I wrote this article to help you remove .Wallet File Extension. This .Wallet File Extension removal guide works for all Windows versions.
One more ransomware has recently appeared on the ransomware stage. It is dreaded. It is greedy. And like any other, it aims at your bank account. Out of all infection types, you could possibly get stuck with, you have the worst one. These data-locking cyber threats are completely devastating. They go out of their way to get to your money. This is their main goal. This particular ransomware piece appends the “.Wallet” extension to the end of each locked file and it pretty much follows the same pattern like all ransomware infections. Invade. Encrypt. Extort. You have to act fast and, most importantly, don’t give in to panic. That’s exactly what crooks want.
First of all, it slithers in your system completely undetected and then, it doesn’t waste any time. It starts working immediately by performing a quick scan on your machine looking for sensitive files to lock. it doesn’t take long before it finds them all. Any file you have on your PC gets locked. For example, pictures, music, videos, documents, Word files, work-related files, etc. It goes without saying that there might be some extremely important files among the encrypted ones. After it finds what it has been looking for, the encryption process begins.
This ransomware uses a strong encryption algorithm to lock your data. Also, it doesn’t encrypt the originals of the files. It creates copies, encrypts them and then deletes the originals. So in the end what you are left with are just inaccessible copies which your PC is unable to read. The ransomware has modified them by appending the above-mentioned “.Wallet” extension. For instance, a file named “christmas.jpg”, after encryption becomes “christmas.jpg.Wallet”. Do you now see what we meant by “don’t give in to panic”? In a situation like this, when all of your data has been turned into gibberish, it is very easy to panic. Especially, after you see the ransomware`s next step – the blackmail.
After the locking process is complete, the parasite drops a note for you. It is a “.txt”, “.html” or a “.bmp” file, which is dropped in each folder containing locked data. Your Desktop wallpaper gets replaced as well. This message is from the crooks who are trying to scare even more. A standard ransom note usually reads that all of your files have been encrypted and there is only one way of getting them back and that’s the decryption tool. As you can imagine, this tool doesn’t come for free. It is exactly the thing you are supposed to pay for. Also, in the note, there are payment instructions as well as contact information for you to get in touch with the crooks. Normally, the sum you have to pay for the said decryptor varies from 0.5 Bitcoin (356 USD) to 1.5 Bitcoin (1097 USD). This is not a small amount. Especially when you are not sure what you will get in return.
Dealing with crooks is a risky business. Most of the times when a victim has decided to pay, they don’t receive anything. Not a decryptor, no nothing. Even if they do send you the tool, it may not work properly. Or imagine another scenario which is also possible. You pay, they send you the tool, it works, and you unlock all your data, but then what? The infection remains in your system and it can strike again anytime it wants. The only way of dealing with this whole mess it to remove the infection for good. Forget paying as an option. You may not only end up double-crossed, but you also sponsor the crooks business with your money. And, most importantly, you grant them access to your private life. Don’t even consider paying. It will only worsen your already awful situation.
Luckily, we have provided a removal guide, which you can use to get rid of this nasty ransomware. It is absolutely free and aside from removing the infection, it will also help you recover your files. You can find it at the end of this article. But remember. Removal guides like this are not always available. You have to make sure that there won’t be another ransomware infection or any other cyber threat. Take measures. So you know how this ransomware ended on your system? Usually, crooks use spam email attachments to deliver their products and, sometimes, these emails land directly into your regular inbox. With this, they job is done and it is up to you to let this pest in. If you are careless and open every email you get without thinking twice about it, you may invite the infection with one click. Suspicious emails and emails from unknown senders must be deleted right away.
Another incision tactics ransomware use are Exploit Kits, corrupted torrents/links/pages/ads, fake program updates, freeware/shareware bundles, etc. Sometimes a ransomware hitches a ride with another infection, like a Trojan horse. No matter what the entering tactic is, in the end, usually, you are the one who lets the pest in. Either by not paying attention, or by skipping installation steps, or by visiting shady pages. Your negligence is what all infections, not only ransomware, need the most. Don’t provide it. Be vigilant and keep yourself safe.
.Wallet File Extension Removal
Method 1: Restore your encrypted files using ShadowExplorer
Usually, .Wallet File Extension 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 .Wallet File Extension 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:
