Remove Assist Ransomware (Open Locked Files)

Manual Delete Guide Of Assist Ransomware

Assist Ransomware is a highly destructive kind of computer infection which encrypts files on the Windows devices and keeps them hostage until the victims pay the attackers an amount of ransom. Similar to BKGHJ Ransomware and other crypto-viruses, it also generally enters the target PCs by stealth and then initiates its malicious process of data encryption. It uses a very strong encryption algorithm to lock images, audios, videos, documents, presentations, spreadsheets etc. and makes them completely inaccessible or unusable. The compromised files can be easily identified as it renames them by appending “.assist” extension with each of them.

Assist Ransomware Aims to Force Victims Into Paying Ransom:

After completing the encryption process, Assist Ransomware drops a ransom note named “ASSIST-README.txt on each folder that contains the encrypted data and informs victims about the unkind situation. The text file contains instruction on how to pay the ransom and what is the ransom amount. For more details, victims have to contact the attackers via the provided email address. The ransom amount has to be paid in BitCoin and Monero cryptocurrency. The affected users are also warned not to use any third-party software otherwise, it may lead to permanent data loss. Victims are promised that once the payment is made, they will be delivered the required decryptor.

Paying Ransom Doesn’t Often Work:

Although, it is true that files encrypted by Assist Ransomware can’t be unlocked without using the proper decryption tool. However, if you decide to deal with the attackers, you need to be very careful here. Keep in mind that the only objective of such criminals is to extort illicit profits from the victimized users. They hardly ever provide the required tool even after taking the extortion. There are several instances when crooks just ignored the victims once the ransom is paid or delivered shady application in the name of decryption tool. So, never consider making any sort of payment to the hackers under any circumstance.

What Should The Victims Do?

For any victimized users, the first thing they require to do here is to perform Assist Ransomware removal from the computer as early as possible. The longer this nasty parasite stays inside your device, it keeps ruining your other essential files. Besides locking your data, it can also trigger many other precarious issues inside the infected systems like application malfunctioning, hard drive crash, software failure, boot errors and so on. It messes with important system files that are essential for smooth computer functioning and prevents many drivers as well as applications from working normally.

For data-recovery, the best method you can apply is to use a backup, saved on any external location. Nonetheless, in the absence of a proper backup, you can also try a powerful file-recovery application. Be very attentive while choosing a recovery tool as scammers often deceive users into purchasing shady software. You can download a legitimate and effective file-recovery program at this very place via the link provided under this article.

Penetration of Assist Ransomware:

Ransomware can be spread via more than just one technique however, at most of the times, these file-encoding viruses enter the target devices via phishing emails. Cyber criminals send thousands of deceptive mails that include vicious attachments. The attached spiteful document could be in multiple formats such as archive files like ZIP, RAR, Microsoft Office documents, PDF documents, JavaScript files, or executable files (like .exe). Once the recipient opens, runs or executes the attached file, it triggers the installation of cryptomalware.

Spam mails are generally presented as ‘important’ or ‘crucial’ or pretend to be from some well-known companies or institutions. They are designed in a way that they can easily trick recipients into downloading their malicious attachments. And therefore, you are strongly recommended to ignore irrelevant emails that you are coming from unknown addresses or look suspicious. In case your PC is already infected with this crypto-virus, you must remove Assist Ransomware from the machine without wasting any time.

Text Presented In The Ransom Note:

!   GREETING   !

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       ! YOUR NETWORK HAS BEEN HACKED AND ALL DATA IS ENCRYPTED !

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Also a lot of sensitive data has been downloaded from your network

Strictly forbidden to use third-party decryption software – FILES WILL BE LOST!

To RESTORE your files, follow this instructions:

1. Contact us with attached assist-readme.txt
2. Receive ASSIST file decryption tool
3. Run the tool and successfully RESTORE all your files!

! ONLY ORIGINAL DECRYPTION TOOL CAN RESTORE YOUR FILES ! 

—————————————

Contacts: [email protected]

Payments accepted: Bitcoin (BTC), MONERO (XMR)

ID KEY:

–

# ASSIST #

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Antimalware Details And User Guide

Click Here For Windows

Click Here For Mac

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

Step 2: Delete Assist Ransomware using “System Restore”

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

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