The Youneedtopay virus falls within the ransomware type of malicious agent. Harmful software of such sort encrypts all user’s data on the computer (photos, documents, excel sheets, audio files, videos, etc) and appends its specific extension to every file, leaving the READ_THIS.txt text files in every folder which contains the encrypted files.
What is known about the Youneedtopayvirus?
☝️ A scientifically accurate description for the Youneedtopay would be “a ransomware-type infection”.
Youneedtopay will add its own .youneedtopay extension to the title of each encrypted file. For instance, a file named “photo.jpg” will be changed to “photo.jpg.youneedtopay”. Just like the Excel table named “table.xlsx” will end up as “table.xlsx.youneedtopay”, and so on.
In each folder with the encoded files, a READ_THIS.txt file will appear. It is a ransom money note. It contains information about the ways of paying the ransom and some other information. The ransom note most probably contains a description of how to purchase the decryption tool from the ransomware developers. That is it.
Youneedtopay abstract:
| Name | Youneedtopay Virus |
| Extension | .youneedtopay |
| Ransomware note | READ_THIS.txt |
| Detection | Ransom:Win32/Babuk.MK!MTB, Trojan:Win32/Tnega.SSS!MTB, Trojan.Win32.Bingoml.bmpu |
| Symptoms | Your files (photos, videos, documents) get a .youneedtopay extension and you can’t open them. |
| Fix Tool | See If Your System Has Been Affected by Youneedtopay virus |
In the screenshot below, you can see what a folder with files encrypted by the Youneedtopay looks like. Each filename has the “.youneedtopay” extension appended to it.
An example of encrypted .youneedtopay files.
How did my computer get infected with Youneedtopay ransomware?
There are plenty of possible ways of ransomware injection.
There are currently three most popular methods for tamperers to have ransomware settled in your digital environment. These are email spam, Trojan infiltration and peer-to-peer file transfer.
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, beware of opening those emails. They are very likely to have a viral file enclosed in them. Thus it is even more dangerous to download any attachments that come with letters like these.
Another option for ransom hunters is a Trojan virus model1. A Trojan is an object that infiltrates into your PC disguised as something legal. For example, you download an installer of some program you want or an update for some program. However, what is unboxed turns out to be a harmful agent that encrypts your data. As the update package can have any title and any icon, you’d better be sure that you can trust the resource of the files you’re downloading. The best thing is to use the software companies’ 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. Our suggestion is that you use trustworthy websites. Also, it is a good idea to scan the folder containing the downloaded items with the anti-malware utility as soon as the downloading is complete.
How do I get rid of the Youneedtopay virus?
It is crucial to note that besides encrypting your files, the Youneedtopay virus will most likely deploy the Azorult Spyware on your machine to seize your credentials to various accounts (including cryptocurrency wallets). The mentioned program can extract your credentials from your browser’s auto-filling cardfile.
Sometimes tamperers would decode few of your files to prove that they indeed have the decryption program. As Youneedtopay virus is a relatively new ransomware, anti-malware engineers have not yet found a method to undo its work. However, the decryption tools are constantly updated, so the solution may soon arrive.
Sure thing, if the tamperers do the job of encoding someone’s critical files, the hopeless person will most likely comply with their demands. Despite that, paying a ransom gives no guarantee that you’re getting your blocked information back. It is still risky. After obtaining the money, the racketeers may deliver a wrong decryption code to the victim. There were reports of hackers just disappearing after getting the money without even writing back.
The best safety measure against ransomware is to have aan OS restore point or the copies of your essential files in the cloud disk or at least on an external disk. Surely, that might be insufficient. Your 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.
There are other ransomware products, besides Youneedtopay, that work similarly. For instance, Wnlu, Mljx, Hudf, and some others. The two basic differences between them and the Youneedtopay are the ransom amount and the encoding method. The rest is almost identical: files become inaccessible, their extensions altered, ransom notes appear in every folder containing encrypted files.
Some fortunate victims were able to decode the arrested files with the help of the free tools provided by anti-malware developers. Sometimes the criminals accidentally send the decryption key to the victims in the ransom note. Such an extraordinary fail allows the victim to restore the files. But of course, one should never rely on such a chance. Remember, ransomware is a tamperers’ instrument to pull the money out of their victims.
How сan I avoid ransomware infiltration?
Youneedtopay ransomware doesn’t have a endless power, so as any similar malware.
You can defend yourself from its injection within three easy steps:
- Never open any emails from unknown senders 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 carefully. A hoax letter will surely have mistakes.
- Never use cracked or unknown software. Trojan viruses are often spreaded as an element of cracked software, most likely as a “patch” to prevent the license check. Understandably, potentially dangerous programs are very hard to tell from reliable ones, because trojans may also have the functionality you need. Try to find information about this program on the anti-malware message boards, but the optimal solution is not to use such programs at all.
- And 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.
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 computer.
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 computer for Youneedtopay 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
🤔 How can I open “.youneedtopay” files?Is it possible to open“.youneedtopay” files?
Negative. That is why ransomware is so frustrating. Until you decode the “.youneedtopay” files you will not be able to access them.
🤔 What should I do to make my files accessible as fast as possible?
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. The rest of the methods require patience.
🤔 You have advised using GridinSoft Anti-Malware to get rid of the Youneedtopay 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.
GridinSoft Anti-Malware will remove actual viruses from your computer. The virus that has infiltrated your system is must be still functional and it scans your system every so often to encode any new files you might create on your computer after the attack. As it has been mentioned above, the Youneedtopay virus comes with the company. It installs backdoors and keyloggers that can take your account passwords by trespass and provide hackers with easy access to your system after some time.
🤔 What should I do if the Youneedtopay virus has blocked my PC and I can’t get the activation code.
If that happened, you need to prepare a memory stick with a previously installed Trojan Killer. Use Safe Mode to perform the cleaning. The point is that the ransomware runs automatically as the system boots and encrypts any new files created or imported into your computer. To block this function – use Safe Mode, which allows only the essential applications 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 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 may have shared images or videos with your friends or family members. Simply ask them to give those images back to you.
- If you have initially downloaded any of your files from the Internet, you can try doing it again.
- Your messengers, social media pages, and cloud disks might have all those files as well.
- Maybe you still have the needed files on your old PC, a laptop, mobile, external storage, etc.
HINT: You can use data recovery programs4 to get your lost data back since ransomware blocks the copies of your files, removing the original ones. In the video below, you can see how to use PhotoRec for such a restoration, but remember: you can do it only after you remove the virus 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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Brendan SmithHow to Remove YOUNEEDTOPAY Ransomware & Recover PC
Name: YOUNEEDTOPAY Virus
Description: YOUNEEDTOPAY Virus is a ransomware-type infections. This virus encrypts important personal files (video, photos, documents). The encrypted files can be tracked by a specific .youneedtopay 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.
- 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 Best Data Recovery Software Of 2023.
