A cryptovirus is a malicious computer program that belongs to the infamous Ransomware family and which has the purpose of locking-up the files of its victims and making the users pay money to have the sealed data released. A method called file-encryption is the thing that allows the cryptoviruses to achieve their goals. There are several characteristics of the encryption process used by this type of Ransomware that make it the perfect tool for the job and those characteristics are what define the behavior of most Ransomware cryptovirus threats. Here, we will mainly focus on one cryptovirus called the Bopador Virus and we will share with you information about the way it functions, the distribution channels it may use to get to more users and the things you can do after an infection with it.
The encryption used by the Bopador Virus
As we said, this process is what allows Ransomware cryptoviruses to do what they do – lock your files and blackmail you for their liberation. One important thing that must be said about encryption is that it doesn’t harm the files it’s applied to. It renders them inaccessible, sure, but the files themselves remain intact – it’s just that you cannot open them. The rest of the system usually also remains unharmed during a Ransomware attack. In fact, this lack of any real damage is one of the reasons why Ransomware infections like Bopador, Novasof or Todar are so stealthy and why antivirus programs oftentimes struggle or outright fail to spot them and intercept their activities. Your antivirus may simply not see the encryption process as something harmful and let it continue. Some of the bigger antivirus vendors out there are trying to introduce specialized protection against Ransomware features inside their products but the newer cryptoviruses still seem to be a couple of steps ahead. Still, is essential to keep your computer protected with reliable security tools so as to minimize the chances of landing some nasty virus or cryptovirus.
Another thing we must tell you about the Bopador encryption is that it stays on the files even if the Ransomware itself gets removed. This means that even if you manage to eliminate the infection, you’d still need to find a way to unlock your files.
What to do with your .bopador files?
Sadly, there aren’t many things that after the Bopador Virus has placed its encryption on your files. One possible option is to pay the ransom that the hackers want from you and hope that they will give you a decryption key. Of course, you cannot know if such a key would really get sent to you meaning that you may simply waste a sizeable amount of money in utter vain.
An alternative is the guide we offer you on this page – use it to remove the malware and potentially recover some of the files that have gotten encrypted but remember that we cannot guarantee success.
One thing that’s really important to remember is to stay away from sites with pirated downloads and sketchy ads as those are the main sources of Ransomware. If you want to protect your data in the future, also remember to never open anything that may look like a spam message or e-mail – those are also very commonly used tools of Ransomware distribution.
SUMMARY:
| Name | Bopador |
| Type | Ransomware |
| Danger Level | High (Ransomware is by far the worst threat you can encounter) |
| Symptoms | Due to the way the encryption process works, the free HDD space in your computer would likely decrease temporarily during the encryption. |
| Distribution Method | Spam, malvertising, pirated films, games and music, clickbait links and ads, etc. |
Remove Bopador Virus
1: Preparations
Note: Before you go any further, we advise you to bookmark this page or have it open on a separate device such as your smartphone or another PC. Some of the steps might require you to exit your browser on this PC.
2: Task Manager
Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to enter the Task Manager. Go to the Tab labeled Processes (Details for Win 8/10). Carefully look through the list of processes that are currently active on you PC.
If any of them seems shady, consumes too much RAM/CPU or has some strange description or no description at all, right-click on it, select Open File Location and delete everything there.
Also, even if you do not delete the files, be sure to stop the process by right-clicking on it and selecting End Process.
3: IP related to Bopador
Go to c:\windows\system32\drivers\etc\hosts. Open the hosts file with notepad.
Find where it says Localhost and take a look below that.
If you see any IP addresses there (below Localhost) send them to us here, in the comments since they might be coming from the Bopador.
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4: Disable Startup programs
Re-open the Start Menu and type msconfig.
Click on the first search result. In the next window, go to the Startup tab. If you are on Win 10, it will send you to the Startup part of the task manager instead, as in the picture:
If you see any sketchy/shady looking entries in the list with an unknown manufacturer or a manufacturer name that looks suspicious as there could be a link between them and Bopador , disable those programs and select OK.
5: Registry Editor
Press Windows key + R and in the resulting window type regedit.
Now, press Ctrl + F and type the name of the virus.
Delete everything that gets found. If you are not sure about whether to delete something, do not hesitate to ask us in the comments. Keep in mind that if you delete the wrong thing, you might cause all sorts of issues to your PC.
6: Deleting potentially malicious data – Bopador
Type each of the following locations in the Windows search box and hit enter to open the locations:
%AppData%
%LocalAppData%
%ProgramData%
%WinDir%
%Temp%
Delete everything you see in Temp linked to Bopador Ransomware. About the other folders, sort their contents by date and delete only the most recent entries. As always, if you are not sure about something, write to us in the comment section.
7: Bopador Decryption
The previous steps were all aimed at removing the Bopador Ransomware from your PC. However, in order to regain access to your files, you will also need to decrypt them or restore them. For that, we have a separate article with detailed instructions on what you have to do in order to unlock your data. Here is a link to that guide.
