How To Remove CONTI Ransomware And Restore Infected Files

Simple Steps To Delete CONTI Ransomware From Computer

CONTI Ransomware is a kind of destructive file-encoding virus that has been specially designed by a group of potent Cyber criminals for evil purpose. The main motive of this crypto-malware is to hold users’ important files and data such as images, videos, audios, PDFs, documents etc. and only release the decryption tool if the victimized users agree to pay a sum of ransom to the attackers. Users infected with this hazardous malware find out about the demands in a ransom note which is called “CONTI_README.txt”. This text file is dropped into each folder where the compromised data is located. You cab easily determine such files as this nasty parasite appends “.CONTI” extension with the name of each of them.

According to the research, CONTI Ransomware locks your essential files using a powerful cryptography, preventing users from accessing it. The ransom note includes couple of email addresses in order to contact the attackers and get further details. Crooks state that the only way to to regain access to the locked data is by using the decryption software that you will have to buy from them. You might have to pay a ransom amount of $200 to $1500 to the criminals in BitCoins, you are promised that once the payment is made, you will be delivered the necessary tool. At the end of the note, you are warned not to rename the files or attempt to access them via third-party software, otherwise you may loss the data completely.

Text Presented in The Ransom note:

Your system is LOCKED. Write us on the emails:

[email protected]
[email protected]

DO NOT TRY to decrypt files using other software.

Should You Pay The Ransom?

Although, it is true that data encoded by CONTI Ransomware can’t be opened without using the decryptor but still, experts highly advise staying away from hackers and not contacting them via “[email protected]” and “[email protected]”. There are various instances where users did not receive the required tool even after paying the ransom. Therefore, making payment to the hackers is always a risk, as loss of money along with loss of crucial data might be annihilating fro you. Instead, you need to remove CONTI Ransomware from the computer immediately by scanning the device with anti-malware program.

How To Restore The Infected Files?

As we have already mentioned, hackers often disappear after taking the ransom and cause victims to lose both files as well a money. And hence, you should never trust on the criminals under any circumstance. One of the alternatives to paying attackers is trying data recovery software, you can get the recovery solution and download the program through the link given under this article.

Distribution tactics used by ransomware developers:

According to the experts, there are multiple deceptive sources from which crypto-viruses might reach your system. However, the most popular places from where you might get such infections are odd websites such as email spam, gaming, gambling, p2p networks and porn web pages. To protect your computer from such attackers, you need to be very cautious while surfing the web. Delete all messages that have fallen to your spam section and cautiously manage all the mails in your inbox sector that means acknowledging the sender, detecting possible grammar errors and scanning attachments with AV.

Moreover, stay away from web pages that are supported by third-parties as they are generally sources that miss protection and allow Cyber actors to plant malevolent objects into unprotected hyperlinks and similar locations. Also, download reliable anti-malware tool if you don’t have in your PC system. Purchase a tool that includes several cautionary features and keep it updating it from time to time. But at the moment, just follow the simple steps given below and remove CONTI Ransomware from the work-station as early as possible.

Other Harmful Properties of CONTI Ransomware:

CONTI Ransomware makes vicious entries in Windows registries and changes its current settings in order to get automatically activated with each Window reboot. It messes with vital system files which assure efficient computer functioning and prevents many running apps as well as drivers from working normally. It has ability to deactivate all the running security measures and Windows Firewalls and make the PC vulnerable for more notorious infections. It might bring other Online parasites such as adware, trojans, rootkits, worms, spyware etc. in your work-station and turn the device into a malware-hub. Besides encoding your essential files, CONTI Ransomware also creates numerous junk files in the internal memory of your system which consume enormous amount of memory resources and drag down the overall PC performance severely.

Threat Details

Name- CONTI Ransomware

Type- Ransomware, Crypto-virus

Description- Hazardous parasite which tends to encrypt users’ essential files and then ask them to pay off for the decryption key.

Extension- “.CONTI”

Ransom Note- “CONTI_README.txt”

Attackers’ contact- “[email protected]” and “[email protected]”

Symptoms- All of your important files and data are locked and can’t be opened without using a private key.

Distribution-Spam email campaigns, Executable files etc.

Damage- Causes permanent data loss and can also drop other pernicious infections onto the compromised device.

Removal- Manual and automatic guidelines as provided under this article

Remove CONTI Ransomware From System:

If your PC is infected with this hazardous file-encoding malware and all your sensitive files and data have been encrypted, then it’s really a critical situation. If this ransomware doesn’t get removed from the work-station instantly, then it could lead to several other pernicious issues. It can modify your system’s settings, steal your personal and confidential information, expose your sensitive details to Cyber criminals and corrupt your entire machine. The guide given below will help you how to remove CONTI Ransomware from the PC completely and keep the device safe and secured.

Antimalware Details And User Guide

Click Here For Windows

Click Here For Mac

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

Step 2: Delete CONTI Ransomware using “System Restore”

Step 1: Remove CONTI 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 CONTI Ransomware using “System Restore”

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