UNKNO Virus Ransomware

The Unkno virus falls within the ransomware type of infection. Ransomware of this type encrypts all user’s data on the PC (images, documents, excel sheets, music, videos, etc) and adds its specific extension to every file, creating the RESTORE_YOUR_FILES.txt files in each directory containing 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 known about the Unkno virus?

Unkno will append its own .unkno extension to every file’s name. For instance, a file named “photo.jpg” will be turned into “photo.jpg.unkno”. In the same manner, the Excel file with the name “table.xlsx” will be renamed to “table.xlsx.unkno”, and so on.

In each directory with the encoded files, a RESTORE_YOUR_FILES.txt text document will be found. 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 instructions on how to purchase the decryption tool from the racketeers. You can obtain this decrypting software after contacting Tor website by email. That is how they do it.

Unkno Overview:

The RESTORE_YOUR_FILES.txt file accompanying the Unkno ransomware provides the following dispiriting information:

How to recover your files and have your data deleted from our servers:
- Download tor browser hxxps://www.torproject.org/download
- Enter support chat ****
- Negotiate the price for the recovery tool

In the picture below, you can see what a directory with files encrypted by Unkno looks like. Each filename has the “.unkno” extension appended to it.

An example of encrypted .unkno files.

How did my machine catch Unkno ransomware?

There are many possible ways of ransomware injection.

There are currently three most exploited ways for malefactors to have ransomware working in your system. These are email spam, Trojan injection, and peer-to-peer networks.

• If you open your inbox and see letters that look like familiar notifications from utility services providers, delivery agencies like FedEx, Internet providers, and whatnot, but whose sender is unknown to you, be wary of opening those emails. They are very likely to have a malware item attached to them. Thus it is even riskier to open any attachments that come with emails like these.
• Another thing the hackers might try is a Trojan horse scheme. A Trojan is an object that infiltrates your PC pretending to be something legal. For instance, you download an installer of some program you want or an update for some service. However, what is unpacked turns out to be a harmful program that encodes your data. As the installation file can have any title and any icon, you’d better be sure that you can trust the source of the files you’re downloading. The best thing is to trust the software developers’ official websites.
• As for the peer-to-peer file transfer protocols like torrent trackers or eMule, the danger 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. We suggest that you use trustworthy resources. Also, it is a good idea to scan the directory containing the downloaded files with the anti-malware utility as soon as the downloading is done.

How do I get rid of ransomware?

It is important to inform you that besides encrypting your files, the Unkno virus will most likely install Vidar Stealer on your PC to seize your credentials to different accounts (including cryptocurrency wallets). That program can extract your logins and passwords from your browser’s auto-filling card file.

Remove Unkno 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 Unkno 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 “Unkno” 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 Unkno 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.

Sometimes criminals would decode several of your files to prove that they do have the decryption program. Since the Unkno virus is a relatively recent ransomware, safety measures engineers have not yet found a way to reverse its work. Nevertheless, the decryption tools are constantly upgraded, so the solution may soon be available.

Of course, if the hackers do the job of encoding someone’s critical data, the desperate person will most likely comply with their demands. However, paying racketeers does not necessarily mean that you’re getting your data back. It is still dangerous. After obtaining the money, the racketeers may send a wrong decryption key to the injured party. There were reports of hackers just vanishing after getting the ransom without even writing back.

The best countermeasure to ransomware is to have an OS restore point or copies of your critical files in the cloud disk or at least on external storage. Surely, that might be not enough. Your most crucial thing could be the one you were working on when it all happened. Nevertheless, it is something. It is also advisable to scan your drives with the anti-malware utility after the system is rolled back.

There are other ransomware products, besides Unkno, that work similarly. For instance, Kaaa, Uajs, Uazq, and some others. The two major differences between them and the Unkno are the ransom amount and the method of encryption. The rest is the same: files become encrypted, their extensions altered, and ransom notes are created in each directory containing encoded files.

Some lucky victims were able to decode the arrested files with the aid of the free tools provided by anti-ransomware developers. Sometimes the hackers mistakenly send the decoding code to the victims in the ransom note. Such an extraordinary failure allows the victim to restore the files. But of course, one should never rely on such a chance. Make no mistake, ransomware is a tamperers’ instrument to pull the money out of their victims.

How сan I avoid ransomware attack?

Unkno ransomware has no endless power, and neither does any similar malware.

You can protect yourself from ransomware infiltration within 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 (can you win in a money prize draw without participating in it?). In case the email subject is more or less something you are waiting for, check all elements of the questionable letter with caution. A hoax letter will surely have a mistake.
• Never use cracked or untrusted programs. Trojan viruses are often spread as a part of cracked software, most likely as a “patch” preventing the license check. But potentially dangerous programs are very hard to tell from trustworthy software, as trojans sometimes have the functionality you need. Try searching for information on this software product on the anti-malware message boards, but the best 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 software will be a powerful defense for your PC.

FAQ

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

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

🤔 What should I do to make my files accessible as fast as possible?

If the “.unkno” files contain some really important information, then you probably have them backed up. 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.

🤔 Will GridinSoft Anti-Malware remove all the encrypted files alongside the Unkno virus?

Of course not. Unlike the ransomware program itself, the encrypted files do not jeopardize your system.

GridinSoft Anti-Malware will delete the infections from your system. The malware that has attacked your device is probably still active and running scans every so often to arrest any new files you might create on your computer after the initial attack. As it has already been said, the Unkno virus comes with the company. It installs backdoors and keyloggers that can steal your account credentials and provide malefactors with easy access to your computer in the future.

🤔 What actions should I take if the Unkno ransomware has blocked my PC and I can’t get the activation code?

In such a case, you need to prepare a flash memory card with a pre-installed Trojan Killer. Use Safe Mode to perform the cleaning. You see, the ransomware starts automatically as the system launches and encrypts any new files created or brought into your PC. To stop this process – use Safe Mode, which allows only the essential applications to run upon system start. 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 sent or received your critical files through email, you could still download them from your online mailbox.
• You might have shared images or videos with your friends or family members. Simply ask them to post those images back to you.
• If you have initially got any of your files from the Web, you can try doing it again.
• Your messengers, social media pages, and cloud drives might have all those files too.
• Maybe you still have the needed files on your old PC, a notebook, cellphone, flash memory, etc.

USEFUL TIP: You can employ file recovery programs¹ to get your lost data back since ransomware encrypts the copies of your files, removing the authentic ones. In the video 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 eradicate the virus with an antivirus program.

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