Remove Noctua Ransomware (Virus Removal Tips)

What is Noctua or”.Noctua” extension files on your system?

The Noctua is a malicious threat of ransomware category, which is spreaded by cyber-criminals in the form of spam email which contains infected attachments and corrupted files or by capitalizing of vulnerabilities in the operating system and installed programs which tricks you into believe that is not fake.

This fake spam email tells you that they are trying to exhibit a important package to you, but failed due to some reason.

Sometimes the emails claim to be notifications of a shipment you have made earlier or which is familier to you. They do these all, so that you will be little curious to see the attached file with that and you will open or may click on the link, and then your system will be infected with the Noctua ransomware.

There are several things you can do to protect yourself, your devices, and your data from Noctua Ransomware, which you will get in this article.

This article will guide you to safely remove Noctua Ransomware and help with recovery.

Noctua Ransomware Description

Method Of Propagation

Noctua ransomware may use various distribution tactics to spread its payload. However, the main infection vector is the payload-dropper within spam email attachments. Usually, the mails are subjected to any invoice, fax, job offers, or from any higher officials of the company. Also, the situation of CONVID-19 crisis, it, may also spread spam email related to any latest information about the pandemic to trick users opening the spam emails.

So, once the user opens the infected attachment, the macro-enabled document starts automatically running the macros. This downloads the infectious files on the system and further installs them on the system.

Other than that, the malware may spread along with malicious scripts laden with payloads of the virus on compromised websites. Social media links, software cracking tools, other Trojans as well as peer-to-peer sharing are other reasons you may be infected with  NoctuaRansomware.

The Encryption Process

Upon successful installation, the PASS runs an encryption algorithm to lock the files with a unique key. Typically, it targets all types of documents, photos, videos, apps on the system.

As mention above, the motive behind this is to demand the ransom to be paid in order to buy the decryption key from the authors of the threat. After encryption, the files are replaced with “. Noctua” extension, the full pattern of the encryption is the “original filename. Noctua” extension.

For example, if a file named “home.jpg” would appear as “home.jpg. Noctua“. Thus all the files will be replaced likewise which will be no more accessible. After completing the encryption, it generates a ransom note containing the contact details of the authors along with a unique ID for the victim.

The Ransom Note

After the encryption is completed, the ransomware creates a ransom note to inform users about the encryption and how they can recover their files. The note is named “_readme.txt” which can be found in each of the folders where encryption occurred and within the desktop screen.

The Text within the Ransom Note  “_readme.txt” is:

Here are a few points concluded from the ransom note:

• The files on the system including photos, databases, documents and are encrypted systems with unique keys;
• The victims can only recover them back by paying ransom to the authors and buying the decryption key from them;
• However, to clear the doubts, victims can send them 1 of their encrypted files that should not contain any sensitive information. The authors will decrypt it for free, after that the victims need to pay the ransom fee to get the full decryption.
• The price of the decryption fee is $980, however, they claim half the price if the victim contact within 72 hours after the encryption.
• To contact the authors, users can email at helpmanager@mail.ch and restoremanager@airmail.cc.

How To Remove Noctua Ransomware virus Without Paying Ransom

To Remove NoctuaRansomware From Windows System, Follow the steps:

• Method 1. Remove NoctuaRansomware Virus Using Safe Mode With Networking.
• Method 2. Remove NoctuaRansomware Using System Restore.

Method 1: Remove NoctuaRansomware Virus Using Safe Mode With Networking.

In this guide, you will find removal instructions of NoctuaRansomware virus both manually and using an anti-malware tool. However manual removal of ransomware threats is nearly impossible, so it is better to run a scan with anti-ransomware/malware to remove the virus.

Not all anti-malware is capable to detect and remove ransomware threats, so it is better to opt for tools that have anti-ransomware features. As they keep their database updated with the latest ransomware threats and their behavior. So, when you run the scan they analyze the behavior of infectious files to remove it.

So, we recoNoctuand HitmanPro.Alert, Avira, ESET and Ransomware defender. you can choose as per your choice.

Some detections by AV vendors: Check out the full detections 

TR/AD.InstaBot.nyavj as detected by Avira 

A Variant Of Win32/Kryptik.HIIS as detected by ESET

Trojan.TR/AD.InstaBot.nyavj as detected by F-Secure 

Mal/Generic-S as detected as Sophos (HitmanPro)

For Windows XP and 7:

1. Click on the “Start menu“, then on click the arrow next to “Shut Down.” Select Restart. (Just as you normally Restart your PC).
2. Once the computer screen is powered on, iNoctuadiately start tapping “F8” key till you see “Advanced Boot Options” screen. if you don’t enter to the boot screen, then restart the process again and press F8 while the PC is restarting.
3. Here, you need to choose “Safe Mode with Networking“ option and press “enter” key to troubleshooting windows. As later on, you need to access the internet.
   

   Safe Mode With Networking

4. And you will now see the login screen. Now log in with your Administrator Account.

NOTE: To get back to your normal windows configuration, you need to repeat steps 1-3 and select Start Windows Normally.

1. For Windows 10:

   Click Start –> Power and then hold the Shift key on your keyboard and click Restart.

2. For Windows 8/8.1: 

   Press the “Windows key + C“, and then click “Settings“. Click “Power“, hold down the Shift key on your keyboard and then click “Restart“.

3. From here steps are the same for Windows 10 and 8.
4. Click “Troubleshoot”.
   

   Choose Troubleshoot

5. Click Advanced options.
   

   Choose Advanced Options

6. Click Startup Settings.
   

   Choose Start Up Settings

7. Click Restart.
   

   Click Restart To Enable Safe Mode

8. After your computer restarts, select Safe Mode with Networking.
   

   Windows 10 Safe Mode With Networking

9. Enter your Administrative username and password to start Windows in Safe Mode with Networking.

NOTE: To get back to normal Windows configuration you need to Click Start –> Power and then click Restart.

Use HitmanPro.Alert To Remove NoctuaRansomware(RecoNoctuanded)”

HitmanPro.Alert

HitmanPro.Alert is an advanced anti-malware program along with anti-ransomware features. That helps to detect the encrypted files and the presence of any ransomware threats. Running HitmanPro.Alert on your computer will provide your real-time status, checks the browser integrity, and alerts or to any suspicious activity. So that you can have safe browsing and online transactions. Read the full review of HitmanPro.Alert here.

Steps To Install And Run HitmanPro.Alert

• Click on the provided link to download HitmanPro.Alert anti-malware;
  

  Download HitmanPro.Alert

• Now, open the download folder to locate “hmpalert3”;
• Click on it, to begin the installation;
• It will ask your User Account control, if prompted click on “yes”; The download should begin shortly. HitmanPro.Alert window will appear, where you need to choose the options:

Click on Install

• Choose Protection level as Maximum
• And tick the other boxes and finally click on “Install”.
• HitmanPro.Alert only takes 5MB of your memory and is very quick to install.

HitmanPro Scan Process

• After the installation is complete, the scan will start. First scan may take up some minutes, as it will scan the whole computer.
  

  HitmanPro Scanning

• The scan results are here. Carefully look down the list. You can here, the scan has found 1 Riskware and thousands of traces which can be risky.
  

  AV Threat Detection

• You can select the threat to delete, quarantine, ignore or, mark as safe. If you want to remove all the threats, then simply click on the “Next” button below.
  

  AV Threat Removal

• HitmanPro.Alert first creates a restore point and then starts the removal process. This helps to recover from any damage.
  

  Delete Threats

So, by performing the above steps, you can get rid of NoctuaRansomware.

Method 2: Remove NoctuaRansomware virus using System Restore Procedure

Another method is a manual way to get rid of Ransomware which is through System Restore. If you don’t know much about this process, then read here. Click here to perform System Restore in Windows OS.

Safe Mode with Command Prompt (Follow the above steps and choose Safe Mode with Command Prompt option from boot settings

To Reboot your computer to “Safe Mode with Command Prompt”

Windows 7 / Vista / XP

• Press the Power button at the Windows login screen. Now press and hold Shift, which is on your keyboard, and click Restart.
• Now select Troubleshoot –> Advanced options –> Startup Settings and finally press Restart.
• Once your computer becomes active, select “Enable Safe Mode with Command Prompt” in Startup Settings window.

Windows 10 / Windows 8

• Click Start –> Restart –> OK.
• When your computer becomes active, start pressing “F8″ multiple times until you see the Advanced Boot Options window.
• Select Command Prompt from the list

To Restore your system to default settings as it was prior to the attack of NoctuaRansomware

1. Once the Command Prompt window appears, type “cd restore” and press Enter.
2. Now again type “rstrui.exe” and hit Enter button;
   

   System Restore 1

3. It will show up a new window, now click on “Next”.
   

   Restore System files Settings

4. Then, select your restore point that should be prior to the attack of Noctuathreat or any other point you want. Click on “Next”.
   

   Restore System choose Date

5. Now click on “Yes” to confirm the system restore.

Restore System Finish

Once the system restore to your selected date is done, then you need to restart your computer normally.

You should Download effective anti-virus program and scan your computer to ensure successful removal of any threat.

Alternative Software RecoNoctuandation

As a protection to your computer against Ransomware threat, we recoNoctuand Ransomware Defender, that is a dedicated tool to prevent ransomware attacks.

Ransomware Defender- A Comprehensive Protection Against Ransomware Threats

This tool specifically designed to detect and block most of the ransomware threats prior to it makes any changes to the system. It not only blocks the threats, but also stops it completely with its pro-active mechanism.

Once installed, the Ransomware Defender will automatically Scan > Detect > Lock Down any malicious entry to the system. What we like about this tool, it works along with the primary antivirus programs without interrupting it. Read Full Review and Installation Guide

How to Restore the Encrypted Files by NoctuaRansomware?

Here is a separate article that guides users of various methods to recover their encrypted files. However, the ransomware makes sure the files may not be unlocked by other tools, but you should try them out.

While you can search for online decryptor tools to check if the decryption of available. These are mostly free service provided by the experts after analyzing and cracking the encryption.

So, should check it out:

•  ID Ransomware website
• No More Ransom Project
• Emsisoft Decryptor tool

Click here to know How you can restore the encrypted file.

After you have successfully removed the Noctua ransomware. It is important to start backing up your important files to stay secured against ransomware threats. This is a most recoNoctuanded thing to do.

We recoNoctuand- EaseUS Todo Backup is a leading cloud solution. It protects your system and data from ransomware and makes file recovery easy in case of a ransomware attack.

EaseUS Todo backup

Features:

• Uses automatic and custom backup options. You can either select specific files, folders, directories and even create a clone of entire Drive.
• It compresses file images to save space, and encrypt the files to prevent it from Ransomware/malware attacks.
• Uses smart backup, which keeps on checking for any updates every half an hour. And does a full-backup of every 7 day.
• For instant backup of any file, just select files/folders–> right-click in Window Explorer and add to Smart Backup .
• Allows access of data anytime, anywhere.

It’s worth trying the product when it comes to protecting privacy.