Rootxwolf Ransomware (.fucked Files) — How to Remove?

The Rootxwolf virus falls within the ransomware type of infection. Harmful software of this type encrypts all user’s data on the computer (photos, text files, excel tables, music, videos, etc) and adds its specific extension to every file, creating the read_it.txt text files in each folder with the encrypted files.

Rootxwolf virus: what is known so far?

☝️ A strictly accurate designation for the Rootxwolf would be “a ransomware infection”.

Rootxwolf will add its own .fucked extension to every file’s name. For instance, an image named “photo.jpg” will be changed to “photo.jpg.fucked”. In the same manner, the Excel sheet with the name “table.xlsx” will end up as “table.xlsx.fucked”, and so forth.

In each directory with the encoded files, a read_it.txt file will appear. It is a ransom money note. It contains information on the ways of paying the ransom and some other information. The ransom note most probably contains instructions on how to buy the decryption tool from the ransomware developers. That is pretty much the scheme of the malefaction.

Rootxwolf outline:

In the image below, you can see what a directory with files encrypted by the Rootxwolf looks like. Each filename has the “.fucked” extension added to it.

How did my machine catch Rootxwolf ransomware?

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

Nowadays, there are three most exploited methods for hackers to have ransomware planted in your system. These are email spam, Trojan injection and peer file transfer.

If you open your inbox and see letters that look like familiar notifications from utility services providers, postal agencies like FedEx, web-access providers, and whatnot, but whose addresser is strange to you, be wary of opening those emails. They are very likely to have a harmful file attached to them. So it is even more dangerous to download any attachments that come with emails like these.

As for the 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 know 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 items with the anti-malware utility as soon as the downloading is done.

How to remove the Rootxwolf virus?

It is crucial to note that besides encrypting your data, the Rootxwolf virus will probably install the Azorult Spyware on your computer to seize your credentials to different accounts (including cryptocurrency wallets). The mentioned program can extract your credentials from your browser’s auto-filling data.

Sometimes criminals would decode few of your files to prove that they really have the decryption program. As Rootxwolf virus is a relatively new ransomware, anti-malware designers have not yet found a way to reverse its work. However, the decoding instruments are frequently upgraded, so the effective countermeasure may soon be available.

Of course, if the hackers succeed in encoding victim’s critical data, the hopeless person will probably comply with their demands. Nevertheless, paying to racketeers does not necessarily mean that you’re getting your data back. It is still risky. After getting the money, the racketeers may send a wrong decryption code to the injured party. There were reports about hackers simply disappearing after getting the ransom without even bothering to reply.

The optimal countermeasure to ransomware is to have aan OS restore point or the copies of your critical files in the cloud disk or at least on an external disk. Surely, that might be not enough. Your most crucial thing could be that one you were working on when it all went down. Nevertheless, it is something. It is also reasonable to scan your PC for viruses with the antivirus program after the OS is rolled back.

There are other ransomware products, besides Rootxwolf, that work similarly. For instance, Zfdv, Bbyy, Bbzz, and some others. The two basic differences between them and the Rootxwolf are the ransom amount and the encoding method. The rest is the same: documents become blocked, their extensions changed, ransom notes are found in every directory containing encrypted files.

Some lucky victims were able to decode the blocked files with the aid of the free software provided by anti-malware specialists. Sometimes the criminals accidentally send the decoding key to the wronged in the ransom readme. Such an epic fail allows the victim to restore the files. But obviously, one should never rely on such a chance. Make no mistake, ransomware is a criminals’ instrument to lay their hands on the money of their victims.

How do I avoid ransomware infiltration?

Rootxwolf ransomware doesn’t have a superpower, neither does any similar malware.

You can defend yourself from ransomware infiltration in three easy steps:

• Ignore any emails from unknown mailboxes with unknown addresses, or with content that has likely no connection to something you are expecting (how can you win in a lottery without even taking part in it?). In case the email subject is likely something you are waiting for, scrutinize all elements of the dubious letter with caution. A hoax letter will surely have mistakes.
• Avoid using 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. Understandably, untrusted programs are difficult to distinguish from reliable software, because trojans sometimes have the functionality you seek. You can try searching for information about this software product on the anti-malware forums, but the best solution is not to use such software.

Reasons why I would recommend GridinSoft²

Download Removal Tool.

Run the setup file.

Press “Install” button.

Once installed, Anti-Malware will automatically run.

Wait for the Anti-Malware scan to complete.

Click on “Clean Now”.

Frequently Asked Questions

🤔 How can I open “.fucked” files?Is it possible to open“.fucked” files?

Negative. That is why ransomware is so frustrating. Until you decode the “.fucked” files you will not be able to access them.

🤔 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. There are other ways to beat ransomware, but they take time.

🤔 What actions should I take if the Rootxwolf malware has blocked my computer and I can’t get the activation key.

🤔 What could help the situation right now?

Many of the encrypted 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 images or videos with your friends or family members. Just 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 networks pages, and cloud disks might have all those files too.
• Maybe you still have the needed files on your old computer, a notebook, cellphone, flash memory, etc.

USEFUL TIP: You can employ file recovery programs⁴ to get your lost data back since ransomware encodes the copies of your files, deleting the authentic ones. In the tutorial below, you can learn how to use PhotoRec for such a restoration, but be advised: you can do it only after you eradicate the ransomware itself with an antivirus program.

Also, you can contact the following governmental 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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