How to remove DearCry Ransomware: Restore locked files

DearCry Ransomware encrypts data and demands ransom payment for decryption

DearCry Ransomware is also known as ‘.CRYPT File Extension Ransomware’ that is designed to encrypt all types of files stored in your computer and makes them inaccessible. It is able to lock all formats of files including images, audios, videos, games, pdf, ppt, xlx, css, html, text, documents, databases and other formats of files. During encryption process, it modifies each file by appending ‘.CRYPT’ File Extension. For example, it renames ‘1.png’ filename to ‘1.png.CRYPT’. After encryption process is finished, ‘readme.txt’ text files as ransom notes are dropped onto desktop.

DearCry Ransomware is new ransomware-type malware revealed by Microsoft and explained that cybercriminals behind this malware were compromising ‘Microsoft Exchange Servers’ – Mail and Calendaring servers developed by Microsoft. Hackers attempted hacking into Microsoft Exchange servers using new ‘Zero-Day ProxyLogon Vulnerabilities’. It means attackers are using these vulnerabilities to install ‘DearCry Ransomware’ malware. However, Microsoft has already released the patch to fix the vulnerabilities, but numerous Microsoft Exchange servers remained unpatched at the moment.

Cybercriminals behind this ransomware attempts to gain access to your computer by exploiting bugs like ‘ProxyLogon Vulnerabilities’. Once installed, this malware can lock all formats of files stored in your computer and drops ‘readme.txt’ ransom note on the desktop. The ransom note claims that all files of your computer have been locked and you need to establish the contact with cybercriminals via provided email address. According to ransomware developer, the decryption is possible only when you pay certain amount of ransom money for the decryption to them.

DearCry Ransomware’s ransom note also claims that in order uninstall this ransomware, renames locked files manually, or use third parties’ decryption software, you will lose your all personal files & folders of your computer permanently. However, paying ransom money to cybercriminals for the decryption is not right option at all. Keep in mind that they are not going to decrypt your files at any cases even when ransom money is paid. If you really want to decrypt your files, then you should at first try to find and remove DearCry Ransomware related malicious files in computer.

After malware or ransomware removal, you can try to restore your locked files. One possible solution to recover all locked files by ransomware is to restore them from a backup. If you have strong backup of your all personal files or data on some safe external storage media like external HDD (hard disk drive), USB flash drive, or other storage media, or on cloud storage, then you can easily restore your files from backup. If backup is not available, then you can try our automatic data recovery solution.

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

Ransomware-type malware like Tirp Ransomware, Restore19 ransomware and ROG ransomware are distributed through spam email campaign or malspam campaign. Scammers or malware programmers deliver spam emails in your mailbox which contain some messages along with suspicious hyperlinks or attachments. The hyperlinks presented in irrelevant or spam emails are designed to redirect you to phishing/scam websites that run certain scripts to install malware or viruses like DearCry Ransomware in your computer. The attachments presented in spam emails execute certain scripts or malware to infect your computer. These attachments can be Microsoft Office documents, PDF, RAR, JavaScript or other formats of files. Once opened, it can execute encryption module and starts locking your files stored in computer. For example, Microsoft office documents as malicious attachments infect computer by enabling malicious macro commands. So, you should be alert while surfing online and avoid opening any attachments or hyperlinks presented in spam emails.

System is already infected with DearCry Ransomware: What next?

If your computer is already infected with Trojans, worms, ransomware, or other malware, then you can go with our automatic method of malware removal to get rid of it. This method offers you to find all types of malware or viruses in computer with some powerful antivirus software, and then you can delete all detected malware with just single-click. After System scan is finished, please check if problem is resolved or DearCry Ransomware related malware is removed.

Let’s take a look at ransom note:

Your file has been encrypted!

                         If you want to decrypt, please contact us.

                         [email protected] or [email protected]

                         And please send me the following hash!

                         638428e5021d4ae247b21acf9c0bf6f6

Antimalware Details And User Guide

Click Here For Windows

Click Here For Mac

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

Step 2: Delete DearCry Ransomware using “System Restore”

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

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