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Decrypt .boston files and remove Boston virus ransomware

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Another STOP ransomware spinoff is out that uses the .boston extension to label encrypted files and provides ransom steps in a note named _readme.txt.
  1. What is the Boston ransomware?
  2. Boston ransomware automated removal and data recovery
  3. Boston ransomware manual removal and file recovery
  4. Ransomware Prevention Tips


What is the Boston ransomware?

When the ransomware epidemic first broke out in early 2010s, many people thought it wouldn’t end up going mainstream because cryptography was too complex for cybercriminals to handle. Time proved these optimists wrong. Almost a decade later, these infections are being reported all over the world and their number continues to be significant. Declines do happen in this ecosystem, but they hardly affect the overall status quo. The STOP ransomware family, also known as Djvu, was first spotted last year but hadn’t reached tangible distribution until 2019. It has been spawning new variants literally every other day, the latest one appending the .boston extension to the hostage files. One of this lineage’s recently released iterations backed by a massive propagation campaign used the .dutan string to blemish data. The newcomer is very similar to its precursor, except that it skews filenames differently and provides a different email address for contacting the crooks. The ransom note is still a document named _readme.txt.

Encrypted folder with .boston extension files and a rescue note
Encrypted folder with .boston extension files and a rescue note

Having infiltrated a Windows computer, the Boston ransomware looks for a multitude of the victim’s most important files on the hard disk, network drives and removable media. Its operators didn’t reinvent in terms of the mechanism of this process: the malicious code goes with a list of popular file formats and, when scanning the host, juxtaposes the encountered objects against this built-in database. When a match is located, the culprit unleashes the inner cryptographic beast to lock it down. The scanning and encryption workflows are a matter of mere minutes, so the plagued user may fail to notice the stratagem until their data is held for ransom. Ultimately, all of the prey’s personal text documents and spreadsheets, as well as pictures, videos, databases and other types of potentially valuable entities become inaccessible. As mentioned above, every such item is concatenated with the .boston extension, therefore something that was named Sunshine.bmp prior to the raid will become Sunshine.bmp.boston afterwards.

_readme.txt ransom note created by .boston files ransomware
_readme.txt ransom note created by .boston files ransomware

As soon as abominable crypto job has been completed, the .boston virus spills _readme.txt ransom notes all over the system. In particular, it drops them into the encrypted folders and also leaves a copy on the desktop. The goal of this document is to inform the victim of the predicament and provide steps pertaining to the recovery. Here are a few key points included in it. One file can be decrypted for free as a test. The ransom size is $490 worth of cryptocurrency if the user contacts the crooks within 72 hours, otherwise it amounts to $980. For more details, such as the perpetrators’ wallet address, the victim is instructed to send a message to stoneland@firemail.cc or gorentos@bitmessage.ch. For support, those infected are told to use the attackers’ Telegram account @datarestore.

At the end of the day, the .boston file ransomware makes a mess of one’s data and demands a sum of money most people cannot afford to spend. Security analysts created a free STOP ransomware decryptor a while ago and keep updating it to crack newer editions of the pest. But, it only supports versions that use an offline cryptographic key. This scenario – unfortunately, a rare one – is triggered in case the ransom Trojan fails to obtain a key from its Command & Control server. Most of the time, though, the .boston ransomware succeeds in establishing a connection with the server and therefore implements the crypto routine the right way. Under the circumstances, the options are to either pay the ransom or try forensic methods to restore the files. Keep in mind that the former one has a domino effect and only makes the felons’ appetites grow. Follow the steps below to try and defeat the .boston file virus without funding the extortionists.

Boston ransomware automated removal and data recovery

When faced with ransomware like Boston, one of the best shortcuts in terms of removal is to use Combo Cleaner, a lightweight and incredibly effective application with PC security and optimization features under the hood. It detects and thoroughly deletes threats while giving you insights into the overall health of your computer.

This program’s protection power spans modules that forestall all known types of malware, including ransomware and browser hijackers, and take your online security to the next level by blocking phishing sites and other suspicious web pages. Follow these simple steps to eliminate the infection for good:

1. Download Combo Cleaner installer.

Download Boston remover

Combo Cleaner scans your PC with no strings attached, but you’ll have to buy its fully functional version to remove the threats it detects. The disk optimization tools that find large files and duplicates are free to use.

Download and run Combo Cleaner installer on your PC

2. Open the CCSetup.exe file to get started. Several subsequent screens will allow you to make initial customizations so that the program works exactly as you need from the get-go.Setup customizations

3. The installation will be followed by an update of malware signatures. Once this process is through, click the Start Scan button in the left-hand sidebar.Start initial scan

4. Combo Cleaner will then check system locations that are most often polluted by Windows malware. The first scan can take a while to finish.Combo Cleaner scan in progress

5. Combo Cleaner will display a system tray notification as soon as the scan is over. Click the Resolve found threats button to view the results.Scan completed

6. The scan summary shows the names and types of the detected threats as well as their statuses and locations. Click the Remove all threats button and follow further on-screen prompts to get rid of these items.Scan results

Data recovery toolkit to the rescue

Some strains of ransomware are known to delete the original files after the encryption routine has been completed. As hostile as this activity appears, it can play into your hands. There are applications designed to revive the information that was obliterated because of malfunctioning hardware or due to accidental removal. The tool called Stellar Data Recovery features this type of a capability and therefore it can be applied in ransom attack scenarios to at least get the most important files back. So use the app to get an idea of what data can be restored and let it do the recovery job. Here is a step-by-step walkthrough:

1. Download and install Stellar Data Recovery.

Download Stellar Data Recovery

2. Open the application, select the types of recoverable files to look for, and click Next.Stellar Data Recovery main screen

3. Choose the areas you want the tool to recover from and click the Scan button.Select which PC areas to recover from

4. Having scanned the specified locations, the program will display a notification about the total amount of recoverable data. Close the dialog and click the Recover button. This will hopefully help you get some of your valuable files back.Recover files

Boston ransomware manual removal and file recovery

Some ransomware strains terminate themselves after completing the encryption job on a computer, but some don’t. Furthermore, the Boston virus may prevent victims from using popular antimalware tools in order to stay on board for as long as possible. Under the circumstances, it may be necessary to utilize the Safe Mode with Networking or System Restore functionality.

Remove Boston ransomware using Safe Mode with Networking

Remove Boston ransomware using Safe Mode with Networking

Get rid of Boston ransomware using System Restore

Get rid of Boston ransomware using System Restore

System Restore enables Windows users to roll back all changes made to the OS since the latest restore point creation time. This feature can help eliminate the most persistent ransomware. Before going this route, though, make sure System Restore had been enabled prior to the breach, otherwise the method will be inefficient.

  • Open Windows Advanced Options Menu as described in the previous section: hit F8 repeatedly when the PC is starting up. Use arrow keys to highlight the Safe Mode with Command Prompt entry. Hit Enter.Safe Mode with Command Prompt
  • In the Command Prompt window, type cd restore and hit Entercd restore command
  • Type rstrui.exe in the new command line and press EnterType rstrui.exe command
  • When the System Restore screen pops up, click Next, select a restore point that predates the contamination, and use the application’s controls to roll back the system to this earlier state.System Restore window
Be advised that even after the ransomware is removed, files will still be encrypted and inaccessible. The malicious code cleanup part, however, is important because it keeps a relapse of the infection from occurring further on and eliminates all opportunistic malware.

Ways of non-ransom recovery of .boston files

Cracking the crypto used by this ransom Trojan is more of a science fiction thing rather than an attainable prospect for the masses. This is why the troubleshooting in predicaments of this sort is a matter of two approaches: one is to pay the ransom, which isn’t an option for many victims; and the other is to apply instruments that take advantage of the ransomware’s possible weaknesses. If the latter is your pick, the advice below is a must-try.

Backups can make your day

Backups can make your day

Not only are you a lucky person in case you’ve been backing up your most important files, but you’re also a wise and prudent user. This isn’t necessarily a resource-heavy activity these days – in fact, some providers of online services are allocating a sufficient size of cloud storage space for free so that every customer can easily upload their critical data without paying a penny. Having removed the Boston ransomware, therefore, all you have to do is download your stuff from the remote server or transfer it all from an external piece of hardware if that’s the case.

Restore previous versions of encrypted files

Restore previous versions of encrypted files

A positive upshot of using this technique depends on whether or not the ransomware has erased the Volume Shadow Copies of the files on your PC. This is a Windows feature that automatically makes and keeps the backups of data elements on the hard drive as long as System Restore is enabled. The cryptoware in question is programmed to switch off the Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS), but it has reportedly failed to in some cases.

Checking one’s options regarding this workaround is doable in two ways: through the Properties menu of each file or by means of the remarkable open-source tool called Shadow Explorer. We recommend the software-based way because it’s automated, hence faster and easier. Just install the app and use its intuitive controls to get previous versions of the encrypted objects reinstated.

Shadow Explorer

Alternatively, you can leverage the Previous Versions feature, which is native to Windows operating system. This method is more cumbersome that the use of ShadowExplorer, but it can help restore the most important individual files on condition that the ransomware failed to disable the Volume Snapshot Service on the computer. Right-click on a file of choice and select Properties. Then, go to the Previous Versions tab as illustrated below.

Previous Versions

Go ahead and pick the file’s latest backup version on the list. Use the Copy or Restore buttons to reinstate this object to a new path or to its original folder, respectively.

Ransomware Prevention Tips

To avoid Boston ransomware and other file-encrypting infections in the future, follow several simple recommendations:

  • Toggle your email provider’s anti-spam settings to filter out all the potentially harmful incoming messages. Raising the bar beyond the default protection is an important countermeasure for ransom Trojans
  • Define specific file extension restrictions in your email system. Make sure that attachments with the following extensions are blacklisted: .js, .vbs, .docm, .hta, .exe, .cmd, .scr, and .bat. Also, treat ZIP archives in received messages with extreme caution
  • Rename the vssadmin.exe process so that ransomware is unable to obliterate all Shadow Volume Copies of your files in one shot
  • Keep your Firewall active at all times. It can prevent crypto ransomware from communicating with its C&C server. This way, the threat won’t be able to obtain cryptographic keys and lock your files
  • Back up your files regularly, at least the most important ones. This recommendation is self-explanatory. A ransomware attack isn’t an issue as long as you keep unaffected copies of your data in a safe place
  • Use an effective antimalware suite. There are security tools that identify ransomware-specific behavior and block the infection before it can do any harm.

These techniques are certainly not a cure-all, but they will add an extra layer of ransomware protection to your security setup.

Revise your security status

Post-factum assessment of the accuracy component in malware removal scenarios is a great habit that prevents the comeback of harmful code or replication of its unattended fractions. Make sure you are good to go by running an additional safety checkup. Another benefit of using the antimalware tool is that it will keep ransomware threats from intruding on your computer further on.

Download Boston removal tool

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