What is Zepto Ransomware?
Zepto Ransomware is an infection you have to protect your operating system against. In most cases, the victims of this malicious ransomware let it in via spam email attachments, and its entrance is considered silent. If you open a corrupted ZIP archive file, the ransomware is executed using javascript, but if this infection is introduced to you as a .docm file, it will be executed using MS Word macros. Once executed, this infection will immediately start encrypting your personal files, and, after that, it will inform you that you need to pay a ransom to get the files back. Unfortunately, this infection is extremely powerful, and, at this moment, a decryptor capable of deciphering its encryption algorithm does not exist. Hopefully, you are reading this before facing the infection, and you have time to take the necessary security measures. We advise installing up-to-date security software ASAP. If the ransomware has attacked you already, there are a few things to discuss, including the removal of Zepto Ransomware.
How does Zepto Ransomware work?
The malicious Zepto Ransomware is very similar to the Locky ransomware. Although this threat attaches the “.zepto” extension to the corrupted files instead of “.locky”, it appears that both of these infections were created by the same malware developer. For one, both of them rename the corrupted files (a combination of unique ID and random characters), which is not very common. Furthermore, our research team has found that one of the links represented by this threat redirects to a website that represents “Locky Decryptor.” This link can be found is a file created by the ransomware after the encryption is completed. This file is called “_HELP_instructions.html” (might have a number in the name also, e.g., “_3_HELP_instructions.html”), and it represents the demands of the creators of Zepto Ransomware. According to this file, RSA and AES ciphers were used for the encryption of your files, and you need a private key to initiate the decryption. It is stated that this key is stored on a secret server, which means you have no chance of retrieving it yourself.
The “_HELP_instructions.html” file is placed in every folder with encrypted files. Another file called “_HELP_instructions.bmp” replaces your regular Desktop background. Both of these files represent a link to a webpage that supposedly can help you retrieve the private key. If you click it, you are redirected to the "Locky Decryptor" page. According to the information on this page, you need to set up a Bitcoin wallet, purchase bitcoins, and send 1.5 BTC (~857 USD) to the provided address. Is the sum requested for the private key different? It is possible that the sum will be different from case to case, but our sample requested a ransom of 1.5 Bitcoins, which, of course, is a huge price to pay. Unfortunately, there is no other way to get a decryptor and free your personal files. Well, even if you have the money, there is another problem: Cyber criminals are devious and untrustworthy. Who’s to say that they will give you the private key and a decryptor to free your files once the transaction is complete? We cannot guarantee that, and, considering that the victims of some ransomware threats are scammed in this way, we suggest being careful. Do you have your files backed up? That would be the greatest news because, in that case, you could delete Zepto Ransomware without any consequences.
How to delete Zepto Ransomware
You do not need to be experienced to eliminate Zepto Ransomware successfully. This threat is not complicated because the reality is that you will solve nothing by removing it, and so its creators did not put that much effort into making it invincible. Hopefully, you can retrieve your files from backup and the guide below will be enough to get rid of this ransomware. Once you eliminate it, please scan your PC just to be 100% sure that other threats are not active. Only then will you be able to replace the infected files. If you cannot do that, you will delete them instead, but, of course, we hope that you will not need to come to that. You can also choose to install automated malware detection and removal software, and this is the option we recommend for all users, regardless of the experience level.
Removal Instructions
- Right-click and Delete the malicious file downloaded from a spam email.
- Right-click and Delete the _HELP_instructions.bmp file on the Desktop.
- Right-click and Delete the _HELP_instructions.html file from every location it is found.
tested removal of Zepto Ransomware*
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