I wrote this article to help you remove “All your files have been encrypted” Ransomware. This “All your files have been encrypted” Ransomware removal guide works for all Windows versions.
Today`s article is about the “All your files have been encrypted” infection. Unsurprisingly, it is a ransomware. One of the most recently developed pieces that will encrypt all of your files and then blackmail you for money. This is what all ransomware do. They have been created for the single purpose of bringing profits to their authors and, unfortunately, they have proven themselves very effective in that department. The ransomware we are talking today is no exception. It follows the standard pattern of three steps: Invade, Encrypt, Extort. Let`s explain.
First, it sneaks in your system undetected. You didn’t download it on purpose and yet, it is there. How? It relies on trickery and deception to go around you and to leave you oblivious. One of the ransomware`s most popular tactics is spam email messages. Crooks easily attach their product to a seemingly legitimate email message and you do the rest by not being careful enough. These emails are often disguised as shipping invoices or job applications to fool you.
Don’t be gullible. Delete any message which is from an unknown sender as it usually delivers an infection. Also, stay away from shady pages and unverified torrents. Don’t click open every shiny pop-up ad that comes your way. Moreover, a ransomware can pose as a fake program update to dupe you and you may think you are updating Adobe you are actually installing ransomware. Be more vigilant. All infections pray for your distraction and negligence. Without it, they cannot succeed. So, don’t provide it.
Once the ransomware has entered it is time for the encryption process to begin. The pest scans your machine in search for all of your files and it doesn’t take long before it finds them. Everything you have stored on your PC gets locked. Your pictures, videos, music, documents, files, work-related data, etc. get encrypted and hence inaccessible to you. The ransomware keeps them hostage you are no longer able to use them in any way. We suppose you have some incredibly important information on your machine. Most people do. And now, it has been turned into unusable gibberish. Moreover, to solidify its hold over your data the ransomware also appends a pesky extension at the end of each locked files. Seeing your files renamed means that the file-locking process has finished.
Everything is encrypted and there is nothing you can do unless you have made backups of your most valuable data. If you have, you would be able to restore it safely but you need to remove the pest first. So, keep reading. Once the parasite renders all of your data useless, it makes its final move. It drops payment instructions in each folder containing encrypted files as well as on your desktop. According to these instructions if you want your data back you have to pay a ransom. The crooks promise to send you a special decryption tool once you make the payment. But think about that for a second. Do you have any guarantees that the hackers will actually deliver? No. They may send you a decryptor which doesn’t work. Don’t take that chance as you will end up double-crossed. And even if you pay and they send you the right tool, it only removes the encryption, not the infection.
The ransomware remains on your PC ready to strike again. Your files can get re-encrypted hours after having freed them. That’s why you need to get rid of the pest first. Clean your PC and then try retrieving your data. Paying is not an option. It is a lose-lose situation for you and a win-win one for the crooks. They don’t only get your money to use for more malware creation but they also get access to your privacy. You grant them access by paying. So, don’t. Instead, use our detailed removal guide below. It is easy to follow and it will help you remove the ransomware for good.
“All your files have been encrypted” Ransomware Removal
Method 1: Restore your encrypted files using ShadowExplorer
Usually, “All your files have been encrypted” 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 “All your files have been encrypted” 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:
