Remove GOBA Ransomware Virus (DECRYPT .goba FILES)

remove GOBA ransomware virus and learn how to decrypt or repair files with .goba extension (free guide)

Cybercriminals unleash GOBA ransomware virus, leaving data on compromised computers encrypted

Contents

Cybercriminals unleash GOBA ransomware virus, leaving data on compromised computers encrypted
Ransomware attacks: how cybercriminals distribute malware to victims
Remove GOBA ransomware virus and recover your files
Decrypt GOBA files
Frequently Asked Questions

GOBA ransomware is a malicious computer virus that encrypts files on vulnerable systems. It is a new variant of STOP/DJVU ransomware that uses .goba extension to mark affected files. The virus makes files inaccessible by applying cryptography algorithms to them. Afterward, there will be no way for the victim to view or edit these files. In addition, the virus drops _readme.txt files in multiple data folders during the attack as a way to inform the computer user about the cyberattack. This file is widely known as the ransom note.

To illustrate how filenames are changed during the attack, see the following example: files originally named as 1.jpg or 2.rar will appear as 1.jpg.goba and 2.rar.goba, and the same procedure will be applied to the rest of the data on the system.

This ransomware aims to frighten the computer user by blocking access to memories and work or study related files that are valuable to one. They expect to convince the victim to pay a ransom to them in exchange for GOBA file decryption tool and private key, as explained in the ransom note.

Understanding the message in the _readme.txt note: what you need to know

The ransom note provided by the malware suggests that the only way to restore encrypted data is paying a ransom to cybercriminals. The perpetrators ask for $980, however, if the victim contacts them within 72 hours, they promise to reduce the amount to $490. Cybercriminals usually want to receive the ransom via cryptocurrency, due to reasons such as anonymity, security, speed and global reach.

The ransom note provides brief explanation of what has the ransomware done to data stored on computer, and provides two email addresses that the victim can write to – support@freshmail.top and datarestorehelp@airmail.cc. During conversations via email, they will explain how the victim can purchase Bitcoin and how to transfer the amount to their virtual wallet address.

The ransom note reassures that cybercriminals are the only ones who can restore encrypted files. They offer test decryption service for those who aren’t convinced. The note suggests attaching one encrypted file to the email to cybercriminals, and asks to include Personal ID that’s provided at the very end of _readme.txt note. The criminals usually send a decrypted file in return, however, this service may be refused if the victim provides a test file that contains valuable data (such as a spreadsheet, etc.).

According to cybersecurity experts and recommendations from organisations such as FBI or NCSC, paying a ransom is not a recommended option. Obedience to cybercriminals’ directions doesn’t guarantee that all of encrypted data will be restored. In addition, money is what motivates the cybercriminals and allows them to expand their illegal operations. Finally, victims who pay up are highly likely to be targeted again as perpetrators tend to see them as ‘easy targets.’

Beware of threats that come along this ransomware

Computer users who have discovered GOBA file-encrypting virus on their computers should know that the malicious files that land this infection on systems also unleash a whole set of information-stealing malware. Some of analyzed samples revealed presence of Vidar, RedLine or AZORult stealers.

These stealers are known for their capabilities to steal sensitive information from compromised computers and send it to cybercriminals’ servers. Types of data that can be stolen via these tools include passwords, browsing history, FTP passwords, social media login details and more. Therefore, if your computer has been compromised, it is highly recommended to act instantly.

First of all, we recommend that you remove GOBA ransomware virus and other threats. You can use free instructions provided below this article. On top of that, we strongly advise using a robust antivirus software to get rid of all malicious files and changes of settings. For this task, we typically use INTEGO Antivirus. In addition, to revert malware damage to Windows OS files, you can download RESTORO.

Ransomware Summary

Name	GOBA Ransomware Virus
Type	Ransomware; Crypto-malware; Virtual Extortion Virus
Family	STOP/DJVU
Encryption type	RSA 2048 + Salsa20
Previous versions	KAAA, BGJS, BGZQ (find full list here)
Version	657th
Extension	.goba
Cybercriminal emails	support@freshmail.top, datarestorehelp@airmail.cc
Additional malware dropped	Azorult, RedLine or Vidar
Damage	The ransomware uses encryption to maliciously modify all files on the PC and marks their original names with .goba extension. Ransom notes called as _readme.txt will be dropped in every computer folder. This piece of malware usually drags VIDAR Stealer alongside it and also eliminates VSS from the system. On top of that, it tends to modify Windows HOSTS file to restrict computer user’s access to cybersecurity-related websites online.
Ransom note	_readme.txt
Ransom demand	$490-$980 in Bitcoin
Distribution	Victims often download this ransomware along illegal torrent downloads, cracked software, activators, key generators or tools like KMSPico.
Known software cracks to contain this malware	Corel Draw, Tenorshare 4ukey, Adobe Photoshop, Cubase, Adobe Illustrator, Internet Download Manager, Tally, HP/Epson printer drivers, League of Legends.
Detection names	Trojan:Win32/Azorult.FW!MTB (Microsoft), Gen:Heur.Mint.Zard.52 (B) (Emsisoft), HEUR:Trojan.Win32.Scarsi.gen (Kaspersky), Gen:Heur.Mint.Zard.52 (BitDefender), Trojan.MalPack.GS (Malwarebytes), ML.Attribute.HighConfidence (Symantec) see all detection name variations on VirusTotal
Removal	Remove ransomware and related malware from your PC using trustworthy software like INTEGO Antivirus. To repair virus damage on Windows OS files, download and try RESTORO (secure download link).

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Ransomware attacks: how cybercriminals distribute malware to victims

Threat actors behind ransomware attacks use typical malware distribution methods. These include mass-sending of phishing emails with malicious attachments, exploit kits and drive-by downloads. The criminals seek to trick users into downloading or launching malicious files that contain ransomware payload.

When it comes to STOP/DJVU ransomware variants, such as GOBA virus, the perpetrators typically upload malware in guise of cracked software versions. These downloads can be found in rogue websites that falsely claim to provide cracked versions of popular software, such as Adobe Photoshop/Illustrator, AutoCAD, Wondershare Filmora and other programs that require license keys or subscription to use them. Computer users who are looking for ways to bypass the payment procedure risk infecting their computers with severe threats. Therefore, it is not a good idea to look for illegal software versions.

Another common method used to spread this ransomware is phishing emails containing attachments. The criminals might pretend to be writing on behalf of well-known companies or government authorities and usually involve threatening claims. For example, scammers might state that victim’s bank account will be charged, or that the recipient has been spotted doing illegal activities online.

Such emails urge the victim to view attached files and reply to the sender as soon as possible. This is intended to make the victim act without thinking, which usually leads to a computer infection once the malicious attachment is executed. It is important to remain cautious when checking emails and avoid opening attachments or links sent by someone that you do not know or wasn’t expecting to contact you.

Malware distributors also tend to upload fake decryption tools online, hoping that victims of ransomware attacks will download them out of frustration. This can lead to double-file encryption. Only trustworthy online resources should be trusted when it comes to information about possibilities to decrypt/repair ransomware-encrypted data.

Remove GOBA ransomware virus and recover your files

Victims of the described malware should rush to remove GOBA ransomware virus and any other threats dropped on their computers. The instructions presented below will guide you through steps of a secure malware removal procedure. If you’re interested in what AV software is good for this task, we want to recommend INTEGO Antivirus.

Once the malware is removed, we also recommend scanning with RESTORO, a tool that is known for its abilities to repair virus-damaged Windows OS files. Additional recommendation for those infected with this ransomware and the stealers is this: change all of your passwords and take action to secure your accounts by enabling 2FA authentication. You can restore data by using data backups if you have created them prior to the computer infection. For those who do not have backups, we recommend reading this guide for STOP/DJVU victims.

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GOBA Ransomware Virus Removal Guidelines

Method 1. Enter Safe Mode with Networking

Step 1. Start Windows in Safe Mode with Networking

Before you try to remove GOBA 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

First of all, turn off your PC. Then press the Power button to start it again and instantly start pressing F8 button on your keyboard repeatedly in 1-second intervals. This launches the Advanced Boot Options menu.
Use arrow keys on the keyboard to navigate down to Safe Mode with Networking option and press Enter.

Instructions for Windows 8/8.1/10/11 users

Open Windows Start menu, then press down the Power button. On your keyboard, press down and hold the Shift key, and then select Restart option.
This will take you to Windows Troubleshoot screen. Choose Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Startup Settings > Restart. Tip: If you can't find Startup Settings, click See more recovery options.
In Startup Settings, press the right key between F1-F9 to enter Safe Mode with Networking. In this case, it is the F5 key.

Step 2. Remove files associated with the virus

Now, you can search for and remove GOBA 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.

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Method 2. Use System Restore

In order to use System Restore, you must have a system restore point, created either manually or automatically.

Step 1. Boot Windows in Safe Mode with Command Prompt

Instructions for Windows XP/Vista/7 users

Shut down your PC. Start it again by pressing the Power button and instantly start pressing F8 button on your keyboard repeatedly in 1-second intervals. You will see Advanced Boot Options menu.
Using arrow keys on the keyboard, navigate down to Safe Mode with Command Prompt option and press Enter.

Instructions for Windows 8/8.1/10/11 users

Launch Windows Start menu, then click the Power button. On your keyboard, press down and hold the Shift key, and then choose Restart option with the mouse cursor.
This will take you to Windows Troubleshoot screen. Choose Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Startup Settings > Restart. Tip: If you can't find Startup Settings, click See more recovery options.
In Startup Settings, press the right key between F1-F9 to enter Safe Mode with Command Prompt. In this case, press F6 key.

Step 2. Start System Restore process

Wait until system loads and command prompt shows up.
Type cd restore and press Enter, then type rstrui.exe and press Enter. Or you can just type %systemroot%system32restorerstrui.exe in command prompt and hit Enter.
This launches System Restore window. Click Next and then choose a System Restore point created in the past. Choose one that was created before ransomware infection.
Click Yes to begin the system restoration process.

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.

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Decrypt GOBA files

Fix and open large GOBA 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.

Create a copy of encrypted file to a separate folder using Copy > Paste commands.
Now, right-click the created copy and choose Rename. Select the GOBA extension and delete it. Press Enter to save changes.
In the prompt asking whether you want to make the changes as file might become unusable, click OK.
Try opening the file.

STOP/DJVU decryption tool usage guide

STOP/DJVU ransomware versions are grouped into old and new variants. GOBA Ransomware Virus is considered the new STOP/DJVU variant, just like KAAA, BGJS, BGZQ (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 GOBA files, follow the given tutorial.

Download the decryption tool from Emsisoft.
Click the little arrow next to your download and choose Show in Folder.
Now, right-click the file and choose Run as Administrator. If asked, enter administrator's password.
In UAC window, click Yes.
Click Yes to agree to software terms in both windows.
The tool will automatically include C:// disk as a location to decrypt. The file recovery tool will prepopulate the locations to scan, including connected data storage drives or network drives. Click Add folder if you wish to add additional locations.
In Options tab, you can choose to keep encrypted file copies. We recommend leaving this option selected, especially if you do not know if the decryption tool will work.
Click Decrypt to start restoring GOBA files. You will see the progress in the Results tab. Here, you can see messages from the tool, such as whether the decryption procedure is successful, or you need to wait for an update.
You might also be informed that online key was used to encrypt your files. In such case, the decryption tool won't work for you, and the only way to recover your files is to use a data backup.

Meanings of decryptor's messages

The GOBA 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 GOBA 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.

Report Internet crime to legal departments

Victims of GOBA 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

✓ How can I open .GOBA files?

You can only open GOBA files if you have the decryption key, or if you were affected by offline encryption type.

✓ How do I know if my files were encrypted with offline or online encryption?

To figure out whether you were affected by offline encryption, please go to C:/SystemID/PersonalID.txt and see if the string inside of it ends in t1. You can also try using Emsisoft Decryptor for STOP/DJVU.

✓ My files contain very important information (family memories). Every tool I used says it is impossible to decrypt. What should I do?

Please follow the guidances provided by the official GOBA decryption tools and believe what they say. If they say it is impossible to decrypt, it really is so. There is no magic tool or human capable of decrypting your files hiding somewhere. Encryption is a technique created to be nearly impossible to decrypt without a special private key (held by the criminals).

✓ I am afraid virus is still in my computer system. What should I do?

We advise scanning with anti-virus, anti-malware, malware removal tools or software like RESTORO to eliminate virus damage on the system. If you do not trust using a single tool, try running one after another. However, we do not recommend keeping several security programs on a computer at once as they can interfere with each other's work.

✓ I saw several Youtube videos suggesting secret decryption tools. Can I trust them?

Beware of fake GOBA decryption tools circulating around the web. Cyber criminals are uploading them to various shady websites, also might be promoting them via suspicious Youtube videos. These programs can infect your computer even more heavily (Trojans, miners, etc.). We suggest being extremely cautious around the web. If there will be an official STOP/DJVU decryption tool available, it will be widely discussed in public media.

Norbert Webb

Norbert Webb is the head of Geek’s Advice team. He is the chief editor of the website who controls the quality of content published. The man also loves reading cybersecurity news, testing new software and sharing his insights on them. Norbert says that following his passion for information technology was one of the best decisions he has ever made. “I don’t feel like working while I’m doing something I love.” However, the geek has other interests, such as snowboarding and traveling.