Remove Exorcist 2.0 Ransomware And Recover Encrypted Files

Tips To Delete Exorcist 2.0 Ransomware

Exorcist 2.0 Ransomware is a new variant of Exorcist Ransomware and was first spotted by security researcher JAMESWT. It’s a very destructive file-encoding malware which tends to silently infiltrate the Windows PCs by stealth and lock files and documents stored inside the machine. It encrypts the targeted files by using a powerful encryption algorithm and prevents victims from accessing them. It also changes the infected filenames by adding a string of random characters as their new extension. After completing the encryption process, this precarious crypto-malware leaves a HTA file in each affected folder which includes a ransom demanding message.

Depth Analysis of Exorcist 2.0 Ransomware:

Exorcist 2.0 Ransomware creates a key file for each locked data. The ransom note displayed by this parasite informs victims regarding the attack and also states that the files can be decrypted by purchasing the decryption software from the attackers. Details regarding paying the ransom fee can be found in the provided Tor website. On the website, victims are warned that if they don’t purchase the required tool within the specific time, then its price will be increased a certain number of times.

The price of the functional decryptor is $300 that has to be paid to Exorcist 2.0 Ransomware authors in BitCoins. To prove that the decryption is possible, hackers also offer to decrypt three encrypted files (JPG, BMP or PNG file) for free that victims can upload via the Tor website. Crooks promise that once the payment is done, they will provide you the required decryptor.

Text Presented In The Ransom Note:

– Decrypt

All your data has been encrypted with Exorcist 2.0 Ransomware.

Do not worry: you have some hours to contact us and decrypt your data by paying a ransom.

If you don’t pay in time, price will be increased. Then, if the payment is still not received, your keys will be destroyed.

To do this, install Tor Browser (here: hxxps://www.torproject.org/download/) and follow instructions on this web site: hxxp://7iulpt5i6whht6zo2r52f7vptxtjxs3vfcdxxazllikrtqpupn4epnqd.onion/

IMPORTANT: Do not modify this file, otherwise you will not be able to recover your data!

Should You Pay The Ransom?

Remember that people behind Exorcist 2.0 Ransomware are not trusted as it has been tendency of such criminals that often ignore the victims once the ransom is paid. There are several instances when crooks just disappeared after taking the extortion and left victims in sorrow of loss of both files as well as money. In addition to that, paying ransom to such cyber criminals will only encourage them to create and spread more such viruses for further profits. And thus, never make any sort of payment to the hackers no matter what situation is.

What Should The Victims Do?

Instead of dealing with the hackers, you should focus on Exorcist 2.0 Ransomware removal from the computer as fast as you can. Reason behind this is that this precarious crypto-virus keeps compromising your other essential files the as long as it stays inside. For data-recovery, you should use backups saved on any external drive. However, if you don’t have a proper backup, then you can try restoring files using a data-recovery application.

Summarize Information

Name: Exorcist 2.0 Ransomware

Type: Ransomware, Crypto-virus

Short Description: Pernicious virus which encrypts users’ vital data and then asks them to pay the attackers a sum of ransom to get the decryption software.

Extension: String of random characters

Ransom Demanding Message: .hta (HTA) file

Ransom Amount: $300 in Bitcoins

BitCoins Wallet Address: bc1qxrjm8d7j857gnxcp9dys0q5lptsfccllvw0grr

Symptoms: Victims cannot open files stored on their system, previous functional files now have different extension, A ransom demanding message is displayed on the desktop screen. Users are asked to pay an amount of ransom to unlock their encoded data and files.

Additional Information: This file-encrypting virus creates a key file for each encoded file

Distribution methods: Spam emails, Torrent websites, peer to peer network sharing, unofficial activation and updating tools.

Damage: All files are encrypted and cannot be accessed without paying ransom, Additional password stealing Trojans and malware infections can be installed along with ransomware infections and other malware.

Removal: To remove this virus from the system, we advise you to use a reliable anti-malware tool. Once malware gets removed, you can recover your files by using existing backup or data-recovery software.

Infiltration of Exorcist 2.0 Ransomware:

It is common that these file-encoding viruses are often distributed through malspam campaigns. Here, cyber hackers send a number of fraudulent emails to the targeted users that are disguised as ‘important’ or ‘urgent’. However, these emails often include misleading attachments that could be in one of these formats- archive files like RAR, ZIP, Microsoft Office, PDF documents, executable files (like .exe) and JavaScript. These attachments include web links which when clicked, download process of some malicious file begins.

To prevent this, it is important to ignore suspicious mails that you receive from unknown sender as you never know what they are bringing to your device. First check the legitimacy of the mails and open them only if you are totally satisfied with their legality. But at the moment, you must remove Exorcist 2.0 Ransomware from the device without wasting any time.

Antimalware Details And User Guide

Click Here For Windows

Click Here For Mac

Step 1: Remove Exorcist 2.0 Ransomware through “Safe Mode with Networking”

Step 2: Delete Exorcist 2.0 Ransomware using “System Restore”

Step 1: Remove Exorcist 2.0 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 Exorcist 2.0 Ransomware using “System Restore”

Log-in to the account infected with Exorcist 2.0 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 Exorcist 2.0 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 Exorcist 2.0 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 Exorcist 2.0 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 Exorcist 2.0 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 Exorcist 2.0 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 Exorcist 2.0 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 Exorcist 2.0 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 Exorcist 2.0 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.