How to remove Greed Ransomware: Restore encrypted data

Greed Ransomware (Xorist Ransomware’s variant) encrypt data and demands ransom payment

Greed Ransomware is also known as ‘.greed File Virus’ or ‘.greed File Extension Ransomware’ belongs to ‘Xorist Ransomware’ family. This new variant of ‘Xorist Ransomware’ operates by encrypting all formats of files stored in computer and demands ransom payment for the decryption. It is able to lock all types of files including images, audios, videos, games, pdf, ppt, xlx, css, html, text, documents, databases, and other types of files. You can’t access or open your personal files anymore due to its dubious behaviors.

During encryption process, Greed Ransomware modifies each file by appending ‘.greed File Extension’. For example, it renames ‘1.png’ filename to ‘1.png.greed’ and after encryption process is completed ‘HOW TO DECRYPT FILES.txt’ text files as ransom notes are dropped into each folders of computer that contain encrypted files. As mentioned, this ransomware is belongs to ‘Xorist Ransomware’ family that is made using powerful encryption algorithm techniques by cybercriminals. It blocks you from accessing or opening your personal files.

The ransom-demanding ransom note ‘HOW TO DECRYPT FILES.txt’ states that all files of your computer hard drive have been locked and you need to pay certain amount of extortion money for the decryption. The ransom note claims you need to purchase decryption keys/software from website that the link in the message leads to. According to developer, you need to pay 80 USD for the decryption and you will be provided with 100 attempts to enter right decryption key. Keep in mind that they don’t provide any right decryption keys or decrypt your files even when ransom payment is made.

So, we recommended you to stop contacting cybercriminals and avoid paying ransom money to them at any cases. Paying ransom money may result in financial losses. So, you should always avoid paying extortion. If you really want to recover all files locked by ransomware, then you should at first try to find and remove Greed Ransomware related malicious files in computer. Once malware or ransomware-type malware removed, you can go with our automatic data recovery solution to restore all files locked by ransomware.

How did you get Greed Ransomware in computer?

Ransomware-type malware is distributed through Trojans, malspam campaign or email spam campaign, unknown/unofficial websites, fake software updaters, installers and downloaders, and other third-party sources. Trojans cause chain infections in computer and spread the copies of itself in computer automatically, and infect your computer deeply. Spam email campaign or malspam campaign is the mostly used mechanism by cybercriminals to spread ransomware-type malware.

Cybercriminals send spam emails in your mail box which contain some malicious attachments or hyperlinks. They use the name & LOGO of some trustworthy companies or organizations in its spam email as proof that they are genuine senders. The hyperlinks presented in spam emails redirect you to phishing/scam webpage that can cause unwanted software or malware downloads/installation. The attachments presented in spam emails execute certain codes to install malware or viruses in computer. So, you should always be alert while browsing internet and avoid opening any attachments or hyperlinks presented in spam emails.

How to protect Windows computer against Greed Ransomware or malware?

As mentioned, attachments or hyperlinks presented in spam emails can cause malware infection once opened. So, you should always try to avoid clicking any hyperlinks or attachments presented in irrelevant or spam emails. Also, any applications must not be downloaded/installed from unsafe/untrustworthy sources. You should always try to download/install any applications from official websites, or via direct & verified links. Additionally, you should have powerful antivirus software installed in computer with latest update that could help to find and remove all threats including latest malware in computer. You should run System scan with powerful security software for malware or viruses regularly.

Let’s take a look at ransom note:

Attention! Your computer has been hacked and now you have to purchase the password at hxxps://bit.ly/3mVZL8p

so you can directly put this address in your browser address bar.

untill you purchase this key{password} you can’t use your files and your computer as well as your all files from exe to zips.

so go to hxxps://bit.ly/3mVZL8p

and purchase the key to unlock your computer.

you have only 100 attempts to enter the password.

Thanks

Antimalware Details And User Guide

Click Here For Windows

Click Here For Mac

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

Step 2: Delete Greed Ransomware using “System Restore”

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

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