Remove Horizon ransomware And Recover Locked Files

Proper Guide To Delete Horizon ransomware

Horizon ransomware is a destructive file-encrypting virus which has infected a number of Windows computers all around the world. It’s a new member of Voidcrypt ransomware family and encrypts files and documents stored inside a compromised device using a strong cryptography as soon as it enters the machine. It also renames the locked data on this pattern: original filename, attackers email address, unique ID and the “.Horizon” extension. After that, the infected files become unusable for the victims and can only be opened by using decryption tools which allegedly only attackers can provide.

Depth Analysis Of Horizon ransomware:

Once the encryption process is completed, Horizon ransomware creates a ransom note named “!INFO.HTA” and drops it in each affected folder. This note informs victims about the unpleasant situation and also instructs them to purchase the decryption tools from the criminals. The price of the tool is not listed; however, it will be doubled after 48 hours. Also, the payment has to be done in BitCoins cryptocurrency.

For more details, victims will have to contact the Horizon ransomware authors via the provided email addresses. They can also test the decryption by sending an unspecified number of infected files to the hackers. Those files should be small in size and should not contain any valuable information. Criminals will decode them and send them back to prove that the decryption is possible.

What To Do After The Attack?

Cyber security analysts strongly recommend victims staying away from contacting the criminals and making any sort of payment to such people. To restore the data locked by Horizon ransomware, you should look for other possible ways. Paying ransom to hackers doesn’t assure that they will provide you the required tool even after taking the extortion. There are several instances when crooks just disappeared once the payment is made and caused victims to lose both files as well as money. And hence, never trust on such people no matter what situation is.

How To Restore The Locked Files?

Here in such pernicious circumstance, the first thing you need to do is to perform Horizon ransomware from the computer as early as possible. For data-recovery, you should use backups that you have saved on any external drive. In its absence, you can try a powerful file-recovery application that you can download right here (link provided under this article). Dealing with the criminals is not a clever thing to do under any circumstance as it will only encourage them to create and spread more such viruses for future profits.

Quick Glance

Name: Horizon ransomware

Type: Ransomware, File-encrypting malware, Crypto-virus

Short Description: Precarious virus which encrypts files and then asks victims to pay the attackers a hefty sum of ransom to get the decryption software/key.

Extension:  .Horizon (files are also appended with a unique ID and attackers’ email address)

Ransom Notes: !INFO.HTA

Attackers’ Contact: [email protected] and [email protected]

Symptoms: Encrypted files become inaccessible and useless stored inside the infected PCs, previous functional data now have different extension, a ransom demanding message is put on each affected folder. Users are asked to pay an amount of ransom to unlock their encrypted files.

Distribution methods: Spam emails, peer to peer network sharing, unofficial activation and updating tools.

Damage: All files are encrypted and cannot be accessed without paying ransom, Additional password stealing Trojans and malware infections can be installed along with ransomware infections and other malware.

Removal: To remove this virus from the system, we advise you to use a reliable anti-malware tool. Once malware gets removed, you can recover your files by using existing backup or data-recovery software.

Infiltration of Horizon ransomware:

These file-encoding viruses are most commonly distributed through malspam campaign. During this, thousands of phishing emails are sent by cyber hackers that are represented as “official” or “important”. However, these mails usually contain download links of malicious files or the files are just attached to them. Vicious files can be in several formats such as PDF and Microsoft Office documents, archives, executables, JavaScript, etc. As soon as these attachments are executed, it leads to the installation of malware.

Therefore, scan email’s attachment with a reputable anti-malware tool before opening them whenever you get one from unknown senders. The dubious mails are specially designed in a manner that they can trick recipients into downloading their attachments. Additionally, you should activate and update any programs using tools provided by legitimate developers since illegal activation tools (“cracks”) and third-party updaters often trigger virus intrusion. In case your system is already infected with this parasite, you must remove Horizon ransomware from the machine without wasting any time.

Text Presented In The Ransom Note:

!!! Your Files Has Been Encrypted !!!

♦ your files has been locked with highest secure cryptography algorithm ♦

♦ there is no way to decrypt your files without paying and buying Decryption tool♦

♦ but after 48 hour decryption price will be double♦

♦ you can send some little files for decryption test♦

♦ test file should not contain valuable data♦

♦ after payment you will get decryption tool ( payment Should be with Bitcoin)♦

♦ so if you want your files dont be shy feel free to contact us and do an agreement on price♦

♦ !!! or Delete you files if you dont need them !!!

♦

Your ID :-

our Email :[email protected]

In Case Of No Answer :[email protected]

Antimalware Details And User Guide

Click Here For Windows

Click Here For Mac

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

Step 2: Delete Horizon ransomware using “System Restore”

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

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