How to remove Zxcv Ransomware

Files encrypted by Zxcv Ransomware: Is there any solution?

Zxcv Ransomware is another malware belongs to Dharma Ransomware family. Like other Dharma Ransomware’s variants, this dubious file virus is also designed to encrypt/lock all files stored in your machine, renames each file and demands ransom payment for decryption. During encryption process, it modifies each file by assigning unique ID, cybercriminals’ email ID and .zxcv File Extension. For example, “1.png” file would be “1.png.id-C235vh234.[[email protected]].zxcv” after modification. After encryption process is complete, “FILES ENCRYPTED.txt” ransom notes are dropped in each folder of your computer.

“FILES ENCRYPTED.txt” ransom note states all files stored in your computer have been encrypted and require paying certain amount of extortion money to decrypt files locked by ransomware. It also states that the only way to decrypt files encrypted by ransomware is to purchase and use its decryption software/keys. Otherwise, you will lose your all personal files & folders permanently. Zxcv Ransomware is capable of locking all types of files including documents, databases, ppt, xlx, css, html, text, images, audios, videos, games and other files of your computer. In other word, you can’t open or access your personal files anymore.

Attackers behind Zxcv Ransomware provides initially free disruption test for some encrypted files and asks you to send 2-4 locked files on email ID presented on ransom note. They decrypt these files immediately and send decrypted files to your mail. In order to check these files on mail, you may found that the file has already decrypted. Unfortunately, they force you to pay certain amount of extortion money to decrypt rest of the locked files within 24 hours. It claims in order to rename locked files manually or use third parties’ decryption tool/keys, they will delete your files permanently.

Keep in mind they are not going to decrypt any of your files even after ransom money is paid. So, we recommended you to please avoid paying any amount of extortion money to them. In order to pay extortion money, they can keep record of your some information such as IP address, URLs, login ID & password of your various accounts, banking information and more details. They can share these collected details to other hackers or third parties to generate some income from them.

Let’s take have a look at message displayed on ransom note:

All your files have been encrypted!

All your files have been encrypted due to a security problem with your PC. If you want to restore them, write us to the e-mail [email protected]

Write this ID in the title of your message –

In case of no answer in 24 hours write us to theese e-mails:[email protected]

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.

Free decryption as guarantee

Before paying you can send us up to 1 file for free decryption. The total size of files must be less than 1Mb (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.

hxxps://localbitcoins.com/buy_bitcoins

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

hxxp://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.

Distribution methods:

Zxcv Ransomware and other malware are generally distributed through Trojans, Spam campaigns, illegal activation tools, fake software updaters and untrustworthy download sources. Trojan horse virus can cause chain infection. Spam email campaigns are used by attackers to trigger harmful infection in your computer. They send spam emails in your mail box which contain some messages along with suspicious links or attachments. In order to open such attachments or click on such malicious hyperlinks, it executes encryption module in your computer and starts encrypting all files of your computer. So, we recommended you to avoid opening any attachments coming from irrelevant or unknown emails.

Prevention tips:

In case if your System has already been infected with ransomware type-virus, then the only way to get your locked data back is to remove this infection completely from machine and then you can use strong data recovery software to restore files locked by ransomware. You should have strong antivirus software with latest update, and scan the PC for malware or viruses regularly. Create backup or keep backup of your all personal files or data on some safe external storage device.

As discussed above, this dubious infection generally get enters into your device from email spam campaigns. So, suspect and/or irrelevant emails must not be opened or any attachments or links found in these types of emails must not be clicked/open. On other hand, you should always activate and update software running in your device from their official websites and download/install any applications in your computer by using recommended custom/advance settings. In case if these settings are not given, then you can cancel the installation.

Threat Summary

Name: Zxcv Ransomware

Type: Ransomware, File virus, Crypto-malware

Description: Able to lock all files stored in your computer and demands certain amount of extortion money to decrypt your files.

Distribution methods: Fake software downloaders or updates, malicious emails and attachments, suspicious hyperlinks

Malware removal: To remove Zxcv Ransomware or related malware, we recommended you to scan your computer with strong antivirus software

Data recovery solution: After malware or ransomware removal, you can use strong data recovery application to restore locked files.

Antimalware Details And User Guide

Click Here For Windows

Click Here For Mac

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

Step 2: Delete Zxcv Ransomware using “System Restore”

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

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