I wrote this article to help you remove RotorCrypt Ransomware. This RotorCrypt Ransomware removal guide works for all Windows versions.
One of the newest members of the big ransomware family is the so-called RotorCrypt Ransomware. For now, it is known to be targeting mainly Russian users but this doesn’t mean you cannot be infected in any part of the world. Because you can. One of the worst thinks about cyber infections is that distance doesn’t bother them. The RotorCrypt Ransomware is a file-encrypting cyber plague and it will cause you a ton of issues if you have in on board. It is also believed by researchers to have something in common with the Rotor Virus as they both use the same algorithm to lock victims` files. And their names are suspiciously similar as well. The main point it that you are stuck with one very dangerous parasite and you should get rid of it as soon as possible. It is for your own good.
As a ransomware, RotorCrypt follows a pretty standard pattern. First, it sneaks in your system completely unnoticed and immediately proceeds to lock your files. It performs a scan on your machine to locate all of your sensitive data and then it encrypts it using a strong RSA algorithm. All of your files fall victims to RotorCrypt. Nothing is beyond its reach. All of your photos, videos, music, Word files, presentations, even work-related stuff… They are all locked. RotorCrypt appends the strange “.c400” extension at the end of all locked files. It also corrupts their original formats and changes their names with one of these two email addresses: likbez77777@gmail.com or ELIZABETH7@PROTONMAIL.COM. As a result, your files become useless. Your computer is no longer able to recognize them. It cannot open, or play, or read any of them. This is what the ransomware does and, of course, this is a part of a bigger scheme. You probably see where we are going with this. RotorCrypt keeps your data hostage and blackmails you for money. We finally reached the main goal of all ransomware pieces. Your money.
So, once the encryption process is over and your files have been turned to useless gibberish, only then RotorCrypt reveals itself to you. It displays its ransom note, which it also drops in any folder, which contains locked data. The message is from the crooks behind the parasite giving you detailed information on what has happened and, most importantly, how to pay. RotorCrypt`s ransom note reads the following:
As you can see in the ransom note, the crooks want 7 Bitcoins from you in exchange for freeing your files. Do you know how much money do 7 Bitcoin equal to? Do you know how much money only 1 Bitcoin equals to? Well, 7 Bitcoins are $5000! $5000! This is one of the highest ransom amounts we have ever come across. So, the crooks claim that if you pay them $5000 they will give you the decryptor needed for the files` recovery. But that’s what they say and you cannot trust crooks. There is a high chance they don’t give you anything and you have already paid. Are you willing to risk losing $5000? But the sum is actually not that important. You shouldn’t pay even if they ask for 5 cents. You don’t have to sponsor them and help them develop more infections with your money.
Don’t become a part of their scam and don’t be naïve to think that they will give you a properly working decryptor if you pay, is they give you any at all. Last but not least, by paying you are also granting them access to your private life. You are allowing them to meddle and nothing good could come from this. What you need to do is to ignore this nasty pest`s threats and continues reading. We have provided a removal guide for you (it is at the end of this article) which will not only help you remove RotorCrypt for good but it will also help you recover all of your locked files. And, of course, you don’t have to pay anything. But, a piece of advice, free removal guide are not always available so make sure there won`t be a second attack. Get yourself a legitimate anti-malware software to help you prevent such and others infections in the future.
Also, think of how RotorCrypt managed to get it this time. There are many means of infiltration and it could have used any of them. But the one thing that actually opened it the door to your system was your negligence. The most popular entering tactic are malicious spam emails, which, sometimes, land directly into your regular inbox. Then, if you make the mistake of opening them like most users do, you get infected. Shady looking emails should be deleted right away as, usually, they deliver infections. Other ways of getting in include unverified pages/links/torrents/ads, which you should not click on but the majority of users is careless and they do so. Also, a ransomware could be disguised as a bogus program update or use a Trojan horse to get it. By all means, check your machine for more parasites. And do your best to be more vigilant online and prevent another infection on time.
RotorCrypt Ransomware Uninstall
Method 1: Restore your encrypted files using ShadowExplorer
Usually, RotorCrypt 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 RotorCrypt 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:
