Infected with Ykcol Ransomware? Need to decrypt your files?
What is Ykcol Ransomware
Ykcol is new ransomware virus from Locky ransomware family. It uses RSA-2048 and AES-128 cryptography to encrypt user data. After encryption ransomware appends .ykcol extension to all affected files and modifies filenames using certain pattern. Malware changes filenames to random combination of 36 letters with the following sequence: [8_random_letters]-[4_random_letters]-[4_random_letters]-[8_random_letters]-[12_random_letters].ykcol. Malefactors offer users to decrypt their files for 0.15 BTC (Bitcoins) or ~290$. As a rule, no decryption key is sent after the payment. Malware also creates 3 files: Ykcol.html, Ykcol_[4_digit_number].html, and Ykcol.bmp. Unfortunately, there are no decryption tools available at the moment, however, we will update the article as soon as one appears. There is a minor possibility, that files can be restored using methods described on this page. Files can be easily restored from online or external backup. Use instructions below to remove Ykcol Ransomware and decrypt .ykcol files from Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7 and earlier versions.
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 Ykcol Ransomware infected your PC
Ykcol Ransomware uses spam e-mail attachments to infect users computers. E-mails look like message from FedEx or DHL. It can be called “Receipt [random-number]”. Virus is hidden inside archives of xls, .tdb, .zk, .342, .343, .552 documents attached to such e-mails. Once uses does it there is no way back because it will soon download small executable and will run it to encrypt files in user folders. Antiviruses have a small chance to catch Ykcol Ransomware virus as it is constantly modified. The only way to protect your computer from such threats is use antiviruses with crypto-protection like HitmanPro.Alert with CryptoGuard.
What to do if you are infected with Ykcol Ransomware virus?
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 Ykcol Ransomware 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.
Recommended Solution:
Norton is a powerful removal tool. It can remove all instances of newest viruses, similar to Ykcol Ransomware – files, folders, registry keys.
*Trial version of Norton provides detection of computer viruses for FREE. To remove malware, you have to purchase the full version of Norton.
Step 2: Remove following files and folders of Ykcol Ransomware:
Remove following registry entries:
no information
Remove following files:
Ykcol.html
Ykcol_[4_random_characters].html
Ykcol.bmp
How to decrypt files infected by Ykcol Ransomware (.ykcol files)?
Use automated decryption tools
1. Ykcol decryption tool from Kaspersky
There is ransomware decryptor from Kaspersky that can decrypt .Ykcol files. It is free and may help you restore .Ykcol files encrypted by Ykcol Ransomware virus. Download it here:
1. Ykcol decryption tool from Trend Micro
There is ransomware decryptor from Trend Micro that may decrypt .Ykcol files. It is free and may help you restore files encrypted by Ykcol Ransomware. Download it here:
There is currently no other automated decryption tool for Ykcol Ransomware files, but that doesn’t mean that you need to pay the ransom. We track the topic and will add any new decryption tool available in this part of the article. Now you can try to use manual methods to restore and decrypt .Ykcol files.
Decrypt .ykcol files manually
Restore the system using System Restore
Although, latest versions of Ykcol Ransomware 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.
- Initiate the search for ‘system restore‘
- Click on the result
- Choose the date before the infection appearance
- 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 – encrypted by Ykcol Ransomware). This feature is available in Windows 7 and later versions.
- Right-click the file and choose Properties
- Open the Previous Version tab
- Select the latest version and click Copy
- Click Restore
Restore .ykcol files using shadow copies
- Download and run Shadow Explorer.
- Select the drive and folder where your files are located and date that you want to restore them from.
- Right-click on folder you want to restore and select Export.
- 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.
Information provided by: Alexey Abalmasov