How to remove Pipikaki Ransomware and decrypt .@PIPIKAKI files

What is Pipikaki Ransomware

Pipikaki is a recent devastating ransomware infection reported by victims on forums. Malware of this type is also known as crypto-viruses, designed to encrypt system-stored data and blackmail victims into paying money for its return. Pipikaki does exactly the same renaming targetted files with the victim’s ID and .@PIPIKAKI extension during encryption. For instance, a previously named file 1.pdf will change to 1.pdf.[8A56562E].@PIPIKAKI or similarly depending on a victim’s ID. Instructions on how to return restricted files are then presented inside of a file named WE CAN RECOVER YOUR DATA.txt.

The ransom note guides users to contact developers (via Skype, ICQ Live chat, or pipikaki@onionmail.org e-mail) and negotiate about returning the data. As a rule, many cybercriminals ask their victims to pay a certain amount of monetary ransom (most often in cryptocurrencies). It is also said that noncompliance with what swindlers demand will result in the publication of all sensitive data. They threaten to leak important business-related information (clients’ data, bills, annual reports, etc.) which was collected from the encrypted machine/network. While paying the ransom is not recommended, this might be the only feasible way to avoid publication and permanent blockage of data. At the moment, you can only return your data through backup copies available on external and non-infected devices. Otherwise, third-party tools like free-to-use decryptors are less likely to unlock your data. Despite this, we are still going to mention a couple of reliable and constantly updating utilities, which may become capable of decrypting @PIPIKAKI files someday in the future. There are also some recovery tools you can try if you are not willing to collaborate with cybercriminals. Note that prior to getting your hands on any recovery methods without extortionists, it is important to delete the virus first. All necessary instructions on this can also be found in our tutorial below.

How Pipikaki Ransomware infected your computer

Business networks tend to be infected via NAS or QNAP vulnerabilities. These are devices meant to store large volumes of data. Historically, there have been some cases when cybercriminals managed to find minor vulnerabilities letting them breach various kinds of malware such as Pipikaki Ransomware. Though, this is not the most popular channel abused by ransomware developers. Many threats are getting distributed through trojans, e-mail scam letters, fake software cracking tools, fake updates/installers, backdoors, keyloggers, and other kinds of vectors. E-mail scam letters can spread malicious attachments disguised as legitimate documents in different formats (.docx, .pdf, .exe, .js, .rar, .zip, etc.). Once opened, such files may lead to the installation of malware immediately. Some users may also encounter malicious links redirecting to download or scam pages. We encourage you to be careful and not trust the content of such. Many channels are intentionally designed to play on the inexperience and naiveness of users to make them infect themselves without consent. Follow our guide below to learn more about working protection solutions against threats like ransomware in the future.

1. Download Pipikaki Ransomware Removal Tool
2. Get decryption tool for .@PIPIKAKI 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. How to protect from threats like Pipikaki Ransomware

Pipikaki Ransomware files:


WE CAN RECOVER YOUR DATA.txt
{randomname}.exe


Pipikaki Ransomware registry keys:

no information

How to decrypt and restore .@PIPIKAKI files

Use automated decryptors

Download Kaspersky RakhniDecryptor

Use following tool from Kaspersky called Rakhni Decryptor, that can decrypt .@PIPIKAKI files. Download it here:

Download RakhniDecryptor

There is no purpose to pay the ransom because there is no guarantee you will receive the key, but you will put your bank credentials at risk.

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 .@PIPIKAKI files by uploading samples to Dr. Web Ransomware Decryption Service. Analyzing 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 Pipikaki Ransomware and removed from your computer you can try to decrypt 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 .@PIPIKAKI 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.

How to protect computer from viruses, like Pipikaki 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. Pipikaki 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.

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