How to remove TeslaCrypt virus: Restore locked files

TeslaCrypt virus encrypts data using AES encryption algorithm and demands ransom payment for decryption

TeslaCrypt virus also known as TeslaCrypt Ransomware is very dangerous file virus belongs to Ransomware family. This nasty ransomware virus is made using AES encryption algorithm techniques by cybercriminals. It differs from typical file encrypting ransomware that encrypts all types of files including images, audios, videos, games, pdf, ppt, xlx, css, html, text, documents, databases and other formats of files. Also, this file virus encrypts video-game related files. You can’t access or open your personal files anymore due to its dubious behaviors.

TeslaCrypt virus is capable of affecting various popular video games like MineCraft, World of Warcraft, StarCraft, World of Tanks, Dragon Age, RPG Maker and Steam. It means if you users of these games/services, then there is chances to get this nasty ransomware in your computer. Once they gain access to your computer, they lock your all personal files including video-games related files and demands certain amount of ransom money for the decryption. After encryption process is finished, ‘HELP_TO_DECRYPT_YOUR_FILES.txt (or _how_recover_.HTML, _how_recover_.TXT, Howto_Restore_FILES.BMP, Howto_Restore_FILES.TXT, and how_recover + mln.html)’ text files as ransom notes are dropped into your computer desktop, and also it changes your desktop wallpaper with ransom note image.

The text presented in ransom note states that all files of your computer hard drives including your video games-related files have been locked and you need to pay certain amount of extortion money within 3 days after encryption. Lock screen contains buttons offers you to check your payment status, enter decryption keys, and provide a link to TOP payment website when you can perform free file decryption test for some locked files. The ransom note instructs that ransom payment should be made via PayPal My Cash Cards and Bitcoin.

It claims PayPal My Cash Cards can be purchased at US chain stores and pre-loaded with money for later transfer to PayPal account using PayPal My Cash cards’ PIN code. It means you need to pay about $500 in Bitcoins which is just half costs of using PayPal cards. That’s why it is more risky to pay any extortion to them via PayPal. However, developer of TeslaCrypt virus have decided to end their rough business and released master keys to decrypt locked files by this ransomware for the free. These master keys released by cybercriminals are now implemented into TeslaDecoder Tool so you can use this tool to decrypt your files for the free.

To decrypt locked files by TeslaCrypt virus ransomware, you can download and install free TeslaDecorder Tool in your device, and launch it. In the opened decryptor tool window, click ‘Set Key’ button and select the file extension of your encrypted files, and then hit ‘Decrypt All’ button. Wait for the completion. This will delete all your locked files by TeslaCrypt virus. You can also easily decrypt your locked files by using free TeslaCrypt Decrypter – created by ESET, and the tool is available for the free. But before that, you should try to find and remove TeslaCrypt virus related malicious files in computer as soon as possible. After malware or ransomware removal, then you can go for the data recovery solution.

How did you get TeslaCrypt virus in Windows computer?

Spam email Campaign or Malsapm campaign is the mostly used mechanism by cybercriminals to spread Trojans, ransomware or malware in your computer. They send spam emails in your mailbox which contain some false-positive messages along with malicious hyperlinks or attachments. The attachments can be Microsoft Office Documents, PDF, RAR, ZIP, JavaScript or other formats of files. Once opened, it executes certain codes/scripts to trigger malware or viruses in computer. For example, Microsoft Office Documents as malicious attachments infect your computer by enabling malicious macro commands.

How to protect your system against Ransomware?

Any hyperlinks or attachments presented in spam or irrelevant emails must not be opened. You should check if ‘Anti-Spam Filter’ feature is enabled in your mail service you use. Some antivirus software also offers this feature and it is enabled by default. ‘Anti-Spam Filter’ feature when enabled, all spammy emails will automatically be delivered to Spam Folder of your mail service. You should try to block the senders from spam or irrelevant emails, and never reply spammy emails at any cases. Also, you should keep up-to-date your operating system and all other software installed in computer, and run regular system scan for malware or viruses with some powerful antivirus software in computer.

Let’s take a look at ransom note:

NOT YOUR LANGUAGE? USE Google Translate

What happened to your files?

All of your files were protected by a strong encryption with RSA-4096

More information about the encryption RSA-4096 can be found here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RSA_(cryptosystem)

What does this mean?

This means that the structure and data within your files have been irrevocably changed, you will not be able to work with them, read them or see them, it is the same thing as losing them forever, but with our help, you can restore them.

How did this happen?

Especially for your, on our server was generated the secret key pair RSA-4096 – public and private. All your files were encrypted with the public key, which has been transferred to your computer via the Internet. Decrypting of YOUR FILES is only possible with the help of the private hey and decrypt program, which is on our Secret Server!!!

What do I do?

Alas, if you do not take the necessary measures for the specified time then the conditions of obtaining the private key will be changed. If you really need your data, them we suggest you do not waste valuable time searching for other solutions because they do not exist.

Antimalware Details And User Guide

Click Here For Windows

Click Here For Mac

Step 1: Remove TeslaCrypt virus through “Safe Mode with Networking”

Step 2: Delete TeslaCrypt virus using “System Restore”

Step 1: Remove TeslaCrypt virus 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 TeslaCrypt virus using “System Restore”

Log-in to the account infected with TeslaCrypt virus. 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 TeslaCrypt virus 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 TeslaCrypt virus 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 TeslaCrypt virus 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 TeslaCrypt virus, 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 TeslaCrypt virus.

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 TeslaCrypt virus?

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 TeslaCrypt virus 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 TeslaCrypt virus 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.