I wrote this article to help you remove Lavandos@dr.com Ransomware. This Lavandos@dr.com Ransomware removal guide works for all Windows versions.
The already huge ransomware family has recently welcomed its newest addition – Lavandos@dr.com. There is a reason why ransomware was given the title of “worst possible cyber infection”. Its only goal is to get to your bank account and it has a really nasty way to do so. It locks all of your files and then extorts you for money. Money is the reason all ransomware pieces have been created for. The crooks behind them only want to fill their pockets and expand their “business” not matter what this costs them.
Anyway, if you are currently dealing with the Lavandos@dr.com Ransomware, you are reading the right article. We have prepared a removal guide for you which can help you permanently delete the pest from your system and try recovering your locked data. The instructions you can find at the end of the article but, before that, we will explain a bit more about this particular parasites` operation methods and what can you do to protect yourself from another infection.
All ransomware pieces pretty much follow the same three steps – Invade, Encrypt, Extort. Lavandos@dr.com is no exception. It enters your system in silence but, once there, you cannot miss its presence. The first this the pest does after entering is performing a quick scan on your PC in search of files to lock. It doesn’t take it long to find them all and, when it does, it creates copies of each one and deletes the originals. This includes your pictures, videos, music, Word documents, presentation, and even work-related files. All of them have been copied and their originals wiped. However, these copies are encrypted and hence inaccessible to you. The ransomware has appended to them a malicious “.Wallet” extension. Seeing this extension confirms that you no longer have access to your data. You can try to rename it or move it to another folder but it won`t help. All you are left with are unusable empty icons. Due to the extension, the ransomware added to them, they are unrecognizable to your machine.
When the file-encrypting process has finished, the ransomware displays its ransom note to you. This is a message from the crooks, which usually reads something like “your files were encrypted with a strong encryption algorithm” and then it claims that the only way of getting them back is by obtaining a special decryption tool. As you can imagine, this tool is not free of charge. On the contrary. Usually, you have to pay a hefty amount of money to get it. In the ransom note, there are also instructions on how exactly to complete the payment. You are required to pay in Bitcoins (an untraceable online currency) and to use the Tor browser. This way the crooks can keep their anonymity. Don’t consider giving these people your money even for a second. You have no guarantee that you will get what you paid for. The chances are you will end up with no money and no files.
Cybercriminals are not famous for being trustworthy. By paying, you are only worsening your predicament. Not only you may not receive the decryptor, but you are basically supporting the ransomware business. That’s right. Crooks will use your money for nothing but more malware creation and business expanding. Is that what you want? Not no mention that, once having paid them, you are giving them access to your private details. Don’t even think of paying as an option. There is a second possible scenario, though. You pay them, you receive a fully working decryption tool and you recover your files. But the infection itself remains on your PC. The decryption doesn’t remove it so it can attack your data any time it wants. That’s why, first, you have to permanently uninstall Lavandos@dr.com and then try decrypting your files. This is where our removal guide comes in help.
However, removal guide and free decryptors are not always available. You must make sure there won`t be a second ransomware attack. First, get yourself a good and reliable anti-malware tool. Keep in updated and perform regular scans on your machine to be sure it is clean. Second, take a minute to read how these greedy parasites travel the web and how they infect you. Some of the most effective tactics for ransomware distribution include spam email attachments, corrupted sites/torrents, and software bundles. Sometimes a ransomware can pose as a fake program update in an attempt to trick you or it can use the help of a Trojan horse to get it. Definitely, check your PC for more infection as Lavandos@dr.com may not be the only one. The entering techniques are a lot and you can be doped by any of them.
Stay vigilant online, don’t use unverified and illegitimate sources. Be careful with the emails you receive and don’t open them so lightly. When installing a program, don’t rush the process. Take the time to read the Terms and Conditions and double-check what you agree to. And last but not least, the Advanced settings in a program Setup Wizard are a must if you want to have complete control over the installation.
Lavandos@dr.com Ransomware Uninstall
Method 1: Restore your encrypted files using ShadowExplorer
Usually, Lavandos@dr.com Ransomware deletes all shadow copies, stored in your computer. Luckily, the ransomware is not always able to delete the shadow copies. So your first try should be restoring the original files from shadow copies.
- Download ShadowExplorer from this link: http://www.shadowexplorer.com/downloads.html.
- Install ShadowExplorer
- Open ShadowExplorer and select C: drive on the left panel
- Choose at least a month ago date from the date field
- Navigate to the folder with encrypted files
- Right-click on the encrypted file
- Select “Export” and choose a destination for the original file
Method 2: Restore your encrypted files by using System Restore
- Go to Start –> All programs –> Accessories –> System tools –> System restore
- Click “Next“
- Choose a restore point, at least a month ago
- Click “Next“
- Choose Disk C: (should be selected by default)
- Click “Next“. Wait for a few minutes and the restore should be done.
Method 3: Restore your files using File Recovery Software
If none of the above method works, you should try to recover encrypted files by using File Recovery Software. Since Lavandos@dr.com Ransomware first makes a copy of the original file, then encrypts it and deletes the original one, you can successfully restore the original, using a File Recovery Software. Here are a few free File Recovery Software programs:
