How to remove Kolz ransomware [File Recovery Guide]

Easy process to delete Kolz ransomware

Kolz ransomware is file encrypting ransomware virus that restrict victims to access their valuable files available on their computer until a ransom demand is paid. It encodes all files by using powerful encryption algorithm and appends “.kolz” extension to the end of every filenames and makes totally useless. Like all other viruses of this type, it generates text file named _readme.txt to inform users about the attack and supposedly instruct them how to restore the files.

As you see in the note, the cyber criminals who design it claims that user need to contact them via sending them an email on the provided email address. They guarantee to provide the files in decrypted form and for this all that the users should have to do, as according to the note, is to follow their instructions. Once contacted, they are demanded a ransom to allegedly provide a decryption key that helps in file recovery.

However, the price of tool is not specified usually it depends upon users how fast they contact to the cyber criminals. Since, no further information is given in the ransom note except the contacting details. What you need to do in such situation is to ignore the instructions and rely on any existing backup for the data recovery after removing the ransomware virus from the system.

How to restore encrypted files?

Paying money to the cyber criminals can lead into major damage to the PCs, create huge risk of privacy and identity theft and causes many more malicious malware intrusions. Further, the ransomware virus will not let you recover the files and will interfere all the time when you attempt to restore the files and even make the decryption impossible forever by encrypting the created backup. For all these reasons, we highly recommend you to remove Kolz ransomware virus as soon as possible to prevent from further encryptions or infections.

How did ransomware infect my system?

Scam campaigns are the most common sources for ransomware distribution. Crook sends thousands of spam emails in campaign to trick people who receive them in believing that these emails are coming from genuine sources. Each email contains a malicious attachment that insists recipients to believe that such attachment file is important and legit. The infection occurs when users get scammed and clicked on such an attachment.

Another source is untrustworthy software downloading sources such as freeware downloader, p2p sharing networks, free file hosting sites etc that are used to promote rogue applications for download. Fake cracking tools that supposedly bypass activation key for paid software can even lead such infection. Further, fake software updating tools can even cause computer infection. Such tools either exploit bugs of installed apps or directly install malware.

Remove Kolz ransomware

Manual malware removal instructions might be hectic and complicated as it requires advanced computer skills to perform virus removal process. You can also use Spyhunter an automatic malware removal tool that has the capability to remove Kolz ransomware and all infiltrated ransomware infections completely and safely from the computer to avoid further from malware attack.

Quick Glance

Name: Kolz ransomware

Type: Ransomware, Cryptovirus, File locking virus

Short Description: The ransomware encrypts files on your computer machine and demands a ransom to be paid to allegedly restore them.

Extension: “.kolz

Ransom demanding message: _readme.txt

Symptoms: The ransomware will blackmail the victims to pay them a decryption fee. Sensitive user data may be encrypted by the ransomware code.

Distribution Method: Spam Emails, Email Attachments, Corrupted websites, Harmful links, Porn or torrent sites, Unsafe File Sharing network and many more.

Damage: All files are locked and cannot be accessed without paying money. Additionally password stealing Trojans infections can be installed along with ransomware.

Removal: To remove Kolz ransomware, we advise you to use reliable anti-malware tool. Once malware gets removed, you can recover your files using backup or data recovery software.

Antimalware Details And User Guide

Click Here For Windows

Click Here For Mac

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

Step 2: Delete Kolz ransomware using “System Restore”

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

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