A brief Introduction of the Ransomware category of computer threats like the .Tocue Virus
Ransomware cryptoviruses like Tocue aren’t a new type of malware – those infamous software threats have been around for quite some time (about three decades), and in the past several years, they have become quite a serious issue. Their main characteristics are their target and their method of operation. The thing that they target are the files of their victims. However, instead of corrupting them, modifying them or harming them in some way, the Ransomware infections simply lock them up, making the user of the infected machine incapable of accessing the locked data. The method used to achieve this is known as data-encryption – an advanced form of file-protection turned on its head to serve the goals of the anonymous criminals who are responsible for the creation and distribution of Ransomware threats.
What your options are if The .Tocue File has entered your system
Tocue is among the latest additions to the insidious family of Ransomware infections like Gusau or Madek, and its encryption is likely very sophisticated, which means there aren’t many options of bypassing it. The criminals’ goal is to blackmail you for the decryption key for your files – if you pay a ransom to the hackers, you are promised to receive that key. However, such promises are not to be trusted – you can never be sure what (if anything) would really happen if you pay the money. Also, not all users can easily spare couple of hundred (or thousand) of dollars to get their files unlocked, so that is another problem with the payment. Therefore, we have prepared a set of removal instructions for those of you with Tocue in their systems and we have also provided several recovery suggestions for your data. Sadly, we cannot guarantee the effectiveness of the file recovery options because of the advanced nature of the encryption used by Ransomware infections like Tocue. Still, we believe it is preferable to try the other options first, the ones that do not involve the ransom payment, before you consider the latter as an actual option.
Some useful tips for the future security of your data
Something that an incredibly big number of users forget about, a precaution that can nullify the effects of most cryptovirus threats, is the file-backup. An extensive backup of your important files is a surefire precaution that can make dealing with a Ransomware infection much easier. If you have all your files copied and saved on a location that can’t be reached by a cryptovirus (a cloud storage, an external drive, a flash-memory stick, etc.), your only concern would be eliminating the Ransomware, which, in and of itself, isn’t such a difficult task – the guide below and the anti-malware tool in it can help you rid your system of threats of this type.
Another important thing to consider is to stay safe when browsing – keep an eye out for shady sites and questionable online content so that you can avoid them in order to prevent any future malware infections of your computer.
Tocue SUMMARY:
| Name | Tocue |
| Type | Ransomware |
| Danger Level | High (Tocue Ransomware encrypts all types of files) |
| Symptoms | Tocue Ransomware is hard to detect and aside from increased use of RAM and CPU, there would barely be any other visible red flags. |
| Distribution Method | Most of the time, Trojans get distributed through spam e-mails and social network messages, malicious ads, shady and pirated downloads, questionable torrents and other similar methods. |
Tocue Ransomware Removal
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 Tocue
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 Tocue.
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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 Tocue , 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 – Tocue
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 Tocue 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: Tocue Decryption
The previous steps were all aimed at removing the Tocue 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.