BOBER EXPOSED: Random Extensions, R3ADM3.txt, and a CONTI Inbox
Written by: Lapain Epuran
Published on:
You open Documents the way you did yesterday. The first photo should still be 1.jpg. The second shot should still be 2.png. A leftover installer should still be 3.exe. The invoice should still be invoice-2026.pdf. Instead every familiar name has a second ending tacked on, a short string of random letters that looks like junk. 1.jpg is now 1.jpg.qkfhr. 2.png is now 2.png.qkfhr. 3.exe is now 3.exe.qkfhr.
Then you notice a small text file you did not create. It is sitting in the same folder, as if it has always belonged there. It is called R3ADM3.txt. README, spelled like a leetspeak joke. TXT, the kind of file Windows already knows how to open.
That is the trap, not a glitch.
This page is for the hour those names appear. It is not a miracle key. It is a map of the trap, so the note does not become your incident plan. BOBER is a CONTI-family locker in this costume. The costume is the part you can see: a random extra ending like .qkfhr, the R3ADM3.txt flyer, a printed qTox ID, a blank Tor line, two free files, and a leak threat. Stay with those marks. Do not let a generic Conti writeup swallow this folder. Do not treat the name BOBER as a meme because it sounds like a joke.
Documents after BOBER. 1.jpg.qkfhr and R3ADM3.txt are the tell.
Overview
BOBER ransomware locks the files first. Then it keeps the old name and the old type, and hangs a string of random characters on the end. In the sample used for this page that string is .qkfhr. Then it drops R3ADM3.txt and talks like a recovery desk, a leak desk, and a gated executive inbox at the same time. The note is a storefront. It says all of your files are currently encrypted by BOBER strain. If you do not know who they are, just “Google it.” It says the data cannot be recovered by any means without contacting their team directly. It tells you not to recover the files yourself. It tells you not to ignore them, because they have downloaded a pack of internal data and are ready to publish it on a news website if you do not respond. It tells you not to contact feds or recovery companies, because they claim informants inside those structures. It offers to decrypt two random files completely free of charge. It tells you that if you cannot use the onion panel, you should download qTox, create an account, and send a friend request to a printed Tox ID. It points at a Tor website for further instructions, then leaves that onion line blank. It says they will speak only with an authorized person, a CEO or top management. There is no printed wallet. There is no printed $ amount.
If you are staring at a pile of names like 1.jpg.qkfhr and that text note, you are in a ransom incident, not a broken disk and not a Windows pop-up. The folder is the evidence. The note is a checkout. Stay with the folder, not with the script.
This is BOBER the locker, a CONTI-family strain that appends a random string such as .qkfhr and drops R3ADM3.txt. It is not an older Conti writeup that used a different note name, a branded .CONTI ending, or a generic family page. A search result that says Conti is not a match just because the family is the same. If someone later quotes an older Conti guide as if it already solved your folder, they mixed the strains. Keep the random extension. Keep R3ADM3.txt. Keep the qTox ID. Those marks are how you tell them apart. BOBER is not a meme caption. It is the name printed on the flyer that showed up next to your locked photos.
The first tell is the rename. In the sample used for this page, 1.jpg becomes 1.jpg.qkfhr. 2.png becomes 2.png.qkfhr. 3.exe becomes 3.exe.qkfhr. vacation.jpg becomes vacation.jpg.qkfhr. invoice-2026.pdf becomes invoice-2026.pdf.qkfhr. taxes.xlsx becomes taxes.xlsx.qkfhr. family.mp4 becomes family.mp4.qkfhr. You can still read what the file used to be. You cannot open it. Windows may call the type a QKFHR File and offer a useless “choose an app” box. An app cannot talk locked bytes back into a JPEG. Do not invent a new random string because a comment said every victim gets a fresh one. Use the ending that is actually on your disk. Keep .qkfhr as the published sample.
The second tell is the note. After the files are locked, the malware drops R3ADM3.txt into the same folders. R3ADM3 wants the first click after the panic. It is README with numbers, the kind of filename that looks like a joke until you try to open a photo. Plenty of real software drops a readme. This one uses that habit against you. Put the name next to the locked photos and the first English you can still read after the files break is a sales flyer. The flyer is meant to be opened. It is not meant to be trusted.
The body of that sample is a shop with a long script. All of your files are currently encrypted by BOBER strain. If you don’t know who we are – just “Google it.” As you already know, all of your data has been encrypted by our software. It cannot be recovered by any means without contacting our team directly. DON’T TRY TO RECOVER your data by yourselves. Any attempt to recover your data (including the usage of the additional recovery software) can damage your files. DON’T TRY TO IGNORE us. We’ve downloaded a pack of your internal data and are ready to publish it on our news website if you do not respond. DON’T TRY TO CONTACT feds or any recovery companies. We have our informants in these structures, so any of your complaints will be immediately directed to us. To prove that we REALLY CAN get your data back – we offer you to decrypt two random files completely free of charge. !!!IMPORTANT!!! If you can’t use the onion panel, download qTox and create an account. It is completely anonymous. Here is the link: the qTox download page To start communicating with us click on the ‘+’ at the bottom of the window. Insert our ID in the ‘Tox ID’ field and click ‘Send friend request’. TOX ID: 741C2229CA8163B086DE5E15022940BD888982A4EB3E3CEDEE19413385655C3817512911F092 You can contact our team directly for further instructions through our website. TOR VERSION: (you should download and install TOR browser first). Then a blank line. YOU SHOULD BE AWARE! We will speak only with an authorized person. It can be the CEO, top management, etc. In case you are not such a person – DON’T CONTACT US! Your decisions and action can result in serious harm to your company! Inform your supervisors and stay calm!
That is the whole costume. There is a printed qTox ID. There is no printed onion. There is no printed wallet. There is no printed $ amount. There is no victim ID in the filename. The Tor line on the sample used for this page is empty. This page will not invent an onion, a wallet, a Session handle, or a victim $ figure to finish those blanks. The note does not need extra theater. A locked folder plus a CONTI-family shout plus qTox plus two free files plus a leak threat is already a shop. There is no public free decryptor known for this strain. There is no reason to open that qTox inbox today because a text file told you to. There is no reason to pay a $ amount someone later invents.
The .qkfhr name is the first warning
Most lockers pick an extension so you notice the change in seconds. BOBER uses a string of random characters, CONTI-style. In the sample used for this page that string is .qkfhr. That is why 1.jpg becomes 1.jpg.qkfhr, and why 2.png becomes 2.png.qkfhr, and why 3.exe becomes 3.exe.qkfhr. The extra cruelty is how readable the listing stays. You do not have to decode anything. You can still see the photo. You can still see the PNG. You can still see the installer. You can still see the invoice year. The familiar words are still in the folder. The files are not familiar anymore.
Do not treat that readable name as a fix. Do not strip .qkfhr off the end and expect Photos or a PDF reader to open the file. Do not run a bulk “extension fixer” you found in an ad. Do not invent a different five-letter string because a forum post said CONTI always rotates the ending. The published sample is .qkfhr. Your disk may show a different random tail. Keep the one that is actually sitting next to R3ADM3.txt. The name is a label. The lock is in the content. Editing the label can make a later trusted tool have a harder time matching the file to what it was. Leave the locked copies as they are until you have a clean machine and a plan that does not start in a criminal inbox.
The extra ending also does advertising. Anyone who sees vacation.jpg.qkfhr next to R3ADM3.txt can pretend they already have your case. A later fake helper will quote the five letters back to you as if that were expertise. The extension in the sample is public. It is sitting in the folder. Quoting it proves nothing except that they can read a listing. It also keeps this locker distinct from a generic Conti post that never printed this ending and never printed this note name.
R3ADM3.txt is a sales floor, not a help file
The ransom note is a plain text file with a name that sounds like documentation and a joke at the same time. R3ADM3.txt wants the first click after the panic. README with 3s instead of Es. Plenty of real software drops a README. This one uses that habit against you. It is meant to be the first English you can still read when the photos will not open.
Double-clicking it opens Notepad. That is why a panicked first click feels like opening the help page. It is not help. It is the demand, written so it looks official enough to follow. The filename is built to look like paperwork that a tired person will trust for 30 seconds. R3ADM3. A .txt ending Windows already trusts. Paperwork is easier to obey than a threat. The leetspeak spelling also does a second job. It makes the locker look like a meme to anyone who has not opened the folder yet. Inside the folder it is not a meme. It is the checkout.
Keep the file on disk. Then close it. Do not treat it as a set of steps you should follow. Do not tidy the filename. Do not rename it to README.txt so it looks neater. Do not shorten it to “the readme” when you write the incident down. Copy R3ADM3.txt the way you would copy a serial off a stolen laptop. That string is how a responder matches this locker. It is not a coupon you redeem by adding a Tox ID.
If the same text is sitting in more than one folder, that is normal for this family. Lockers drop the same page in many places so you cannot miss it. Finding five copies is not five incidents. It is one incident with a loud flyer. Keep one clean copy as evidence. You do not need to open every copy. You do not need to compare them inside qTox.
BOBER strain is a shout, not a meme
The first line of the sample is not a diagnosis. It is a headline. All of your files are currently encrypted by BOBER strain. If you do not know who we are, just “Google it.” That is a CONTI-family trick in a new jacket. The name BOBER is meant to send you into search. Search is where ads, brokers, and older Conti posts live. You are supposed to mix this folder with a generic family page and feel that the case is already famous, already solved, already too big for you.
The shout is also a brand. Later search ads will quote it. Later “helpers” will paste BOBER so they sound close to your folder. Anyone can copy a headline. Copying BOBER strain does not mean they can reverse 1.jpg.qkfhr. It means they read the same note you did, or they read a screenshot of it. Do not treat the joke spelling as proof this is a prank locker. Do not treat “Google it” as a homework assignment you owe the people who locked family.mp4.qkfhr. The search box is not your incident plan.
Stay with the marks on disk. Random extra ending. R3ADM3.txt. Printed qTox ID. Blank Tor line. Two free files. Leak threat. CEO-only talk. Those are BOBER. A generic Conti explainer that never printed those marks is a different page. Keep them apart on purpose.
This is BOBER, not an older Conti post
CONTI is the family. BOBER is this costume. Family pages are useful later, when a responder is grouping samples. They are a bad first map for a person standing in Documents. An older Conti writeup may talk about a different note name, a different chat path, a branded extension, or a leak site that this flyer never printed. If a result talks about Conti in the abstract and never shows R3ADM3.txt next to 1.jpg.qkfhr, you are reading the wrong door. If a result talks about BOBER, the random extra ending, the qTox ID, and the blank Tor line, you are in the right incident.
Do not mix the two. A helper who starts from an older Conti guide and then asks you to add the printed Tox ID is not close to your case. They are standing in the family hallway on purpose. Keep the locker name as an identifier, not as a shopping label. BOBER is how responders group this extension and this note. It is not a coupon. It is not a reason to buy a “CONTI decryptor” from the first ad. There is no public free decryptor known for this strain. Until a trusted project publishes one, treat any site that says “we already have the BOBER key” or “we already have the Conti key for this” as a second sales pitch.
The qTox ID is printed. The onion is not
The recovery step in the sample is chat, not mail. If you cannot use the onion panel, download qTox, create an account, click +, paste their Tox ID, send a friend request. The printed ID on the sample used for this page is 741C2229CA8163B086DE5E15022940BD888982A4EB3E3CEDEE19413385655C3817512911F092. That string is evidence. It is not a door you should walk through. 100% of that inbox is theirs.
The same paragraph points at a Tor website for further instructions. It tells you to install a Tor browser first. Then the TOR VERSION line is blank. Public copies leave that onion empty. This page will not invent one to put in that blank. A missing onion in the copy you are reading is not a puzzle. It is how this sample actually looks. If your own file on disk still shows a .onion string on that line, treat it as evidence for a report, not as a panel you should open. Do not type a guessed onion into a Tor window “just to see the login.” Do not let a later helper fill the blank for you.
qTox is sold as anonymous. Anonymous for them. For you it is a live channel to the people who locked the files. Creating an account “just to see” is still opening the inbox. Sending a friend request is still a knock. A screenshot of Explorer is still a knock. They already chose the extension. They already chose the note name. They already printed the Tox ID. You do not need to prove you are a customer.
Two free files, a leak, and a CEO filter are checkout
Offering to decrypt two random files completely free of charge is how they make the shop feel testable. The leak line sits next to it. Ignore us and we publish a pack of your internal data on our news website. Together those sentences turn a locked folder into a relationship. You do not need that relationship. You need the folder left intact and a plan that does not start in qTox.
The CEO filter does the last shove. We will speak only with an authorized person. CEO, top management. If you are not that person, do not contact us. Your decisions can result in serious harm to your company. Inform your supervisors and stay calm. That paragraph is not corporate etiquette. It is a way to skip the intern, skip the spouse, skip the person who might still hang up, and land on whoever can approve a $ transfer. It also gives copycats a script. Later “helpers” will ask who the decision maker is, as if that were incident work. It is sales.
There is no printed $ amount on the sample used for this page, and this page will not invent one. A missing price is not a kindness. It is how they keep you in chat long enough to name a number after you have already knocked. Do not invent a figure because other CONTI writeups printed one years ago. Do not “test” a smaller payment to see if they answer. A test payment is still a payment. It still tells them this victim pays.
How The Attack Works
The shop is simple once you stop reading it as a rescue. Lock the files. Brand the names with a random extra ending such as .qkfhr. Drop R3ADM3.txt and stamp BOBER strain on the first line. Tell the scared person to Google it. Ban self-recovery. Ban ignore. Ban feds and recovery companies. Offer two random files for free. Point them at qTox and a printed Tox ID. Point them at a Tor panel, then leave the onion blank. Demand a CEO. Threaten a leak. Then wait for someone else to sell the missing onion, the missing wallet, and the missing $ figure.
1. The lock keeps the old name so you recognize the loss
BOBER encrypts the files it wants as leverage, then appends a string of random characters. In the sample used for this page that string is .qkfhr. That is why 1.jpg is still readable as 1.jpg.qkfhr, why 2.png is still readable as 2.png.qkfhr, and why 3.exe is still readable as 3.exe.qkfhr. The operators want you to inventory the damage in seconds. They want you to see the photo, the PNG, the leftover installer, the invoice, the tax sheet, and the family video in one glance. A coded filename can confuse you. A readable filename makes you feel the theft.
If only one folder looks wrong, do not assume the rest of the disk is safe. Ransomware walks trees. It hits Documents, Desktop, Pictures, Downloads, and any drive letter it can reach, including a USB stick you forgot was plugged in. Unplug extra disks. Do not plug in a copy “just to check.” Checking is how the extra copy gets the same random ending.
Double-clicking a renamed file does not bring the photo back. The thumbnail may already look broken. A PDF reader may ask for a document that is still sitting in the same folder, only the bytes inside are no longer a document. That broken open is the first proof. The second proof is the extra ending. Together they are enough. You do not need to open qTox to confirm what you are looking at. 0% of those pixels will turn back into a vacation shot because you picked a different app.
2. R3ADM3.txt turns a break-in into a ticket
Once the names are branded, the malware needs a voice. R3ADM3.txt is that voice. It sits in the same folders as the locked files so the first sort puts help next to harm. On many machines a text file with a name in capitals and numbers is the thing you click because it looks like the only file that still speaks English. The body is built to finish before a relative walks into the room. Encrypted by BOBER strain. Google it. Cannot recover without us. Do not recover yourself. Do not ignore us. Do not contact feds. Two random files free. qTox. Tox ID. Tor, then a blank. CEO only. Stay calm. Each beat closes a door.
Notice what the note does not give you. It does not give you a company, a refund policy, or a way to prove the other side will ever send a key. It does not print a wallet. It does not print a $ amount. It does not print an onion. It gives you a tone that says this is already decided. That tone is the product. Read the file as a sales flyer. Then close it. Keep it on disk.
3. BOBER strain and Google it close the argument
After the lock, the note rests on a family brand as if fame were a receipt. Encrypted by BOBER strain. If you do not know who we are, just Google it. Famous crime plus a shove are meant to end the conversation you have not even started. CONTI-family history sounds like math you cannot beat at the kitchen table. Google it sounds like you already failed a quiz. Together they try to keep you calm enough, or ashamed enough, to follow the next line.
You do not need to argue ransomware history with a text file. You do not need to argue whether BOBER is “real Conti” or a copycat costume. You need to stop treating the file as a technician. Leave the locked names as they are. Leave R3ADM3.txt where it is. The family name printed in that note is part of the pitch. It is not a recovery procedure. It is not a reason to open an older Conti page and follow a chat path that this flyer never printed.
4. Do not recover, do not ignore, do not call feds is a wall
Three bans sit in a row. Do not recover the data yourself, including extra recovery software, because you might damage the files. Do not ignore us, because we downloaded internal data and will publish it. Do not contact feds or recovery companies, because we have informants and your complaint will come straight back to us. Some of the first caution is real in a narrow sense: random unlockers and bulk renames are a bad idea. The note does not say that because it cares about your photos. It says it because a scared person who still believes a local tool might work is a person who has not opened qTox yet.
The other two bans are not consumer advice. They are a wall around the inbox. You are supposed to feel that any adult who is not their Tox ID is a snitch or a middleman. Leave the locked files untouched. That matches the useful half of the warning without doing the rest of their job. You can refuse the random tools and still refuse qTox. Those are not opposite choices. You can still tell counsel, an insurer, or an official desk. Those are not “recovery companies” in the sense the flyer means. Those are the people who actually own the photos, or the people whose job is the incident. The informant line is theater. Treat it as theater. Report through official channels anyway. The CISA StopRansomware Guide is blunt about this kind of squeeze. Paying does not ensure the files come back, does not ensure the systems are clean, and does not ensure anyone on the other side keeps a promise.
5. Two random files is how they confirm a live victim
Offering to unlock two random files for free is how they make the shop feel testable. Together with the leak threat, that line turns a locked folder into a conversation. You do not need that conversation. You need the folder left intact and a plan that does not start in their chat.
Do not attach files they call random. Do not pick the smallest photo as a demo. Do not send two junk PDFs because the note said free of charge. A demo that “unlocks two files” is not proof they can unlock the vacation shot. Anyone can open junk they already control. Anyone can send you back a picture you sent them. Opening that inbox is not useful work. It is the checkout. Keep one random-extension sample on disk as evidence. That is the opposite of mailing it to them. One locked 1.jpg.qkfhr in an incident folder is a specimen. Two files in a friend request are a handshake.
6. qTox plus the printed Tox ID is the door they want
The recovery step in the sample is qTox. Download the app. Create an account. It is completely anonymous. Click + at the bottom. Paste the Tox ID. Send friend request. The steps are written like a product tutorial so the first click feels like setup, not surrender. The printed ID is 741C2229CA8163B086DE5E15022940BD888982A4EB3E3CEDEE19413385655C3817512911F092. Copy that string into the incident record. Then leave it alone. Do not add it. Do not create a throwaway “just to see.” Do not send a screenshot of Explorer to prove the lock.
If someone later says they will “talk to BOBER for you” through that same Tox ID, that is a broker pitch. Brokers need you in the same funnel. You do not owe them a seat. Report the incident through official desks. Let counsel decide if contact is ever required for a specific legal reason. That decision is not yours to make from the Documents folder at midnight. A calm chat app does not make the first handle honest. It only gives them an account to abandon if it burns.
7. The Tor line is blank. Leave it blank
The note says you can contact the team through their website. TOR VERSION. Install a Tor browser first. Then the sample used for this page prints a dash, not an onion. That gap is where copycats work. Someone will publish a long .onion and call it the BOBER panel. Someone will sell a “connector” that is just more malware. Someone will ask you to run a command so they can “reach the onion on your behalf.” None of that is a reason to finish their sentence. The sample does not reprint an address. Do not invent one.
If your copy of R3ADM3.txt on disk still shows an onion, keep the file. Do not tidy it. Do not paste it into a public screenshot so it looks more complete. Do not open it in Tor to “see if the panel loads.” A loading panel is not Photos opening vacation.jpg again. It is you standing in their store. A missing onion in a public copy is a redaction or a blank in the original flyer. Either way, you do not owe anyone a filled-in URL.
8. CEO-only talk is a filter, not a courtesy
The closer is a velvet rope. We will speak only with an authorized person. CEO, top management. If you are not that person, do not contact us. Inform your supervisors and stay calm. On a home PC that line is nonsense with a corporate costume. On a company machine it is a hunt for whoever can move money. Either way it is not etiquette. It is a way to skip the person who might still say no.
Do not “find the CEO” because a text file asked. Do not forward R3ADM3.txt into a management thread with the Tox ID highlighted like a task. Tell the people who actually own the incident, then stop. Stay calm is the one useful sentence in that paragraph, and even that is doing sales. Calm is how you keep the folder intact. Calm is not how you become their authorized customer. If this is a company machine, tell counsel and your incident lead. If this is a home PC, tell the people whose files lived on it. Those people are not “the other side.” They are yours.
9. Third parties will sell a BOBER conversation
After a ransomware incident, search results fill up with companies that say they can decrypt BOBER, “all .qkfhr files,” or “this Conti variant.” Some of those shops are ordinary overpriced consultants. Plenty are a second scam. They will quote R3ADM3.txt so they sound close to the case. They will mention BOBER strain. They will mention two free files. They will mention the Tox ID as if they already added the original crew. They will offer to fill the blank onion. They will ask for a sample file, a remote-access session, or a deposit.
A demo that “unlocks two files” is not proof they can unlock the photo. Anyone can open junk files they control. Anyone can send you a chat ID that makes a window appear. A chat window is not Photos opening 1.jpg again. If a later message skips the original Tox ID and asks for coin over ordinary mail, that is still the same market, or a copycat standing in the same doorway. Do not answer. Do not help them fill a wallet, an onion, or a victim $ figure the public copy left blank on purpose. If the pitch is “we can decrypt, pay us first,” you are still in the market the ransomware created. There is no public free decryptor known for this strain. Until a trusted project publishes one, treat any site that says “we already have the BOBER key” as a second sales pitch.
10. Payment and opening that inbox close nothing
Paying a stranger for a private key is not a guarantee. The people who send the note can take the $ and disappear. They can send a string that only makes a decryptor show an error. They can come back later and lock the same machine again. A qTox thread makes that outcome easier, not harder. You cannot leave a review on a criminal inbox. Opening Tor to a blank panel, or to an onion someone later invented, is the free version of the same dead end.
Starting a friend request does not rebuild a JPEG. It only keeps you in their story while the rest of the disk still needs a real plan. If you already sent a message before you found this page, stop there. Do not pay a deposit to “hold the original deal.” Do not send two more files because they asked for a better sample. Do not add a second Tox ID they mail back. Change passwords from a clean device. Watch bank and email alerts. Opening that inbox again is not useful work. It is the checkout, even when the onion in the public copy is blank and the $ figure was never printed.
What To Do If Your Files End in .qkfhr
Do not pay. Do not open that Tor panel. Do not add the qTox ID. Do not invent an onion, a wallet, or a victim $ figure to finish R3ADM3.txt. Do not send two random files. Do not send proof of anything. If you already sent a friend request before you found this page, stop there. Do not pay a deposit to “hold the original deal” for anyone who quotes the note.
STEP 1: Use Rkill to terminate suspicious programs.
In this first step, we will download and run Rkill to terminate suspicious programs that may be running on your computer.
RKill is a program that was developed at BleepingComputer.com that attempts to terminate known malware processes so that your normal security software can then run and clean your computer of infections. When RKill runs it will kill malware processes and then removes incorrect executable associations and fixes policies that stop us from using certain tools.
Download Rkill.
You can download RKill to your computer from the below link. When at the download page, click on the Download Now button labeled iExplore.exe. We are downloading a renamed version of Rkill (iExplore.exe) because some malware will not allow processes to run unless they have a certain filename.
RKILL DOWNLOAD LINK (The above link will open a new page from where you can download Rkill)
Run RKill.
After downloading, double-click the iExplore.exe icon to kill malicious processes. In most cases, downloaded files are saved to the Downloads folder. The program may take some time to search for and end various malware programs.
When it is finished, the black window will close automatically and a log file will open. Do not restart your computer. Proceed to the next step in this guide.
STEP 2: Use Malwarebytes to remove Ransomware and Unwanted Programs
In this second step, we will install Malwarebytes to scan and remove any infections, adware, or potentially unwanted programs that may be present on your computer.
Malwarebytes is one of the most popular and trusted anti-malware tools for Windows — and it’s completely free for removing infections. It catches threats that many antivirus programs miss, including adware, browser hijackers, and trojans. Follow the steps below to scan and clean your PC in just a few minutes.
Download Malwarebytes
Click the button below to download the latest version of Malwarebytes for Windows from the official source. The free version is all you need — it will scan your computer and remove adware, browser hijackers, and other malicious software at no cost.
(The link opens in a new page where your download will start)
Install Malwarebytes
When the download finishes, open your Downloads folder and double-click the MBSetup file. If Windows shows a User Account Control pop-up, click “Yes” to allow the installation.
Follow the On-Screen Prompts to Install Malwarebytes
The setup wizard will walk you through a few quick screens:
Choose where you’re installing the program — “Personal Computer” or “Work Computer” — then click Next.
Malwarebytes will now install on your device. This usually takes under a minute.
When installation is complete, the “Welcome to Malwarebytes” screen will open automatically.
On the final screen, click Open Malwarebytes to launch the program.
Enable “Scan for Rootkits”
Before scanning, turn on rootkit detection so Malwarebytes can find even the most hidden threats. Click the Settings gear icon on the left side of the screen.
In the settings menu, find “Scan for rootkits” and click the toggle so it turns blue.
Done? Click “Dashboard” in the left pane to return to the main screen.
Start the Scan
Click the blue Scan button. Malwarebytes will automatically update its virus database and start checking your computer for malware.
Wait for the Scan to Finish
The scan checks your entire system for browser hijackers and other malicious programs, so it can take several minutes. Feel free to do something else — just check back occasionally to see the progress.
Quarantine the Detected Threats
When the scan is done, you’ll see a list of everything Malwarebytes found — malware, adware, and potentially unwanted programs. Click the “Quarantine” button to remove all of them at once.
Malwarebytes will now remove the malicious files and registry entries and move them safely into quarantine.
Restart Your Computer
Some threats can only be fully removed after a reboot. If Malwarebytes asks you to restart, click Yes. Once you’re logged back in, your PC is clean and you can continue with the next steps in this guide.
STEP 3: Use HitmanPro to remove Rootkits and other Malware
In this third step, while the computer is in normal back, we will download and run a scan with HitmanPro to remove Trojans, rootkits, and other malicious programs.
HitmanPro is a second-opinion scanner — it’s designed to catch what your main antivirus might have missed. Instead of relying on a single detection engine, it checks the behavior of files in the locations where malware usually hides. Anything suspicious gets sent to the cloud, where it’s analyzed by two of the best antivirus engines available: Bitdefender and Kaspersky.
Good news: scanning is completely free, with no limits. You only need a license when it’s time to remove what was found — and even then, you can activate a free one-time 30-day trial to clean your PC at no cost. (A full license is $24.95 per year for 1 PC.)
Download HitmanPro
Click the button below to download HitmanPro. Remember — the scan is free, so you have nothing to lose by checking your PC.
When the download finishes, open your Downloads folder and double-click the file: “hitmanpro.exe” on 32-bit Windows, or “hitmanpro_x64.exe” on 64-bit Windows.
If a User Account Control pop-up asks whether HitmanPro can make changes to your device, click “Yes” to continue.
Follow the On-Screen Prompts
On the HitmanPro start screen, click “Next” to begin the system scan. No lengthy setup required — it goes straight to work.
Wait for the Scan to Finish
HitmanPro will now check your computer for malicious programs. This usually takes just a few minutes thanks to its cloud-based scanning.
Review the Results and Click “Next”
When the scan is done, HitmanPro will show you everything it found. Click “Next” to remove the detected threats.
Click “Activate Free License”
To remove the malicious files, click the “Activate free license” button. This starts your free 30-day trial — no payment details needed — and unlocks the full cleanup.
When the removal is complete, HitmanPro will show a summary of everything it cleaned. Click Next, then click Reboot if prompted. If there’s no reboot prompt, just click Close — your PC is clean.
STEP 4: Use AdwCleaner to remove Malicious Browser Extensions and Adware
In this next step, we will use AdwCleaner to remove malicious browser policies and unwanted browser extensions from your computer.
AdwCleaner is a free on-demand scanner that specializes in adware, browser hijackers, and unwanted toolbars — the exact threats that mainstream antivirus programs often miss. It also includes tools that repair the damage malware leaves behind, like hijacked browser settings and malicious policies. It’s a quick scan that’s well worth running.
Download AdwCleaner
Click the button below to download AdwCleaner — it’s free, portable, and requires no installation.
Open your Downloads folder and double-click the file named “adwcleaner_x.x.x.exe“. There’s no installation — the program starts right away.
If Windows asks whether you want to allow AdwCleaner to run, click “Yes“. When the license agreement appears, click I agree to continue.
Enable “Reset Chrome policies”
This setting removes malicious browser policies — a trick malware uses to lock your browser settings so you can’t change them back. Click “Settings” on the left side of the window, then turn on “Reset Chrome policies“.
Start the Scan
Click “Dashboard” on the left side of the window, then click the “Scan” button.
Wait for the Scan to Finish
AdwCleaner will now check your computer for adware and other malware. This usually takes only a few minutes — it’s one of the fastest scanners around.
Quarantine the Detected Threats
When the scan finishes, AdwCleaner will list everything it found. Click the “Quarantine” button to remove all the malicious items at once.
Click “Continue” to Finish the Cleanup
Save any open work first — AdwCleaner needs to close your open programs before it can clean. When you’re ready, click the “Continue” button.
AdwCleaner will now delete all detected malware from your computer. If it asks you to restart your PC, allow it — your computer will be clean when you log back in.
STEP 5: Perform a final check with ESET Online Scanner
This final step involves installing and running a scan with ESET Online Scanner to check for any additional malicious programs that may be installed on the computer..
ESET Online Scanner is a free second-opinion scanner that performs a deep, full-system check for viruses, trojans, rootkits, and other malware. We use it as the final step because it’s thorough — if anything slipped past the previous scans, ESET will find it. A clean result here means your computer is malware-free.
Download ESET Online Scanner
Click the button below to download ESET Online Scanner.
When the download finishes, open your Downloads folder and double-click “esetonlinescanner.exe“.
Install ESET Online Scanner
On the start screen, select your language from the drop-down menu and click Get started.
On the Terms of use screen, click Accept.
Choose your preferences for the Customer Experience Improvement Program and the Detection feedback system (either choice is fine), then click Continue.
Start a Full Scan
Click Full Scan — this checks your entire computer, not just the common hiding spots.
Select Enable for Detection of Potentially Unwanted Applications — this lets ESET catch adware and bundled junk programs, not just viruses. Then click Start scan.
Wait for the Scan to Finish
ESET will now check every file on your computer. Because it’s a full scan, this can take a while — often an hour or more, depending on how much data you have. Leave it running in the background and check on it from time to time.
Review the Results
When the scan completes, the Found and resolved detections screen appears. Any threats found were automatically cleaned and quarantined — there’s nothing extra you need to do. Click View detailed results if you want to see exactly what was removed.
If ESET found nothing — congratulations, your computer has passed the final check and is malware-free.
STEP 6: Restore the files encrypted by ransomware
Unfortunately, in most cases, it’s not possible to recover the files encrypted by this ransomware virus because the private key which is needed to unlock the encrypted files is only available through the attackers. However, below we’ve listed three options you can use to try and recover your files.
Make sure you remove the malware from your computer first, otherwise, it will repeatedly lock your system or encrypt files. If you suspect that your computer is still infected with malware, you can run a free scan with Emsisoft Emergency Kit.
Option 1: Search a decryption tool for this ransomware
The cybersecurity community is constantly working to create ransomware decryption tools, so you can try to search these sites for updates:
Option 2: Use EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard Free to recover the encrypted files
EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard Free can restore files and repair corrupted files with simple clicks. Its powerful scanning algorithms can identify and retrieve huge file type library, including all of the popular video files, audio files, photos, and document formats. While the free version only allows you to recover 2 GB of data, this can be helpful to see if the recovery is possible and restore back the most important files from your computer.
Download EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard Free.
You can download EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard Free by clicking the link below.
Double-click on the EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard Free setup file.
When EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard Free has finished downloading, double-click on the setup file to install EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard on your computer. In most cases, downloaded files are saved to the Downloads folder.
You may be presented with a User Account Control pop-up asking if you want to allow EaseUS to make changes to your device. If this happens, you should click “Yes” to continue with the EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard Free installation.
Follow the on-screen prompts to install EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard.
When the EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard installation begins, click on the “Install Now” as seen in the image below.
When your EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard installation completes, click the “Start Now” button to start the program.
Select a location to start recovering the encrypted files.
Choose the drive or folder where you are the encrypted files that you want to recover and click “Scan“.
Wait for the EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard scan to complete.
EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard will now scan your computer files that can be restored. This process can take a few minutes, so we suggest you do something else and periodically check on the status of the scan to see when it is finished.
Find the files you want to recover.
When the EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard scan is finished scanning it will show a screen that displays the files that can be recovered. This tool can recover a lot of data, use the “Filter” button to quickly filter specific file types and find the files that you want to recover.
Click the “Preview” button or double-click on a file for a full preview.
Select your files and click “Recover”.
Finally, select the the files you want to recover and click “Recover“. Choose a safe location to save all the files. The free version only allow you to recover 2 GB of data, however, this will allow you to recover the most important files and see if EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard can correctly recover them.
Option 3: Try to restore your files with ShadowExplorer
This ransomware will attempt to delete all shadow copies when you first start any executable on your computer after becoming infected. Thankfully, the infection is not always able to remove the shadow copies, so you should continue to try restoring your files using this method.
Download ShadowExplorer.
You can download ShadowExplorer from the below link.
Double-click on the ShadowExplorer-x.x-setup file to start the installation process, then follow the on-screen promts to install this program.
Select snapshot date.
Open ShadowExplorer and then from the top bar select the drive where the files that you want to save are located, then select from the snapshot available one previous to this infection.
Export the files that you want to recover.
Once you have found a copy of the original file or folder, right-click on it and the select “Export”. A window will prompt you where you want to save the file or folder.
Keep every random extra ending exactly as it is. Do not bulk-rename 1.jpg.qkfhr back to 1.jpg, or 2.png.qkfhr back to 2.png, or 3.exe.qkfhr back to a normal program, or vacation.jpg.qkfhr back to a photo, or invoice-2026.pdf.qkfhr back to a normal PDF, or taxes.xlsx.qkfhr back to a spreadsheet, or family.mp4.qkfhr back to a video. Stripping the extra ending is not a repair. It can make a later trusted tool worse, not better. The original name is already sitting in front of .qkfhr. You do not need to edit it to know what you lost. If your disk shows a different random tail, keep that tail. Do not force it to match the published sample.
Keep R3ADM3.txt with the locked files. Keep one random-extension sample next to it, such as 1.jpg.qkfhr. Do not “clean up” every copy of the note. Do not fill in an onion so the flyer looks complete. The blank Tor line, or the string on your disk, is part of how you prove this was this strain and not a different locker that only sounds similar. Keep the contact marks as identifiers: the printed Tox ID 741C2229CA8163B086DE5E15022940BD888982A4EB3E3CEDEE19413385655C3817512911F092, the BOBER strain line, the two-file offer, and the CEO filter. Those artifacts are evidence. They are not instructions you should carry out.
Do not pay. Do not open that Tor/qTox inbox. Do not ask a friend to add the Tox ID “just to see.” A calm chat app is still the people who locked the files. If a later message quotes R3ADM3.txt and offers “the real onion,” that is still the same shop. If a later message skips the original Tox ID and asks for a $ amount over ordinary mail, that is still the same shop, or a copycat standing in the same doorway. This is BOBER, a CONTI-family locker, not a meme, not a prank note, not an older Conti page you can reuse.
If someone claims they can already decrypt BOBER files for a fee because they can recite the Tox ID and the two-file offer, they are selling a report, not a key. If they mention R3ADM3.txt as proof they “already called the crew,” they read the same note you did. Do not answer. Do not complete their checkout. Do not help them fix the flyer. Do not help them invent the missing onion.
If Windows still offers to pick an app for the .qkfhr type, decline it. There is no player for that ending. There is no player for the next random string either, if your disk used a different tail. The extra letters are a label. They are not a format Photos can learn.
The Bottom Line
BOBER ransomware is a CONTI-family locker with a readable filename, a leetspeak readme, and a checkout that lives in qTox. It keeps the old name and appends a string of random characters. In the sample used for this page, 1.jpg becomes 1.jpg.qkfhr, 2.png becomes 2.png.qkfhr, and 3.exe becomes 3.exe.qkfhr. The note is R3ADM3.txt. It stamps BOBER strain, tells you to Google it, bans self-recovery, bans ignore, bans feds, offers two free files, prints a qTox ID, points at a Tor website, then leaves the onion blank, and demands a CEO. There is no printed wallet. There is no printed $ amount. There is no public free decryptor known for this strain.
Do not pay. Do not open that Tor/qTox inbox. Do not invent an onion or a wallet. Do not rename the pile in bulk. Keep R3ADM3.txt and one random-extension sample. This is BOBER, a CONTI-family locker, not a meme and not an older Conti writeup. If you take one sentence with you, take this. A folder of names ending in a random string like .qkfhr, plus R3ADM3.txt with a BOBER strain shout, a printed Tox ID, a blank Tor line, and a two-file offer, is ransomware on the first sighting. Treat it that way before anyone offers to fill the blank panel.
10 Rules to Avoid Online Scams
Here are 10 practical safety rules to help you avoid malware, online shopping scams, crypto scams, and other online fraud. Each tip includes a quick “if you already got hit” action.
Stop and verify before you click, log in, download, or pay.
Most scams win by creating urgency. Verify using a trusted method: type the website address yourself, use the official app, or call a known number (not the one in the message).
If you already clicked: close the page, do not enter passwords, and run a malware scan.
Keep your operating system, browser, and apps updated.
Updates patch security holes used by malware and malicious ads. Turn on automatic updates where possible.
If you saw a scary “update now” pop-up: close it and update only through your device settings or the official app store.
Use layered protection: antivirus plus an ad blocker.
Antivirus helps block malware. An ad blocker reduces scam redirects, phishing pages, and malvertising.
If your browser is acting weird: remove unknown extensions, reset the browser, then run a full scan.
Install apps, software, and extensions only from official sources.
Avoid cracked software, “keygens,” and random downloads. During installs, choose Custom/Advanced and decline bundled offers you do not recognize.
If you already installed something suspicious: uninstall it, restart, and scan again.
Treat links and attachments as untrusted by default.
Phishing often impersonates delivery services, banks, and popular brands. If it is unexpected, do not open attachments or log in through the message.
If you entered credentials: change the password immediately and enable 2FA.
Shop safely: research the store, then pay with protection.
Be cautious with brand-new stores, “closing sale” stories, and prices that make no sense. Prefer credit cards or PayPal for dispute options. Avoid wire transfers, gift cards, and crypto payments.
If you already paid: contact your card issuer or PayPal quickly to dispute the transaction.
Crypto rule: never pay a “fee” to withdraw or recover money.
Common patterns include fake profits, then “tax,” “gas,” or “verification” fees. Another is a “recovery agent” who demands upfront crypto.
If you already sent crypto: stop paying, save evidence (wallet addresses, TXIDs, chats), and report the scam to the platform used.
Secure your accounts with unique passwords and 2FA (start with email).
Use a password manager and unique passwords for every account. Enable 2FA using an authenticator app when possible.
If you suspect an account takeover: change passwords, sign out of all devices, and review recent logins and recovery settings.
Back up important files and keep one backup offline.
Backups protect you from ransomware and device failure. Keep at least one backup on an external drive that is not always connected.
If you suspect infection: do not connect backup drives until the system is clean.
If you think you are a victim: stop losses, document evidence, and escalate fast.
Move quickly. Speed matters for disputes, account recovery, and limiting damage.
Stop payments and contact: do not send more money or respond to the scammer.
Call your bank or card issuer: block transactions, replace the card if needed, and start a dispute or chargeback.
Secure your email first: change the email password, enable 2FA, and remove unfamiliar recovery options.
Secure other accounts: change passwords, enable 2FA, and log out of all sessions.
Scan your device: remove suspicious apps or extensions, then run a full malware scan.
Save evidence: screenshots, emails, order pages, tracking pages, wallet addresses, TXIDs, and chat logs.
Report it: to the payment provider, marketplace, social platform, exchange, or wallet service involved.
These rules are intentionally simple. Most online losses happen when decisions are rushed. Slow down, verify independently, and use payment methods and account controls that give you recourse.
Hello! I'm Lapain Epuran, your go-to source for detailed and honest product reviews. From tech gadgets to miracle cures, I provide insights to help you make informed choices. Join me as we discover what's truly worth your time and money.
