How to remove C0v Ransomware: Recover locked files

Easy methods to delete C0v Ransomware in Windows 10/8/7 computer

C0v Ransomware is very dangerous file virus belongs to Dharma Ransomware family. This nasty Dharma Ransomware’s variant is designed to lock all formats of files stored in your computer hard drive including images, audios, videos, games, pdf, ppt, xlx, css, html, text, documents, databases and other formats of files. In other words, you can’t access or open your personal files anymore. It modifies each file by adding unique ID assigned to you, cybercriminals’ email ID, and .c0v File Extension. For example, it renames ‘1.png’ filename to ‘1.png.id-C279F237.[[email protected]].c0v’.

After encryption process is finished, ‘FILES ENCRYPTED.txt’ text files as ransom notes are dropped into each folder of your computer that contains locked files. The text presented in ransom note states that all files stored in your computer hard drive have been locked and requires paying certain amount of extortion money for the decryption. It claims you need to establish the contact with cybercriminals via provided email address. According to them, it is possible to recover/decrypt your all locked files once ransom payment is made within 24 hours after encryption.

The ransom note contains the information about this ransomware, how you can recover/decrypt your locked files, cybercriminals’ email ID, and ransom money details. As proof that they have right decryption keys/software, they can provide some free decryption service for some locked files and can ask you to send 2-3 locked files to provided email ID. After free decryption service successful, they force you to pay certain amount of extortion money in Bitcoin cryptocurrency to decrypt your all locked files. Keep in mind that they are not going to recover your locked files even when ransom payment is made.

So, we recommended you not to pay any amount of extortion money to them for the decryption. Paying ransom money may lead to severe privacy issues, financial losses, or even identity theft. If you really want to recover your locked files, then you should at first try to find and remove C0v Ransomware related files in computer as soon as possible. After malware or ransomware removal, you can go for data recovery solution.

How did you get C0v Ransomware in Windows 10/8/7 computer?

Ransomware-type malware is distributed through spam email campaign or malspam campaign. Cybercriminals or scammers send spam emails in your mailbox which contain some messages along with malicious hyperlinks or attachments. The attachments can be Microsoft Office Documents, PDF, RAR, ZIP, JavaScript or other formats of files. Once opened, it executes certain codes/scripts to download/install malware in your computer. For example, Microsoft Office Documents as malicious attachments infect your computer by enabling malicious macro commands. This way, they can trigger encryption module or ransomware in your computer.

How to protect your system against Ransomware-type malware?

Any attachments or hyperlinks presented in spam emails must not be opened. You should check if ‘Anti-Spam Filter’ feature is enabled in your mail service you use. Some antivirus software also offers ‘Anti-Spam Filter’ feature and it is enabled by default. ‘Anti-Spam Filter’ feature when enabled, all spammy emails will automatically be delivered to ‘Spam’ folder of your mail service. You should never reply to spam or irrelevant emails at any cases. Also, you should keep up-to-date your all software installed in computer including operating system, antivirus software and other software, and run regular system scan for malware or viruses with some powerful antivirus software in computer.

Let’s take a look at ransom note:

All your files have been encrypted!

All your files have been encrypted due to a security problem with your PC. If you want to restore them, write us to the e-mail [email protected]

Write this ID in the title of your message –

In case of no answer in 24 hours write us to theese e-mails:[email protected]

You have to pay for decryption in Bitcoins. The price depends on how fast you write to us. After payment we will send you the decryption tool that will decrypt all your files.

Free decryption as guarantee

Before paying you can send us up to 1 file for free decryption. The total size of files must be less than 1Mb (non archived), and files should not contain valuable information. (databases,backups, large excel sheets, etc.)

How to obtain Bitcoins

The easiest way to buy bitcoins is LocalBitcoins site. You have to register, click ‘Buy bitcoins’, and select the seller by payment method and price.

hxxps://localbitcoins.com/buy_bitcoins

Also you can find other places to buy Bitcoins and beginners guide here:

hxxp://www.coindesk.com/information/how-can-i-buy-bitcoins/

Attention!

Do not rename encrypted files.

Do not try to decrypt your data using third party software, it may cause permanent data loss.

Decryption of your files with the help of third parties may cause increased price (they add their fee to our) or you can become a victim of a scam.

Antimalware Details And User Guide

Click Here For Windows

Click Here For Mac

Step 1: Remove C0v Ransomware through “Safe Mode with Networking”

Step 2: Delete C0v Ransomware using “System Restore”

Step 1: Remove C0v Ransomware through “Safe Mode with Networking”

For Windows XP and Windows 7 users: Boot the PC in “Safe Mode”. Click on “Start” option and continuously press on F8 during the start process until the “Windows Advanced Option” menu appears on the screen. Choose “Safe Mode with Networking” from the list.

Now, a windows homescreen appears on the desktop and work-station is now working on “Safe mode with networking”.

For Windows 8 Users: Go to the “Start Screen”. In the search results select settings, type “Advanced”. In the “General PC Settings” option, choose “Advanced startup” option. Again, click on the “Restart Now” option. The work-station boots to “Advanced Startup Option Menu”. Press on “Troubleshoot” and then “Advanced options” button.  In the “Advanced Option Screen”, press on “Startup Settings”. Again, click on “Restart” button. The work-station will now restart in to the “Startup Setting” screen. Next is to press F5 to boot in Safe Mode in Networking.

For Windows 10 Users: Press on Windows logo and on the “Power” icon. In the newly opened menu, choose “Restart” while continuously holding “Shift” button on the keyboard. In the new open “Choose an option” window, click on “Troubleshoot” and then on the “Advanced Options”. Select “Startup Settings” and press on “Restart”. In the next window, click on “F5” button on the key-board.

Step 2: Delete C0v Ransomware using “System Restore”

Log-in to the account infected with C0v Ransomware. Open the browser and download a legitimate anti-malware tool. Do a full System scanning. Remove all the malicious detected entries.

In case if you cannot start the PC in “Safe Mode with Networking”, Try using “System Restore”

• During the “Startup”, continuously press on F8 key until the “Advanced Option” menu appears. From the list, choose “Safe Mode with Command Prompt” and then press “Enter”

• In the new opened command prompt, enter “cd restore” and then press “Enter”.

• Type: rstrui.exe and Press “ENTER”

• Click “Next” on the new windows

• Choose any of the “Restore Points” and click on “Next”. (This step will restore the work-station to its earlier time and date prior to C0v Ransomware infiltration in the PC.

• In the newly opened windows, press on “Yes”.

Once your PC gets restored to its previous date and time, download the recommended anti-malware tool and perform a deep scanning in order to remove C0v Ransomware files if they left in the work-station.

In order to restore the each (separate) file by this ransomware, use “Windows Previous Version” feature. This method is effective when “System Restore Function” is enabled in the work-station.

Important Note: Some variants of C0v Ransomware delete the “Shadow Volume Copies” as well hence this feature may not work all the time and is applicable for selective computers only.

How to Restore Individual Encrypted File:

In order to restore a single file, right click on it and go to “Properties”. Select “Previous Version” tab. Select a “Restore Point” and click on “Restore” option.

In order to access the files encrypted by C0v Ransomware, you can also try using “Shadow Explorer”. In order to get more information on this application, press here.

Important: Data Encryption Ransomware are highly dangerous and it is always better that you take precautions to avoid its attack on your work-station. It is advised to use a powerful anti-malware tool in order to get protection in real-time. With this help of “SpyHunter”, “group policy objects” are implanted in the registries in order to block harmful infections like C0v Ransomware.

Also, In Windows 10, you get a very unique feature called “Fall Creators Update” that offer “Controlled Folder Access” feature in order to block any kind of encryption to the files. With the help of this feature, any files stored in the locations such as “Documents”, “Pictures”, “Music”, “Videos”, “Favorites” and “Desktop” folders are safe by default.

It is very important that you install this “Windows 10 Fall Creators Update” in your PC to protect your important files and data from ransomware encryption. The more information on how to get this update and add an additional protection form rnasomware attack has been discussed here.

How to Recover the Files Encrypted by C0v Ransomware?

Till now, you would have understood that what had happed to your personal files that got encrypted and how you can remove the scripts and payloads associated with C0v Ransomware in order to protect your personal files that has not been damaged or encrypted until now. In order to retrieve the locked files, the depth information related to “System Restore” and “Shadow Volume Copies” has already been discussed earlier. However, in case if you are still unable to access the encrypted files then you can try using a data recovery tool.

Use of Data Recovery Tool

This step is for all those victims who have already tries all the above mentioned process but didn’t find any solution. Also it is important that you are able to access the PC and can install any software. The data recovery tool works on the basis of System scanning and recovery algorithm. It searches the System partitions in order to locate the original files which were deleted, corrupted or damaged by the malware. Remember that you must not re-install the Windows OS otherwise the “previous” copies will get deleted permanently. You have to clean the work-station at first and remove C0v Ransomware infection. Leave the locked files as it is and follow the steps mentioned below.

Step1: Download the software in the work-station by clicking on the “Download” button below.

Step2: Execute the installer by clicking on downloaded files.

Step3: A license agreement page appears on the screen. Click on “Accept” to agree with its terms and use. Follow the on-screen instruction as mentioned and click on “Finish” button.

Step4: Once the installation gets completed, the program gets executed automatically. In the newly opened interface, select the file types that you want to recover and click on “Next”.

Step5: You can select the “Drives” on which you want the software to run and execute the recovery process. Next is to click on the “Scan” button.

Step6: Based on drive you select for scanning, the restore process begins. The whole process may take time depending on the volume of the selected drive and number of files. Once the process gets completed, a data explorer appears on the screen with preview of that data that is to be recovered. Select the files that you want to restore.

Step7. Next is to locate the location where you want to saver the recovered files.