Remove LeakTheMall ransomware And Recover Encrypted Files

Tips To Delete LeakTheMall ransomware

LeakTheMall ransomware is a highly dangerous file-encrypting malware that typically spreads via spam emails and then performs full encryption of data stored in the infected device. Once on the computer, this precarious crypto-malware locks users’ pictures, videos, music, documents, archives and other sensitive data and then marks them with a unique extension. As a result, victims are unable to access their files as they need a decryption key which is stored on a remote server controlled by the attackers. This hazardous ransomware mainly attacks computers running on Windows based operating systems and is compatible with all versions of Windows including the latest Win 10.

More About LeakTheMall ransomware:

LeakTheMall ransomware encrypts your important files and documents using a very strong encryption algorithm and makes them completely inaccessible and unusable for the users. Those files can be easily identified because of the weird extension that it appends with them as suffix. The sole purpose of the criminals behind such lethal attack is to extort illicit money from the victimized users. And thus, soon after completing the encryption process, it displays a ransom note and asks victims to pay the attackers an amount of ransom in order to get the decryption software.

The note displayed by LeakTheMall ransomware also includes an email address in order to contact the criminals and get more details. Hackers state that the only way to restore the compromised data is by using the functional decryptor that you will have to buy from them. The price of the tool depends on how quickly you establish contact with them. Though, it might be in the range of $200 to $1500 that has to be paid in BitCoins or any other digital currency.

Should You Pay The Ransom?

LeakTheMall ransomware leaves victims with no choice except to pay the demanded fee to the criminals. Here in such precarious situation, many affected people agree to deal with the attackers however, we strongly deny from doing so. Keep in mind that the only purpose of criminals is to swindle money from the victimized users. You have absolutely no guarantee that they will deliver the required decryption tool even if the ransom is paid. It has been seen that such types of cyber hackers generally disappear after taking the extortion and cause victims to lose both files as well as money.  So, never consider making any sort of payment to the crooks under any circumstance and find any alternate way to retrieve the infected data.

What Should The Victims Do?

If you are an affected user, the first thing you need to do here is to perform LeakTheMall ransomware removal from the work-station immediately. As far as restoring the infected files is concerned, you should use a recently made backup that you have saved on any external drive. However, in the absence of a proper backup, you can try an effective data-recovery application. Paying ransom to the criminals is never recommended as you will be cheated at the end. Moreover, it will only encourage them to create and spread more such infections for further revenues.

Quick Glance

Name: LeakTheMall ransomware

Type: Ransomware, Crypto-virus

Short Description: Hazardous threat that encrypts users’ important files and then asks them to pay the attackers a sum of ransom to get the decryption software.

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.

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.

Ways To Spread LeakTheMall ransomware:

Crypto-viruses are mostly spread via obfuscated email attachments (.pdf, .zip, or Microsoft Office documents). Such attachments might be labeled as ‘important’ or ‘crucial’ or coming from some well-known company. However, they contain malicious scripts that once activated, drops the payloads and the ransomware infections start. Alternatively, file-encoding threats travel via software cracks and keygens that, despite being widely used, are pirated and spread on peer-to-peer networks by unknown actors.

Tips To Prevent Such Attacks:

To avoid this, you should be very careful while surfing the web. Never open suspicious emails and their attachments that you receive from unknown sender as they might include vicious attachments and may lead to virus intrusion when executed. Moreover, downloading cracks like Synapse, Deepfake, Outbyte, Adobe Acrobat, Adobe Photoshop, etc. pose a high-risk of a ransomware attack as thus, avoid visiting unsafe domains to download programs. But at the moment, you must remove LeakTheMall ransomware from the computer as soon as possible.

Antimalware Details And User Guide

Click Here For Windows

Click Here For Mac

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

Step 2: Delete LeakTheMall ransomware using “System Restore”

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

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