How To Remove HCK Ransomware And Recover Infected Files

Simple Steps To Delete HCK Ransomware From Computer

HCK Ransomware is a kind of dangerous crypto demanding malware that encrypts users’ crucial files and documents and then asks them to pay off for the decryption tool. Being an invasive and notorious parasite, it often infiltrates into the targeted computer silently without users’ approval and after that, it immediately stops the security application. This deadly ransomware creates its copies and adds to registry so that it can activate itself automatically every time the device is rebooted. After that, it performs a deep scanning of all the folders in search of the files that are in its target list and once detected, locks them at the end.

Depth Analysis of HCK Ransomware:

HCK Ransomware is a nasty file-encrypting virus that was first discovered by Jakub Kroustek and belongs to the Dharma ransomware  family. It uses a powerful encryption algorithm to encrypt users’ videos, audios, documents, images, PDFs, databases etc. and makes them completely inaccessible or unusable. You can easily identify the compromised data as it appends “.HCK” extension with each of them as suffix. This deadly crypto-threat locks users’ files just only for financial purposes because after completing the encryption process, it asks the affected people to pay the attackers a large amount of ransom fee.

HCK Ransomware often displays ransom notes in a pop-up window and “FILES ENCRYPTED.txt” file that inform victims about the attack and also include instruction on how to establish contact with criminals and pay them ransom. The ransom amount is not listed in the note but it might be in the range of $200 to $1500 that has to be paid in BitCoins or any other digital currency. The message also warns users that renaming the infected files or trying to decrypt them with third-party tools may cause permanent data loss.

Text Presented In The Pop-up Window:

YOUR FILES ARE ENCRYPTED

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

If you want to restore them, follow this link:email [email protected] YOUR ID 1E857D00

If you have not been answered via the link within 12 hours, write to us by e-mail:[email protected]

Attention!

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.

Text Presented in The “FILES ENCRYPTED.txt” File:

all your data has been locked us

You want to return?

write email [email protected] or [email protected]

Should You Pay The Ransom?

HCK Ransomware has been specially designed with the motive to scare the affected users and force them to pay the extortion. It puts your files on hostage and demands ransom to return those files. But now the question here is should you deal with the attackers? Well, the answer is simple- you should never consider making any sort of payment to the crooks no matter what situation is. As we have already mentioned, the purpose of such hackers is to extort illicit money from the victims. You have absolutely no guarantee that they will decode your files even after taking the ransom. There are multiple instances when crooks just disappeared once the payment is made and caused victims to lose both files as well as money.

What Should The Victims Do?

If you an affected person, the first thing you need to here is to delete HCK Ransomware from the computer without wasting any time. The longer this nasty file-encoding malware stays inside your PC, it keeps infecting your others essential files. As far as restoring the infected files is concerned, you should use a powerful data-recovery tool that you can download right here through the link given under this article. Moreover, you should keep making frequent backups by the help of which, you can easily restore the compromised files in such pernicious situation.

HCK Ransomware Gets Spread With the Help of Malicious Files:

The main vectors utilized by ransomware developers include spiteful files in the form of executables, PDFs, documents, pirated content, cracks and cheatcodes. The malicious script can be easily added on the common files and dropped directly to the PC when the spam email attachment is opened and downloaded or the pirated application gets installed. The specific family we are discussing here is known for using torrent networks, pirated services and similar sites or corrupt pages to drop virus. Freeware software, NBA video games and multiple other such games, cheatcodes, cracks, Adobe packages etc. are involve spiteful files.

How To Prevent Such Attacks?

To prevent the system from being infected by HCK Ransomware or other similar crypto-viruses, you need to be very attentive while browsing the net and avoid getting in touch with insecure Online content. Ignore suspicious emails coming from unknown source as they might contain malicious attachment which automatically get loaded and lead to the malware infiltration the moment you click on it. Moreover, avoid visiting commercial sites, shady pages and doing other illegal activities. If you don’t pay enough attention, system can get damaged quickly.

Threat Details

Name:  HCK Ransomware

Type: Ransomware, Crypto-virus

Description– Dangerous virus that encrypts users’ crucial files and documents and then asks them to pay off for the decryption key/tool.

Extension– “.HCK”

Ransom demanding message– Text presented in the pop-up window and FILES ENCRYPTED.txt

Attackers’ Contact– [email protected] and [email protected]

Symptoms: Users can not open files available on their desktop, previously functional files now have different extension, A ransom demanding message is displayed on the desktop screen. Users are asked to pay an amount of ransom to unlock their encoded data and files.

Distribution methods: Spam emails, Torrent websites, peer to peer network sharing, unofficial activation and updating tools.

Damage: All files are encrypted and cannot be accessed without paying ransom, Additional password stealing Trojans and malware infections can be installed along with ransomware infections and other malware.

Removal: To remove this virus from the system, we advise you to use a reliable anti-malware tool. Once malware gets removed, you can recover your files by using existing backup or data-recovery software.

Other Harmful Traits of HCK Ransomware:

HCK Ransomware is able to deactivate all the running security measures and make the PC vulnerable for more notorious parasites. It may easily bring other Online infections like adware, spyware, rootkits, Trojans etc. in your computer and turn the device into a malware-hub. This hazardous virus makes vicious entries in Windows registries and alters its default settings which allows the threat to get automatically activated every time the device is started. It ruins vital system files which assure efficient computer functioning and prevents many installed apps as well as drivers from working in an appropriate manner. It consumes enormous amount of memory resources and drags down the overall PC performance severely. Due to this, machine starts responding slower than ever before and takes more than usual time to complete any task. And hence, looking at all these hazards, you must remove HCK Ransomware from the computer as soon as possible.

Antimalware Details And User Guide

Click Here For Windows

Click Here For Mac

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

Step 2: Delete HCK Ransomware using “System Restore”

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

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