How to remove Sick ransomware and restore files

Easy tips to delete Sick ransomware and retrieve data

Ransomware type viruses encrypt all stored files on compromised host systems, rename them and then generate ransom demanding note. The malware Sick ransomware is discovered by dwnls0719. This malware encrypts files and appends them with .sick extension. It drops ransom note in HELP.txt text file on the desktop.

Typically, ransom notes contain the contact and payment information like email address, price of the decryption tool, cryptocurrency wallet and etc. The Sick ransomware’s ransom note contains a link to a website that explains how to pay the ransom or purchase the decryption tool.

As stated in the website, the files can be restored using a private key belongs to the crooks behind the ransomware. The victims are informed that they have only 24 hours to purchase this tool as after that the server deletes the key stored on hackers’ remote server.

To purchase the decryption tool, the victims are asked to pay $100 in Bitcoin to the provided BTC wallet. After the payment, they are asked send the screenshot of the transaction description to the provided email address. Upon the payment is successfully done, the victims are promised to provide the decryption tool.

It is worth mentioning that crooks may offer one or two free file decryption to provide a proof that they can help victims to restore their files. However, once the payment is received – they disappear, leaving the victims without their files.

Thus, it is strongly recommended not to contact/ pay to the evil people under any circumstances. You must think of some alternatives for the files recovery. The best way is to remove Sick ransomware and recover the files using backup.

Below the post, you will find complete guide to delete the ransomware and all its components from the compromised system. Follow the instruction to perform the complete ransomware removal. Upon that, use the backup you have and restore the files.

If there is no backup available, once check if shadow copies exist- in the data recovery section below the post – you will find complete stepwise instruction of doing this. Another data recovery option is to use third party data recovery tools.

How did Sick ransomware infiltrate my systems?

Quite often, users download/ install malicious software through emails received from crooks. More precisely, they lead the cyber-infection upon executing a malicious attachment or file downloaded through a website link.

Commonly, crooks behind such emails pretend to be from legit companies and disguise their emails as important, official letters. A couple of examples of files that they use to spread malware are Microsoft Office documents, JavaScript files, archive files like ZIP, RAR, PDF documents, or executable files (like .exe).

Another way how users download ransomware and other malicious malware is through software download untrustworthy sources like p2p networks, third party downloaders, freeware download websites, free file hosting sites, unofficial pages.

Crooks disguise malware as some legit software to trick people into unwanted downloads. Cracking tools and fake software updaters are prime examples of malware-proliferating content. They cause infection by supposedly bypassing activation keys of licensed software and allegedly updating outdated programs.

Full text presented on Sick ransomware’s ransom note:

For further instructions visit: hxxps://ghostbin.com/paste/yuLbZ

The pop-up page states this:

Attention!

Open the Textfile HELP.txt located on your Desktop!

[OK]

Here is what the website’s message says:

YOUR SYSTEM IS NOT SAFE

In some seconds the process of enrcrypting all your data with one of the highest grade encryption standards due to a hole in your network security is finished

THE GOOD NEWS 

Your data can be fully restored by using a PRIVATE KEY  which is stored on our secure server.

THE BAD NEWS

After 24 hours this key gets automatically deleted and your data is lost.

The only reason why we implemented the automatic destroying of the private key is to increase the pressure on our victims to pay on time.

If your data is useless to you we apologize for the time the re-setup will take.

In both cases you will never get attacked by our group again. We are criminals but with sense of decency

We are neither interested in your data nor in you as a person.

Our only Goal is MONEY!

HOW TO RESTORE YOUR FILES

Transfer USD 100.- in Bitcoin currency to the following address:

bc1qx7880kzmcy8xuercsaxx002jvk8m0dp2f8233j

+As Transaction -subject /-description /-note  fill in your E-mail address where you want the private key to be sent to.

Good Buy!

How to prevent ransomware infection?

Software and files should always be downloaded from official websites and direct links. It is not sate to use p2p networks, free file hosting sites, third party downloaaders/ installers and so on. The already installed apps should have to be updated/ activated using tools/ functions from official software developers.

To avoid system infection through spam emails, you should analyze each email you receive. Do not interact with any provided attachment and website link on any emails whose senders’ addresses are irrelevant, suspicious and unknown.

Antimalware Details And User Guide

Click Here For Windows

Click Here For Mac

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

Step 2: Delete Sick ransomware using “System Restore”

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

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