How To Remove .KEKW file virus And Restore Infected Data

Proper Guide To Delete .KEKW file virus From Computer

.KEKW file virus or KEKW Ransomware is a kind of deadly file-encrypting virus which encrypts users’ files and data and puts them hostage until the victims pay the attackers an amount of ransom to get back access to them. Similar to other malware threats of same category, it also first infiltrates the targeted device secretly without users’ permission and then makes critical modifications in default system’s settings. It infects your essential files such as PDFs, documents, images, videos, audios, presentations etc. and makes them completely inaccessible. Data compromised by this notorious malware can be easily identified as it appends “.KEKW” extension with each of them as suffix.

Following successful encryption, .KEKW file virus drops a ransom note titled “Decrypt.txt” on the desktop which informs victims about the unkind circumstance and also provides them the data-recovery instructions. You are asked to pay the attackers a sum of ransom in order to regain access to the locked files. Initially upon getting installed, this nasty crypto-virus performs a deep scanning of the entire system in search of the files that are in its target list and once detected, locks them eventually using AES encryption algorithm.

Should You pay The Ransom?

Here in such pernicious circumstance, many users agree to deal with the hackers but often get scammed and end up with losing both files as well as money. Paying ransom to the criminals is not a clever thing to do under any circumstance as it will only encourage them to drop more viruses in the machine for further revenues. The best thing you can do here is to remove .KEKW file virus from the computer immediately otherwise it will keep causing further data loss.

How To Restore The Infected Files?

To recover the infected files, you can use a backup made on any external drive or a powerful file-recovery application which you can download right here via the link given under this article. Moreover, experts strongly recommend to keep making frequent backups that can be very helpful in recovering the infected or lost data in such hazardous situation.

Other Malevolent Acts of This Parasite:

Apart from encoding your crucial data, this perilous malware also creates tons of junk files in the hard drive of your machine which consumes enormous amount of memory resources and drags down the overall PC performance severely. It ruins vital system files that are essential for smooth computer functioning and prevents many installed apps as well as drivers from working in an appropriate manner. .KEKW file virus includes potential to deactivate all the running security measures and Windows Firewalls and make the device vulnerable for more notorious infections. It may easily bring other Online threats such as rootkits, worms, spyware, adware, Trojan etc. in your computer and turn the device into a malware-hub. It makes spiteful entries in Windows registries and alters it default settings which allows the virus to get automatically activated every time the PC is started. However, this activity of .KEKW file virus brings many vicious issues in the work-station such as boot errors, frequent system crash, supplication malfunctioning, hard drive failure and so on.

Summarize Information

Name: .KEKW file virus

Type: Ransomware, Crypto-virus

Description- Destructive malware that aims to encrypt users’ crucial files and then ask them to pay off for the decryption key/tool.

Extension- “.KEKW”

Ransom demanding message: “Decrypt.txt”

Symptoms: Users can not open files available on their desktop, previously functional files now have different extensions, 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: Torrent websites, spam emails, 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.

Beware of Emails Coming From Unknown Source:

The most common tactic through which such types of crypto-parasites sneak into the targeted PCs is spam email campaign. And hence, you need to be very careful while opening an email coming from unknown sender. It might incorporate pernicious attachments which automatically get loaded and leads to the malware infiltration into the machine once you click on it. Besides, visiting harmful web domains, sharing files via peer to peer network, using infected removal drives, watching adult videos, clicking on malicious ad or links etc. can be also responsible for the intrusion of such deadly parasites. And therefore, avoid getting in touch with these notorious sources to keep the system harmless and secured. As long as this hazardous ransomware stays in your computer, it keeps infecting your other essential data and causing more damages to the PC. And therefore, you are strongly recommended to remove .KEKW file virus from the system without wasting any time.

Antimalware Details And User Guide

Click Here For Windows

Click Here For Mac

Step 1: Remove .KEKW file virus through “Safe Mode with Networking”

Step 2: Delete .KEKW file virus using “System Restore”

Step 1: Remove .KEKW file virus 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 .KEKW file virus using “System Restore”

Log-in to the account infected with .KEKW file virus. 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 .KEKW file virus 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 .KEKW file virus 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 .KEKW file virus 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 .KEKW file virus, 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 .KEKW file virus.

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 .KEKW file virus?

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 .KEKW file virus 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 .KEKW file virus 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.