How To Remove Builder ransomware And Restore Infected Files

Simple Steps To Delete Builder ransomware From Computer

Builder ransomware is a deadly crypto-virus that was first spotted by dnwls0719. It tends to encrypt users’ crucial files and data stored inside their PCs and then ask victims to pay the attackers an amount of ransom to get the decryption software. Belonging to the family of Hakbit ransomware, this hazardous file-encoding malware is capable of targeting almost all kinds of data including images, videos, audios, PDFs, documents etc. and making them completely inaccessible or unusable. All your important files and documents are locked by a strong encryption algorithm and can only opened by using a decryption tool that you will have to buy from the attackers. All the compromised files can be easily identified as this notorious threat appends “.builder” extension with the name of each of them.

Once the encryption process is completed, Builder ransomware leaves a ransom note titled “HELP_ME_RECOVER_MY_FILES.txt” on the desktop and informs you about the unpleasant situation. You are also asked to contact the attackers via the email addresses provided with the note to get more details. Hackers demand a ransom amount of 0.5 BTC to get the decryption software which you will have to transfer in crooks’ BitCoins account. Initially upon getting installed, this hazardous Ransomware scans the entire PC in search of the files that are in its target list and once detected, locks them eventually.

Text Presented In The Ransom Note:

Atention! all your important files were encrypted!

to get your files back send 0.5 Bitcoin and contact us with proof of payment and your Unique Identifier Key.

We will send you a decryption tool with your personal decryption password.

Where can you buy Bitcoins:

hxxps://www.coinbase.com

hxxps://localbitcoins.com

Contact: [email protected].

Bitcoin wallet to make the transfer to is:

1Kex5QmBGtJLDagn3o2p1yoqyKn2A6EFG9

Unique Identifier Key (must be sent to us together with proof of payment):

————

–

————

Number of files that you could have potentially lost forever can be as high as: 970

Should You pay the Ransom?

Although, it is true that data locked by Builder ransomware can’t be opened without using the decryption software but still, you should not make any sort of payment to the hackers. Remember, the only motive of such criminals is to extort illicit revenues from the victimized users; they will not decrypt your files even after taking the extortion. According to the reports, such types of attackers often disappear once the payment is made or deliver rogue application to the victims in the name of decryption tool which only harms the machine badly upon getting installed. And hence, never consider dealing with the crooks under any circumstance and try to remove Builder ransomware from the system without wasting any time.

Ways to Recover The Infected Files:

In order to deal with such hazardous situation, you should keep making frequent backups by the help of which, you can easily retrieve the compromised data. However, in the absence of an appropriate backup, you should use an authentic file-recovery application which you can download right here through the link given under this article.

Other Harmful Traits of This Virus:

It has been found to be capable of disabling all the running security measures and Windows Firewalls and opening backdoors for more notorious infections. It may easily bring other Online parasites such as rootkits, worms, adware, spyware, trojan etc. in your computer and turn the device into a malware-hub. Apart from locking your crucial files, Builder ransomware also creates tons of junk files in the hard drive of the machine which consumes huge amount of memory resources and downgrades the overall PC performance severely. Due to this, system begins responding slower than ever before and takes more than usual time to complete any task. This perilous crypto-threat alters the default registry settings by making vicious entries in it which allows the virus to get automatically activated with each Window reboot. However, this act brings several nasty issues in your computer such as boot errors, application malfunctioning, frequent system crash, hard drive failure and so on.

Quick Glance

Name: Builder ransomware

Type: Ransomware, Crypto-virus

Description- Destructive malware that aims to encrypt users’ crucial files and then ask them to pay off for the decryption key/tool.

Extension- “.builder”

Ransom demanding message: “HELP_ME_RECOVER_MY_FILES.txt”

Attackers’ Contact- “[email protected]”

BitCoins’ Wallet Address- 1Kex5QmBGtJLDagn3o2p1yoqyKn2A6EFG9

Symptoms: Users can not open files available on their desktop, previously functional files now have different extensions, A ransom demanding message is displayed on the desktop screen. Users are asked to pay an amount of ransom to unlock their encoded data and files.

Distribution methods: Torrent websites, 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.

How Does This Threat Enter Your System:

Opening spam email attachments, using infected removal devices, playing Online games, watching adult movies, sharing peer to peer network, etc. are prime reasons behind its intrusion into the targeted PCs. And hence, you need to be very cautious while surfing the Internet and stay away from these vicious sources to keep the device harmless and secured. Ignore suspicious emails coming from unknown source as it may contain malevolent attachment and lead to the virus intrusion the moment you click on it. In case you are among those users who are already suffering from the attack of this malware, you must remove Builder ransomware from the PC as soon as possible.

Antimalware Details And User Guide

Click Here For Windows

Click Here For Mac

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

Step 2: Delete Builder ransomware using “System Restore”

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

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