How To Remove ProLock Ransomware And Restore Infected Files

Proper Guide To Delete ProLock Ransomware From System

ProLock Ransomware is one more destructive file-encrypting virus that has been specially designed by a group of potent Cyber criminals for encrypting users’ crucial files and then extorting huge amount of ransom money from them. This hazardous crypto-malware uses RSA-2048 encryption algorithm to encode the targeted files and appends “.ProLock” extension with the each of them as suffix. After that, you will not be able to access the compromised files without using the decryption software that you will have to buy from the attackers. It has ability to infect almost all types files including videos, audios, images, documents, PDFs etc. and making them totally useless.

Once the encryption process is completed, ProLock Ransomware drops a ransom note titled [HOW TO RECOVER FILES].txt on the desktop and informs you about the unpleasant situation. As we have already said, the sole motive of the hackers is to gather illicit revenues and therefore, this text file explains everything about the ransom payment. It also threatens users that if you don’t make the demanded payment, your sensitive data will be exposed Online. Crooks state that they have already revealed the data of various users who didn’t fulfill their demands and they will do the same thing to you if you don’t make the payment.

Should You Deal With The Criminals?

ProLock Ransomware doesn’t leave any option to you other than making payment to the hackers. The ransom amount is not mentioned in the note but it might be in the range of $200 to $1500 that has to be paid in BitCoins or any other digital currency. Whatever the circumstance might be, you should never consider dealing with the criminals as there is absolutely no guarantee that they will deliver you the required decryption software even after taking the ransom. It has been seen that such types of criminals generally ignore the victims once the payment is done and caused them to lose both files as well as money. Additionally, paying extortion to the hackers will only motivate them to drop more viruses inside for further revenues. And hence, never trust on the attackers and try to remove ProLock Ransomware from the PC without wasting any time.

How To Recover The Infected Files?

Security experts highly advise to keep making frequent backups by the help of which, you can easily retrieve the compromised files in such nasty situation. However, in the absence of an appropriate backup, you should use a powerful file-recovery application that you can download right here via the link given under this article. But first of all, you must get rid of this threat immediately because as long as it remains inside, it keeps infecting your other crucial data.

How Does This Threat Enter Your System:

These file-encoding viruses often sneak into the targeted device through several deceptive tactics such as spam email campaigns, Trojans, fake software updaters, questionable download sources, unofficial software activation tools etc. Among them, the most common technique used by criminals to spread such threats is by sending emails that contain pernicious attachments. Hackers usually attach PDF documents, MS office, exe files, archive files like ZIP, RAR and JavaScript files. Once you open the attachment, those spiteful files install some perilous application. And therefore, it is necessary to stay away from suspicious mails coming from unknown sender. Besides, using infected removal drives, clicking on malicious ads or hyperlinks, visiting harmful web pages etc. can be also responsible for the intrusion of such parasites in your computer. So, stay away from these malevolent sources to keep the machine safe and secured.

Threat Details

Name: ProLock 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.

Ransom note: “[HOW TO RECOVER FILES].txt”

Extension- “.ProLock”

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: 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

Other Harmful Properties of ProLock Ransomware:

ProLock Ransomware consumes enormous amount of memory resources and drags down the overall computer performance severely. Due to this, system begins responding in a very slow manner and takes more than usual time to complete any task. It ruins vital system files which assure efficient PC functioning and prevents many installed apps as well as drivers from working normally. This nasty crypto-threat can be also responsible for the infiltration of many other Online parasites such as trojans, adware, worms, rootkits, spyware etc. in your computer as well since it deactivates all the running security measures and opens backdoors for them. Initially, it makes vicious entries in Windows registry and alters its default settings in order to get automatically activated with each Window reboot. And hence, looking at all these hazards, you must remove ProLock Ransomware from the system without wasting any time.

Antimalware Details And User Guide

Click Here For Windows

Click Here For Mac

Step 1: Remove ProLock Ransomwaree through “Safe Mode with Networking”

Step 2: Delete ProLock Ransomwaree using “System Restore”

Step 1: Remove ProLock Ransomwaree 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 ProLock Ransomwaree using “System Restore”

Log-in to the account infected with ProLock Ransomwaree. 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 ProLock Ransomwaree 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 ProLock Ransomwaree 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 ProLock Ransomwaree 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 ProLock Ransomwaree, 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 ProLock Ransomwaree.

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 ProLock Ransomwaree?

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 ProLock Ransomwaree 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 ProLock Ransomwaree 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.