How to remove Rook Ransomware and decrypt .rook files

What is Rook Ransomware

Being a dangerous ransomware virus, Rook targets data encryption and tries to blackmail users into paying the ransom. The virus is easy to distinguish from other versions as it assigns the .rook extension to all blocked data. This means a file like 1.pdf will change to 1.pdf.rook and reset its original icon upon successful encryption. Right after this, Rook Ransomware creates a text note named HowToRestoreYourFiles.txt showing users how they can recover the data.

The text note content says you can restore access to the entire data only by contacting swindlers and paying the money ransom. Communication should be established by e-mail (rook@onionmail.org; securityRook@onionmail.org) or TOR browser link attached to the note. While writing a message to cyber criminals, victims are offered to send up to 3 files (no more than 1Mb) and have them decrypted for free. This way cybercriminals prove decryption abilities along with their trustworthiness to some extent. Also, if you contact extortionists within the given 3 days, cybercriminals will provide a 50% discount for the price of decryption. Unless you fit in this deadline, Rook developers will start leaking your files to their network to abuse them on darknet pages afterward. They also say no third-party instruments will help you recover the files. On the contrary, they may damage the ciphers and make you lose an opportunity of decrypting files forever. At this point, this is true that no third-party tools can decrypt Rook files completely and risk-free. The only feasible way to avoid paying the ransom is to delete the virus and use backup copies for the recovery. If you do not have this option available, but still wouldn’t like to cooperate with the developers, you can save the blocked files and wait until third-party tools come up with decryption. We have listed all the reputable software you can use to track and decrypt Rook files someday in the future. For more information on virus removal and file decryption, read our tutorial below.

How Rook Ransomware infected your computer

As a rule, many inexperienced users run into ransomware infections through malicious attachments or links located in e-mail letters. It is also common to see such malware spread via fake pirated installers, unreliable updates, trojans, backdoors, keyloggers, or even unprotected RDP configuration. These and more distribution techniques have the same cause of successful infection – users’ naiveness and inexperience. Many receive e-mail spam letters but don’t suspect they are malicious. They are easily tugged into opening attached files named “Urgent”, “Important”, “Your Invoice”, “Payment”, or “Shipment” from popular delivery firms (DPD, DHL, FedEx, etc.). Sometimes there will be a link leading to landing pages that ask you to download something. Those who end up successfully tricked, get various malware installed in a system. The danger level of malware distributed using such methods is usually high and equal to ransomware. The only and best way you can protect yourself from such threats is by being more careful and aware of what you do around the web. If you don’t have enough experience or simply want to improve protection, it is advised to install special anti-malware programs that will aid you in that. You can read more about them and their application in the tutorial below.

1. Download Rook Ransomware Removal Tool
2. Get decryption tool for .rook 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 Rook Ransomware

Rook Ransomware files:


HowToRestoreYourFiles.txt
{randomname}.exe


Rook Ransomware registry keys:

no information

How to decrypt and restore .rook files

Use automated decryptors

Download Kaspersky RakhniDecryptor

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

Download RakhniDecryptor

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 .rook files by uploading samples to Dr. Web Ransomware Decryption Service. Analyzing 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 Rook Ransomware and removed 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 .rook 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.

Download Stellar Data Recovery Professional

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 Rook Ransomware, in future

1. Get special anti-ransomware software

Use ZoneAlarm Anti-Ransomware

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.

Download ZoneAlarm Anti-Ransomware

2. Back up your files

As an additional way to save your files, we recommend online backup. Local storage, such as hard drives, SSDs, flash drives, or remote network storage can be instantly infected by the virus once plugged in or connected to. Rook 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.

Download MailWasher Pro