How To Remove HelloKitty ransomware (+ Decryption File Methods)

Effective Guide To Restore Files from HelloKitty ransomware

HelloKitty ransomware is a kind of malware that usually target both companies and personals computer System. It encrypts files and demands huge ransom to decrypt them. One of the known companies is the Cyberpunk 2077 developer CD project which targeted by this Ransomware. It uses the military grade level algorithm to encrypt all the data and files of the companies and personal computer as well. It appends the file name with the “.crypted” extension to their filenames. It also creates the “read_me_unlock.txt” file and drops among encrypted files that contain encrypted data.

According to the ransom note, that was generated in the attack against CD project. The rasnomware attacker prepared copies of the source codes from necessarily server for Cyberpunk 2077, Witcher 3, Gwent and the unreleased version of Witcher games, documents relating to investors relations, accounting, administrations and legal human resources documents. It also claims that all the servers were encrypted as well. Cyber-criminal behind this infection threatened companies if would not come to an agreements and  gave 48 hours to contact them then sell or disclose the company’s codes and documents.

Text presented in the “read_me_unlock.txt” text file (created in the attack agains CD Project):

@

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Hello –  !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Your have been EPICALLY pwned!!

We have dumped FULL copies of the source codes from your Perforce server for Cyberpunk 2077, Witcher 3, Gwent and the unreleased version of Witcher!!!

We have also dumped all of your documents relating to accounting, administration, legal, HR, investor relations and more!

Also, we have encrypted all of your servers, but we understand that you can most likely recover from backups.

If we will not come to an agreement, then your source codes will be sold or leaked online and your documents will be sent to our contacts in gaming journalism. Your public image will go down to the shitty even more people will see how you shitty your company functions. Investors will lose trust in your company and the stock will dive even lower!

You have 48 hours to contact us.

Should Victim pay Ransom?

Victims are highly suggested do not pay ransom money  to the hacker at any cost because paying money is not a guaranteed that they will send decryption tool after received ransom money. It is only a trick to make fool innocent users to extort huge ransom money. In most of the cases victims who pay ransom money they got scammed. Cyber-criminal demands ransom in the form of bitcoin which is unable to detect who took ransom. It also deletes volume shadow copies, and blocks all the restore point. Most of the victims reported that cyber-criminal cuts all the way of communicate. So the paying money to the hacker is too risky.

What Victim Should Do?

Victims are highly advice do not trust on cyber-criminal and do not think to pay Ransom money to them.   Paying money to the hacker can make your System highly risky and they can demand more and more money. You can lose their files and money as well. If you’re System files are already encrypted by this nasty infection and you are unable to decrypt files. Then in this case you have to firstly remove HelloKitty ransomware completely by using antimalware tool. After completed the removal process you can restore data by using backup in the form of hard disk. If there is no any backup have you then you can recover your files by using third party recovery Software.

How did Ransomware infect your System?

Ransomware mostly infect your System via the spam email attachments, downloading freeware program through untrustworthy download channels, Trojan. Cyber-criminal uses the spam email to trick recipients into opening malicious email attachments or files downloaded via website links. Spam email campaign contains malicious attachments or downloader links for malicious files that can be into various formats like as MS Word, PDF documents, zip, archer and so on. Opening such files cause the execution of malicious scripts.

It may also spread while users download or install System software from third party downloader Site with carelessness or without checking custom or advance settings. Updating System Software from unofficial site or via irrelevant sources, clicking on malicious links, peer to peer sharing files through bad network like as torrent, eMule, Gnutella etc could also bring malware infection like as Ransomware. Trojan is a malicious program that can cause chain infection once installed into the System.

How To protect your System from Ransomware:

It is highly advice do not open email which consists malicious files or downloads links as well as sent from unknown sender. If any file seems suspicious please do not open without scanning. Must check the email body content including grammatical error and spelling mistakes. Software must be downloading or install from official site or trustworthy download channels. It is important to read their terms and license agreements as well as select custom or advance options. Must update the pre-installed Software from relevant sources or direct links. If your System is already infected by this vicious infection then we are highly recommended to scan your PC with reputable antimalware tool.

Antimalware Details And User Guide

Click Here For Windows

Click Here For Mac

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

Step 2: Delete HelloKitty ransomware using “System Restore”

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

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