Todarius Ransomware - How to remove

Ransomware is a computer virus that restricts your access to your computer or your files. Screen-locking ransomware is benign compared to encrypting ransomware, like DJVU that’s been frustrating people for the last few months.

Todarius is one of the newest variants of DJVU. The ransom note, named “_readme.txt”, is left on your computer after the virus is done encrypting files. The note for Todarius is almost the same as for the other DJVU viruses, for example, check the article for Drume — only the email addresses are different. Todarius provides two email addresses — [email protected] and [email protected]. The email addresses are the same for a few other versions of this ransomware: Roldat (.roldat) and Hofos (.hofos). By the way, Todarius is also named after the suffix that is appended to the names of the encrypted files — .todarius.

Todarius developers ask for $980 for decryption of files on one PC; $490 if you contact them in 72 hours. This time limit is there to put pressure on you and limit your ability to find other solutions to the problem. In situations like this, try to keep a level head. There is a possibility that you can solve this without losing hundreds of dollars — a free decryption tool (for files encrypted by DJVU without the internet connection), as well as restoring files from a backup.

How do cryptoviruses work?

The files locked by Todarius had their contents scrambled by an encryption algorithm. Encryption has many useful applications for privacy and it’s unfortunate that online criminals found a way to abuse it. Usually, hybrid encryption is used because it is both fast and secure. Your files are locked and practically impossible to decrypt unless you have the decryption key. The decryption key is only known to Todarius developers. The exception is when the virus is unable to connect to the cybercriminals’ server. In that case, the information needed for decryption is stored on your computer and decryption of .todarius files becomes a bit more possible.

The impressive number of different ransomware versions (.todarius, .hofos, .roldat, .drume are only a few of all the versions of DJVU that have been released so far) exists because these viruses are not being developed from scratch — older versions are slightly changed and improved, then released into the world.

To infect computers Todarius needed to be distributed effectively. Some of the ways to do it are:

• spam email — emails infected links and attachments are sent to known real addresses, hoping that at least some of the recipients will fall for the bait and open the malicious files,
• malicious websites — this can manifest in automatic downloads, fake security warnings and update prompts,
• Remote Desktop hacking — if a weak password is used to secure an RD access, it’s likely that some cybercriminals will take advantage of that and use their access to install malware on the victim’s computer,
• pirating — software cracks sometimes have real malware in them,
• infected hardware — USB keys are not very commonly used anymore, but it is still possible to infect your computer by plugging in an infected memory stick.

What are the ways to defend against ransomware?

Keep in mind the previously mentioned strategies of malware distribution and be aware of all the social engineering techniques that distributors of Todarius (and other viruses) use:

• emails with malicious links or attachments — these encourage people to open them by saying that the attached file is a bill, an invoice — some urgent document that just can’t wait. Maybe you’re told that you won a lottery that you didn’t participate in, or maybe it’s some nude pictures that you never asked for. All these are suspicious, especially if the attached file is an archive (.zip, .rar, etc.). Scan the file with an antivirus program, but it might be safer to just ignore it.
• scareware — screen locking ransomware often manifests as a fake security warning. Fake warnings can also originate on your browser when you visit a malicious website. All these warnings are fake and only seek to shock the victim and cause them to act urgently. If you want to make sure that a security warning is legitimate, research it, ask for advice. Contact official support for your operating system — they are there to help you.
• phishing — your passwords can be stolen from you by tricking you to type your login info into a fake website. If your Remote Desktop connection uses the same password as the one you just leaked, your computer is immediately very vulnerable. When logging in somewhere, make sure that it’s the official website — check the URL, the design of the site. Change your password, make sure it’s complex.

The best insurance against Todarius is saving files off your computer. Cloud storage and external media both work. Update the backup when needed and don’t store the backups of your files on the same computer that is being saved.

Keep your software, like the browser and your antivirus, updated. Antivirus programs are updated very often because new threats emerge all the time (in fact, .todarius, .hofos, and .roldat all seem to be only a few days old w=at the time of writing this). Vulnerabilities in operating systems and other software, like web browsers, are patched as soon as the developers can. The problem is that sometimes, cybercriminals still use these vulnerabilities to distribute malware because they know that some people do not update their software. Don’t make yourself vulnerable to infections if you don’t have to.

Remove the Todarius virus

There is a decryption tool ( direct download link) for some versions of the DJVU ransomware, including the offline decryption key for Todarius. You can go and say thanks to @demonslay335, who is a volunteer working on the free decryption tool. Whether there will be support for Roldat and Hofos is still unclear, but even if there is, it’s unlikely that all of your files will be decryptable.

Save the encrypted files and the ransom note somewhere where you will not lose them, then follow the developments of the decryption tool. To be optimistic, it’s possible that the developers of Todarius will be caught and the decryption keys released. Ransomware distributors have been arrested before.

Remove malware from your computer. Sometimes spyware and other viruses are installed along with ransomware, so it’s important to make sure that there are no viruses left. You can use Spyhunter, or another professional antivirus program. Once the computer is free of malware, you can start restoring the files.

How to recover Todarius Ransomware encrypted files and remove the virus

Step 1. Restore system into last known good state using system restore

1. Reboot your computer to Safe Mode with Command Prompt:

for Windows 7 / Vista/ XP

• Start → Shutdown → Restart → OK.
• Press F8 key repeatedly until Advanced Boot Options window appears.
• Choose Safe Mode with Command Prompt.

for Windows 8 / 10

• Press Power at Windows login screen. Then press and hold Shift key and click Restart.
• Choose Troubleshoot → Advanced Options → Startup Settings and click Restart.
• When it loads, select Enable Safe Mode with Command Prompt from the list of Startup Settings.

 

2.Restore System files and settings.

• When Command Prompt mode loads, enter cd restore and press Enter.
• Then enter rstrui.exe and press Enter again.
• Click “Next” in the windows that appeared.
• Select one of the Restore Points that are available before Todarius has infiltrated to your system and then click “Next”.
• To start System restore click “Yes”.

 

Step 2. Complete removal of Todarius Ransomware

After restoring your system, it is recommended to scan your computer with an anti-malware program, like Spyhunter and remove all malicious files related to Todarius. You can check other tools here.  

Step 3. Restore Todarius Ransomware affected files using Shadow Volume Copies

If you do not use System Restore option on your operating system, there is a chance to use shadow copy snapshots. They store copies of your files that point of time when the system restore snapshot was created. Usually Todarius tries to delete all possible Shadow Volume Copies, so this methods may not work on all computers. However, it may fail to do so. Shadow Volume Copies are only available with Windows XP Service Pack 2, Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8. There are two ways to retrieve your files via Shadow Volume Copy. You can do it using native Windows Previous Versions or via Shadow Explorer. a) Native Windows Previous Versions Right-click on an encrypted file and select Properties → Previous versions tab. Now you will see all available copies of that particular file and the time when it was stored in a Shadow Volume Copy. Choose the version of the file you want to retrieve and click Copy if you want to save it to some directory of your own, or Restore if you want to replace existing, encrypted file. If you want to see the content of file first, just click Open.

b) Shadow Explorer It is a program that can be found online for free. You can download either a full or a portable version of Shadow Explorer. Open the program. On the left top corner select the drive where the file you are looking for is a stored. You will see all folders on that drive. To retrieve a whole folder, right-click on it and select “Export”. Then choose where you want it to be stored.

Step 4. Use Data Recovery programs to recover Todarius Ransomware encrypted files

There are several data recovery programs that might recover encrypted files as well. This does not work in all cases but you can try this:

• We suggest using another PC and connect the infected hard drive as slave. It is still possible to do this on infected PC though.
• Download a data recovery program.
• Install and scan for recently deleted files.

Note: In many cases it is impossible to restore data files affected by modern ransomware. Thus I recommend using decent cloud backup software as precaution. We recommend checking out Carbonite, BackBlaze, CrashPlan or Mozy Home.