Remove Caterpillar ransomware & Rescue locked files

Easy process to delete Caterpillar ransomware

Caterpillar ransomware is highly vicious file encrypting virus which is a part of Voidcrypt ransomware group. This nasty malware can sneak into your system unnoticed and then it scans your entire system for files. This virus uses powerful encryption algorithm to encode all your data without your approval. It will add its own “.Caterpillar” extension to the file names along with unique ID assigned to the victims and cyber criminals email address. After that, it leaves ransom notes !INFO.HTA on the infected system to demand ransom money to unlock data.

Detailed information about Caterpillar ransomware

The created ransom notes contain instructions which inform victims that all their files are locked. In order to restore the files, victims need to purchase decryption key from the cyber criminals who are behind this threat. The price of recovery tool is not determined, yet users are informed that demanded ransom amount will be doubled if they do not contact them within 48 hours. Additionally, it is mentioned that payment must be done in Bitcoin cryptocurrency. Before paying money, free decryption service is also provided to the victims of some encrypted files.

In order to get furthermore instructions, users are advised to contact them through email or Telegram messenger. Despite this, users are warned not to use third party tools or rename the files otherwise they will lose their important files. You might think of paying ransom money to hackers to get the decryption key. However, it is not sure that you can get your files back completely. It can be possible that this nasty threat strike again and make the same demand. So, users are recommended not to pay money to hackers every time.

Text presented in Caterpillar’s ransom note (“!INFO.HTA”):

!!! Your Files Has Been Encrypted !!!
♦ your files has been locked with highest secure cryptography algorithm ♦
♦ there is no way to decrypt your files without paying and buying Decryption tool♦
♦ but after 48 hour decryption price will be double♦
♦ you can send some little files for decryption test♦
♦ test file should not contain valuable data♦
♦ after payment you will get decryption tool ( payment Should be with Bitcoin)♦
♦ so if you want your files dont be shy feel free to contact us and do an agreement on price♦
♦ !!! or Delete you files if you dont need them !!!
♦Your ID :-
our Email :[email protected]
In Case Of No Answer :[email protected] or Telegram Id : SpadeRansom

What to do with Caterpillar ransomware?

Caterpillar ransomware is robbers that attack your device as many times as it want. So, you should find a permanent way to handle this situation once and for all. So, it is quite necessary to get equipped with powerful malware removal tool that not only remove this threat but also block further intrusion. After removing the virus, you can easily recover your files using backup or data recovery software. So, users are advised to follow this guide to completely remove Caterpillar ransomware from your computer and restore all your files.

How Caterpillar ransomware infect your system?

The most common modes for the intrusion of ransomware and other malware are Trojans, spam campaigns, illegal activation tools, untrustworthy download sources and fake updaters. When users receive emails with malicious files or attachments and open such mails then virus can get executed automatically. Cyber criminals behind this normally use the name of well known companies to send emails in order to trick recipients.

Trojans are malicious programs with a broad range of functionalities that can include the ability to cause chain infection. Fake updaters infect machine by exploiting weaknesses of outdated programs or by simply installing software rather than the updates. Untrustworthy download sources like unofficial sites, p2p sharing networks and others can offer malware disguised as or packed along with ordinary content. Illegal activation tools can download or install malware instead of activating licensed programs.

Threat specification

Name: Caterpillar ransomware

Type: Ransomware, Cryptovirus, file locking virus

Extension: .Caterpillar (files are also appended with cyber criminals’ email address and a unique ID)

Ransom demanding message: !INFO.HTA

Cyber criminal contact: [email protected], [email protected] and SpadeRansom (Telegram)

Short Description: The Caterpillar ransomware encrypts the files on your PC and asks for ransom to be paid in order to restore them back to their working state.

Symptoms: The files on your computer are encrypted after which the malware sets the .Caterpillar file extension as a suffix and adds the ransom note !INFO.HTA

Distribution Method: Spam Emails, Email Attachments, Executable files, bundled freeware, porn or torrent sites and many more.

Removal: Both automatic as well as manual removal guidelines have been prescribed below under this article.

Antimalware Details And User Guide

Click Here For Windows

Click Here For Mac

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

Step 2: Delete Caterpillar ransomware using “System Restore”

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

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