How To Remove KEY0004 ransomware And Restore Infected Files

Proper Guide To Delete KEY0004 ransomware From System

KEY0004 ransomware is another destructive crypto-virus that has been rapidly spread in recent time. This nasty file-encoding malware has been specially designed by a team of potent Cyber actors in order to lock users’ important files and data and then extort huge amount of ransom money from them in exchange of the decryption software. It uses a very powerful encryption algorithm to lock your essential files such as images, videos, audios, documents, PDFs etc. and makes them completely inaccessible or unusable. After that, you will not be able to open any of such files without using the decryption tool that you will have to buy from the attackers.

Following successful encryption, KEY0004 ransomware displays a ransom note titled “HOW_TO_RECOVERY_FILES.txt” and starts blackmailing you stating that to get the necessary software and open the encoded files; you will have to pay an amount of ransom to the criminals. 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 crypto-currency. Initially upon getting installed, this nasty malware changes the default registry settings by making vicious entries in it which allows the threats to get automatically activated every time the machine is started. After that, it initiates the encryption process and locks down all your vital data until you fulfil the attackers’ demand.

Text Presented in The Ransom Note:

ALL YOUR FILES ARE ENCRYPTED!

Send 1 test image or text file

[email protected] or [email protected].

In the letter include YOUR ID or 1 infected file!

We will give you the decrypted file and assign the price for decryption all files!

Doesn’t try to restore by yourself, You can damage your files!

Should You Pay The Demanded Money?

KEY0004 ransomware doesn’t leave any option to you other than dealing with the hackers but still, we highly advise to not do so. According to the reports, such types of criminals often disappear after taking the extortion and cause victims to lose both files as well as money. Moreover, during the transaction they can steal your credential data and use those stuffs for evil purposes and cause even more hazard situation for you. And thus, never make any sort of payment to the hackers as it will only motivate them to drop more viruses inside for further profits. The first thing you need to do here is to remove KEY0004 ransomware from the device as soon as possible and then find any alternate way to recover the infected files.

How Does This Crypto-Virus Get Inside Your Computer:

The authors of this ransomware try to inject it to the targeted system via several illusive tactics. The attackers most often rely on spam email campaigns to the unsuspecting users. With only a few clicks, crooks may send the infection of this malware towards hundreds or even thousands of people at once. This process also involves very little functional costs and high success rate, that explains why it is so favored. While the spam emails is a single method, KEY0004 ransomware can come in very different manners. The criminals may try to look as if the vicious message was coming from a popular company or institution. Their end motive is for you to downplay and open the file attached to those emails.

Summarize Information

Name: KEY0004 ransomware

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- “.KEY0004”

Ransom demanding message- HOW_TO_RECOVERY_FILES.txt

Attackers’ Contact- [email protected], [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.

Ways To Restore The Compromised Files And Other Common Symptoms of This Virus:

To retrieve the infected data, you should try a backup made on any external drive. However, in the absence of a proper backup, use a strong file-recovery application which you can download right here via the link under this article. This nasty crypto-threat messes with important system files which assure efficient PC functioning and prevents many installed apps as well as drivers from working normally. KEY0004 ransomware can be also responsible for the infiltration of many other Online parasites such as adware, trojans, rootkits, worms, spyware etc. in your computer as well since it deactivates all the running security measures and opens backdoors for them. This hazardous consumes enormous amount of memory resources and drags down the overall computer performance severely. It causes the device to respond slower than ever before and take more than usual time to complete any task. This perilous crypto-virus displays fake security alerts, error messages etc. and tries to scam you into installing rogue software. And hence, don’t waste any time, just take a quick action and remove KEY0004 ransomware from the device by following the effective removal steps given below.

Antimalware Details And User Guide

Click Here For Windows

Click Here For Mac

Step 1: Remove KEY0004 ransomware through “Safe Mode with Networking”

Step 2: Delete KEY0004 ransomware using “System Restore”

Step 1: Remove KEY0004 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 KEY0004 ransomware using “System Restore”

Log-in to the account infected with KEY0004 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 KEY0004 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 KEY0004 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 KEY0004 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 KEY0004 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 KEY0004 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 KEY0004 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 KEY0004 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 KEY0004 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.