How to remove RedDot ransomware and recover files

RedDot ransomware removal and files recovery instruction

Jirehlov Solace discovered RedDot ransomware is a piece of malicious software, classified as ransomware. Systems infected with this malware have all stored files inaccessible and the victims receive a ransom demanding message for the decryption tool. During the encryption process, the affected files are renamed with .reddot extension. For example, a file originally named 1.jpg would appear as “1.jpg.reddot”, “2.jpg” as “2.jpg.reddot”, “3.jpg” as “3.jpg.reddot”, and so on. Once the files encryption process is complete, the ransomware creates its ransom note within “HOW_TO_RESTORE_MY_FILES.txt”, which can be found on each folder containing compromised files. Additionally, the ransomware changes the desktop wallpaper.

The ransom demanding message states that the victims’ files have been encrypted and now they require communication with the crooks via provided emails to begin the data recovery process. The crooks put ransom demands on contacted. The size of the ransom fee depends on how quickly the victims contact to them. Prior to the payment, the victims are offered testing the decryption by sending the crooks up to one encrypted file, which does not contain any crucial information and has the file size less than 3 MB in size. The full text message written on the ransom note (“HOW_TO_RESTORE_MY_FILES.txt”,) displayed by RedDot ransomware is as follows:

_____          _ _____        _     _____                          _      

 |  __ \        | |  __ \      | |   |  __ \                        | |     

 | |__) |___  __| | |  | | ___ | |_  | |__) | __ ___  ___  ___ _ __ | |_ ___

 |  _  // _ \/ _` | |  | |/ _ \| __| |  ___/ ‘__/ _ \/ __|/ _ \ ‘_ \| __/ __|

 | | \ \  __/ (_| | |__| | (_) | |_  | |   | | |  __/\__ \  __/ | | | |_\__ \

 |_|  \_\___|\__,_|_____/ \___/ \__| |_|   |_|  \___||___/\___|_| |_|\__|___/

ALL YOUR FILES ARE ENCRYPTED!

All your files have been encrypted due to a security problem with your PC.

If you want to restore them, write us to the Email [email protected]

To prove that we can decrypt files, we can decrypt one file for free,

it should be no more than 3 MB and should not contain important information.

The price depends on how fast you write to us.

Write this ID in your message:

Key ID:

–

Unfortunately, in most cases with ransomware infections, without the involvement of the crooks behind it- the decryption is not possible. It might be when the ransomware has serious bugs/ flaws in it or is still in development stage. Whatever the case, it is highly recommended against paying ransoms. Despite paying, victims often do not receive the decryption tools to decrypt their data. Hence, they suffer financial loss and their files remain encrypted. Removing RedDot ransomware from system will prevent it from further files encryption. However, this process will not decrypt already encrypted files.

For the files recovery, you must rely on existing backups. If this option is not available, once check if shadow copies that is created by Windows OF automatically for short time exist – in the data recovery section below the post you will find the steps how to perform this process and recover the encrypted files. There you will also find other alternatives of files recovery in detailed manner. We also suggest you how you can perform instant files recovery using some data recovery tools. Before doing this, you must require removing RedDot ransomware from system. In the post, you will find the guide for performing the ransomware removal as well.

How did RedDot ransomware enter my system?

Spam campaigns are used to proliferate in malware. The term defines as mass scale operation during which thousands of spam emails are designed and delivered. The letters are usually presented as official, urgent, priority, important and similar. These emails contain download links of infectious files or the files are simply attached to them. Malicious files could be in any forms including archives (RAR, ZIP, etc.), executables (.exe, .run, etc.), PDF and Microsoft Office documents, JavaScript, and so forth. When the files are executed, run or otherwise opened – the malicious malware download/ installation process is triggered.

Malware can be disguised as or bundled with regular software and then distributed through various dubious downloading channels such as unofficial and free file-hosting websites, Peer-to-Peer sharing networks, and other third-party downloaders. Illegal activation tools and fraudulent updates are the prime examples of that. Cracking tools cause system infection instead of activating licensed products. Fake software updaters infect systems by exploiting bugs/ flaws of outdated software and/or by installing malicious malware rather than the promised updates.

How to prevent ransomware infection?

To avoid the system infection through spam emails, it is advised not to open any suspect and irrelevant emails especially any links or attachments in them. Additionally, it is recommended to only use official websites and direct links for any download. It is just important to update/ activate software using tools/ functions from legit software. To ensure the device integrity and personal safety, it is paramount to have a reputable antivirus tool installed and updated. Also, use this tool for regular system scans and to remove any detected threats/ issues.

Antimalware Details And User Guide

Click Here For Windows

Click Here For Mac

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

Step 2: Delete RedDot ransomware using “System Restore”

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

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