Remove ANN ransomware (+ Retrieve files)

Easy methods to delete ANN ransomware

ANN ransomware is recent malware infection belongs to Matrix ransomware family. It is developed by team of scammers with the main intention to extort huge amount of ransom money by monetizing innocent users. This dubious threat enter into your system via the method of spam email attachment, bundled freeware programs, commercial websites, updating system software, suspicious links and by using various other deceptive methods. As soon as it invades, it will start to scan entire computer hard disk and encrypt all available files and makes it totally useless.

During encryption, it renames all encrypted by changing their filenames to [email protected] email address, string of random characters and appending the “.ANN” extension. After that, it creates a file named #ANN_README#.rtf and dropped into users desktop to inform about encryption and also provide details how to unlock files. The ransom message states that all your files as well as data are encrypted with cryptographic algorithm and the only way to decrypt it is to purchase decryption tool and unique key.

Unfortunately, unique key is stored on the remote server which is controlled by the cyber criminals. Users are instructed to contact them within 7 days after the attack otherwise the key will automatically deleted. To get such key, users have to contact the developers of ANN ransomware through [email protected] email address and submit provided personal ID. The ransom amount is not determined. The price of such tool depends on how fast victim will contact cyber criminal. The normal price of such key is between $490 to $980.

Quick Glance

Name: ANN ransomware

Type: Ransomware, Cryptovirus

Files extension: .ANN

Ransom demanding message: #ANN_README#.rtf

Short Description: Aims to render the files on the compromised computers by it to no longer be able to be opened In order to extort victims into paying ransom to get their files back.

Symptoms: Files cannot be opened and have the .ANN file extension. The ransomware drops ransom note, containing the extortionists’ message on users desktop.

Distribution Method: spam emails, email attachments, executable files, suspicious websites, harmful links, freeware and shareware programs and so on.

Removal: Use Spyhunter in order to remove ANN ransomware completely and then recover files using existing backup or other data recovery tool.  

Should victims contact to the cyber criminals?

By going through the above mentioned instructions, victims are advised not to contact cyber criminals in any situation as users who pay ransom often get scammed. Their main intention is not to unlock your files rather than to cheat your money and used it for illegal activities. So, despite paying money users are highly recommended to remove ANN ransomware soon from the computer to avoid it from further infection.

How to recover files from ANN ransomware?

In order to retrieve files, victims are highly suggested to delete ANN ransomware completely and safely without any delay if detected at the first inspection. Once malware gets removed and PC gets cleaned, you can restore all your data and files by using legitimate recovery software.

Remove ANN ransomware

In order to remove ANN ransomware and all injected files users are highly advised to follow below removal steps as well as automatically removal tool. Manual removal steps are hard and time-taking. If you are novice users then you are strongly suggested to click on the below removal tool that will help you to remove ANN ransomware automatically from the PC.

Text presented in a ransom note:

HOW TO RECOVER YOUR FILES INSTRUCTION
ATENTION!!!
We are realy sorry to inform you that  ALL YOUR FILES WERE ENCRYPTED
by our automatic software. It became possible because of bad server security.
ATENTION!!!
Please don’t worry, we can help you to RESTORE your server to original
state and decrypt all your files quickly and safely!

INFORMATION!!!
Files are not broken!!!
Files were encrypted with AES-128+RSA-2048 crypto algorithms.
There is no way to decrypt your files without unique decryption key and special software. Your unique decryption key is securely stored on our server. For our safety, all information about your server and your decryption key will be automaticaly DELETED AFTER 7 DAYS! You will irrevocably lose all your data!
* Please note that all the attempts to recover your files by yourself or using third party tools will result only in irrevocable loss of your data!
* Please note that you can recover files only with your unique decryption key, which stored on our side. If you will use the help of third parties, you will only add a middleman.

HOW TO RECOVER FILES???
Please write us to the e-mail (write on English or use professional translator):
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
You have to send your message on each of our 3 emails due to the fact that the message may not reach their intended recipient for a variety of reasons!

In subject line write your personal ID:
2DA52A597276FC47
We recommed you to attach 3 encrypted files to your message. We will demonstrate that we can recover your files.
*   Please note that files must not contain any valuable information and their total size must be less than 5Mb.

OUR ADVICE!!!
Please be sure that we will find common languge. We will restore all the data and give you recommedations how to configure the protection of your server.

We will definitely reach an agreement 😉 !!!

ALTERNATIVE COMMUNICATION

 If yоu did nоt rеcеivе thе аnswеr frоm thе аfоrеcitеd еmаils fоr mоrе then 24 hours please sеnd us Bitmеssаgеs frоm а wеb brоwsеr thrоugh thе wеbpаgе hxxps://bitmsg.me. Bеlоw is а tutоriаl оn hоw tо sеnd bitmеssаgе viа wеb brоwsеr:
1. Оpеn in yоur brоwsеr thе link hxxps://bitmsg.me/users/sign_up аnd mаkе thе rеgistrаtiоn bу еntеring nаmе еmаil аnd pаsswоrd.
2. Уоu must cоnfirm thе rеgistrаtiоn, rеturn tо уоur еmаil аnd fоllоw thе instructiоns thаt wеrе sеnt tо уоu.
3. Rеturn tо sitе аnd сlick “Lоgin” lаbеl оr usе link hxxps://bitmsg.me/users/sign_in, еntеr уоur еmаil аnd pаsswоrd аnd click thе “Sign in” buttоn.
4. Сlick thе “Сrеаtе Rаndоm аddrеss” buttоn.
5. Сlick thе “Nеw mаssаgе” buttоn.
6. Sеnding mеssаgе:
Tо: Еntеr аddrеss: BM-2cUPmiEDYswzWC3ZmbtybDJeUNHqSpERL1
Subjесt: Еntеr уоur ID: –
Mеssаgе: Dеscribе whаt уоu think nеcеssаrу.
Сlick thе “Sеnd mеssаgе” buttоn.
cHaYbikO

Antimalware Details And User Guide

Click Here For Windows

Click Here For Mac

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

Step 2: Delete ANN ransomware using “System Restore”

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

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