Remove CryptoMix ransomware and Recover Encrypted Files

How to Delete CryptoMix ransomware easily

CryptoMix ransomware is a data-encrypting malware that locks the targeted files and makes it inaccessible for the users. This malware can add several different additional extension names on the targeted files. Some of the example is .arena, .shark, .wallet, .noob, .error, .pirate, .zero, .rmd, .lesli and so on. It deliver two of the ransom note namely HELP_YOUR_FILES.TEXT or #_RESTORING_FILES_#.TXT. This ransom note delivers the basic information about the encryption. This ransom note is stored in every folder containing the encrypted files.

Every message given by CryptoMix ransomware informs about the data encryption. They demand to pay ransom money to the developers in exchange of the decryption key. Technically, it uses RSA-2048 encrypting cipher for data encryption.  This is an asymmetric algorithm method that generates one public and one private encryption key during encryption. The private key is stored to a remote server which could only be accessed by the developer. You are asked to pay random of 5 Bitcoins which is equal to $2240. An email ID is provided in order to make communication and to get any further instruction.

The ransom note presented by CryptoMix ransomware

“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 –

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 5 files for free decryption. The total size of files must be less than 10Mb

 (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.

http://localbitcoins.com/buy_bitcoins

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

http://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.”

As mentioned earlier, there are various version of CryptoMix ransomware and all of them have same motive. They encrypt your personal files and extort money. They try to convince you that paying the ransom money is the only solution. In order to convince and win your trust, it agrees to decrypt 1-2 files of your choice for free. However, when you pay the demanded ransom money, you don’t get anything in return. Actually you can’t trust cyber-criminals that they are going to help you in any situation.

How to Recover the Encrypted Files

As mentioned earlier, you should not pay any ransom money to the cyber-criminals. This is a spam and eventually leads to huge financial loss. As soon as you notice that your files have been encrypted, your first aim should be remove all the related payload and files and uninstall the infection. Once the malware is removed, you can begin the data recovery process.

The easiest way to recover the encrypted files is to use the backup data. This backup files should be stored in some external storage. The other way is to use the “Shadow Volume Copies” which is the temporary backup files created by the OS for recently deleted files. In case if any kind of backup files are not available then you have to rely on a third-party data recovery tool. With the help of strong scanning algorithm and programming logics, you can retrieve the damaged and deleted files.

Important Note: Before using any of the data recovery method, it is important that all the payloads and files associated with CryptoMix ransomware are removed. If not then the recovered files will get damaged or encrypted once again.

How CryptoMix ransomware Get Inside the PC?

There are a lot of ways and tricks used by cyber-criminals in order to intrude ransowmare payloads and files in the marked PC. The most popular of them are software bundling, social engineering, peer-to-peer file sharing networks, spam email attachments, unsafe hyperlinks and so on. Any novice users with less technical knowledge or computer security skills get easily get trapped.

All these method are deceiving. Hence you have to be very careful while using the work-station. Don’t visit unsafe domains and URLs. Don’t download random flies and programs. Always choose advance or custom installation method while downloading any programs so that you can see the additional hidden files and stop its attack. In order to get complete protection in real-time, it is important that you have proper security settings and use a powerful anti-malware tool.

Antimalware Details And User Guide

Click Here For Windows

Click Here For Mac

Step 1: Remove CryptoMix ransomware through “Safe Mode with Networking”

Step 2: Delete CryptoMix ransomware using “System Restore”

Step 1: Remove CryptoMix 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 CryptoMix ransomware using “System Restore”

Log-in to the account infected with CryptoMix 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 CryptoMix 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 CryptoMix 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 CryptoMix 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 CryptoMix 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 CryptoMix 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 CryptoMix 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 CryptoMix 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 CryptoMix 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.