Onionmail/Air Ransomware

Onionmail/Air—also known as AIR or Makop—belongs to the notorious Phobos-derived ransomware family. It encrypts your files, changing their extension to .AIR and appending a unique victim ID and contact email. Victims receive a ransom note demanding payment via Bitcoin. Like other Makop variants, this one proves both ruthless and financially motivated.

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Threat Overview

Feature	Details
Threat Type	Ransomware Crypto‑Virus (Phobos/Makop family)
Encrypted File Extension	.AIR
Ransom Note File	+README‑WARNING+.txt
Ransom Note Contact Emails	xueyuanjie@onionmail.org, xueyuanjie@mail2tor.com
Detection Names	Win32:Fasec [Trj], Gen:Variant.Ransom.Makop.50, A Variant Of Win32/Filecoder.Phobos.E, HEUR:Trojan‑Ransom.Win32.Generic, Ransom:Win32/Phobos.PB!MTB
Symptoms	Inaccessible files, .AIR extension, ransom wallpaper and note displayed
Damage/Distribution	Encrypts files; often bundles additional malware; spread via malicious emails, torrent sites, and malvertising
Danger Level	High
Removal Tool	SpyHunter – Download here

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Ransom Note Text

vbnetCopyEdit****** YOUR FILES HAVE BEEN ENCRYPTED ******

The file structure was not damaged...
Write to mailboxes: xueyuanjie@onionmail.org or xueyuanjie@mail2tor.com
If no response, write to Jabber: xueyuanjie@exploit.im

Send 2 small files (<1 MB each) for free decryption to prove feasibility.
After payment, scanner-decoder and instructions will be provided.
DON’T TRY TO CHANGE ENCRYPTED FILES...
Your ID: [unique victim ID]

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Detailed Analysis

How I Got Infected

Air ransomware typically spreads via phishing emails carrying malicious attachments or links, torrent downloads, and malvertising. One click is enough to launch the encryption process.

What It Does

Once executed, it scans for common file types, encrypts them with robust AES/RSA cryptography, renames them to filename.[VictimID].[email].AIR, drops a ransom note (+README-WARNING+.txt), and changes your desktop wallpaper. It may also disable shadow copies and spread additional malware.

Should You Be Worried?

Yes. It locks your files with no known free decryptor, and paying the ransom doesn’t guarantee recovery. The presence of .AIR files, ransom notes, or altered wallpapers indicates a serious ransomware infection.

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Manual Ransomware Removal Guide

Warning: Manual removal is complex and risky. If not done correctly, it can lead to data loss or incomplete removal of ransomware. Only follow this method if you are an advanced user. If unsure, proceed with Method 2 (SpyHunter Removal Guide).

Step 1: Disconnect from the Internet

1. Unplug your Ethernet cable or disconnect Wi-Fi immediately to prevent further communication with the ransomware’s command and control (C2) servers.

Step 2: Boot into Safe Mode

For Windows Users:

1. For Windows 10, 11:
   • Press Windows + R, type msconfig, and hit Enter.
   • Go to the Boot tab.
   • Check Safe boot and select Network.
   • Click Apply and OK, then restart your PC.
2. For Windows 7, 8:
   • Restart your PC and press F8 repeatedly before Windows loads.
   • Select Safe Mode with Networking and press Enter.

For Mac Users:

1. Restart your Mac and immediately press and hold the Shift key.
2. Release the key once you see the Apple logo.
3. Your Mac will start in Safe Mode.

Step 3: Locate and Terminate Malicious Processes

For Windows Users:

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
2. Look for suspicious processes (e.g., unknown names, high CPU usage, or random letters).
3. Right-click on the process and select End Task.

For Mac Users:

1. Open Activity Monitor (Finder > Applications > Utilities > Activity Monitor).
2. Look for unusual processes.
3. Select the process and click Force Quit.

Step 4: Delete Malicious Files

For Windows Users:

1. Press Windows + R, type %temp%, and hit Enter.
2. Delete all files in the Temp folder.
3. Navigate to:
   • C:\Users\[Your Username]\AppData\Roaming
   • C:\Users\[Your Username]\AppData\Local
   • C:\Windows\System32
4. Look for suspicious files related to the ransomware (random file names, recently modified) and delete them.

For Mac Users:

1. Open Finder and go to Go > Go to Folder.
2. Type ~/Library/Application Support and delete suspicious folders.
3. Navigate to ~/Library/LaunchAgents and remove unknown .plist files.

Step 5: Remove Ransomware from Registry or System Settings

For Windows Users:

Warning: Incorrect changes in the Registry Editor can damage your system. Proceed with caution.

1. Press Windows + R, type regedit, and hit Enter.
2. Navigate to:
   • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software
   • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software
3. Look for unfamiliar folders with random characters or ransomware-related names.
4. Right-click and select Delete.

For Mac Users:

1. Go to System Preferences > Users & Groups.
2. Click on Login Items and remove any suspicious startup items.
3. Navigate to ~/Library/Preferences and remove malicious .plist files.

Step 6: Restore System Using System Restore (Windows) or Time Machine (Mac)

For Windows Users:

1. Press Windows + R, type rstrui, and hit Enter.
2. Click Next, choose a restore point before the infection, and follow the prompts to restore your system.

For Mac Users:

1. Restart your Mac and hold Command + R to enter macOS Utilities.
2. Select Restore from Time Machine Backup.
3. Choose a backup prior to the ransomware infection and restore your system.

Step 7: Use a Decryption Tool (If Available)

• Visit No More Ransom (www.nomoreransom.org) and check if a decryption tool is available for your ransomware variant.

Step 8: Recover Files Using Backup

• If you have backups on an external drive or cloud storage, restore your files.

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Automatic Ransomware Removal Using SpyHunter

If manual removal seems too risky or complicated, using a reliable anti-malware tool like SpyHunter is the best alternative.

Step 1: Download SpyHunter

Download SpyHunter from the official link: Download SpyHunter

Or follow the official installation instructions here:
SpyHunter Download Instructions

Step 2: Install SpyHunter

1. Open the downloaded file (SpyHunter-Installer.exe).
2. Follow the on-screen prompts to install the program.
3. Once installed, launch SpyHunter.

Step 3: Perform a Full System Scan

1. Click on Start Scan Now.
2. SpyHunter will scan for ransomware and other malware.
3. Wait for the scan to complete.

Step 4: Remove Detected Threats

1. After the scan, SpyHunter will list all detected threats.
2. Click Fix Threats to remove the ransomware.

Step 5: Use SpyHunter’s Malware HelpDesk (If Needed)

If you are dealing with a stubborn ransomware variant, SpyHunter’s Malware HelpDesk provides custom fixes to remove advanced threats.

Step 6: Restore Your Files

If your files are encrypted:

• Try No More Ransom (www.nomoreransom.org) for decryption tools.
• Restore from cloud storage or external backups.

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Preventing Future Ransomware Attacks

• Keep backups on an external hard drive or cloud storage.
• Use SpyHunter to detect threats before they infect your system.
• Enable Windows Defender or a trusted antivirus program.
• Avoid suspicious emails, attachments, and links.
• Update Windows, macOS & software regularly.

Conclusion

Onionmail/Air is a dangerous ransomware threat capable of rendering your personal and professional data completely inaccessible. Avoid paying the ransom, and instead rely on secure backups and robust security tools. To remove the infection, use SpyHunter for effective threat elimination.