Zinocrypt Ransomware Removal Guide

Do you know what Zinocrypt Ransomware is?

Zinocrypt Ransomware is a nasty malicious application that might become your worst nightmare. Our team of experienced specialists has found that it makes all victims’ files unreadable if it finds a way to enter the computer. It targets those file formats users say to be the most valuable. For example, we can assure you that Microsoft Office files, archives, images, music files, and videos will all be locked. There is a 100% probability that Zinocrypt Ransomware is inside the system if those files you cannot unlock also have the new .ZINO filename extension appended to them. If you have become the victim of this ransomware-type infection, you should be able to find a new file ZINO_NOTE.txt on your computer too. This is the ransom note left by ransomware. You can open it and read what it is written inside it because this .txt file is not malicious, but do not go to send money to cyber criminals by any means. Yes, as ransom note tells you, a free decryptor that can unlock files for free does not exist at present, but it might be developed in the future. Also, users can easily recover their all files from a backup after the deletion of the ransomware infection from their computers, so all is not lost yet.

Just like similar file-encrypting threats do, Zinocrypt Ransomware shows up on computers using illegal methods. For example, the malicious file which opens this ransomware infection might travel as an attachment in spam emails. In some cases, it even pretends to be an important document (e.g. an invoice or an unpaid bill). Once such a malicious attachment is opened by a user, this ransomware infection is opened on the system and starts the encryption process. Before it locks all users’ files, it scans all hard drives and marks only those files it is going to encrypt. When all files get a new filename extension and can no longer be accessed, a ransom note is placed on Desktop. It contains the following text:

ZinoCrypt Ransomware - 2017 Edition

Your important files has been encrypted with the new ZinoCrypt Ransomware. (Photos, Videos, Etc..)

There are no tools online that will allow you to decode your files for free.

The only way to get your files back is to pay us.

Payment would be done stricly via BTC / Bitcoin.

Do not worry, al your files are safe, but are unavailable at the moment.

To recover the files you need to get special decryption software and personal key.

You can contact us:

Primary Email: ZinoCrypt@protonmail.com

Personal ID:

{USER ID}

Despite all those mistakes in the ransom note left for users, it is still clear that Zinocrypt Ransomware has been developed to obtain money from users. The exact amount of money users have to send to cyber criminals in order to get the decryption key and decryption software is unknown, which suggests that an email address ZinoCrypt@protonmail.com is provided there not without reason. If you are considering about making a payment “to get special decryption software and personal key”, you might want to contact cyber criminals, but we really hope that you are not going to purchase the unlock key. In this case, there is no point in writing an email to the developer of Zinocrypt Ransomware too. No matter what you decide to do, make sure that this malicious application is fully deleted from the system. Yes, cyber criminals will not remove this malicious application for you even if you purchase the decryptor from them.

Users should rush to delete Zinocrypt Ransomware from their PCs, but they should not hurry to remove those encrypted personal files because one day it might be possible to access them again. As has already been mentioned in the first paragraph, you can easily recover those encrypted files from a backup if you have created it before the entrance of this ransomware. It must be located on an external device too. If no copies of your data exist, try out existing free data recovery tools available on the web. In case you find this ineffective either, wait for the free decryptor to be developed by experienced specialists. This might happen soon.

Zinocrypt Ransomware works from the place it is launched, for example, the Downloads (%USERPROFILE%\Downloads) folder containing the malicious file downloaded from the web, so to delete it, only this malicious file and its ransom note ZINO_NOTE.txt have to be found and erased. If you cannot find them, use an automatic malware remover SpyHunter.

Delete Zinocrypt Ransomware manually

  1. Launch the Task Manager (press Ctrl+Shift+Esc).
  2. Click Processes.
  3. Right-click on the process of Zinocrypt Ransomware, right-click on it, and click End Process.
  4. Launch the Windows Explorer (tap Win+E simultaneously).
  5. Open %TEMP%, %USERPROFILE%\Desktop, and %USERPROFILE%\Downloads (locate the address bar at the top of the window and enter the directory there to open it).
  6. Check these directories and find the malicious recently downloaded file.
  7. Remove the malicious file.
  8. Locate and delete ZINO_NOTE.txt. (it should be locate here: %USERPROFILE%\Desktop).

In non-techie terms:

Zinocrypt Ransomware is a threat targeting personal files, so it will definitely become your nightmare if you ever allow this malicious application to enter your computer. Although it is a serious threat, users can get infected with it very easily. Luckily, it is not so hard to delete it because no changes will be applied on the computer after its entrance. Of course, the same cannot be said about those encrypted files. It might be impossible to get them back if you do not have their backup outside the system.