How to remove Cuba Ransomware and decrypt .cuba files

What is Cuba Ransomware

Cuba Ransomware is a malicious program, which uses a set of cryptographic algorithms to encrypt personal data. The virus has been seen in different versions with different styles of encryption. They might differ by ransom instructions, but usually, all of them apply the same .cuba extension and FIDEL.CA file marker in the header. For example, an infected file like 1.mp4 will transform and start looking like this 1.mp4.cuba or similar. Then, once the encryption is up, Cuba drops a text file stating how to decrypt your data. Many victims have received various instruction samples (!!! ALL YOUR FILES ARE ENCRYPTED !!!.TXT). Here is a couple of them:

In most of the cases, all of them tell victims to contact the attached e-mail with their personal ID number. After this, people will get the necessary steps to run the payment and retrieve the decryption tools promised by the developers. Unfortunately, statistics upon successful decryption are pretty poor. This is because there are potent ciphers applied to the files, which makes it hard to decrypt them. As long as the investigation is still underway, experts may find certain cracks and malfunctions in malware to decrypt the files for free. For now, the only 100% way to get your files is by paying for the software. Despite this, we do not recommend you to do it as there is a significant chance to be fooled. A better decision would be deleting Cuba Ransomware and recovering data from backups. If there are none of them created on external devices, you can give them a try using the third-party instruments mentioned down below. Also, cyber experts similarize Cuba with Buran Ransomware, however, more evidence is yet to be gathered to make final conclusions.

Cuba Ransomware (ransom note)

FIDEL.CA File Marker

Cuba Ransomware website

How Cuba Ransomware infected your computer

There is no one way of how Cuba Ransomware attacks corporate servers and personal computers, however, lots of malware of this type is widely-distributed via e-mail spam letters, trojans, unprotected RDP configuration, backdoors, keyloggers, fake software cracking tools, and many other channels. The most efficiency-proven way has been justified to be e-mail spam. Extortionists create ostensibly legitimate campaigns that send customer letters. Inside of them, users are presented with text and reasons to open the attached files (MS Office documents, PDFs, executables, JavaScript files). Unfortunately, whenever it comes to the combination of such e-mails and files, the chance to be infected is really high. If you decide to click on them, chances are you will be infected in the background mode. After this, any attempts to avert the process will be next-to-impossible. Thus, our advice is to come miles away from such content, especially if it was received from suspicious sources. Besides malware removal, our guide below will also provide clear instructions on how to protect yourself from such threats in future usage.

1. Download Cuba Ransomware Removal Tool
2. Get decryption tool for .cuba files
3. Recover encrypted files with Stellar Data Recovery Professional
4. Restore encrypted files with Windows Previous Versions
5. Restore files with Shadow Explorer
6. How to protect from threats like Cuba Ransomware

Cuba Ransomware files:


!!! ALL YOUR FILES ARE ENCRYPTED !!!.TXT
{randomname}.exe


Cuba Ransomware registry keys:

no information

How to decrypt and restore .cuba files

Use automated decryptors

Download Kaspersky RakhniDecryptor

Use following tool from Kaspersky called Rakhni Decryptor, that can decrypt .cuba files. Download it here:

There is no purpose to pay the ransom because there is no guarantee you will receive the key, but you will put your bank credentials at risk.

Dr.Web Rescue Pack

Famous antivirus vendor Dr. Web provides free decryption service for the owners of its products: Dr.Web Security Space or Dr.Web Enterprise Security Suite. Other users can ask for help in the decryption of .cuba files by uploading samples to Dr. Web Ransomware Decryption Service. Analyzing of files will be performed free of charge and if files are decryptable, all you need to do is purchase a 2-year license of Dr.Web Security Space worth $120 or less. Otherwise, you don’t have to pay.

If you are infected with Cuba Ransomware and removed it from your computer you can try to decrypt your files. Antivirus vendors and individuals create free decryptors for some crypto-lockers. To attempt to decrypt them manually you can do the following:

Use Stellar Data Recovery Professional to restore .cuba files

1. Download Stellar Data Recovery Professional.
2. Click Recover Data button.
3. Select type of files you want to restore and click Next button.
4. Choose location where you would like to restore files from and click Scan button.
5. Preview found files, choose ones you will restore and click Recover.

Using Windows Previous Versions option:

1. Right-click on infected file and choose Properties.
2. Select Previous Versions tab.
3. Choose particular version of the file and click Copy.
4. To restore the selected file and replace the existing one, click on the Restore button.
5. In case there is no items in the list choose alternative method.

Using Shadow Explorer:

1. Download Shadow Explorer program.
2. Run it and you will see screen listing of all the drives and the dates that shadow copy was created.
3. Select the drive and date that you want to restore from.
4. Right-click on a folder name and select Export.
5. In case there are no other dates in the list, choose alternative method.

If you are using Dropbox:

1. Login to the DropBox website and go to the folder that contains encrypted files.
2. Right-click on the encrypted file and select Previous Versions.
3. Select the version of the file you wish to restore and click on the Restore button.

How to protect computer from viruses, like Cuba Ransomware, in future

1. Get special anti-ransomware software

Use ZoneAlarm Anti-Ransomware

ZoneAlarm Anti-Ransomware Dashboard

ZoneAlarm Anti-Ransomware Alert

ZoneAlarm Anti-Ransomware Blocked

Famous antivirus brand ZoneAlarm by Check Point released a comprehensive tool, that will help you with active anti-ransomware protection, as an additional shield to your current protection. The tool provides Zero-Day protection against ransomware and allows you to recover files. ZoneAlarm Anti-Ransomware is compatible with all other antiviruses, firewalls, and security software except ZoneAlarm Extreme (already shipped with ZoneAlarm Anti-Ransomware) or Check Point Endpoint products. The killer features of this application are: automatic file recovery, overwrite protection that instantly and automatically recovers any encrypted files, file protection that detects and blocks even unknown encryptors.

2. Back up your files

As an additional way to save your files, we recommend online backup. Local storages, such as hard drives, SSDs, flash drives, or remote network storages can be instantly infected by the virus once plugged in or connected to. Cuba Ransomware uses some techniques to exploit this. One of the best services and programs for easy automatic online backup is iDrive. It has the most profitable terms and a simple interface. You can read more about iDrive cloud backup and storage here.

3. Do not open spam e-mails and protect your mailbox

Malicious attachments to spam or phishing e-mails are the most popular method of ransomware distribution. Using spam filters and creating anti-spam rules is good practice. One of the world leaders in anti-spam protection is MailWasher Pro. It works with various desktop applications and provides a very high level of anti-spam protection.