How to remove Neon Ransomware and decrypt .neon files

What is Neon Ransomware

Being part of the STOP/Djvu family, Neon is a ransomware-type virus that puts up a lock on personal data. This version was released in the first days of June 2023. The encryption is done using military-grade algorithms that generate online keys on special servers. This ensures no third-party tools can access the keys to decipher the files. Just like other infections of this type, Neon changes the names of each infected file. It does so by appending a new extension (.neon) to every encrypted piece. For example, a file like 1.pdf will be modified and change its name to 1.pdf.neon after encryption. After this stage of the virus is over – Neon Ransomware creates a text note called _readme.txt containing decryption instructions. A number of other ransomware variants developed by Djvu used the same content for the ransom instructions.

It is said that all of your data has been strongly encrypted. To recover the access, victims are offered to pay for the kit of decryption software and keys. The original cost is 980$, however, it can be halved down to 490$ in case you contact developers within 72 hours. Apart from this, victims are also allowed to send one encrypted file so that swindlers could decrypt it for free. Cybercriminals think it should prove their integrity and ability to unblock your data. Whilst being able to decrypt the blocked data is not an object of doubt, there is a question of whether to trust them or not. Some extortionists may spit on their vows and refuse to send you the tools even after paying the ransom. Unfortunately, there are no guarantees whenever dealing with fraudulent organizations. If you do not have a lot of precious data to lose, we recommend you delete Neon Ransomware and try to recover the data using third-party software. Otherwise, it may be reasonable to think only about paying the ransom to return the full access eventually. Below, you will see the necessary steps to remove the malicious program and try to recover your data.

How Neon Ransomware infected your computer

Ransomware infections are often distributed via trojans, unreliable software cracking tools, suspicious file-sharing pages, backdoors, keyloggers, unprotected RDP configuration, and other popular channels. One more important to mention is e-mail spam. Cybercriminals tend to set up e-mail campaigns that spread a variety of spam letters. These letters are usually very similar to official companies that send information about products or services. Usually, legitimate companies do not send newsletters unless you subscribed to them. In this case, however, the message may be received for no significant reason with malicious attachments lurking inside. If you dare open one of them (e.g. MS Office documents, PDFs, executables, JavaScript files), your PC will be infected away from your consent. This means that there will be no opportunity to prevent the virus before it handcuffs your data. To avoid such infections in the future, it is worth clearing spam folders as well as using protection software to combat the attack of other channels as well. More information on malware removal and system security can be located below.

1. Download Neon Ransomware Removal Tool
2. Get decryption tool for .neon files
3. Recover encrypted files with Stellar Data Recovery Professional
4. Restore encrypted files with Windows Previous Versions
5. Restore files with Shadow Explorer
6. Restore media files with Media Repair
7. How to protect from threats like Neon Ransomware

Virus modifies “hosts” file to block Windows updates, downloading antivirus programs, and visiting sites related to security news or offering security solutions. Neon Ransomware comes along with AZORult trojan, which was initially created to steal logins and passwords. The process of infection also looks like installing Windows updates, the malware shows a fake window, that mimics the update process.

It uses rdpclip.exe to replace a legal Windows file and to launch an attack on a computer network. After encrypting the files, the encrypter is deleted using the delself.bat command file. Neon Ransomware virus is propagated via spam attack with malicious e-mail attachments and using manual PC hacking. Can be distributed by hacking through an unprotected RDP configuration, fraudulent downloads, exploits, web injections, fake updates, repackaged, and infected installers. The virus assigns a certain ID to the victims, which is used to name those files and supposedly to send a decryption key. Great tools to protect against Neon Ransomware are: Emsisoft Anti-Malware and Malwarebytes Anti-Malware.

How to remove Neon Ransomware manually

It is not recommended to remove Neon Ransomware manually, for safer solution use Removal Tools instead.

Neon Ransomware files:

_readme.txt
rdpclip.exe
delself.bat
{randomname}.exe

Neon Ransomware registry keys:

no information

How to decrypt and restore .neon files

Use automated decryptors

Download STOP Djvu Decryptor from EmsiSoft (.neon variations)

IMPORTANT: Read this detailed guide on using STOP Djvu Decryptor to avoid file corruption and time wasting.

STOP Djvu Decryptor is able to decrypt .neon files, encrypted by Neon Ransomware. This tool was developed by EmsiSoft. It works in automatic mode, but in most cases works only for files encrypted with offline keys. Download it here:

Download STOP Djvu Decryptor

Dr.Web Rescue Pack

Famous antivirus vendor Dr. Web provides free decryption service for the owners of its products: Dr.Web Security Space or Dr.Web Enterprise Security Suite. Other users can ask for help in the decryption of .neon files by uploading samples to Dr. Web Ransomware Decryption Service. Analysis of files will be performed free of charge and if files are decryptable, all you need to do is purchase a 2-year license of Dr.Web Security Space worth $120 or less. Otherwise, you don’t have to pay.

If you are infected with Neon Ransomware and removed it from your computer, you can try decrypting your files. Antivirus vendors and individuals create free decryptors for some crypto-lockers. To attempt to decrypt them manually you can do the following:

Use Stellar Data Recovery Professional to restore .neon files

1. Download Stellar Data Recovery Professional.
2. Click Recover Data button.
3. Select type of files you want to restore and click Next button.
4. Choose location where you would like to restore files from and click Scan button.
5. Preview found files, choose ones you will restore and click Recover.

Download Stellar Data Recovery Professional

Using Windows Previous Versions option:

1. Right-click on infected file and choose Properties.
2. Select Previous Versions tab.
3. Choose particular version of the file and click Copy.
4. To restore the selected file and replace the existing one, click on the Restore button.
5. In case there is no items in the list choose alternative method.

Using Shadow Explorer:

1. Download Shadow Explorer program.
2. Run it and you will see screen listing of all the drives and the dates that shadow copy was created.
3. Select the drive and date that you want to restore from.
4. Right-click on a folder name and select Export.
5. In case there are no other dates in the list, choose alternative method.

If you are using Dropbox:

1. Login to the DropBox website and go to the folder that contains encrypted files.
2. Right-click on the encrypted file and select Previous Versions.
3. Select the version of the file you wish to restore and click on the Restore button.

Use Media Repair to decrypt media files encrypted with .neon

1. Download Media Repair tool.
2. Right-click on the downloaded archive, and select Extract to Media_Repair\.
3. Then double-click on the extracted .exe file to launch the utility.
4. At first, you have to choose which file type you want to decrypt. You can do it from the drop-down menu in the utility.
5. Next, browser the folder with encrypted or reference files. Choose any of them and click on the Test icon located in the top right corner.
6. Media Repair will display a pop-up message with information on whether it can repair the selected file or not.
7. After checking if it is possible or not, select your reference file and click on the icon right under the Test button we used in step #5.
8. If the file pair is properly matched, you can move on and hit the Play button to start repairing. You can also stop the process anytime by clicking on the Stop button.

How to protect computer from viruses, like Neon Ransomware, in future

1. Get special anti-ransomware software

Use ZoneAlarm Anti-Ransomware

Famous antivirus brand ZoneAlarm by Check Point released a comprehensive tool, that will help you with active anti-ransomware protection, as an additional shield to your current protection. The tool provides Zero-Day protection against ransomware and allows you to recover files. ZoneAlarm Anti-Ransomware is compatible with all other antiviruses, firewalls, and security software except ZoneAlarm Extreme (already shipped with ZoneAlarm Anti-Ransomware) or Check Point Endpoint products. The killer features of this application are: automatic file recovery, overwrite protection that instantly and automatically recovers any encrypted files, file protection that detects and blocks even unknown encryptors.

Download ZoneAlarm Anti-Ransomware

2. Back up your files

As an additional way to save your files, we recommend online backup. Local storage, such as hard drives, SSDs, flash drives, or remote network storage can be instantly infected by the virus once plugged in or connected to. Neon Ransomware uses some techniques to exploit this. One of the best services and programs for easy automatic online backup is iDrive. It has the most profitable terms and a simple interface. You can read more about iDrive cloud backup and storage here.

Download iDrive

3. Do not open spam e-mails and protect your mailbox

Malicious attachments to spam or phishing e-mails are the most popular method of ransomware distribution. Using spam filters and creating anti-spam rules is good practice. One of the world leaders in anti-spam protection is MailWasher Pro. It works with various desktop applications and provides a very high level of anti-spam protection.

Download MailWasher Pro