Meanwhile, as these changes are occurring in the computer, the cybercriminals also release ransom notes called _readme.txt. These notes contain announcements that notify the victim about what has happened and why it has become essential for the victim to pay a certain amount of money as ransom. The criminals claim that such ransom money is a prerequisite to enable the victim to receive decryption tools to reverse the encryption. They also create an impression that failure to pay the requested ransom fee means the encrypted files can never be recovered again. In hopes that victims would be alarmed enough to take action without delay, the criminals insert two emails into the ransom notes: support@sysmail.ch and supportsys@airmail.cc. This is the only contact information left from the criminals to the victim. The helpless computer owner is now left with two alternatives; to forget about the data lost and use other available means to replace it, or seek the help of the cybercriminals behind the attack for possible reversal or decryption. For those that decide to reach out to the cybercriminals, an automated response will notify them that $980 is the ransom fee. However, they also promise to offer 50% ransom fee slash provided the victim can pay within 72 hours. The offer brings the cost down to $490, but they also revert to the maximum price when the victim fails to make the transfer on time. The situation becomes more challenging when you factor in that payment can only be made via cryptocurrency transfer because cybercriminals do not accept any other payment method. Nevertheless, victims are warned to desist from complying with the demands of cybercriminals. Here are some of the reasons top security organization such as FBI or UK NCSC gave to support their stance against paying the ransom:

The law is against any form of ransom payment.It makes no difference and only benefits the cybercriminals since they hardly provide decryption tools that work, even after receiving payment.It encourages criminality by making it profitable.It enables the cybercriminals to enhance their capacity, thereby putting many others at risk.Those that pay the ransom are more vulnerable to future attacks.

Trojans dropped alongside the ransomware put your personal information at risk

It has to be pointed out that the primary objective of cybercriminals spreading ADLG ransomware virus may be to encrypt files and demand for ransom fee in exchange for decryption tools, but they also use the opportunity to additionally infect the system with RATs (abbreviation that stands for Remote Access Trojans). As the name implies, cybercriminals use them to remotely gain access to critical personal data contained in the compromised computer such as banking details, cryptocurrency wallets, social security details, software login details, browsing history and other sensitive information they could leverage in perpetrating other criminal acts. An example of RAT is AZORULT Trojan. If you’ve been affected by this file-encrypting threat, we recommend to remove ADLG ransomware virus and other threats installed alongside it. Our team relies on INTEGO Antivirus for malware removal and Windows protection, while RESTORO (download link) can provide a free scan to identify damage to Windows OS files that can be repaired automatically with the full version of the software.

Ransomware Summary

REPAIR VIRUS DAMAGE

Diverse methods used by cybercriminals to spread ransomware

Cybercriminals make use of diverse deceptive methods in spreading ADLG ransomware virus and including emails with attachments, cloned software contents uploaded on malicious online torrents, and use of P2P in sharing malware-carrying pirated software contents, etc. They tend to clone popular software contents that are usually in high demand and embed malware on them before uploading them for mass free downloads. The crooks take advantage of those that need essential software content but are not willing to get them legitimately by paying the fees requested by the copyright owners. Unfortunately for them, they end up exposing their computers to damaging malware infections that could result in file encryptions, data pilfering, and worse still, ransomware attacks/extortions. In addition to that, it is quite unfair to make use of copyrighted software products developed by others without paying them. The brand owners that developed such software must have spent a lot of resources in its research and development. When they are used illegally, it negatively affects the investors and, by extension, the industry. After observing the methods used by cybercriminals for a while, we were able to compile a list of popular software contents that are often cloned and used by cybercriminals in distributing malware, as shown below:

Adobe Photoshop;Microsoft Office;WinRAR;Corel Draw;Internet Download Manager;Adobe Illustrator;Adobe Premiere Pro;League of Legends;AutoCad;Ummy Video Downloader;Tenorshare 4ukey.

It should also be noted that PDF, XLS and DOCX are some of the popular files now being exploited by cybercriminals. Some of these files have become handy tools used by cybercriminals because of their macro function abilities. Therefore, it is imperative to be cautious when such files are used as attachments. For those that may have become victims of ADLG ransomware virus, it is in your best interest to stay away from dubious websites that advertise decryption tools because they’re mostly fake or ineffective. However, DiskTuna and Emsisoft are two helpful tools that are showing promising signs. You can read more on how to use these tools, and when these tools can be effective in this guide.

Remove ADLG ransomware virus and restore your data

It is imperative for victims to remove ADLG ransomware virus once it shows its presence in their computers. It will prevent further damage and also enable possible recovery. Ensure the computer is set up via Safe Mode with Networking option before running an antivirus on it. This option is recommended because it will limit other system operations, thus enabling the antivirus to function optimally. INTEGO Antivirus is highly recommended for this purpose. Afterward, you will also need to do the following:

All passwords used on the computer should be changed immediately.Use your backup to recover lost data.Inform local police or relevant government agencies.

In conclusion, remember that by using your computer responsibly and making use of only original software contents sourced from the copyright owners or their authorized agents, you will be able to protect your computer against malware infections and subsequent ransomware attack. Also, make it a habit to always check the source of emails correctly to decipher if it is genuine or malicious in nature. Above all, ensure you have strong antivirus installed and running on your computer at all times. 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 ADLG 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 ADLG 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 ADLG files

Fix and open large ADLG 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. ADLG 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 ADLG files, follow the given tutorial.

Meanings of decryptor’s messages

The ADLG 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 ADLG 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 ADLG 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.