Remove phantom ransomware And Recover Encrypted Files

Simple Steps To Delete phantom ransomware

phantom ransomware is a deadly file-encrypting malware that was first spotted in the beginning of 2020. However, later in May and July, more variants of this crypto-malware with different features were observed. It is focusing on Chinese-language and hence, also known as PhantomChina virus. It mainly targets Chinese and English speaking users and therefore, it can infect Windows PCs all over the world. Soon after sneaking into your computer, this precarious Ransomware encrypts all your crucial files and data stored inside the machine and then demands money in exchange for the decryption software. The encoded files can be easily identified as it appends “.phantom” extension with each of them as suffix.

Depth Analysis of phantom ransomware:

The real purpose of the hackers behind developing phantom ransomware is to extort illicit profits from the victimized users. And therefore, after locking your essential files, it displays a ransom note titled “!How_To_Decrypt_My_File_ 如何 解密 的 的 文件.hta” and asks you to buy the decryption tool to regain access to the locked files. The note also includes an email address in order to contact the criminals and get details on how to make payment. You must include your unique ID in the letter of the mail. The price of the tool depends on how quickly you contact the hackers.

phantom ransomware authors promise that they will deliver the functional decryptor after the payment. You can also test the decryption by sending 1 infected file with the mail. The size of the file should be or less than 2Mb and should not contain any valuable data like backups, databases, large excel sheets etc. This cryptovirus is considered as one of the most destructive computer infections because it can damage the machine since it gets to access the crucial parts of the system and damage those files significantly.

Text Presented In The Ransom Note:

If you want to restore them, write us to the e-mail: [email protected]

Write this Your ID in the body of your message

You have to pay for decryption in Bitcoins. The price depends on how fast you write to us. After payment we will send you the decryption tool that will decrypt all your files.

Free decryption test as guarantee !

Integrity is our principle!

Before paying you can send us up to 1 file for free decryption. The total size of files must be less than 2Mb (non archived), and files should not contain valuable information. (databases, backups, large excel sheets, etc.)

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 !

Your ID:

Should You Pay The Ransom?

phantom ransomware is spread by hackers directly targeting systems with the aim to extort illicit money from victimized users. The payment has to be transferred in Bitcoins, but this action is not safe for the user. Getting involved in any money transfers with the hackers or even communication can lead to major damage or even installation of malware. There is no need to make the payment no matter how convincing the message appears or how low the ransom amount is. Attackers are not worthy of your belief, particularly such blackmailers.

What Should The Victims Do?

If you are an affected person, the first thing you need to do here is to perform phantom ransomware removal from the work-station immediately. Dealing with the criminals is not a clever thing to do under any circumstance. For data-recovery, you should use alternative methods. There is no decryption software when it comes to this virus because researchers haven’t developed the tool yet for such an infection. And hence, you should use a backup made on any external drive or in its absence, you can try a file-recovery application.

Threat Details

Name: phantom ransomware

Type: Ransomware, Crypto-virus

Short Description: Deadly malware which encrypts users’ important files and then forces them into paying the hackers a sum of ransom to get the functional decryptor.

Extension: “.phantom”

Ransom demanding message: !How_To_Decrypt_My_File_ 如何 解密 的 的 文件.hta

Attackers’ contact: “[email protected]”

Symptoms: Victims cannot open files stored on their PC device, earlier 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.

How Does This Threat Enter Your PC?

phantom ransomware often intrudes your device via spam emails, bundled freeware, misleading ads, porn sites, suspicious links, shareware and Trojan downloaders. Most of the free applications available for download on untrustworthy sites contain malevolent attachments. These unknown executable files automatically get installed without presenting any notification. Users don’t even identify that their computer got infected by threats like this until the virus completely takes over the host machine. Using public Wi-Fi and sharing files on unsafe network could also expose your system to infections. It is very important to avoid any of these activities if you want to prevent any future malware attack on your device. But at the current time, you must remove phantom ransomware from the PC as early as possible.

Antimalware Details And User Guide

Click Here For Windows

Click Here For Mac

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

Step 2: Delete phantom ransomware using “System Restore”

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

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