You cannot recover them without our help.

To restore your files, you need to purchase a special decryption key. The price for the key is $500 USDT ERC20 on Ethereum Network.

To buy the decryption program, you need to do the following:

Your ID :

1. Create an account on Coinbase or Binance to buy $500 USDT ERC20 on Ethereum Network.
2. Install a USDT ERC20 on Ethereum Network Wallet like Exodus.
3. Send USDT ERC20 on Ethereum Network to us : Once you have USDT ERC20 on Ethereum Network in your Wallet, you must send the required amount to our USDT ERC20 on Ethereum Network address.
4. Confirm Payment : Notify us through Telegram with the transaction ID.

After we confirm your payment, we will send you the decryption key.

Warning:

* Do not try to decrypt your files using third-party software; this may cause permanent data loss.
* Do not rename the encrypted files or try to modify them in any way; this will prevent you from being able to decrypt them.
* If you do not pay within 10 hours, your files will be permanently deleted.

If you need proof that we can decrypt your files, you can contact us and decrypt one file for free.

Contact us on Telegram at: @xpolarized | @ZZART3XX
Contact us on Tox at : 498F8B96D058FEB29A315C4572117E753F471847AFDF37E0A9896F6FFA5530547680628F8134

Our USDT ERC20 on Ethereum Network address : 0xdF0f41d46Dd8Be583F9a69b4a85A600C8Af7f4Ad

Remember, we are the only ones who can help you recover your files.

=== END OF README ===

In the image below, you can see what a folder with files encrypted by the Netforcez looks like. Each filename has the “.NetForceZ” extension appended to it.

That is how encrypted “.NetForceZ” files look.

How did Netforcez ransomware end up on my PC?

There is a huge number of possible ways of ransomware infiltration.

Nowadays, there are three most popular methods for hackers to have ransomware acting in your digital environment. These are email spam, Trojan injection and peer-to-peer networks.

• If you access your mailbox and see letters that look like familiar notifications from utility services companies, postal agencies like FedEx, web-access providers, and whatnot, but whose addresser is strange to you, beware of opening those emails. They are most likely to have a ransomware file attached to 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 scheme. A Trojan is an object that infiltrates into your computer disguised as something different. Imagine, you download an installer for some program you want or an update for some software. However, what is unboxed reveals itself a harmful program that corrupts your data. As the update wizard can have any title and any icon, you have to make sure that you can trust the source of the stuff you’re downloading. The optimal thing is to use the software developers’ official websites.
• As for the peer networks like torrents or eMule, the threat 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. Our suggestion is that you use trustworthy resources. Also, it is a good idea to scan the folder containing the downloaded items with the antivirus as soon as the downloading is done.

How to remove ransomware?

It is crucial to inform you that besides encrypting your data, the Netforcez virus will probably install Vidar Stealer on your computer to get access to credentials to different accounts (including cryptocurrency wallets). The mentioned spyware can extract your logins and passwords from your browser’s auto-filling cardfile.

Remove Netforcez 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 Netforcez 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 “Netforcez” 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 Netforcez 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 racketeers would decrypt several of your files so you know that they really have the decryption program. As Netforcez virus is a relatively recent ransomware, security software engineers have not yet found a method to undo its work. However, the decoding tools are constantly upgraded, so the effective countermeasure may soon be available.

Sure thing, if the malefactors do the job of encrypting victim’s critical files, the desperate person will probably comply with their demands. However, paying to criminals gives no guarantee that you’re getting your files back. It is still risky. After obtaining the money, the racketeers may deliver a wrong decryption code to the injured party. There were reports about hackers simply vanishing after getting the ransom without even bothering to reply.

The optimal countermeasure to ransomware is to have a system restore point or the copies of your essential files in the cloud drive or at least on an external drive. Of course, that might be insufficient. The most important thing could be that one you were working upon when it all went down. But at least it is something. It is also reasonable to scan your PC for viruses with the antivirus program after the OS is rolled back.

Netforcez 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, Labour, Qual, Bombo, and some others. The two main differences between them and the Netforcez are the ransom amount and the method of encryption. The rest is the same: files become encoded, their extensions changed, ransom notes are found in every directory containing encoded files.

Some lucky users were able to decrypt the arrested files with the aid of the free software provided by anti-malware specialists. Sometimes the hackers mistakenly send the decryption key to the victims in the ransom readme. Such an epic fail allows the injured part to restore the files. But obviously, one should never rely on such a chance. Make no mistake, ransomware is a criminals’ tool to lay their hands on the money of their victims.

How to avoid ransomware injection?

Netforcez ransomware doesn’t have a endless power, neither does any similar malware.

You can armour your PC from ransomware attack in three easy steps:

• Never open any letters from unknown senders with unknown addresses, or with content that has nothing to do with something you are waiting for (can you win in a lottery 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 email will surely contain a mistake.
• Avoid using cracked or unknown software. Trojan viruses are often spreaded as a part of cracked products, most likely under the guise of “patch” to prevent the license check. But untrusted programs are difficult to distinguish from reliable software, as trojans sometimes have the functionality you seek. You can try searching for information about this software product on the anti-malware forums, but the optimal solution is not to use such software.
• And finally, to be sure about the safety of the files you downloaded, check them with GridinSoft Anti-Malware. This program will be a perfect shield for your PC.

FAQ

🤔 How can I open “.NetForceZ” files?Are the “.NetForceZ” files accessible?

There’s no way to do it, unless the files “.NetForceZ” files are decrypted.

🤔 I really need to decrypt those “.NetForceZ” files ASAP. How can I do that?

It’s good if you have fаr-sightedly saved copies of these important files elsewhere. If not, there is still a function of System Restore but it needs a Restore Point to be previously saved. There are other ways to beat ransomware, but they take time.

🤔 You have advised using GridinSoft Anti-Malware to get rid of the Netforcez virus. Does it mean that all my files, currently encrypted, will be removed too?

Absolutely not! Unlike the ransomware program itself, the encrypted files do not jeopardize your system.

With the help of GridinSoft Anti-Malware, you can clean your system off the actual threats. The malware that has attacked your system is must be still functional and it scans your system from time to time to encrypt any new files you might create on your PC after the attack. As it has been mentioned above, the Netforcez ransomware does not come alone. It installs backdoors and keyloggers that can steal your account credentials and provide hackers with easy access to your computer after some time.

🤔 What should I do if the Netforcez malware has blocked my computer and I can’t get the activation code.

If that happened, you need to have a memory stick with a previously installed Trojan Killer. Use Safe Mode to execute the procedure. The point is that the ransomware starts automatically as the system launches and encrypts any new files created or imported into your system. To block this function – use Safe Mode, which allows only the essential programs to run upon system boot. Consider reading our manual on booting Windows in Safe Mode.

🤔 What could help the situation right now?

Many of the encoded files might still be within your reach

• If you sent or received your critical files through email, you could still download them from your online mailbox.
• You may have shared images or videos with your friends or relatives. Simply ask them to send those pictures back to you.
• If you have initially got any of your files from the Web, you can try to do it again.
• Your messengers, social networks pages, and cloud storage might have all those files as well.
• Maybe you still have the needed files on your old computer, a notebook, phone, memory stick, etc.

USEFUL TIP: You can employ data recovery programs¹ to retrieve your lost information since ransomware blocks the copies of your files, removing the authentic ones. In the tutorial below, you can see how to use PhotoRec for such a restoration, but be advised: you won’t be able to do it before you kill the ransomware itself with an antivirus program.

1. Here’s the list of Top 10 Data Recovery Software Of 2024.