The Skynet virus belongs to the ransomware type of infection. Ransomware of this type encrypts all user’s data on the PC (photos, text files, excel sheets, music, videos, etc) and adds its extra extension to every file, leaving the SkynetData.txt text files in every directory which contains the encrypted files. It uses the code of Chaos ransomware, thus is supposed to be one of its successors.
What is Skynet virus?
☝️ A scientifically correct denomination for the Skynet is “a ransomware infection”.
The pattern of renaming supposes adding 4 random symbols. In the course of encryption, a file named, for example, “report.docx” will be renamed to “report.docx.td0e”, “notes.txt” will turn into “notes.txt.39av“.
In every directory that contains the encoded files, a SkynetData.txt file will be created. It is a ransom money note. It contains information about the ways of paying the ransom and some other remarks. The ransom note most probably contains a description of how to purchase the decryption tool from the tamperers. You can get this decryptor after contacting ransom.data@gmail.com through email. That is it.
Skynet abstract:
| Name | Skynet Virus |
| Extension | 4 random symbols |
| Ransomware note | SkynetData.txt |
| Contact | ransom.data@gmail.com |
| Detection | Backdoor:Win32/Koceg!B, Win32/GenKryptik.DCUC, Trojan:Win32/Raccoon.RI!MTB |
| Symptoms | Your files (photos, videos, documents) have a random 4-symbol extensions and you can’t open them. |
| Fix Tool | See If Your System Has Been Affected by Skynet virus |
The SkynetData.txt file accompanying the Skynet ransomware states the following:
------------------------ ALL YOUR FILES ARE ENCRYPTED ------------------------ Don\'t worry, you can return all your files! All your files documents, photos, databases 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 do we give to you? 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 Don\'t try to use third-party decrypt tools because it will destroy your files. Discount 50% available if you contact us first 24 hours. To get this software you need write on our e-mail: ransom.data@gmail.com
In the screenshot below, you can see what a directory with files encrypted by the Skynet looks like. Each filename has the random 4-symbol extension added to it.
Skynet ransomware encrypted the files
How did my computer get infected with Skynet ransomware?
There are many possible ways of ransomware infiltration.
There are currently three most popular ways for tamperers to have the Skynet virus acting in your digital environment. These are email spam, Trojan injection and peer-to-peer file transfer.
If you access your mailbox and see letters that look like familiar notifications from utility services providers, delivery agencies like FedEx, Internet providers, and whatnot, but whose mailer is strange to you, beware of opening those emails. They are most likely to have a malware item attached to them. Therefore, it is even more dangerous to open any attachments that come with letters like these.
Another thing the hackers might try is a Trojan virus model1. A Trojan is an object that infiltrates into your PC pretending to be something different. For example, you download an installer for some program you need or an update for some software. But what is unpacked turns out to be a harmful agent that compromises your data. Since the installation wizard can have any title and any icon, you have to make sure that you can trust the resource of the things you’re downloading. The optimal way is to trust the software developers’ official websites.
As for the peer-to-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 know what you download until you get it. Our suggestion is that you use trustworthy websites. Also, it is a good idea to scan the folder containing the downloaded objects with the antivirus as soon as the downloading is complete.
How to remove the Skynet virus?
It is important to inform you that besides encrypting your files, the Skynet virus will probably deploy the Azorult Spyware on your computer to seize your credentials to various accounts (including cryptocurrency wallets). The mentioned spyware2 can extract your credentials from your browser’s auto-filling data.
Often racketeers would unblock several of your files so you know that they indeed have the decryption program. As Skynet virus is a relatively new ransomware, anti-malware developers have not yet found a way to undo its work. Nevertheless, the decryption instruments are constantly updated, so the solution may soon arrive.
Sure thing, if the criminals succeed in encoding someone’s critical data, the hopeless person will probably fulfill their demands. Despite that, paying a ransom gives no guarantee that you’re getting your data back. It is still dangerous. After receiving the money, the racketeers may send a wrong decryption key to the injured party. There were reports of hackers just vanishing after getting the money 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 storage or at least on an external disk. Surely, that might be insufficient. Your most crucial thing could be that file you were working upon 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.
Skynet 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, Mmvb, Eewt, Oflg, and some others. The two basic differences between them and the Skynet are the ransom amount and the method of encryption. The rest is the same: documents become inaccessible, their extensions changed, ransom notes are found in each directory containing encrypted files.
Some lucky people were able to decode the blocked files with the help of the free software provided by anti-malware developers. Sometimes the racketeers accidentally send the decryption code to the wronged in the ransom note. Such an epic fail allows the victim to restore the files. But obviously, one should never expect such a chance. Make no mistake, ransomware is a bandits’ technology to pull the money out of their victims.
How сan I avert ransomware infiltration?
Skynet ransomware doesn’t have a endless power, neither does any similar malware.
You can armour your system from ransomware injection within several easy steps:
- Never open any emails from unknown mailboxes with unknown addresses, or with content that has likely no connection to something you are expecting (can you win in a money prize draw without even taking part in it?). If the email subject is more or less something you are waiting for, scrutinize all elements of the questionable email carefully. A hoax letter will surely contain mistakes.
- Avoid using cracked or untrusted software. Trojan viruses are often shared as a part of cracked software, possibly under the guise of “patch” which prevents the license check. Understandably, potentially dangerous programs are difficult to distinguish from trustworthy ones, because trojans sometimes have the functionality you need. Try to find information about this software product on the anti-malware message boards, 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 armor 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 PC.
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 PC for Skynet 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
🤔 Are the encrypted files accessible?
Unfortunately, no. You need to decipher the files first. Then you will be able to open them.
🤔 I really need to decrypt those files ASAP. How can I do that?
Hopefully, you have made a copy of those important files. Otherwise, you might try to employ System Restore. The only question is whether you have saved any Restore Points that would be helpful now. There are other ways to beat ransomware, but they take time.
🤔 You have advised using GridinSoft Anti-Malware to get rid of the Skynet virus. Does it mean that all my files, currently encrypted, will be removed too?
Of course not. Your encrypted files are no threat to your PC.
With the help of GridinSoft Anti-Malware, you can clean your PC off the actual viruses. The malware that has infected your computer is most likely still active and running scans every so often to encode any new files you might create on your computer after the infection. As it has been said above, the Skynet ransomware does not come alone. It installs backdoors and keyloggers that can take your account passwords by trespass and provide malefactors with easy access to your computer in the future.
🤔 What to do if the Skynet ransomware has blocked my computer and I can’t get the activation key.
If that happened, you need to prepare a flash memory card with a previously installed Trojan Killer. Use Safe Mode to perform the cleaning. You see, the ransomware runs automatically as the system launches and encodes any new files created or imported into your system. To suppress this process – use Safe Mode, which allows only the essential programs to run automatically. Consider reading our manual on booting Windows in Safe Mode.
🤔 What could help the situation right now?
Many of the blocked files might still be at your disposal
- If you exchanged your critical files via email, you could still download them from your online mailbox.
- You may have shared photographs or videos with your friends or family members. Just ask them to give those pictures back to you.
- If you have initially got any of your files from the Web, you can try doing it again.
- Your messengers, social networks pages, and cloud drives might have all those files too.
- Maybe you still have the needed files on your old PC, a portable device, cellphone, external storage, etc.
HINT: You can employ data recovery programs5 to get your lost data back since ransomware encodes the copies of your files, removing the original ones. In the tutorial below, you can learn how to recover your files with PhotoRec, but be advised: you won’t be able to do it before you remove the virus 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 SKYNET Ransomware & Recover PC
Name: SKYNET Virus
Description: SKYNET Virus is a ransomware-type infections. This virus encrypts important personal files (video, photos, documents). The encrypted files can be tracked by a specific .random extension. So, you can't use them at all.
Operating System: Windows
Application Category: Virus
User Review
( votes)References
- You can read more on Trojans, their use and types in the Trojan-dedicated section of GridinSoft official website.
- You can read more on spyware variants and nature in the respective 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 Top 10 Data Recovery Software Of 2023.
