To illustrate how encrypted files appear after the attack, see the following example: files previously named as 1.jpg, 2.txt or 3.mp4 will appear as 1.jpg.bpsm, 2.txt.bpsm, 3.mp4.bpsm once modified by the malware. The aim of ransomware-type viruses is to extort money from computer users after taking their files hostage. While encryption is normally used to secure information while storing it on computer systems or transmitting it online, the cybercriminals put it to a bad use. In such situation, BPSM file decryption tool is the solution they offer, and they demand a lot of money for it.
Ransom note presents cybercriminals’ demands
The _readme.txt file may be saved in several computer locations containing encrypted files. No matter which copy of this file the user opens, the message in it will be the same: it explains that all of victim’s data was encrypted by BPSM ransomware, and the only way to reverse the damage is to purchase a decryption software and private key from the operators of the malware. The note then explains that the victim can try the decryption service for free. In order to try it, the victim has to write an email to the criminals using the given addresses (support@freshmail.top, datarestorehelp@airmail.cc), insert the Personal ID provided in the ransom note and add one small encrypted file as an email attachment. The file should not contain valuable information, or the criminals might refuse to decrypt it. The way the test decryption works is that the criminals promise to send a decrypted file via email to prove that they actually have the means to restore all data on victim’s computer. This service is provided in hopes to spark the victim’s trust and encourage to pay the ransom. The note then proceeds to explain that the full ransom amount the crooks demand is $980, but for those who reach out within 72 hours, the attackers might reduce the amount in half. In such case, the victim will be asked to pay $490. No matter the amount settled via email, the crooks will demand going extra step and converting regular currency to crypto and then transferring it to their virtual wallet address, as such transactions cannot be traced down by law enforcement agencies. It is not advisable to pay a ransom. Although many victims might find themselves in a desperate position, especially if one has no data backups, paying the ransom might not be the solution due to these reasons:
Following the instructions of the cybercriminals might not result in the way you would expect. They might disappear as soon as you transfer your money to them. Paying money to cybercriminals is exactly what keeps the ransomware cycle alive. The threat actors get more motivation and funds to continue and expand their illegal operations. This leads to more malware and more victims infected. By paying a ransom, you might make yourself a target in future attacks. The criminals will identify you as someone who is willing to comply with their demands once blackmailed.
For more information and recommendations for ransomware victims, please read these FBI’s guidelines. Another worrisome fact about this ransomware is that its launcher usually delivers a whole set of additional malware to the system. Our research revealed that this file-encrypting threat is typically accompanied by Vidar, Azorult or RedLine Trojans. These are highly malicious and are used to steal sensitive information from victim’s computer. Therefore, if you have identified this variant of STOP/DJVU on your computer, we strongly encourage you to dedicate some time to read the instructions on how to remove BPSM ransomware virus and other malware from your computer. You can find our guide on this below the article. In addition, you might be interested in our software recommendations for the virus removal: we suggest starting with INTEGO Antivirus to remove threats, and then downloading RESTORO (secure download link) to repair virus modifications to Windows OS files.
Ransomware Summary
How STOP/DJVU ransomware spreads
As previously stated, BPSM virus is a variant of STOP/DJVU ransomware family, which is known for its specific distribution technique. Almost all of this malware hides in illegal online downloads and especially in deceptive websites pretending to provide software cracks. Its secondary distribution technique relies on malicious email spam. Award-winning antivirus solution for your PC. Robust security software that provides robust 24/7 real-time protection, Web Shield that stops online threats/malicious downloads, and Prevention engine that wards off Zero-Day threats. Keep your PC safe and protected against ransomware, Trojans, viruses, spyware and other forms of dangerous programs. This ransomware variant can be easily found in some rogue websites that come up in search engines after looking up software cracks for popular programs such as Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Cubase, WinRAR and others. The way these scam sites work is that they publish blog posts with some information about a specific software, and provide a download button for it. In some sites, the victim can download the dangerous file via torrents. However, the majority of these sites will provide a direct download link to a password-protected archive that contains a malicious setup file. The password protection is an additional step to prevent detection systems from putting the file to quarantine. When the user launches this deceptive setup in hopes to install a premium software version for free, the malware infection begins, thus resulting in a complete data encryption. Therefore, in order to avoid such unexpected attacks, computer users should stay away from illegal online downloads, especially pirated or cracked software versions. The sole way to install secure software versions is to purchase genuine copies from trustworthy websites. Spam emails that contain malicious attachments are also known as a source of STOP/DJVU infections. Cybercriminals often pretend to be someone they’re not, such as representatives of well-known companies, online retailers or parcel delivery service providers. They usually invite the target to open attached documents and reply to the email in an urgent manner. The attachments may be named as regular documents used in daily communications, for example, invoices, order summaries, waybills, receipts, etc. Computer users should remain vigilant when checking their emails and never click on links or email attachments if the slightest suspicion about the sender’s intentions arises. Moreover, one should always ask oneself whether the email was awaited and expected. For example, if you didn’t have any business with a specific store or company lately, you shouldn’t be opening its alleged invoices or receipts sent to you. This should give you a clear signal that someone is trying to spark your curiosity and trick you into opening a malicious file. After all, even the most careful computer users can end up compromising their computers without realizing it. Cybercriminals are getting very creative and cunning nowadays, so it can be really hard to spot deceit when facing it. For this reason, we strongly advise creating data backups regularly and also investing in a trustworthy antivirus software to keep your computer and devices protected 24/7.
Remove BPSM ransomware virus and decrypt/repair your files
Computer users who have experienced the described cyber attack and discovered that their files were encrypted should remove BPSM ransomware virus ASAP. Deleting malware on time can help to save part of data. It is advisable to boot your computer in Safe Mode with Networking before running an antivirus software – all of which is explained in the guide presented below. When it comes to software recommendations, our team trusts INTEGO Antivirus for BPSM virus removal, although you can try other chosen solutions as well. In addition, scanning with RESTORO (secure download link) can help you identify Windows OS files that were damaged during the ransomware attack and then repair them. On top of that, we recommend changing all of your passwords due to activity of Trojans that were dropped during STOP/DJVU ransomware installation. OUR GEEKS RECOMMEND Our team recommends a two-step rescue plan to remove ransomware and other remaining malware from your computer, plus repair caused virus damage to the system: GeeksAdvice.com editors select recommended products based on their effectiveness. We may earn a commission from affiliate links, at no additional cost to you. Learn more. Get INTEGO ANTIVIRUS for Windows to remove ransomware, Trojans, adware and other spyware and malware variants and protect your PC and network drives 24/7. This VB100-certified security software uses state-of-art technology to provide protection against ransomware, Zero-Day attacks and advanced threats, Intego Web Shield blocks dangerous websites, phishing attacks, malicious downloads and installation of potentially unwanted programs. Use INTEGO Antivirus to remove detected threats from your computer. Read full review here. RESTORO provides a free scan that helps to identify hardware, security and stability issues and presents a comprehensive report which can help you to locate and fix detected issues manually. It is a great PC repair software to use after you remove malware with professional antivirus. The full version of software will fix detected issues and repair virus damage caused to your Windows OS files automatically. RESTORO uses AVIRA scanning engine to detect existing spyware and malware. If any are found, the software will eliminate them. Read full review here.
Method 1. Enter Safe Mode with Networking
Before you try to remove BPSM 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 Instructions for Windows 8/8.1/10/11 users Now, you can search for and remove BPSM 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.
Method 2. Use System Restore
In order to use System Restore, you must have a system restore point, created either manually or automatically. Instructions for Windows XP/Vista/7 users Instructions for Windows 8/8.1/10/11 users 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.
Alternative software recommendations
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Disclaimer. This site includes affiliate links. We may earn a small commission by recommending certain products, at no additional cost for you. We only choose quality software and services to recommend.
Decrypt BPSM files
Fix and open large BPSM 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.
STOP/DJVU decryption tool usage guide
STOP/DJVU ransomware versions are grouped into old and new variants. BPSM Ransomware Virus is considered the new STOP/DJVU variant, just like BPTO, ISWR, ISZA, BPSM, ZOUU, MBTF, ZNSM (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 BPSM files, follow the given tutorial.
Meanings of decryptor’s messages
The BPSM 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 BPSM 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 BPSM 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.