Kuus File by Ransomware ๐Ÿ” (. Kuus Removal & Decryption)

What is โ€œKuusโ€?

Ransomware is a specific kind of virus that encrypted your documents and then forces you to pay for them. DJVU (aka STOP) ransomware family was first revealed and analyzed by virus analyst Michael Gillespie">2.

Kuus is similar to other representatives of ransomware like: Bmic, Repl, Maas. Kuus encrypted all common file types. Hence, users cannot use the own documents or photos. Kuus adds its own โ€œ.kuusโ€ extension into all files. For instance, the file โ€œvideo.aviโ€, will be amended into โ€œvideo.avi.kuusโ€. As soon as the encryption is accomplished, Kuus drops a special text file โ€œ_readme.txtโ€ and adds it into all folders that contain the modified files.

Ransomware family3DJVU/STOP4 ransomware
Extension.kuus
Ransomware note_readme.txt
RansomFrom $490 to $980 (in Bitcoins)
Contact,
Detection5Generic.Malware.SDNV!A.1ABB03CF, Ransom:Win32/Sorena.PA!MTB, Razy.679962
SymptomsMost of your files (photos, videos, documents) have a .kuus extension and you canโ€™t open it
Fix ToolSee If Your System Has Been Affected by .kuus file virus

This text asking payment is for restore files via decryption key:

The scary alert demanding from users to pay the ransom to decrypt the compromised data contains these frustrating warnings

The cryptography algorithm used by Kuus is AES-256. So, if your files got encrypted with a specific decryption key, which is totally distinct and there are no other copies. The sad reality is that it is impossible to recover the information without the unique key available.

In case if Kuus worked in online mode, it is impossible for you to gain access to the AES-256 key. It is stored on a remote server owned by the criminals who distibute the Kuus infection.

For receiving decryption key the payment should be $980. To obtain the payment details, the victims are encouraged by the message to contact the frauds by email (), or via Telegram.

Do not pay for Kuus!

_readme.txt file also indicates that the computer owners must get in touch with the Kuus representatives during 72 hours starting from the moment of files where encrypted. On the condition of getting in touch within 72 hours, users will be granted a 50% rebate. Thus the ransom amount will be minimized down to $490). Yet, stay away from paying the ransom!

I certainly recommend that you do not contact these frauds and do not pay. The one of the most real working solution to recover the lost data โ€“ just using the available backups, or use Decrypter tool.

The peculiarity of all such viruses apply a similar set of actions for generating the unique decryption key to recover the ciphered data.

Thus, unless the ransomware is still under the stage of development or possesses with some hard-to-track flaws, manually recovering the ciphered data is a thing you canโ€™t perform. The only solution to prevent the loss of your valuable data is to regularly make backups of your crucial files.

Note that even if you do maintain such backups regularly, they ought to be put into a specific location without loitering, not being connected to your main workstation.

For instance, the backup may be kept on the USB flash drive or some alternative external hard drive storage. Optionally, you may refer to the help of online (cloud) information storage.

Needless to mention, when you maintain your backup data on your common device, it may be similarly ciphered as well as other data.

For this reason, locating the backup on your main computer is surely not a good idea.

Maya Lin-Takahashi

Maya Lin-Takahashi

Consumer Tech & Gadget Reviewer

Maya is a hardware enthusiast who tests and reviews smart home devices, smartphones, wearables, and audio gear. She focuses on practical consumer value and build quality.

Share this article
Twitter Facebook Pinterest