xCor Virus Ransomware 🔐 (.XCOR Files) — How to Remove?

The Xcor virus falls within the Dharma ransomware family. A harmful program of this type encrypts all user’s data on the PC (images, text files, excel tables, audio files, videos, etc) and appends its extra extension to every file, creating the info.txt files in each directory which contains 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 known about the Xcorvirus?

☝️ A strictly accurate designation for the Xcor would be “a Dharma family ransomware-type malicious agent”.

The renaming will be done by this pattern: .xCor. After the encryption, a file named, for example, “report.docx” will be changed to “report.docx.id-2A3D02BE.[xcorp@decoymail.mx].xCor”.

In every directory containing the encrypted files, a info.txt file will be found. It is a ransom money note. Therein you can find information about 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 racketeers. You can obtain this tool after contacting xcorp@decoymail.mx, whisper@mailfence.com through email. That is it.

Xcor overview:

The info.txt document accompanying the Xcor ransomware states the following:

All your files have been encrypted!
Don\'t worry, you can return all your files!
If you want to restore them, write to the mail: xcorp@decoymail.mx YOUR ID 1E857D00
If you have not answered by mail within 12 hours, write to us by another mail:whisper@mailfence.com
Free decryption as guarantee
Before paying you can send us up to 3 files for free decryption. The total size of files must be less than 3Mb (non archived), and files should not contain valuable information. (databases,backups, large excel sheets, etc.)
How to obtain Bitcoins
The easiest way to buy bitcoins is LocalBitcoins site. You have to register, click \'Buy bitcoins\', and select the seller by payment method and price.
hxxps://localbitcoins.com/buy_bitcoins
Also you can find other places to buy Bitcoins and beginners guide here:
hxxp://www.coindesk.com/information/how-can-i-buy-bitcoins/
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 screenshot below, you can see what a folder with files encrypted by the Xcor looks like. Each filename has the “.xCor” extension added to it.

An example of encrypted .xCor files.

How did my machine catch Xcor ransomware?

There are many possible ways of ransomware injection.

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

If you open your inbox and see letters that look just like notifications from utility services companies, delivery agencies like FedEx, Internet providers, and whatnot, but whose mailer is unknown to you, be wary of opening those emails. They are very likely to have a viral item attached to them. Thus it is even more dangerous to download any attachments that come with emails like these.

Another option for ransom hunters is a Trojan virus model. A Trojan is an object that infiltrates into your PC pretending to be something different. Imagine, you download an installer for some program you want or an update for some service. But what is unpacked reveals itself a harmful agent that compromises your data. As the update file can have any name and any icon, you have to make sure that you can trust the resource of the files you’re downloading. The best way is to use the software developers’ official websites.

As for the peer-to-peer file transfer protocols like torrent trackers or eMule, the threat 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. So you’d better be using trustworthy resources. Also, it is reasonable 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 the Xcor virus?

It is important to note that besides encrypting your files, the Xcor virus will probably deploy Vidar Stealer 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 racketeers would unblock several of your files so you know that they really have the decryption tool. Since Xcor virus is a relatively recent ransomware, safety measures designers have not yet found a method to undo its work. Nevertheless, the anti-ransomware tools are constantly updated, so the solution may soon arrive.

Sure thing, if the criminals do the job of encrypting victim’s essential data, the hopeless person will most likely comply with their demands. Despite that, paying a ransom gives no guarantee that you’re getting your data back. It is still risky. After getting the ransom, the racketeers may send a wrong decryption key to the injured party. There were reports about ransomware developers just disappearing after getting the ransom without even writing back.

The best countermeasure to ransomware is to have a system restore point or the copies of your essential files in the cloud storage or at least on an external disk. Obviously, that might be not enough. Your most important thing could be that one you were working upon when it all happened. Nevertheless, it is something. It is also advisable to scan your PC for viruses with the anti-malware utility after the system restoration.

Xcor 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, Qore, Xaro, Xatz, and some others. The two basic differences between them and the Xcor are the ransom amount and the encoding method. The rest is the same: documents become inaccessible, their extensions changed, ransom notes appear in each directory containing encrypted files.

Some lucky users were able to decrypt the blocked files with the help of the free tools provided by anti-malware experts. Sometimes the racketeers mistakenly send the decoding key to the wronged in the ransom readme. Such an extraordinary fail allows the injured part to restore the files. But of course, one should never expect such a chance. Make no mistake, ransomware is a criminals’ technology to pull the money out of their victims.

How do I avert ransomware injection?

Xcor ransomware has no superpower, so as any similar malware.

You can protect your computer from its infiltration in three 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?). In case the email subject is more or less something you are waiting for, check all elements of the dubious email carefully. A fake letter will surely have a mistake.
• Never use cracked or unknown programs. Trojan viruses are often distributed as a part of cracked software, possibly under the guise of “patch” to prevent the license check. Understandably, potentially dangerous programs are difficult to distinguish from reliable software, as trojans may also have the functionality you seek. Try to find information on this program on the anti-malware message boards, but the best way is not to use such software.
• And finally, to be sure about the safety of the objects you downloaded, check them with GridinSoft Anti-Malware. This program will be a perfect defense for your system.

Reasons why I would recommend GridinSoft²

There is no better way to recognize, remove and prevent ransomware than to use an anti-malware software from GridinSoft³.

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 system.

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 Xcor 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 completed, 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 “.xCor” files?

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

🤔 I really need to decrypt those “.xCor” 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 Xcor virus. Does it mean that all my files, currently encrypted, will be removed too?

Of course not. The encrypted files are not harmful, so they won’t be deleted.

GridinSoft Anti-Malware will delete active infections from your system. The virus that has attacked your PC is probably still functional and running scans periodically to arrest any new files you might create on your PC after the initial attack. As it has been mentioned above, the Xcor malware comes with the company. It installs backdoors and keyloggers that can take your account passwords by trespass and provide criminals with easy access to your computer after some time.

🤔 What to do if the Xcor virus has blocked my computer and I can’t get the activation code.

In such an unfortunate situation, you need to prepare a flash memory drive with a previously installed Trojan Killer. Use Safe Mode to execute the procedure. You see, the ransomware starts automatically as the system boots and encrypts any new files created or imported into your machine. 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?

Some of the blocked files can be located elsewhere.

• If you exchanged your critical files by 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 post those images back to you.
• If you have initially got any of your files from the Internet, you can try downloading them again.
• Your messengers, social networks pages, and cloud disks might have all those files too.
• It might be that you still have the needed files on your old computer, a notebook, phone, external storage, etc.

HINT: You can employ data recovery utilities⁴ to retrieve your lost information since ransomware encodes the copies of your files, removing the original ones. In the tutorial below, you can learn how to use PhotoRec for such a recovery, but be advised: you won’t be able to do it before you eradicate the virus with an anti-malware 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.

1. My files are encrypted by ransomware, what should I do now?
2. GridinSoft Anti-Malware Review from HowToFix site: https://howtofix.guide/gridinsoft-anti-malware/
3. More information about GridinSoft products: https://gridinsoft.com/comparison
4. Here’s the list of Best Data Recovery Software Of 2023.