How to delete Kkia ransomware

Kkia ransomware is malware that encrypts files. .kkia virus was developed by the same people operating the STOP/Djvu ransomware family. The cyber criminals operating this malware family have released hundreds of ransomware versions already and continue to do so on a regular basis. Thousands of users have been infected over the years this malware family has been operating. Once it’s inside the computer, Kkia ransomware proceeds to encrypt files, taking them hostage. It then demands that victims pay a ransom in order to get their files back. The only people who have the decryptor are the cybercriminals operating this ransomware, and without that decryptor, it’s currently not possible to decrypt the files. If copies of the encrypted files are available in a backup, file recovery should not be an issue. But for users who do not have backup, options are very limited.

 

All ransomware from this malware family are essentially identical but they can be differentiated by the extensions they add to encrypted files. For example, this version adds .kkia, hence why it’s known as Kkia ransomware. This ransomware will target all personal files including photos, images, videos, documents, etc. Once the files have been encrypted, you will not be able to open them unless you first use a decryptor on them. The cybercriminals operating this ransomware will explain how you can acquire the decryptor in the ransom note.

During the file encryption process, the ransomware will display a fake Windows update window to distract users. Once the encryption process is complete, a _readme.txt ransom note will be dropped in all folders containing encrypted files. The note is pretty generic and is essentially the same as all other notes dropped by ransomware versions from the family. However, it does explain how to get the decryptor. Unfortunately, it involves paying a ransom. Currently, the decryptor price is $980 but the note does mention that those who make contact with the cybercriminals within the first 72 hours will receive a 50% discount. It’s also mentioned that users can decrypt one file for free, provided it does not contain any valuable information. Whether the discount part is true or not is not certain, but if you’re thinking about paying the ransom, you should be aware of the risks. The biggest risk is the fact that you may not necessarily receive the decryptor. Considering that you are dealing with cybercriminals, there are no guarantees that you will actually receive the decryptor from them. They are unlikely to feel any kind of obligation to help you. Furthermore, the ransom money would go towards more criminal activity. And as long as ransomware victims keep paying the ransom, the ransomware business will thrive. In the end, while paying is your decision to make, we do believe you need to be aware of the risks.

If you have a habit of backing up your files regularly and have copies in a backup, you should have no issue with file recovery. However, you do need to make sure that you first remove Kkia ransomware from your computer. Only when it’s fully gone should you access your backup. If the ransomware was still present when you connect to your backup, your backed-up file would become encrypted as well. Therefore, it is strongly recommended to use an anti-malware program in order to remove Kkia ransomware from your computer.

The situation is much more complicated for users who do not have a backup. The only other option is to wait for a free decryptor to become available. However, whether one will be released or not is not certain because this ransomware uses online keys to encrypt files. This makes it difficult for malware researchers to develop universal decryptors. The keys are unique to each victim, and unless those keys are released by the cybercriminals themselves, a free Kkia ransomware decryptor is unlikely. Nonetheless, you should back up your encrypted files and wait for a free decryptor to become available. NoMoreRansom is a good source for free decryptors.

How do users infect their computers with malware

Users with bad browsing habits are generally much more likely to pick up malware infections. For example, they are much more likely to open unsolicited email attachments. And malicious attachments are one of the most common ways cybercriminals attempt distribute their malware. They purchase email addresses from various hacker forums, write a semi-convincing email, and attach a malicious file to it. Once the file is opened, the malware is initiated and proceeds to do what it was programmed to do. Fortunately for users, emails are generally very easy to recognise. They’re full of grammar and spelling mistakes, address users in generic terms like User, Member, Customer, etc., and just generally seem off. As long as you’re attentive when dealing with unsolicited emails, you should be able to recognise malicious emails immediately. However, some emails are much more sophisticated, which is why it’s a good idea to scan all unsolicited email attachments with an anti-malware software or a service like VirusTotal.

Torrents are also often used by malicious actors to distribute malware. If you’re not aware of this already, torrent websites are notoriously badly regulated, which allows cybercriminal to easily upload malicious content. Malware can usually be found in torrents for popular movies, TV shows, video games, software etc. Torrenting is not only essentially stealing copyrighted content, it’s also dangerous for the computer and your data. This is why users are highly discouraged from using torrents to pirate.

Kkia ransomware removal

We do not recommend that you attempt to remove Kkia ransomware manually because you could end up doing additional damage. This is a very complex malware infection hence why use of anti-malware software is recommended. When the security program has removed the malware from your computer, you can access your backup to start file recovery. Until then, do not attempt to connect to your backup because that could result in encrypted backed-up files.