How to remove STEEL Ransomware: Restore encrypted files

STEEL Ransomware encrypts data and demands ransom payment for decryption

STEEL Ransomware is very dangerous file virus belongs to Ransomware family. This nasty file virus is designed to encrypt all formats of files stored in computer including images, audios, videos, games, pdf, ppt, xlx, css, html, text, documents, databases and other types of files. In other words, you can’t access or open your personal files anymore due to its dubious behaviors. It renames each file of computer by appending a string of random characters as file extension. For example, it renames ‘1.png’ filename to ‘1.png.TR9t7’.

After encryption process is finished, ‘HOW_TO_RESTORE_FILES.txt’ text files as ransom notes are dropped into each folder that contains locked files or data. It claims the decryption is possible only when you pay $350 amount of ransom money in XMR (Monero) cryptocurrency to cybercriminals behind this ransomware. The ransom note states that all files stored in your computer hard drive have been locked using AES & RSA encryption algorithm techniques, and requires paying demanded ransom money to decrypt your files.

STEEL Ransomware’s ransom note claims that you need to establish the contact with cybercriminals via ‘[email protected]’ email address and use provided wallet to transfer demanded extortion money to them. It also claims that in order to renames locked files manually, uninstall this ransomware, or use third parties’ decryption keys/software, then you will lose your all personal files & folders permanently. It means the only way to decrypt your locked files is to pay ransom money to them for decryption keys, according to ransom note.

STEEL Ransomware also offers free decryption service for some encrypted files initially as proof that they have right decryption software. After free decryption test successful, cybercriminals behind this ransomware ask you to pay demanded extortion money to decrypt your files. It does bogus promises to decrypt your all files locked by ransomware immediately, once ransom payment is made. But it is not true at all. They are not going to decrypt or recover your files even when ransom money is paid. So, we recommended you to stop paying any amount of ransom money to them for decryption. You should at first try to find and remove STEEL Ransomware related malicious files in computer.

How did you get STEEL Ransomware in computer?

Malspam Campaign or email spam campaign is the mostly used mechanism by cybercriminals to spread Trojans, ransomware or other malware in your computer. They send spam emails in your mailbox which contain some false-positive messages along with malicious attachments or hyperlinks. The attachments can be Microsoft Office documents, PDF, RAR, ZIP, JavaScript or other formats of files. Once opened, it executes certain codes to install malware or viruses in your computer. For example, Microsoft Office documents as malicious attachments infect computer by enabling malicious macro commands. The hyperlinks presented in spam emails redirect you to phishing/malicious websites, or can cause unwanted software, malware or viruses installations. So, you should be alert while surfing online and avoid opening any attachments or hyperlinks presented in spam or irrelevant emails.

System is already infected with STEEL Ransomware: What next?

If your computer is already infected with Trojans, worms, ransomware or other malware, then you can go with our automatic method of malware removal to get rid of it. Automatic method offers you can find all types of malware or viruses in your computer with some powerful antivirus software, and then you can delete all detected malware with just single-click. After System scan is finished, please check if trouble is resolved or STEEL Ransomware related malicious files are removed. Once done, you can go with our automatic data recovery solution to restore all formats of files.

Let’s take a look at ransom note:

**************ATTENTION!**************

All your important files have been encrypted by STEEL Ransomware!

For encryption we use reliable algorithms! You can read more here:

hxxps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RSA_(cryptosystem)

hxxps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_Encryption_Standard

Many of your documents, photos, videos, images and other files are no longer

accessible because they have been encrypted. It means that your files are not

damaged, but modified. The reverse process is called decryption.

We use strong algorithms so it impossible to crack key. You can easily restore all your files.

We guarantee that all your files will be successfully decrypted after paying.

We can decrypt 2 files for free (size <2mb) as proof that we can decrypt your files.

Warning! After 7 days price will be doubled!

How to decrypt files ?

1) Contact us via email [email protected]

2) Pay $350 on our monero wallet (we will send you wallet address)

3) Send your personal key to our email (It’s located at the end of this document)

4) Get decryption key and program

5) Decrypt all your files

Antimalware Details And User Guide

Click Here For Windows

Click Here For Mac

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

Step 2: Delete STEEL Ransomware using “System Restore”

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

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