Infected with Zepto? Need to decrypt your files?

What is Zepto virus

Zepto is new file-encrypting virus, previously known as Locky ransomware. Virus uses AES-256 algorithm to encrypt your files. Zepto encrypts following file types: documents, images, game files, e-mails. Ransomware adds extension .zepto to every encrypted file and also creates file “_{random number}_HELP_instructions.html“, and in this file hackers give instructions to pay the ransom and decrypt files. Malefactors ask to download TOR browser and visit certain website located in .onion domain zone. Threat also modifies name of the affected files with hexadecimal chars, making it difficult to understand where certain files are. At the time of writing this article there is no working decryptor to recover the files, however, we will update the article as soon as solution appears. On this page we created guide to remove Zepto virus and decrypt files with .zepto extension using manual methods.

Update: Use following service to identify the version and type of ransomware you were attacked by: ID Ransomware. Also check following website for possible decryptor: Emsisoft Decryptors.

How Zepto infected your PC

Zepto distributes using standard methods (malicious email attachments, torrent (P2P) networks, fake invoices). Zepto uses TOR network for receiving ransom, which makes it very difficult to trace the attacker. Ransom is asked to be paid in BitCoins, that also makes the task difficult for the police, as user in this network are often anonymous. Encryption starts in the background. Way to protect your computer from such threats is to use antiviruses with crypto-protection like HitmanPro.Alert with CryptoGuard.

First of all don’t panic. Follow these easy steps below.

1. Start your computer in Safe Mode with networking. To do that, restart your computer, before your system starts hit F8 several times. This will stop system from loading and will show Advanced boot options screen. Choose Safe mode with networking option from the options list using up and down arrows on your keyboard and hit Enter.
2. Log in to the system infected with the Zepto virus. Launch your Internet browser and download a reliable anti-malware program and start a full system scan. Once the scan is complete, review scan results and remove all entries detected.

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Step 2: Remove following files and folders of Zepto:

Remove following registry entries:

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Remove following files:

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How to decrypt files infected by Zepto (.zepto files)?

Use automated decryption tools

There is ransomware decryptor from Kaspersky that can decrypt .zepto files. It is free and may help you restore .zepto files by Zepto virus. Download it here:

Download Kaspersky Ransomware Decryptor

You can also try to use manual methods to restore and decrypt .zepto files.

Decrypt .zepto files manually

Restore the system using System Restore

Although, latest versions of Zepto remove system restore files, this method may help you partially restore your files. Give it a try and use standard System Restore to revive your data.

1. Initiate the search for ‘system restore‘
2. Click on the result
3. Choose the date before the infection appearance
4. Follow the on-screen instructions

Roll the files back to the previous version

Previous versions can be copies of files and folders created by Windows Backup (if it is active) or copies of files and folders created by System Restore. You can use this feature to restore files and folders that you accidentally modified or deleted, or that were damaged (in our case – Zepto by Zepto). This feature is available in Windows 7 and later versions.

1. Right-click the file and choose Properties
2. Open the Previous Version tab
3. Select the latest version and click Copy
4. Click Restore

Restore .zepto files using shadow copies

1. Download and run Shadow Explorer.
2. Select the drive and folder where your files are located and date that you want to restore them from.
3. Right-click on folder you want to restore and select Export.
4. Once the scanning process is done, click Recover to restore your files.

Protect your computer from ransomware

Most modern antiviruses can protect your PC from ransomware and crypto-trojans, but thousands of people still get infected. There are several programs that use different approach t protect from ransomware and lockers. One of the best is HitmanPro.Alert with CryptoGuard. You may already know HitmanPro as famous cloud-based anti-malware scanner. Check out ultimate active protection software from SurfRight.

Download HitmanPro.Alert with CryptoGuard

Information provided by: Alexey Abalmasov