The ransomware creators take victim’s files as hostages by encrypting them with military-grade algorithms that are normally used to protect sensitive information. Afterward, they suggest buying out access to one’s own files by paying a ransom. The note dropped by the ransomware explains it all.

Contents of the ransom note, overviewed

The ransom note briefly covers the situation and then suggests that there could be a way out by contacting them through these emails; support@freshmail.top, datarestorehelp@airmail.cc. Victims who write to them using the above emails are often told to pay ransom fees as much as $980, although they may promise to slash it by 50%, which brings it down to $490 but with a caveat that payment must be made within three days of being told to do so. The ransom fee slash becomes nullified immediately after the stipulated time is up. What it means is that only the maximum ransom fee will be accepted henceforth. Also, bear in mind that cybercriminals don’t accept conventional payment methods such as bank transfers. It is apparently due to fears that their cover could be blown, thus leading to their arrest. So, they usually make it mandatory that victims should buy cryptocurrency that is worth the ransom fee and transfer it to a wallet address provided by the cybercriminals. Nevertheless, we strongly warn victims of ransomware virus attacks to avoid contacting cybercriminals. Our standpoint is also similar to that of the FBI and other top global security agencies. Rather, we encourage computer users to always ensure that reliable antivirus software is installed in their computers and kept active always. Other proactive measures that should be taken include making use of only genuine software copies as well as ignoring or deleting any email/attachment you find in your inbox that appears inappropriate or dubious. It should be noted that encryptions are very difficult to reverse, so it is better avoided. Even when victims of ransomware virus attack pay ransom, they still don’t succeed in recovering their files. The cybercriminals will either cut off further communications with the victim or forward fake decryption tools to them. That’s why we don’t encourage ransom payments. Other reasons why paying a ransom fee is considered a bad idea include the following:

Ransom payment is considered unlawful. It encourages cybercriminals. It makes victims vulnerable to further attacks. Funds obtained from ransom payments enable cybercriminals to expand their operations. Cybercriminals will stop their illegal activities if all victims refuse to pay a ransom.

For deleting the malware, you will need to boot your computer in Safe Mode with Networking option, and then run a trusted antivirus for the task. Our team relies on INTEGO Antivirus to remove ZNTO ransomware virus and similar infections. Additional tool that can be downloaded securely from here – RESTORO can be used to repair Windows OS files damaged during a malware attack.

Ransomware Summary

Methods used by cybercriminals in spreading ransomware virus

STOP/DJVU malware, including ZNTO virus and other versions, mainly await for users in rogue websites, torrent listings, malicious online ads or malicious email attachments. Victims typically download them unwillingly, without realizing the danger behind the download. Here’s what you need to know in order to avoid getting scammed and getting your files encrypted. Award-winning antivirus solution for your PC. Robust security software that provides robust 24/7 real-time protection, Web Shield that stops online threats/malicious downloads, and Prevention engine that wards off Zero-Day threats. Keep your PC safe and protected against ransomware, Trojans, viruses, spyware and other forms of dangerous programs.

Malicious email attachments

Those that fell for it and attempted to open the attachments ended up unleashing a ransomware virus attack. Therefore, it is important to inspect every email that reaches you with caution; if you have the slightest suspicion that it comes from a unsolicited source, do not open its attachments or links included.

Online downloads

We always advise those in need of software content to source for it using the right channels. However, some users prefer cloned versions of software copies because they’re cheap or free. Cybercriminals typically simply take popular software names and use them to rename malicious malware launchers or downloaders and later upload them to online torrents platforms or crack sites. Therefore, when unsuspecting users download them from such online sources, they assume they’ve saved money, but on the contrary, they only succeeded in putting their computers at serious risk of ransomware virus attack. It should be noted that cybercriminals often go after popular software names that are in high demand because it will increase their chances of being distributed and downloaded, thus spreading ransomware virus. From the reports we got from victims, we were able to establish that the software copies listed below are some of the most pirated:

Adobe Photoshop; Adobe Illustrator; Adobe Photoshop; League of Legends; Microsoft Office; HP/Epson Printer Drivers; Tenorshare 4ukey.

After considering all these risks, it becomes advisable for those in need of software copies to get them legitimately. This should be done by visiting the official websites of the brand owners or their authorized third-party agents. By so doing, you will be saving yourself the possible loss of important files, valuable time, and/or even money.

Malicious online ads

Not every website online is secure, and some of them can promote dangerous files to download in an aggressive manner. Some of websites that provide copyright-protected content illegally, or allow scraping or downloading protected content from online resources, may provide ads from potentially insecure or simply untrustworthy ad networks. Some of websites that are known to serve annoying pop-up or new tab ads as described are certain Youtube downloader tool pages, online gambling sites, adult-only sites, or illegal movie streaming websites. Interacting with specific websites or clicking on ads displayed by them can lead to potentially dangerous websites pushing annoying downloads or offering various scam surveys. For this reason, you should reconsider what kind of websites you want to visit and which ones to avoid in order to stay on the safe side.

Remove ZNTO ransomware virus ASAP

Actions to remove ZNTO ransomware virus should be initiated as soon as the user spots some files with modified file extensions and the sight of the ransom notes. Such timely intervention could help salvage files that are yet to be encrypted. We recommend INTEGO Antivirus for malware removal because to us, it has been proven to be highly reliable. Another great tool to download is RESTORO (secure download link), which is useful in repairing damaged Windows OS files after a malware attack. Other actions we recommend you to take include:

Change all passwords without delay. Use data backups to restore locked files. You should consider reporting the incident to the relevant local authorities.

OUR GEEKS RECOMMEND Our team recommends a two-step rescue plan to remove ransomware and other remaining malware from your computer, plus repair caused virus damage to the system: GeeksAdvice.com editors select recommended products based on their effectiveness. We may earn a commission from affiliate links, at no additional cost to you. Learn more. Get INTEGO ANTIVIRUS for Windows to remove ransomware, Trojans, adware and other spyware and malware variants and protect your PC and network drives 24/7. This VB100-certified security software uses state-of-art technology to provide protection against ransomware, Zero-Day attacks and advanced threats, Intego Web Shield blocks dangerous websites, phishing attacks, malicious downloads and installation of potentially unwanted programs. Use INTEGO Antivirus to remove detected threats from your computer. Read full review here. RESTORO provides a free scan that helps to identify hardware, security and stability issues and presents a comprehensive report which can help you to locate and fix detected issues manually. It is a great PC repair software to use after you remove malware with professional antivirus. The full version of software will fix detected issues and repair virus damage caused to your Windows OS files automatically. RESTORO uses AVIRA scanning engine to detect existing spyware and malware. If any are found, the software will eliminate them. Read full review here.

Method 1. Enter Safe Mode with Networking

Before you try to remove ZNTO Ransomware Virus virus, you must start your computer in Safe Mode with Networking. Below, we provide the easiest ways to boot PC in the said mode, but you can find additional ones in this in-depth tutorial on our website – How to Start Windows in Safe Mode. Also, if you prefer a video version of the tutorial, check our guide How to Start Windows in Safe Mode on Youtube. Instructions for Windows XP/Vista/7 users Instructions for Windows 8/8.1/10/11 users Now, you can search for and remove ZNTO Ransomware Virus files. It is very hard to identify files and registry keys that belong to the ransomware virus, Besides, malware creators tend to rename and change them repeatedly. Therefore, the easiest way to uninstall such type of a computer virus is to use a reliable security program such as INTEGO Antivirus. For virus damage repair, consider using RESTORO.

Method 2. Use System Restore

In order to use System Restore, you must have a system restore point, created either manually or automatically. Instructions for Windows XP/Vista/7 users Instructions for Windows 8/8.1/10/11 users After restoring the system, we recommend scanning the system with antivirus or anti-malware software. In most cases, there won’t be any malware remains, but it never hurts to double-check. In addition, we highly recommend checking ransomware prevention guidelines provided by our experts in order to protect your PC against similar viruses in the future.

Alternative software recommendations

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Removing spyware and malware is one step towards cybersecurity. To protect yourself against ever-evolving threats, we strongly recommend purchasing a Premium version of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, which provides security based on artificial intelligence and machine learning. Includes ransomware protection. See pricing options and protect yourself now.

System Mechanic Ultimate Defense If you’re looking for an all-in-one system maintenance suite that has 7 core components providing powerful real-time protection, on-demand malware removal, system optimization, data recovery, password manager, online privacy protection and secure driver wiping technology. Therefore, due to its wide-range of capabilities, System Mechanic Ultimate Defense deserves Geek’s Advice approval. Get it now for 50% off. You may also be interested in its full review.

Disclaimer. This site includes affiliate links. We may earn a small commission by recommending certain products, at no additional cost for you. We only choose quality software and services to recommend.

Decrypt ZNTO files

Fix and open large ZNTO files easily:

It is reported that STOP/DJVU ransomware versions encrypt only the beginning 150 KB of each file to ensure that the virus manages to affect all files on the system. In some cases, the malicious program might skip some files at all. That said, we recommend testing this method on several big (>1GB) files first.

STOP/DJVU decryption tool usage guide

STOP/DJVU ransomware versions are grouped into old and new variants. ZNTO Ransomware Virus is considered the new STOP/DJVU variant, just like BPTO, ISWR, ISZA, BPSM, ZOUU, MBTF, ZNSM (find full list here). This means full data decryption is now possible only if you have been affected by offline encryption key. To decrypt your files, you will have to download Emsisoft Decryptor for STOP DJVU, a tool created and maintained by a genius security researcher Michael Gillespie. Note! Please do not spam the security researcher with questions whether he can recover your files encrypted with online key - it is not possible. In order to test the tool and see if it can decrypt ZNTO files, follow the given tutorial.

Meanings of decryptor’s messages

The ZNTO decryption tool might display several different messages after failed attempt to restore your files. You might receive one of the following messages: Error: Unable to decrypt file with ID: [example ID] This message typically means that there is no corresponding decryption key in the decryptor’s database. No key for New Variant online ID: [example ID]Notice: this ID appears to be an online ID, decryption is impossible This message informs that your files were encrypted with online key, meaning no one else has the same encryption/decryption key pair, therefore data recovery without paying the criminals is impossible. Result: No key for new variant offline ID: [example ID]This ID appears to be an offline ID. Decryption may be possible in the future. If you were informed that an offline key was used, but files could not be restored, it means that the offline decryption key isn’t available yet. However, receiving this message is extremely good news, meaning that it might be possible to restore your ZNTO extension files in the future. It can take a few months until the decryption key gets found and uploaded to the decryptor. We recommend you to follow updates regarding the decryptable DJVU versions here. We strongly recommend backing up your encrypted data and waiting.

Victims of ZNTO Ransomware Virus should report the Internet crime incident to the official government fraud and scam website according to their country:

In the United States, go to the On Guard Online website.In Australia, go to the SCAMwatch website.In Germany, go to the Bundesamt für Sicherheit in der Informationstechnik website.In Ireland, go to the An Garda Síochána website.In New Zealand, go to the Consumer Affairs Scams website.In the United Kingdom, go to the Action Fraud website.In Canada, go to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.In India, go to Indian National Cybercrime Reporting Portal.In France, go to the Agence nationale de la sécurité des systèmes d’information.

If you can’t find an authority corresponding to your location on this list, we recommend using any search engine to look up “[your country name] report cyber crime”. This should lead you to the right authority website. We also recommend staying away from third-party crime report services that are often paid. It costs nothing to report Internet crime to official authorities. Another recommendation is to contact your country’s or region’s federal police or communications authority.