How To Remove Four ransomware (+ Decrypt Encrypted Files)

Tips To Restore Files from Four ransomware

 Four ransomware is the latest version of Dharma Ransomware Family that skill data encryption and receive ransom demands for the decryption.  It was discovered by the cyber- criminal whose main intention is to extort huge ransom money by the phishing innocent users. It encrypted  all personal and System files  of the targeted System and renamed following this pattern: original file name, Unique ID assigned to the victims, cyber criminals email address and the “.four” extension. Once completed the encryption process,  It creates a ransom notes in a pop-up window and “MANUAL.txt” text file.

 

“MANUAL.txt”  text file states that victim data has been locked  by the powerful encryption algorithm In order to decrypt or unlock users are highly advice to establish contact with the cyber-criminal via emails. The text presented in the popup window provides more information. In order to start the recovery Process users must write letter to the listed email address. If there is no response arrive within 12 hours then victim are to use the secondary email. The message end with warning messages which alerting that renaming the encrypted files or attempt to decrypt them with third party tool or software cause permanent data loss.

Text presented in the Four ransomware ‘s pop-up window:

YOUR FILES ARE ENCRYPTED

Don’t worry,you can return all your files!

If you want to restore them, write to the mail: [email protected] YOUR ID –

If you have not answered by mail within 12 hours, write to us by another mail:[email protected]

!ATTENTION!

We recommend you contact us directly to avoid overpaying agents

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.

Do Not Pay Ransom Money:

Paying money to the hacker is too risky there is no any proof they will send decryption tool  just after received ransom money. In most of the cases victims who pay ransom money they got scammed. It is only a trick to makes illegal money through phishing innocent users. So the victim does not trust on them. Once you pay ransom they will demand more. Most of the victim reported that, cyber-criminal close all the way of communication just after received ransom money. Therefore victim can lose their files and money both.

What To Do After Encryption?

Paying money is not guaranteed to recover files. If your system file is already encrypted by this nasty file encryption virus and it demands ransom for the decryption.  Are you really wanted to recover files for free? The only way to recover files without paying money is to remove Four ransomware  completely from System. After completed the removal process, you can try to recover files by using backup. If you don’t have any backup then you can recover your files by using third party recovery software.

How did Four ransomware  infect your PC?

 Four ransomware mostly infect your PC via spam email campaigns, downloading program from unofficial site, update System software from fake updating tool. Spam email campaign contains malicious attachments or downloads links for malicious files. Cyber offender often uses this technique to proliferate malicious infection. They sent thousands of email to the randomly recipients with the aim to open them. When recipients download and open those files or attachments then the malicious scripts executed into the system. Email contains malicious MS Office, PDF documents, zip, archer, java scripts and so on.

Downloading or install System software from unofficial website, with carelessness or without checking custom or advance options cause the installation of some unwanted program that leads infection. Updating System software from fake updating tools such as torrent and host file, peer to peer sharing files through bad network could also bring malware infection.

How To Protect your System from Four ransomware ?

Irrelevant email which seems suspicious and sent from unknown or suspicious address should not be trusted. If any file seems suspicious please do no open it without scanning. It is important to check its grammatical error and spelling mistakes of the email body content. Do not download or install system Software from unofficial and untrustworthy downloader site. Always try to use official and trustworthy download site. It is important to read their terms and license agreements. Software must be updated through official site, relevant sources and direct links. Scan your System with reputable antimalware tool. If your System   is already infected with this nasty infection then we are highly recommended running a scan with automatic removal tool to automatically  remove  Four ransomware from PC.

Antimalware Details And User Guide

Click Here For Windows

Click Here For Mac

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

Step 2: Delete Four ransomware using “System Restore”

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

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