Ransomware and BTC

[pellegri]

Hi. I’ve registered in your community in hope that you’ll help me. My problem is that my wife’s laptop is infected with Odin virus that has encrypted all files. And now it claims for 1.5 BTC for encryption. I tried different tools, antiviruses, guides etc. One thing that had helped me was ShadowExplorer (http://www.shadowexplorer.com/downloads.html) which I found in this site (http://myspybot.com/odin-virus/), and with a help of it I managed to decrypt little bit of files, but not very important.
So finally I decided to pay 1.5 BTC for encryption, but I don’t know how, where and when I can buy this crypto currency. So I hope that you can give me some advice's or provide with a link to a step-by-step guide on how to use BTC.
And last question – why can’t I pay with my dollar card? What is a reason for them to use Bitcoins? I don’t get it.

[OmegaStarScream]

There is different reasons why they chose Bitcoin instead of credit cards . Bitcoin is irreversible (your can't chargeback) and untraceable (police won't be able to find them) , It's just a procedure hackers do to make sure they won't be caught.
As for buying Bitcoin then It  really depends where you live and the payments methods you are willing to use honestly. but there is Coinbase , Virwox.com , Circle.com and others. (check them out , they are legit services)

[BitAurum]

The reason Ransomware viruses use bitcoin is due to the fact that its untraceable and irreversible too.
If you were able to decrypt a bit of the files it should be possible to decrypt all the files too.

I wouldn't pay them unless I had something really important on that machine and all other means to recover the files failed.

[BitAurum]

There is different reasons why they chose Bitcoin instead of credit cards . Bitcoin is irreversible (your can't chargeback) and untraceable (police won't be able to find them) , It's just a procedure hackers do to make sure they won't be caught.
As for buying Bitcoin then It  really depends where you live and the payments methods you are willing to use honestly. but there is Coinbase , Virwox.com , Circle.com and others. (check them out , they are legit services)

Are you suggesting that he gives into the demands of the hackers while there might be other means to recover his files?

[Coin-Keeper]

I wouldn't pay unless the files are EXTREMELY valuable.  1.5 btc is almost a thousand dollars.  In the worst case where you cannot decrypt those files you could contact the laptop mfg and reload the system from scratch.  Probably an available download for free even and then forensically wipe the disk before installing the new system.  It would only take a few hours to have a fresh new system disk.  If important files are backed up on a flash or external drive those can be copied back easily.  Do NOT connect any removable media to that infected computer.  This is what I do, so if you need a few steps in the process to be outlined, please ask here.

[Steve_T]

This is genuine re-occuring dream of mine, they've locked up my computer and want all my BTC (having converted my other crypto into BTC moments before)... Always wake up in a cold sweat.

[pellegri]

I wouldn't pay unless the files are EXTREMELY valuable.  1.5 btc is almost a thousand dollars.  In the worst case where you cannot decrypt those files you could contact the laptop mfg and reload the system from scratch.  Probably an available download for free even and then forensically wipe the disk before installing the new system.  It would only take a few hours to have a fresh new system disk.  If important files are backed up on a flash or external drive those can be copied back easily.  Do NOT connect any removable media to that infected computer.  This is what I do, so if you need a few steps in the process to be outlined, please ask here.

I'll try it.
Thanks for all reply's

[outatime1]

I knew someone that had this problem before and they took the computer to a professional to have the computer cleaned up. I think he lost everything that was infected though. I think that's the best thing to do in this situation.

[traderethereum]

I knew someone that had this problem before and they took the computer to a professional to have the computer cleaned up. I think he lost everything that was infected though. I think that's the best thing to do in this situation.

i think i will give the same suggestion to him, because if we don't know anything about computer, better we go to into computer store and ask them to help us to cure the virus. but for a short time i do searching, there are many clue on the search engine that you can use to try it with your self to cure the virus.

maybe you want to look on this links https://www.google.com/search?client=opera&q=how+to+cure+Odin+virus&sourceid=opera&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

i use the keyword how to cure Odin virus, and i see that there is many website that give the answer but i am not sure, where is the right answer that you need it. better you see by yourself.

[ricreis394]

Bitcoin is used because it's anonymous and police can't trace the payment.
Try to buy bitcoins at localbitcoins website, my first time buying bitcoins was from that site and cash in hand to reduce the fees.
Ransomware viruses are very annoying and isn't very much to do than paying and pray for they giving the private key to de encrypt.

[morantis]

don't pay, it might even be a modified odin or a downloaded copy and the people have no idea what they are doing, meaning your computer stays that way after paying.  if there is nothing that cannot be replaced on there, put windows on a usb from a friends computer and start over.  make sure that you completely format the drive during install rather than trying to save files.  if your legacy to mankind is on there, say f it and take the thing to best buy.  they are better equipped to deal with and a lot cheaper than 1.5 BTC. 

[X7]

I'm literally in the process of writing an article explaining ransomware, what it is and how to avoid it - it is running rampant at the moment.

[morantis]

I'm literally in the process of writing an article explaining ransomware, what it is and how to avoid it - it is running rampant at the moment.

without being insensitive, it is a hell of a concept and nearly impossible to get around.  when properly used it is a menace, apparently the biggest issue at the moment is that the people finding it around the internet are not really coders and do not have the experience to use it right in the first place, meaning that even the people that are breaking down and paying are not getting their PC's back

[X7]

I'm literally in the process of writing an article explaining ransomware, what it is and how to avoid it - it is running rampant at the moment.

without being insensitive, it is a hell of a concept and nearly impossible to get around.  when properly used it is a menace, apparently the biggest issue at the moment is that the people finding it around the internet are not really coders and do not have the experience to use it right in the first place, meaning that even the people that are breaking down and paying are not getting their PC's back

Yeah I tried to be loving in the article, giving a good 15+ tips on what kind of mindset you need and what to look out for while using the internet. Education on the matter may help save a few people!

[morantis]

I'm literally in the process of writing an article explaining ransomware, what it is and how to avoid it - it is running rampant at the moment.

without being insensitive, it is a hell of a concept and nearly impossible to get around.  when properly used it is a menace, apparently the biggest issue at the moment is that the people finding it around the internet are not really coders and do not have the experience to use it right in the first place, meaning that even the people that are breaking down and paying are not getting their PC's back

Yeah I tried to be loving in the article, giving a good 15+ tips on what kind of mindset you need and what to look out for while using the internet. Education on the matter may help save a few people!

yeah, this goes right around normal practices of safety.  used to be that you simply set a restore point in the case of concern and backed to it when there was an issue.  this is a complete shell replace, root kit, you ain't getting in there issue that cannot be "restored" or "rolled back"

[mammabitcoin2u]

Hi. I’ve registered in your community in hope that you’ll help me. My problem is that my wife’s laptop is infected with Odin virus that has encrypted all files. And now it claims for 1.5 BTC for encryption. I tried different tools, antiviruses, guides etc. One thing that had helped me was ShadowExplorer (http://www.shadowexplorer.com/downloads.html) which I found in this site (http://myspybot.com/odin-virus/), and with a help of it I managed to decrypt little bit of files, but not very important.
So finally I decided to pay 1.5 BTC for encryption, but I don’t know how, where and when I can buy this crypto currency. So I hope that you can give me some advice's or provide with a link to a step-by-step guide on how to use BTC.
And last question – why can’t I pay with my dollar card? What is a reason for them to use Bitcoins? I don’t get it.

I'll chime in with others.

1, don't even bother paying this "ransom" you are just tossing out good $
2, use that $ and buy yourself another computer and try to safeguard it better, not downloading things and sites you visit, anti-virus, different passwords, all sorts of things I don't have the time to list
3, learn to remove the virus yourself/with help from online, malewarebyets is a pretty good site that helps people, I haven't been there in years, but know it exists
4, your computer is already compromised and any files will just compromise a new system.........don't even bother accept the loss, documents and photos should of been printed anyways and not just stored on a pc 

Lastly, sorry this happened to you.  Most people are just assholes and we have to learn how to swim among them.

[morantis]

Hi. I’ve registered in your community in hope that you’ll help me. My problem is that my wife’s laptop is infected with Odin virus that has encrypted all files. And now it claims for 1.5 BTC for encryption. I tried different tools, antiviruses, guides etc. One thing that had helped me was ShadowExplorer (http://www.shadowexplorer.com/downloads.html) which I found in this site (http://myspybot.com/odin-virus/), and with a help of it I managed to decrypt little bit of files, but not very important.
So finally I decided to pay 1.5 BTC for encryption, but I don’t know how, where and when I can buy this crypto currency. So I hope that you can give me some advice's or provide with a link to a step-by-step guide on how to use BTC.
And last question – why can’t I pay with my dollar card? What is a reason for them to use Bitcoins? I don’t get it.

I'll chime in with others.

1, don't even bother paying this "ransom" you are just tossing out good $
2, use that $ and buy yourself another computer and try to safeguard it better, not downloading things and sites you visit, anti-virus, different passwords, all sorts of things I don't have the time to list
3, learn to remove the virus yourself/with help from online, malewarebyets is a pretty good site that helps people, I haven't been there in years, but know it exists
4, your computer is already compromised and any files will just compromise a new system.........don't even bother accept the loss, documents and photos should of been printed anyways and not just stored on a pc 

Lastly, sorry this happened to you.  Most people are just assholes and we have to learn how to swim among them.

as a cheaper solution, you don't even have to replace the computer, just the hard drive, those can be pretty cheap.  you may even have another older computer sitting around that has a hard drive you can use.  but, with a new hard drive in place, do not get skippy and try adding the infected drive after the fact and get your files, within seconds of adding that hard drive you will likely be right back here at square one

[Coin-Keeper]

As I mentioned above this is something I do.  Once this gets behind you learn to make solid sector images of your computer disk.  Its easy and with modern USB speeds you can restore at least a 100 Gig per hour going sector by sector.  Next time (hopefully none) you would simply wipe the disk and then write back a perfectly clean image from backup.  Total restore is almost always under half a day and usually about 2 hours.  FREE too if you had those items at the ready!!

[pooya87]

Hi. I’ve registered in your community in hope that you’ll help me. My problem is that my wife’s laptop is infected with Odin virus that has encrypted all files. And now it claims for 1.5 BTC for encryption. I tried different tools, antiviruses, guides etc. One thing that had helped me was ShadowExplorer (http://www.shadowexplorer.com/downloads.html) which I found in this site (http://myspybot.com/odin-virus/), and with a help of it I managed to decrypt little bit of files, but not very important.
So finally I decided to pay 1.5 BTC for encryption, but I don’t know how, where and when I can buy this crypto currency. So I hope that you can give me some advice's or provide with a link to a step-by-step guide on how to use BTC.
And last question – why can’t I pay with my dollar card? What is a reason for them to use Bitcoins? I don’t get it.

I'll chime in with others.

1, don't even bother paying this "ransom" you are just tossing out good $
2, use that $ and buy yourself another computer and try to safeguard it better, not downloading things and sites you visit, anti-virus, different passwords, all sorts of things I don't have the time to list
3, learn to remove the virus yourself/with help from online, malewarebyets is a pretty good site that helps people, I haven't been there in years, but know it exists
4, your computer is already compromised and any files will just compromise a new system.........don't even bother accept the loss, documents and photos should of been printed anyways and not just stored on a pc 

Lastly, sorry this happened to you.  Most people are just assholes and we have to learn how to swim among them.

as a cheaper solution, you don't even have to replace the computer, just the hard drive, those can be pretty cheap.  you may even have another older computer sitting around that has a hard drive you can use.  but, with a new hard drive in place, do not get skippy and try adding the infected drive after the fact and get your files, within seconds of adding that hard drive you will likely be right back here at square one

correct me if i am wrong but can't you just format the hard drive instead? it is not physically damaged. the files re just encrypted which you can format and start fresh with an empty HDD.

and to OP, i have seen some progress in breaking the encryption of some types of ransomeware on reddit. maybe you should check it out.

[NorrisK]

Use the money to buy some good anti virus plans for you and your wife, get a license for hitman pro and install hitman pro alert as well and finally put your wife through cyber security training so this won't happen again.

Paying these people is not the solution, it will just keep happening to people around the world when people fall for their demands.