Remove GNS Ransomware And Decrypt Infected Files

Proper Guide To Delete GNS Ransomware From System

GNS Ransomware is a highly destructive file-encoding malware that employs a powerful encryption algorithm for blocking files. Discovered by Jakub Kroustek, this dangerous threat is a new version of well-known Dharma ransomware. When all your essential files and documents are locked with the unique cipher, they cannot be accessed anymore or recovered without a decryption tool. The initial stage of this malevolent attack begins with the integration of multiple files on device’s folder and also initiates spiteful Windows processes. After that, it searches for targeted files by scanning the entire machine and once detecting such files, encrypts them eventually.

Know More About GNS Ransomware:

As we have already mentioned, GNS Ransomware employs a complex encryption method to lock users’ essential files and hence, they will not be able to open them again then after. Simultaneously, this deadly crypto-virus renames the infected files by adding victims’ unique ID, attackers’ email address and appending “.GNS” extension with each of them as suffix. It can target all the major files like documents, presentations, archives, photos, databases, spreadsheets, drawings and so on and make them totally useless. After being locked, all your essential files and documents become completely unusable and can only be opened by using a decryption tool which is allegedly kept on attackers’ server.

Soon after the attack, GNS Ransomware displays a pop-up window and also leaves a ransom note titled “FILES ENCRYPTED.txt” on each folder that contains the infected files and informs victims about the attack. It also asks the affected users to contact the criminals to receive further information. To regain access to locked files, you will have to purchase a decryption software from the attackers. The price of the tool is not listed in the note but it has to be paid in BitCoins cryptocurrency. Hackers promise that once the payment is made, they will deliver the required decryptor.

Text Presented In The Pop-up Window:

YOUR FILES ARE ENCRYPTED

Don’t worry,you can return all your files!

If you want to restore them, follow this link:email [email protected] YOUR ID –

If you have not been answered via the link within 12 hours, write to us by e-mail:[email protected]

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.

Text Presented In The “FILES ENCRYPTED.txt”:

all your data has been locked us

You want to return?

write email [email protected] or [email protected]

Should You pay the Ransom?

Although, it is true that files encoded by GNS Ransomware can’t be opened without using the decryption software/key and hence, many users agree to make payment to the criminals. However, they often get fooled and end up with losing both files as well money. Remember that the only purpose of such hackers is to extort illicit revenues from the victimized users. They will not provide you the necessary tool even after taking the ransom. It has been seen that attackers just ignored the victims once the transaction is done and caused or delivered rogue software in the name of decryption tool which only harms the machine upon getting installed. And thus, never trust on the criminals no matter what situation is.

What Should The Victims Do?

If you are a victimized user, first of all, you need to perform the quick removal of GNS Ransomware from the PC without wasting any time because the longer it stays inside; it keeps compromising your other vital data. As far as restoring the infected data is concerned, use a powerful data-recovery application that you can download right here through the link given under this article. Additionally, you should keep making frequent backups by the help of which, you can easily recover the infected or lost files if such hazardous situation takes place whenever.

Threat summary

Name: GNS Ransomware

Type: Ransomware, Crypto-virus

Description– Deadly virus which encrypts users’ crucial files and then asks them to pay off for the decryption key/tool.

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

Ransom demanding message: Pop-up window, FILES ENCRYPTED.txt

Attackers’ contact– [email protected], [email protected]

Symptoms: Users cannot access their system, open files available on their system, previously functional files now have different extensions, 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.

Distribution methods: Torrent websites, spam emails, 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 GNS Ransomware In Your PC:

Mainly, all versions from this family of malware including GNS Ransomware are successfully reaching random PC users via spam email campaign. The threat is attached to emails and disguised as document from prominent organization in order to bait the recipients into reading the content that will ultimately suggest opening of the attached file. As soon as the user executes the attachment, this hazardous malware starts the first stage of the attack. Aside from this, Trojans, fake updaters, illegal activation tools and unreliable download sources etc. are also major origins through which such kind of file-encoding viruses sneak into the targeted system.

Tips To Prevent Ransomware Attack:

• Be very careful while surfing the web and stay away from malicious sources.
• Never open an email or its attachment that is coming from unknown or suspicious sender.
• Update any software or application through official link only.
• Download any program from trustworthy source only and always choose ‘Custom’ or ‘Advanced’ mode to install the app.
• Use a reliable anti-malware tool and scan the complete device to find and remove trojan if there is any.

Other Harmful Traits of GNS Ransomware:

GNS Ransomware changes the default registry settings by making spiteful entries in it which allows the virus to get automatically activated with each Window reboot. It brings multiple spiteful issues in the device such as boot errors, application malfunctioning, frequent system crash, hard drive failure and so on. This notorious crypto-malware has ability to deactivate all the running security services and Windows Firewalls and allow other Online infections such as adware, spyware, rootkits, trojans etc. to infiltrate the computer as well and cause more damages inside. It downgrades the overall system performance severely as it consumes huge amount of memory resources and increases the usage of CPU. And therefore, looking at all these hazards, you are strongly recommended to remove GNS Ransomware from the machine as soon as possible.

Antimalware Details And User Guide

Click Here For Windows

Click Here For Mac

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

Step 2: Delete GNS Ransomware using “System Restore”

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

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

Step 3: Follow all on screen instructions to install the app successfully on your machine and run it.. When its interface appear before you. Just select what you want to recover from your computer and its drive. For options, check the image below as the app offer you to recover everything, document, folders or emails, or multimedia files. Depending upon your requirements, select any of options and proceed to next step.

Step 4: At this step, you will have to specify the past of data or files from where you are interested to recover lost or deleted data. The application offers you to recover data from common locations, connected drives, and other locations as well. Just choose what you need. Following selection, click on Next button and the app will start to scan the selected drive.

Step 5: Once the scanner finishes to scan, it will show you detected kinds of deleted data or files which you may require to recover. It will offer you various recovery options based on file types. Even it allows you to see preview of file types you select in order to recover those efficiently.

Step 6: Now, you may need to specify the path where you want to recover the selected files and saved. Just do it according to your requirements, and you are done.