What is Hhjk virus (ransomware)?
Hhjk virus is a malicious program belonging to the STOP (Djvu) ransomware group. Typically, this type of malware encrypts files and displays a ransom demand message. Hhjk virus does not show ransom demand message on the screen or desktop, it creates text files named “_readme.txt” in directories containing encrypted files. This virus renames encrypted files by appending the extension “.hhjk” to their name. For example, a file named “photo.jpg” will be renamed to “photo.jpg.hhjk”, a file named “document.docx” to “document.docx”, and so on.
Files encrypted with .hhjk extension
Almost always, ransomware viruses display a ransom message on the screen or place it in a file. This message contains an instruction stating that the user’s files are encrypted. In addition, it contains the contact information of the ransomware authors. In some cases, a ransom demand message also contains the ransom size and e-wallet address. Hhjk places a ransom demand message in files named “_readme.txt”. These files say that the victim’s files are encrypted with strong encryption and a unique key. The attackers claim that encrypted files cannot be decrypted without a decryptor and a key. They demand $980 for a decryptor-key pair and offer a 50% discount to all victims who contact them within 72 hours of the files being encrypted. The Hhjk creators left two email addresses for communication: manager@time2mail.ch and supportsys@airmail.cc.
QUICK LINKS:
Paying the ransom does not guarantee that attackers will contact you and provide a decryptor and a key. There are many stories on the Internet in which victims of ransomware report that after they paid, they received nothing – neither a decryptor nor a key. However, victims of ransomware often have no choice but to pay the ransom or restore files from backups. In the case of the Hhjk virus, there is a chance to recover some or even all of the encrypted files. How to do this is described in detail below. But in any case, if your computer is infected with Hhjk virus, you need to isolate the infected computer as soon as possible, find and remove the virus. This will help prevent more files from being encrypted.
Hhjk virus – ransomnote
Text presented in this ransomnote:
ATTENTION!
Don’t worry, you can return all your files!
All your files like pictures, databases, documents and other important are encrypted with strongest encryption and unique key.
The only method of recovering files is to purchase decrypt tool and unique key for you.
This software will decrypt all your encrypted files.
What guarantees you have?
You can send one of your encrypted file from your PC and we decrypt it for free.
But we can decrypt only 1 file for free. File must not contain valuable information.
You can get and look video overview decrypt tool:
https://we.tl/t-PRDjRCeB3y
Price of private key and decrypt software is $980.
Discount 50% available if you contact us first 72 hours, that’s price for you is $490.
Please note that you’ll never restore your data without payment.
Check your e-mail “Spam” or “Junk” folder if you don’t get answer more than 6 hours.To get this software you need write on our e-mail:
manager@time2mail.chReserve e-mail address to contact us:
supportsys@airmail.ccYour personal ID:
The most common method for distributing ransomware is through torrents and file-sharing sites. Attackers disguise ransomware as cracked programs and games, key generators and Windows activators. A file containing ransomware is an archive containing another archive with a program and a small text file. This text file contains a password and a message that says that the user needs to disable the antivirus and use the given password to unpack the internal archive. In reality, the unpacked file is a Trojan designed to download and launch ransomware.
Threat Summary
| Name | Hhjk |
| Type | Ransomware, File virus |
| Encrypted files extension | .hhjk file extension |
| Detection names | Ransom.Stop.P5, HEUR:Trojan.Win32.Strab.pef, Trojan:Win32/Sabsik.FL.B!ml, PWSX-gen [Trj], Malware-Cryptor.2LA.gen |
| Ransom note | _readme.txt |
| Contact | manager@time2mail.ch, supportsys@airmail.cc |
| Ransom amount | $490, $980 in Bitcoins |
| Distribution ways | Adware, Torrent files, Cracks, Drive-by downloads, Phishing emails |
| How to remove Hhjk virus | Hhjk virus removal |
| How to decrypt .hhjk files | Free Hhjk Decryptor |
Is my computer infected with Hhjk virus?
Determining whether a computer is infected or not is quite easy. Try opening your files, such as documents, photos, music, etc. in relevant programs. If, for example, when you open a document, Windows reports that the file is of an unknown type, then most likely the document is encrypted and the computer is infected. Of course, the presence of files with the extension .hhjk and files with the name _readme.txt is also a 100% sign of ransomware infection.
How to remove Hhjk virus (ransomware)
The first thing to do when you find that your computer is infected with a ransomware virus is to disconnect your computer from the computer network. After that, you need to find and remove the Hhjk virus, as this malware can restart and encrypt all recovered files, as well as newly created and not encrypted files located on drives connected to the infected computer. To remove the virus, we recommend using free malware removal tools, such as Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool, Zemana Anti-malware and MalwareBytes Anti-Malware. These programs are capable of detecting different types of active ransomware viruses and can easily remove them from your computer, BUT they will not be able to recover encrypted files. Download the programs listed in this article and write them to a USB flash drive, then proceed to remove the virus and restore encrypted files.
Use Zemana Anti Malware to remove Hhjk virus
Zemana Anti-Malware can find all kinds of malware, including ransomware, as well as a variety of Trojans, viruses and rootkits. After the detection of Hhjk ransomware, you can easily and quickly remove it.
- Download Zemana setup file called Zemana.AntiMalware.Setup from the following link. Save it on your Desktop.
Zemana Anti Malware download link - Run the installer and then follow the prompts to install Zemana on your personal computer.
- During installation don’t make any changes to default settings.
- When setup is done, it will automatically start and update itself.
- Click the “Scan” button to begin scanning your personal computer for Hhjk file virus. Depending on your computer, the scan can take anywhere from a few minutes to close to an hour.
- After Zemana Anti-Malware (ZAM) has completed scanning your computer, you’ll be shown the list of all detected threats on your computer. Make sure all threats have ‘checkmark’ and press “Next” button to remove the found malware.
Run MalwareBytes Anti-Malware to remove Hhjk virus
We suggest you to use the MalwareBytes Anti Malware to fully remove Hhjk file virus. Moreover, this malware removal tool will help you to remove other malicious software, PUPs, toolbars and adware that your machine can be infected too.
- Please go to the link below to download the latest version of MalwareBytes AntiMalware (MBAM).
Malwarebytes download link - After downloading is done, run the file called mb3-setup.
- It will open the “Setup wizard” which will help you set up MalwareBytes on the PC system. Follow the prompts.
- Once installation is complete successfully, click Finish button. Then MalwareBytes will automatically run and you can see its main window.
- Click the “Scan Now” button to perform a system scan with this utility for Hhjk virus related folders,files and registry keys.
- Once the scan get finished, MalwareBytes will open a scan report. When you are ready, click “Quarantine Selected” button.
Remove Hhjk virus with Kaspersky virus removal tool
Kaspersky virus removal tool (KVRT) is a free portable program that scans your computer for ransomware and allows delete it easily. Moreover, it will also help you remove other malicious software.
- Download Kaspersky virus removal tool (KVRT) by clicking on the following link.
Kaspersky virus removal tool download link - Once downloading is complete, double-click on the Kaspersky virus removal tool icon. Once initialization procedure is complete, you’ll see the KVRT screen.
- Click Start scan button. It will start scanning the whole PC to find out Hhjk crypto virus and other malicious software. This procedure can take some time, so please be patient. When a malicious software, adware or PUPs are detected, the number of the security threats will change accordingly.
- When Kaspersky virus removal tool has finished scanning, KVRT will display you the results.
- Review the report and then click on Continue.
How to decrypt .hhjk files
Since Hhjk virus belongs to Stop (djvu) ransomware, ‘STOP (djvu) decryptor’ can be used to decrypt .hhjk files. STOP (djvu) decryptor is a free tool that is created by Emsisoft to decrypt files that were encrypted by malware belonging to Stop ransomware family.
Free .hhjk decryptor (Emsisoft decryptor for stop djvu)
How to use STOP (Hhjk) decryptor to decrypt .hhjk files
- Visit the page linked below to download .hhjk decryptor
STOP Djvu decryptor - Scroll down to ‘New Djvu ransomware’ section.
- Download the ‘decrypt_STOPDjvu.exe’ file to your desktop.
- Run decrypt_STOPDjvu.exe
- Select the directory or drive where the encrypted files are located.
- Click the Decrypt button.
Unfortunately, STOP (djvu) decryptor can decrypt the ecnrypted files only if they were encrypted using the so-called OFFLINE keys, which were obtained by EmsiSoft. OFFLINE keys are the encryption keys that the ransomware uses when the infected computer does not have an Internet connection or its command server was not available for connection. If the STOP (Djvu) decryptor skips encrypted files without decrypting them, then you still have a chance to recover the contents of the encrypted files. To do this, use the steps listed below.
How to restore .Hhjk files
Unfortunately, free Hhjk decryptor is not always able to decrypt files. But even in this case, it is possible to restore the contents of encrypted files. Below in this article we will give several ways, please try all of them. Perhaps one of them will allow you to completely restore the files, or rather, return them to their original state, to the state that was before their encryption.
At this stage, I want to emphasize that before recovering files, you must definitely check your computer for viruses, find and remove malware that encrypted your files. The only way to skip this step is to get the disk with encrypted files and connect it to another computer, then use it to restore your files. Attention, using a disk on another computer, there is a small chance that you accidentally infect that computer with this virus.
Restore .hhjk files using ShadowExplorer
To restore documents, photos, databases and other important files, that is, practically “decrypt .hhjk files without a key,” we first recommend using a free program called ShadowExplorer. If you have not come across this program, then here is some information about it. It is a small utility that allows you to easily access copies of files that are created automatically by a standard Windows function called ‘Windows Previous Versions’.
Download the program using the link that you can find below. We recommend that you save the downloaded file to your desktop, so you can easily find it after the download is complete.
When the program download is complete, you will see a file called ShadowExplorer-0.9-portable.zip. The utility is in the archive, so you need to unzip the archive before starting the program. Right-click on this file and select the option called Extract All. Now open folder ShadowExplorerPortable.
In the list of files, find the ShadowExplorerPortable program and run it.
The main program window will open before you, as in the following example. The main window is divided into two parts – left and right. In the left part of the window, select the drive on which the encrypted files are located and select the date closest to the moment when the virus attacks your computer, encrypts the files and has changed the file extension to .hhjk. In the right part of the window, select the file you want to restore, then right-click on it.
A small pop-up menu will open before you, select Export in it. In the next window, select the directory where the recovered files will be saved.
What else do I want to say about the process of recovering encrypted files using the ShadowExplorer tool. Unfortunately, very often ransomware disable the Windows Previous Versions function and delete all saved copies of files. Therefore, after starting the ShadowExplorer, you may find that it is impossible to recover files. In this case, use another method of recovering encrypted .hhjk files, which is given below.
Restore .hhjk files using PhotoRec
Another way to recover encrypted .hhjk files is the ability to use utilities designed to find and recover accidentally deleted and lost data. We recommend that you use the free PhotoRec tool. It is one of the best and has already helped readers of our site repeatedly recover encrypted files in a seemingly absolutely hopeless situation.
Before using the program, you need to download it. Use the link below.
When the file is downloaded, in the folder where you saved it you will see a file with the name ‘testdisk-7.0.win_.zip’. This file is the archive that contains the PhotoRec. To use the PhotoRec, this archive must be unzipped. Right-click on the file and select the item called Extract All. Open the folder with the name testdisk-7.0, you will see a list of files similar to the one below.
In the contents of the directory that opens, find the file with the name QPhotoRec_Win and run it. You will be shown a window similar to the one in the following figure. This is the main PhotoRec window.
Here you need to select the physical disk and the disk partition (disk name) where the encrypted .hhjk files are located. Note that in section ‘File System Type’, option ‘FAT/NTFS’ must be selected. Now select the folder where the recovered files will be written. We recommend using a partition or drive that does not contain encrypted files. It is better to use external media. It is very important! Since the PhotoRec restores files that were deleted by the Windows OS, if you restore them to the same drive on which you are trying to find them, a situation may occur when the Windows simply physically overwrites them and you can no longer recover such files.
Next, at the bottom of the window, click File Formats. A small window opens that lists the types of files that the PhotoRec can find and restore.
Leave only those file types that you need to recover selected. For example, if you want to restore images of ‘jpg’ format, then select the file type ‘jpg’. Having decided which files to recover, click OK button.
Having completed the steps listed above, you have made all the settings necessary to search and restore encrypted .hhjk files. It remains only to click on the Search button. The process of searching and restoring files can take a very long time, be sure not to turn off the computer or restart it. During this process, the program will show the current search location (disk sector), how many and which files were found and restored.
When the file recovery process is complete, click the Quit button. Then open the directory that you previously selected as the place where the recovered files will be written.
Here you will see one or more directories with the name recup_dir (recup_dir.1, recup_dir.2, …). Check these folder to find the files you need. The file name may not be restored, so to find what you need, use file sorting, as well as the standard Windows OS search by file contents.
I hope this information helped you remove Hhjk virus and restore the encrypted files. If you have any questions or you have information that will help readers of this article, then please add your comment below.
