How to remove Hard Ransomware

Hard Ransomware encrypts data and demands ransom payment for decryption

Hard Ransomware is also known as ‘hard File Virus’ or ‘.hard File Extension Ransomware’. This nasty file virus is designed to encrypt all types of files including images, audios, videos, games, pdf, ppt, xlx, css, html, text, documents, databases and other formats of files stored in your computer. During encryption process, it modifies each file by appending ‘.hard’ File Extension. For example, it renames ‘1.png’ filename to ‘1.png.hard’. After encryption process is finished, ‘RESTORE_FILES_INFO.txt’ text files as ransom notes are dropped into each folder of computer that contains encrypted files.

The text presented in ‘RESTORE_FILES_INFO.txt’ ransom note states that all files of your computer hard drive have been encrypted for some reasons, and you need to establish the contact with cybercriminals via email ID [email protected] or [email protected], or Jabber [email protected]. It claims that in order to renames encrypted files manually, uninstall this ransomware, or use third parties’ decryption software, you will lose your all personal files & folders stored in computer permanently. It also claims that the decryption is possible only when you to purchase its decryption keys/software.

Hard Ransomware’s ransom note instructs you to send the assigned ID via provided email address. As proof that they have right decryption keys/tools, they initially provide free decryption keys for some encrypted files. After free decryption test successful, it forces you to pay certain amount of extortion money to decrypt all files. After contacting the cybercriminals, you receive payment details like amount of cryptocurrency you have to pay and where to pay, what cryptocurrency wallet address to use to make payment. But it is bogus at all.

Keep in mind that attackers behind Hard Ransomware attack are not going to decrypt your files even when ransom money is paid. So, you should avoid contacting the cybercriminals behind this malware, and stop paying extortion money to them for decryption keys. Paying ransom money may result in financial losses. If you really want to decrypt your files, then you should at first try to remove Hard Ransomware related malicious files in computer. After malware or ransomware removal, you can go with data recovery solution.

How did get Hard Ransomware in computer?

In most cases, Ransomware or malware like HelpYou ransomware, NASAcry ransomware and DearCry Ransomware are distributed through Malspam Campaign or Email Spam Campaign. Scammers or malware programmers send spam emails in your mailbox which contain some false-positive messages along with suspicious hyperlinks or attachments. The hyperlinks presented in spam emails are designed to redirect you to phishing/scam websites that run certain codes to install malware or viruses in computer. The attachments can be Microsoft office documents, PDF, RAR, ZIP, JavaScript or other formats of files. The attachments presented in spam emails execute or enable certain scripts to download/install malware or viruses in computer. For example, Microsoft Office documents 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 or irrelevant emails.

System is already infected with Hard 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 can 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 completed, please check if trouble is resolved or Hard Ransomware related malicious files are removed.

Let’s take a look at ransom note:

Your files are secured…

Contact emails:  [email protected]  and  [email protected] (spare) or jabber [email protected]

Send me your ID in the first email to all specified addresses

Key Identifier:

Antimalware Details And User Guide

Click Here For Windows

Click Here For Mac

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

Step 2: Delete Hard Ransomware using “System Restore”

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

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