How to Remove ShivaGood ransomware (Recover Encrypted Files)

Removal Guide to Delete ShivaGood ransomware from PC

ShivaGood ransomware is not a new data-encrypting malware rather it was first noticed way back in September, 2018 when it had attacked some major businesses hubs and organizations computers as well as regular PC users. Since then, several of its variants have launched and all of them add the same “.good” file extension name on the encrypted files. It drops a ransom note that contain email IDs namely [email protected], [email protected], or [email protected] that belongs to the associated developers for any kind of communication. ShivaGood ransomware is also known as Mimicry ransomware and has so many similar characteristics of other ransomware like,

• It uses .good file extension name which is also used by “Scarab-Horsia”
• Use the ransom note named as “HOW_TO_RECOVER_FILES.txt” which is also used by “Crypto-locker”

However, researches shows that it has no relation with this ransomware family and rather it is a product of an open-source “HiddenTear ransomware”. Interestingly, the server used by the ransomware is dead now hence paying the ransom money or fulfilling any kind of demands is totally useless.

As mentioned earlier, the prime target of ShivaGood ransomware are businesses and corporates. It compromises the targeted networks and servers by exploiting the weakness in the Remote Desktop connections. It is difficult to say precisely how ransomware attacked the work-station. They may come through spam email campaigns, bogus software downloads or update backdoors or exploits, cracks, peer-to-peer file sharing networks and so on. Once it settles down, it creates a folder namely “FrenchKiss” and puts a file named as frost.exe in it.

Apart from encrypting the targeted files, ShivaGood ransomware also damages the important registries, drops malicious files as well as deletes the “Shadow Volume Copies” which is a temporary backup file created for all the recently deleted files and folders. Thus, it manages to get active as soon as the System started. Since the Windows backup files also get deleted hence the automatic recovery of encrypted files becomes impossible.

Technically, ShivaGood ransomware uses AES encryption process for encryption. Its ransom note namely “HOW_TO_RECOVER_FILES.txt” says

“Your personal identifier: Y4GIE

Your important files are now encrypted due to a security problem with your PC!

Now you should send us email with your personal identifier.

This email will be as confirmation you are ready to pay for decryption key.

You have to pay for decryption in Bitcoins. The price depends on how fast you write to us.

After payment we will send you the decryption tool that will decrypt all your files.

Contact us using this email address: [email protected]

Free decryption as guarantee!

Before paying you can send us up to 3 files for free decryption.

The total size of files must be less than 10Mb (non archived), and files should not contain

valuable information (databases, backups, large excel sheets, etc.).

How to obtain Bitcoins?

* The easiest way to buy bitcoins is LocalBitcoins site. You have to register, click'Buy bitcoins', and select the seller by payment method and price:

https://localbitcoins.com/buy_bitcoins

* Also you can find other places to buy Bitcoins and beginners guide here:

http://www.coindesk.com/information/how-can-i-buy-bitcoins

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.”

Should I Pay Ransom Money?

As mentioned earlier, it is useless to pay money to cyber-criminals because their servers are dead and they themselves will not able to get the necessary decryption key. Instead of recovering the encrypted data, your prime focus should be to remove ShivaGood ransomware so that other files and folders stored in the hard-disk remains safe. On the other hand, this kind of malware also brings additional harmful modules that can steal highly sensitive information. If you are thinking that ransomware gets self-delete after the encryption process then this is not true. It has to removed otherwise the encryption will occur again and again.

How to Recover the Encrypted Files?

If you have backup files in some external storage device or remote/cloud storage then you don’t have to worry. You can use the backup files for restoration. However, you first have to delete ShivaGood ransomware so that the files you recover through backup not get encrypted again. In case if the backup files are not available then you can try using a data recovery tool. The recovery software comes with a very powerful scanning algorithm and programming logics that can scan hard-disk and will help you recover Your files.

Some Basic Precautionary Measures that has to be taken:

Unprotected Remote Desktop connections are prime source of this malware attack. The developer uses automated software that scan the internet in order to find poorly protected connections basically those which are running the default TCP port 3389. By exploiting this port, they gain remote access on the PC and install the ransomware manually from remote location. They primary targets businesses and organization however normal users may also get infected.

It is important that you backup your important files regularly. Use a proper firewall security settings and a proper anti-malware tool that provide protection in real-time. Get the Windows OS security patches at regular interval. Avoid using shared networks and downloading pirated tools, keygens, and loaders and so on.

Antimalware Details And User Guide

Click Here For Windows

Click Here For Mac

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

Step 2: Delete ShivaGood ransomware using “System Restore”

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

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