What is the Onion Ransomware or Virus and How to Remove it?
Onion virus is associated with the group of file-encrypting viruses. It encodes files and introduces 72-hour elapsing time clock. According to Kaspersky Lab, this ransomware is called Onion because it uses the Onion Router (TOR anonymous network) to hide its malicious nature and to make it difficult to track the creators behind this malware campaign. The ".onion" is a file extension that belongs to the virus and is an indicator of a compromise which is also associated with the Dharma and CryptoLocker ransomware campaigns. This family of crypto viruses has a solid foundation. Irrespective of the edition, these horrendous viruses have constantly been applying a hearty cryptographic mechanism that obstructs decryption. At the end of the day, your images, files, videos, databases, documents, and other important data are all locked.
How Onion Ransomware works
Just like other viruses, the Onion Ransomware infections are programs and they require some type of authorization to get access to your system. The Onion sneaks into your system with command and control servers located inside the anonymous TOR network. It tricks you into approving it by using many different strategies like spear phishing in online spam messages, fake skype messages, fake software updates, etc.
Cyber criminals can send you a malicious attachment or link and if you are not cautious, you welcome the infection onto your PC. This is the reason you have to be careful and vigilant. Without you being careless, hoodlums won’t succeed; they prey on your carelessness.
Onion ransomware goals
- To get access to your documents, audios, videos, databases, images.
- To steal your banking information and other secret data.
Signs of Onion virus on a computer
- Your PC behaves in a weird manner, it slows down or freezes. This could actually be Onion Ransomware that messing up your documents while encrypting them
- If you notice any CPU and RAM spikes that aren’t supposed to be happening, you might need to explore further to confirm whether it is an Onion Ransomware virus or not. Most malware infections heavily load system RAM and CPU.
- Onion Ransomware needs your Harddrive (HDD) space to complete its mission during the encryption process. A typical symptom of an Onion ransomware assault is the increased usage of free memory space on your system.
How to remove Onion virus
Step 1: Login with the Safe Mode with Networking
For Windows 10/Windows 8
- At the Windows login screen click the “Power” button. Now on your keyboard, click and hold “Shift”, and click “Restart”.
- Now choose Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Startup Settings finally click “Restart”.
- Choose “Enable Safe Mode with Networking” in Startup Settings window once your PC activates.
For Windows 7/Vista/XP
- Click Start → Shutdown → Restart → OK.
- When your PC activates, press “F8” continuously until you see the Advanced Boot Options window.
- Choose Safe Mode with Networking from the list.
Step 2: Remove Onion
Log in to your compromised account and launch the browser. Download any legitimate anti-spyware program. Update the program and launch a full system scan in order to remove malicious files that are related to the Onion Ransomware and complete the Onion removal process.
On the off chance that the Onion Ransomware is blocking Safe Mode with Networking, try another method below.
Use System Restore to remove Onion ransomware
Step 1: Reboot your PC to Safe Mode with Command Prompt
For Windows 10/Windows 8
- At the Windows login screen, press the “Power” button. Now on your keyboard, press and hold “Shift”, and click “Restart”.
- Select Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Startup Settings lastly press “Restart”.
- Select “Enable Safe Mode with Command Prompt” in Startup Settings window once your PC activates.
For Windows 7/Vista/XP
- Click Start → Shutdown → Restart → OK.
- When your PC activates, press “F8” continuously until you see the Advanced Boot Options window.
- From the list, choose Safe Mode with Command Prompt.
Step 2: Restore Your System Files and Settings
- When the Command Prompt window pops up, enter “cd restore” and click “Enter”.
- Type “rstrui.exe” and press “Enter”. Once again, click Enter and then “rstrui.exe" and press "Enter" again.
- You will see a new window, click “Next” and select the restore point prior to the penetration of the Onion virus. After which, click “Next”.
- Click “Yes” to begin system restore.
After restoring your system to a previous date, make sure you scan your PC with our security software and confirm that the Onion removal process is successful. If you still find that Onion ransomware is still present of your files are still encrypted, please try this guide. You can also post your request to dedicated computer forums where admins focus on ransomware removal and decryption.
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