How to remove PERDAK Ransomware and recover files

Easy tips to delete PERDAK Ransomware and decrypt data

PERDAK Ransomware is a malicious computer infection, and a part of phobos ransomware group. The malware is designed to encrypt stored files and then demand ransom payment for the decryption. In other words, the victims cannot access their files and are asked to pay to restore access to them.

During the process of files encryption, the files are renamed with this pattern: original filename, unique ID assigned to the victim, crooks’ ICQ messenger ID and the .PERDAK extension. For example, a file initially named 1.jpf would appear something similar to “1.jpg.id[1E857D00-3145].[ICQ_Mudakperdak].PERDAK” – after encryption.

Once the encryption process is complete, PERDAK creates two ransom notes – a pop-up window (info.hta) and a text file titled info.txt – drops them onto the desktop. The pop-up window and the .txt file both contain identical message.

The notes begin with vaguely mentioning some IT security weaknesses and address the victim as either the IT manager or the attacked company owner.  The message within the pop-up states that the compromised files were encrypted and both the notes encourage users to pay to decrypt them.

To get more information, the victims are instructed to contact the crooks via the provided ICQ messaging platform. The pop-up offers them free decryption of up to five files with the total size of less than 4 MB (non-archived).

The message also warns the users that renaming the encrypted files and/or trying to decrypt them using third party tool – may result in permanent data loss. Full text presented in PERDAK Ransomware’s pop-up window (info.hta) is provided below:

ATTENTION!!!!

Unfortunately for you, a major IT security weakness left you open to attack, your files have been encrypted with ciphers more advanced than those used for diplomatic communications, you can spend days and months searching for a magical way to decrypt your files, but rest assured we are the only people who can help you recover your files, there is no free tool

If you want to restore them, install ICQ software on your PC hxxps://icq.com/windows/ or on your mobile phone search in Appstore / Google market “ICQ”

Write to our ICQ @Mudakperdak hxxps://icq.im/Mudakperdak

Write this ID in the title of your message 1E857D00-3145

Free decryption as guarantee

Before paying you can send us up to 5 files for free decryption. The total size of files must be less than 4Mb (non archived), and files should not contain valuable information. (databases,backups, large excel sheets, etc.)

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 PERDAK Ransomware’s text file (“info.txt”):

If you are the IT manager and you are reading this, that means that you messed up, you were asleep at the wheel. Contact us and we can resolve this situation without major complication, if you are the owner of the company and you are reading this than the decision is yours, throw your hard drives in the trash or contact us and pay a nominal fee to recover your data, but know that your security practices have failed you and either way something needs to be done

If you want to restore them, install ICQ software on your PC hxxps://icq.com/windows/ or on your mobile phone search in Appstore / Google market “ICQ”

Write to our ICQ @Mudakperdak hxxps://icq.im/Mudakperdak

Attention!

Do not rename encrypted files.

Do not try to decrypt your data using third party software, it may cause permanent data loss.

 In most cases with ransomware infection, without the involvement of the crooks behind it- the decryption is not possible. It might be when the ransomware is at its initial stage or has certain bugs/ flaws in them. Whatever the case, it is highly advised against meeting the ransom demands.

Despite paying, victims often do not receive the decryption tool. Hence, their files remain encrypted and they experience financial loss. To prevent PERDAK Ransomware from further files encryption, its removal is necessary. However, this process even will not decrypt the already encrypted files. The sole solution for the files recovery is to use existing backups.

Even though you do not have any existing backups, you still have at least two data recovery options available. One such option is to use Shadow Copies from Windows OS. It is possible that ransomware left this option untouched during the entire process of system attack and files encryption.

Another data recovery option is to use data recovery tool from third party belonging. Below the post, in the data recovery section, you will find more detailed guide on how to recover files. There, you will also find complete guide to remove PERDAK Ransomware from system.

How did PERDAK Ransomware enter my system?

Ransomware and other malicious malware are often distributed via untrustworthy downloading channels such as p2p networks, free file hosting sites and third party downloaders/ installers. Illegal activation tools and fake software updaters are the prime examples.

Instead of activating licensed products, cracks cause system infections. Fraudulent updates infect systems by exploiting bugs/ flaws of outdated software and/or by direct downloading malware instead of promised updates.

Scam campaigns can be used to distribute malware. This term defines as a large scale operation during which thousands of spam emails are sent. These letters are presented as priority, urgent, or even disguised as mail from genuine companies, organizations, institutions and other entities.

Scam emails can have infectious files or links for such files in them. The malicious files can be in any formats, including archives, executables, and PDF and Microsoft Office documents, JavaScript and so on. When these file are executed, run or otherwise opened- the infection chain is triggered.

How to prevent ransomware infection?

It is important to always download from official and verified sources. Additionally, all programs should have to be activated and updated using tools/ functions from legit developers. To avoid system infection from spam emails, it is advised not to open any suspicious and irrelevant emails –especially any links and files in them.

It is crucial to have a reputable antivirus tool, keep it updated and use it for regular system scan and to remove any detected threats and issues. If your computer is already infected with PERDAK Ransomware, we recommend you use some reputable antivirus tool to automatically remove it from the system.

Antimalware Details And User Guide

Click Here For Windows

Click Here For Mac

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

Step 2: Delete PERDAK Ransomware using “System Restore”

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

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