Remove POLSAT Virus (.[ICQ_Polsat].POLSAT Files Ransomware) – Phobos Ransomware

POLSAT Virus – Details

The POLSAT mean a ransomware-type infection. The virus comes from the Phobos ransomware family. POLSAT was elaborated specifically to encrypt all major file types. As soon as the file is encrypted people are unable to use them. POLSAT adds the “.[ICQ_Polsat].POLSAT” extension for each file encrypted by it. For example, the file “myphoto.jpg“, as soon as encrypted by POLSAT, will be renamed into “myphoto.jpg.[ICQ_Polsat].POLSAT“. As quickly as the encryption is finished, POLSAT places a special text file into every folder containing the encrypted data.

The message given by POLSAT text file asking for the ransom is definitely the like the statements given by other ransomware representatives belonging to the Phobos type. It actually mentions that the information is encrypted and that the only way to restore it is to use a an unique decryption key. Sadly, this is definitely true. The kind of cryptography mechanism applied by POLSAT is still not correctly examined. Still, it is definitely specific that each victim might be given the specific decryption key, which is completely unique. It is difficult to restore the files without the key available.

Another trick of POLSAT is that the victims cannot get to the key. The key is kept on a specific server run by the frauds connected with POLSAT ransomware. To get the key and recover the important info people need to pay the ransom.

Nevertheless, irrespective of the asked for quantity, people need to keep away from paying the ransom. Cyber frauds are unfair, so they tend to totally ignore what their victims feel about the problem, even when the payment reaches their pockets. This is why paying the ransom usually does not provide any positive outcome and people simply lose their money for nothing.

We strongly encourage that you do not contact these crooks and definitely do not transfer money into their accounts. It is said to admit that there are no utilities able to crack POLSAT ransomware and to recover the information data totally free. Hence, the only right decision is to recover the lost data from the available backup.

Virus Summary

Name	POLSAT Ransomware
File Extension	.[ICQ_Polsat].POLSAT
Type	Ransomware
Family	Phobos
Short Description	The ransomware encrypts all the data stored on your system and requires a ransom to be paid on your part supposedly to recover your important files.
Symptoms	File encryption by the ransomware is performed by means of the AES and RSA encryption algorithms. Once the encryption is completed, the ransomware adds its special [ICQ_Polsat].POLSAT extension to all the files modified by it.
Distribution Method	Spam Emails, Email Attachments
Removal Tool	GridinSoft Anti-Malware

Keep in mind that the internet is now overwhelmed with threats that look comparable to POLSAT ransomware. Malicious programs of such kind are normally elaborated to encrypt crucial data and to set forth the demand prior to the user to pay the ransom. The peculiarity of all such ransomware threats is that all apply a comparable algorithm to produce the distinct decryption key for information decryption.

Thus, as long as the ransomware is still being developed or has some hidden bugs, manually recovering the information is just not feasible. The only method to prevent the loss of your important data is to routinely create backups of your important information.

Keep in mind that even if you create such backups, they must be placed into a special storage utility not connect to your main computer. You may use the Memory Stick or external hard disk for this purpose, or refer to the help of the cloud storage. If you keep your backup files on your common system they may be encrypted along with other files, so it’s definitely not a good storage location.

How did ransomware infect my computer?

There are a number of methods used by online frauds to distribute POLSAT ransomware. Even though it is uncertain how precisely POLSAT injects your PC, there are some leaks through which it may penetrate the system:

• integration with third-party software application, especially freeware;
• spam emails from unidentified senders;
• sites rendering free hosting services;
• pirated peer-to-peer (P2P) downloads.

Often POLSAT virus might exist as some legitimate software, for instance, in the pop-ups instructing users to carry out some crucial software updates. This is the common technique used by online frauds to persuade people into downloading and installing POLSAT infection manually, by ways of their direct participation in the installation process.

Additionally, the criminals may refer to different e-mail spam methods to inject malicious codes into systems. So, they may describe to sending unsolicited spam emails with tricky notifications promoting users to download the attachments or click on certain download links, for example, the ones encouraging users to open some receipts, files, tax reports or invoices.

Needless to mention, opening such files or clicking on such dangerous links may severely harm the system. Fictitious Adobe Flash Player upgrade alerts may result in POLSAT ransom injection. As for the cracked applications, these illegally downloaded programs may also consist of malicious codes resulting in POLSAT secret installation. Lastly, injection of POLSAT may occur by methods of Trojans that covertly get injected into the system and install harmful tools without the user’s consent.

Is there any way to avoid the injection of POLSAT ransomware?

Even though there is no 100% guarantee to avoid your system from getting infected, there are some pieces of suggestions we want to share with with you. To start with, be really careful when you browse the web and specifically while downloading complimentary apps. Keep away from opening suspicious email attachments, especially when the sender of the email is not familiar to you.

Remember that some freeware installers may consist of other unwanted utilities in the package, so they may be destructive. Make sure that your current antivirus and your entire OS is always duly updated.

Naturally, downloading pirated software is illegal and may result in essential damage to be produced your system. Hence, stay away from downloading cracked software. You are likewise highly recommended to reconsider your existing security software and perhaps change to another security solution that can render better services of defending your PC.

Below please find the quotation from the POLSAT text file:

Hello my dear friend
Unfortunately for you, a major IT security weakness left you open to attack, your files have been encrypted
If you want to restore them, install ICQ software on your PC hxxps://icq.com/windows/ or on your mobile phone search in Appstore / Google market \"ICQ\"
Write to our ICQ @Polsat hxxps://icq.im/Polsat
Attention!
Do not rename encrypted files.
Do not try to decrypt your data using third party software, it may cause permanent data loss.
As early you write us - then lower will be price
We give all guarantees of your files decryption
Hola mi querido amigo
Desafortunadamente para usted, una gran debilidad de seguridad de TI lo dejó expuesto a ataques, sus archivos han sido encriptados
Si desea restaurarlos, instale el software ICQ en su PC hxxps://icq.com/windows/ o en su teléfono móvil busque en Appstore / Google market \"ICQ\"
Escribe a nuestro ICQ @Polsat hxxps://icq.im/Polsat
¡Atención!
No cambie el nombre de los archivos cifrados.
No intente descifrar sus datos utilizando software de terceros, puede causar una pérdida permanente de datos.
Tan pronto como nos escriba, el precio será más bajo
Damos todas las garantías de descifrado de sus archivos
Ciao caro amico mio
Sfortunatamente per te, una delle principali debolezze della sicurezza IT ti ha lasciato aperto agli attacchi, i tuoi file sono stati crittografati
Se vuoi ripristinarli, installa il software ICQ sul tuo PC hxxps://icq.com/windows/ o sul tuo cellulare cerca in Appstore / mercato Google \"ICQ\"
Scrivi al nostro ICQ @Polsat @Polsat hxxps://icq.im/Polsat
Attenzione!
Non rinominare i file crittografati.
Non tentare di decrittografare i dati utilizzando software di terze parti, potrebbe causare la perdita permanente dei dati.
Non appena ci scrivi, il prezzo sarà inferiore
Diamo tutte le garanzie della decrittazione dei file
Bonjour mon cher ami
Malheureusement pour vous, une faille de sécurité informatique majeure vous a laissé ouvert aux attaques, vos fichiers ont été chiffrés
Si vous souhaitez les restaurer, installez le logiciel ICQ sur votre PC hxxps://icq.com/windows/ ou sur votre téléphone mobile recherchez dans Appstore / Google market \"ICQ\"
Écrivez à notre ICQ @Polsat hxxps://icq.im/Polsat
Attention!
Ne renommez pas les fichiers cryptés.
N\'essayez pas de déchiffrer vos données à l\'aide d\'un logiciel tiers, cela pourrait entraîner une perte de données permanente.
Dès que vous nous écrivez - le prix sera inférieur
Nous donnons toutes les garanties de décryptage de vos fichiers
Hallo mein lieber Freund
Unglücklicherweise haben Sie aufgrund einer großen IT-Sicherheitslücke offen für Angriffe. Ihre Dateien wurden verschlüsselt
Wenn Sie sie wiederherstellen möchten, installieren Sie die ICQ-Software auf Ihrem PC hxxps://icq.com/windows/ oder auf Ihrer Handysuche im Appstore / Google Market \"ICQ\".
Schreiben Sie an unseren ICQ @Polsat hxxps://icq.im/Polsat
Beachtung!
Benennen Sie verschlüsselte Dateien nicht um.
Versuchen Sie nicht, Ihre Daten mit Software von Drittanbietern zu entschlüsseln, da dies zu einem dauerhaften Datenverlust führen kann.
Sobald Sie uns schreiben - dann wird der Preis niedriger sein
Wir geben alle Garantien für die Entschlüsselung Ihrer Dateien
你好我亲爱的朋友
对于您来说不幸的是，一个重大的IT安全漏洞使您容易受到攻击，您的文件已被加密
如果要还原它们，请在PC hxxps://icq.com/windows/ 或在Appstore / Google市场“ ICQ”中的手机搜索上安装ICQ软件。
写信给我们的ICQ @Polsat hxxps://icq.im/Polsat
注意力！
不要重命名加密的文件。
请勿尝试使用第三方软件解密数据，否则可能会导致永久性数据丢失。
尽早给我们写信-价格会更低
我们为您的文件解密提供所有保证
=================================

Hello my dear friend
Unfortunately for you, a major IT security weakness left you open to attack, your files have been encrypted
If you want to restore them, install ICQ software on your PC hxxps://icq.com/windows/ or on your mobile  phone search in Appstore / Google market \"ICQ\"
Write to our ICQ @Polsat hxxps://icq.im/Polsat Write this ID in the title of your message -
Free decryption as guarantee Before paying you can send us up to 5 files for free decryption.
The total  size of files must be less than 4Mb (non archived), and files should not contain  valuable information. (databases,backups, large excel sheets, etc.)  
Attention!  
Do not rename encrypted files.  
Do not try to decrypt your data using third party software, it may cause  permanent data loss.  
EVERY DAY PRICE WILL BE HIGHER
IN YOUR INTEREST TO DO ALL FAST

Screenshot of files with “.[ICQ_Polsat].POLSAT” extension added by the ransomware:

Use GridinSoft Anti-Malware to remove POLSAT ransomware from your computer

1.Download GridinSoft Anti-Malware.

You can download GridinSoft Anti-Malware by clicking the button below:

  GridinSoft Anti-Malware

2. Double-click on the setup file.

When setup file has finished downloading, double-click on the setup-antimalware-ag.exe file to install GridinSoft Anti-Malware on your computer.

An User Account Control asking you about to allow GridinSoft Anti-Malware to make changes to your device. So, you should click “Yes” to continue with the installation.

3. Press Install button for run GridinSoft Anti-Malware.

3.Once installed, GridinSoft Anti-Malware will automatically run.

4. Wait for the GridinSoft Anti-Malware scan to complete.

GridinSoft Anti-Malware will automatically start scanning your computer for Win Speedup 2018 and other malicious programs. This process can take a 20-30 minutes, so we suggest you periodically check on the status of the scan process.

5. Click on “Clean Now”.

When the scan has completed, you will see the list of infections that GridinSoft Anti-Malware has detected. To remove them click on the “Clean Now” button in right corner.