How To Remove .Unknown File Virus (Recover Infected Files)

Simple Steps To Delete .Unknown File Virus From Computer

.Unknown File Virus is a highly destructive ransomware infection which upon getting into your PC, encrypts your essential files and data stored inside your device and makes them completely inaccessible or unusable. This deadly crypto-malware uses a very powerful encryption algorithm to lock your crucial data such as images, videos, audios, PDFs, documents etc. and appends “.unknown” extension with each of them as suffix. After that, you won’t be able to open them again without using the decryption tool that is kept on attackers’ server.

After completing the encryption process, .Unknown File Virus leaves a ransom note on the desktop screen and informs you about the unkind situation. It also provides you the file-recovery instruction stating that to get back access to the locked files again, you must buy the decryption software from the attackers. Criminals usually demand $200 to $1000 as ransom amount that has to be paid in BitCoins or any other digital currency. You are promised that once the payment is made, you will be delivered the required decryptor.

Should You Deal With The Criminals:

Here in such perilous circumstance, many users agree to deal with .Unknown File Virus authors but end up with losing both data as well as money. Remember, you have absolutely no guarantee that crooks will decode your files even after taking the ransom. It has been seen that such types of hackers generally ignore the victimized users once the payment is done or deliver rogue software in the name of decryption tool which only harms the machine badly upon getting installed. And therefore, you should never trust on the attackers. To recover the compromised files, use a reputable third-party file-recovery application. A recently made backup can also help you restore the data at some amount. But first of all, you must delete .Unknown File Virus from the system without wasting any time before it compromises your other essential files.

Other Malevolent Traits of .Unknown File Virus:

Initially, after getting installed, it makes vicious entries in Windows registries and alters its default settings which allows the parasite to get automatically activated with each Window reboot. It messes with important system files that are essential for smooth computer processing and prevents many installed apps as well as drivers from working normally. It disables the working of all the running security measures and Windows Firewalls and opens backdoors for more notorious threats. It may easily bring other Online infections such as adware, rootkits, worms, spyware, trojans etc. in your computer and turn the PC into a malware-hub.

Threat Details

Name- .Unknown File Virus

Type- Ransomware, Crypto-virus

Description- Destructive malware that aims to encrypt users’ crucial files and then ask them to pay off for the decryption key.

Extension-“.Unknown”

Symptoms- All of your important files and data are locked and can’t be opened without using a private key.

Distribution- Spam email campaigns, Executable files etc.

Damage- Causes permanent data loss and can also drop other pernicious infections onto the compromised device.

Removal- Manual and automatic guidelines as provided under this article

How Does This Threat Enter Your Computer:

Opening spam email attachments, playing Online games, using infected removal devices, sharing peer to peer network, watching adult movies etc. are major reasons behind its infiltration into the Windows PCs. And hence, you need to be very careful while browsing the web and stay away from these vicious sources to keep the machine harmless and secured. In case you are among those users who are already suffering from the attack of this malware, you must remove .Unknown File Virus from the computer immediately.

Tips to Protect Your System From Such Attacks:

In order to keep your device away from such malware attacks, you need to follow the below-given steps:

• Ignore suspicious emails coming from unknown sender and never open their attachments.
• Avoid visiting harmful web pages and clicking on malicious ads or links.
• Never download a third-party program from untrustworthy sources.
• Always choose Custom/Advanced settings to install a freeware or shareware.
• Use a reputable anti-malware tool and keep it up-to-date.

Antimalware Details And User Guide

Click Here For Windows

Click Here For Mac

Step 1: Remove .Unknown File Virus through “Safe Mode with Networking”

Step 2: Delete .Unknown File Virus using “System Restore”

Step 1: Remove .Unknown File 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 .Unknown File Virus using “System Restore”

Log-in to the account infected with .Unknown File 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 .Unknown File 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 .Unknown File 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 .Unknown File 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 .Unknown File 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 .Unknown File 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 .Unknown File 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 .Unknown File 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 .Unknown File 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.