What is TargetCompany Ransomware
TargetCompany is a new ransomware virus that made its presence known in January 2022. During system infection, the virus terminates a lot of essential Windows processes to prepare the soil for easier encryption of data. The research team made an analysis and concluded that TargetCompany Ransomware uses a combination of Chacha20 and AES-128 algorithms to write strong ciphers over the stored data. It also appends one of 3 different file extensions to each encrypted sample – .devicZz, .consultransom, or .avast. Previous versions of ransomware appended following extensions:
This means a file named 1.pdf can change to 1.pdf.devicZz, 1.pdf.consultransom, or 1.pdf.avast depending on individual cases. TargetCompany also populates each encrypted folder with a text note called RECOVERY INFORMATION.txt (How to decrypt files.txt for previous versions). A copy of the ransom note is also placed into this path C:\HOW TO RECOVER !!.TXT.
YOUR FILES ARE ENCRYPTED !!!
TO DECRYPT, FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS:
To recover data you need decrypt tool.
To get the decrypt tool you should:
1.In the letter include your personal ID! Send me this ID in your first email to me!
2.We can give you free test for decrypt few files (NOT VALUE) and assign the price for decryption all files!
3.After we send you instruction how to pay for decrypt tool and after payment you will receive a decryption tool!
4.We can decrypt few files in quality the evidence that we have the decoder.
CONTACT US:
deviceZz@mailfence.com
YOUR PERSONAL ID: {redacted}Your personal identifier: {redacted}
All files on TOHNICHI network have been encrypted due to insufficient security.
The only way to quickly and reliably regain access to your files is to contact us.
The price depends on how fast you write to us.
In other cases, you risk losing your time and access to data. Usually time is much more valuable than money.
FAQ
Q: How to contact us
A: * Download Tor Browser - https://www.torproject.org/
* Open link in Tor Browser http://eghv5cpdsmuj5e6tpyjk5icgq642hqubildf6yrfnqlq3rmsqk2zanid.onion/contact
* Follow the instructions on the website.
Q: What guarantees?
A: Before paying, we can decrypt several of your test files. Files should not contain valuable information.
Q: Can I decrypt my data for free or through intermediaries?
A: Use third party programs and intermediaries at your own risk. Third party software may cause permanent data loss.
Decryption of your files with the help of third parties may cause increased price or you can become a victim of a scam.
As said in the note, users should buy a special decryption tool to return their data. To do this, victims are asked to send their personal ID to one of the e-mail addresses (recohelper@cock.li or mallox@tutanota.com). It is also allowed to send a couple of files for free test decryption of them. After this, cybercriminals promise to announce the price for the entire decryption and provide instructions on how to buy the decoder. As a rule, files affected by ransomware infections are almost impossible to be decrypted for free without the help of cybercriminals. It depends on various factors such as how TargetCompany generated the ciphers and stored them after encryption. This means some users get lucky and manage to decrypt their data using third-party decryptors. You can give it a try yourself in our tutorial below as well. Note that prior to running any recovery manipulations, it is important to delete the virus first. Removing ransomware does not decrypt data, but simply ensures no more encryption will be conducted again.
How TargetCompany Ransomware infected your computer
There is no general way of how TargetCompany infects its victims. A list of most common distribution methods include trojans, e-mail spam letters, backdoors, keyloggers, fake software update/installers, unreliable cracking tools, unprotected RDP configuration, exploits of network vulnerabilities as well as other suspicious vectors. E-mail spam letters are often used to deliver malicious attachments or links. MS Office documents, PDFs, EXE, and JavaScript files can be a cover for various malware. Cybercriminals may ask you to open these files under the pretense of claiming the reward, viewing some receipt, or other ostensibly valuable information. This is likely a trap designed to trick users into executing the installation of malware. Beware of it and avoid trusting content that seems suspicious or highly unwanted.
- Download TargetCompany Ransomware Removal Tool
- Get decryption tool for .devicZz, .consultransom or .crystal files
- Recover encrypted files with Stellar Data Recovery Professional
- Restore encrypted files with Windows Previous Versions
- Restore files with Shadow Explorer
- How to protect from threats like TargetCompany Ransomware
Download Removal Tool
To remove TargetCompany Ransomware completely, we recommend you to use SpyHunter 5. It detects and removes all files, folders, and registry keys of TargetCompany Ransomware. The trial version of Spyhunter 5 offers virus scan and 1-time removal for FREE.
Alternative Removal Tool
To remove TargetCompany Ransomware completely, we recommend you to use Norton Antivirus from Symantec. It detects and removes all files, folders, and registry keys of TargetCompany Ransomware and prevents future infections by similar viruses.
TargetCompany Ransomware files:
RECOVERY INFORMATION.txt
How to decrypt files.txt
HOW TO RECOVER !!.TXT
{randomname}.exe
TargetCompany Ransomware registry keys:
no information
How to decrypt and restore .devicZz, .consultransom or .crystal files
Use automated decryptors
Download MalloxDecryptor
Use the following tool from cybersecurity specialist rivitna called Mallox Decryptor, that can decrypt .mallab or .ma1x0 files. Download it here:
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 .devicZz, .consultransom or .crystal 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 TargetCompany 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 .devicZz, .consultransom or .crystal files
- Download Stellar Data Recovery Professional.
- Click Recover Data button.
- Select type of files you want to restore and click Next button.
- Choose location where you would like to restore files from and click Scan button.
- Preview found files, choose ones you will restore and click Recover.
Using Windows Previous Versions option:
- Right-click on infected file and choose Properties.
- Select Previous Versions tab.
- Choose particular version of the file and click Copy.
- To restore the selected file and replace the existing one, click on the Restore button.
- In case there is no items in the list choose alternative method.
Using Shadow Explorer:
- Download Shadow Explorer program.
- Run it and you will see screen listing of all the drives and the dates that shadow copy was created.
- Select the drive and date that you want to restore from.
- Right-click on a folder name and select Export.
- In case there are no other dates in the list, choose alternative method.
If you are using Dropbox:
- Login to the DropBox website and go to the folder that contains encrypted files.
- Right-click on the encrypted file and select Previous Versions.
- Select the version of the file you wish to restore and click on the Restore button.
How to protect computer from viruses, like TargetCompany 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.
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. TargetCompany 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.
