Remove Pizhon ransomware And Recover Encrypted Files

Easy Steps To Delete Pizhon ransomware

Pizhon ransomware has been identified as a very destructive crypto-malware that was first discovered by security researcher GrujaRS. The main motive of this notorious crypto-threat is to encrypt files and documents stored inside the Windows computers and then force victims to pay an amount of ransom in exchange for the decryption software. It also renames the locked files by appending “.pichon” extension with each of them as suffix. Due to this weird extension, all the compromised files can be easily identified.

Depth Analysis Of Pizhon ransomware:

 Initially upon getting into the targeted PCs, Pizhon ransomware alters the default registry settings by making vicious entries in it to remain persistent and to get automatically activated with each system startup. After that, it leaves a ransom note named “!!!README!!!.txt” on each affected folder that contains the encrypted data and informs victims regarding the attack. The text file is written in Russian language which states that victims require downloading Tor website and creating an email account on the provided website.

Ransom note exhibited by Pizhon ransomware also asks the affected people to use created account to write an email to [email protected] with the code given in it and wait for further details. Usually, while contacting the attackers, victims receive instructions such as price of the decryption software and how to pay for it. Eventually, you may have to pay the criminals a ransom amount of $200 to $1500 that has to be paid in Bitcoins cryptocurrency.

Translation of The Texts Presented In The Ransom Note:

All your information on this computer has been encrypted.

To decrypt, you need to follow simple steps:

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1. Download the tor-browser from the link, install it:

 hxxps: //www.torproject.org/download/download-easy.html

2. Open the tor browser, go to the address and register yourself an e-mail:

 hxxp: //torbox36ijlcevujx7mjb4oiusvwgvmue7jfn2cvutwa6kl6to3uyqad.onion/signup-en.php

3. Log in to your mailbox:

 hxxp: //torbox36ijlcevujx7mjb4oiusvwgvmue7jfn2cvutwa6kl6to3uyqad.onion/wm/

4. Write a letter to e-mail:

 e-mail: [email protected]

 Enter your unlock code in the letter: 42284753

5. Wait for an answer.

————————————————– ———-

Please note that we will not receive letters from regular emails, except for those in this list:

 hxp: //torbox36ijlcevujx7mjb4oiusvwgvmue7jfn2cvutwa6kl6to3uyqad.onion/relay-en.php

————————————————– ———-

Should You Pay The Ransom?

Before you consider dealing with Pizhon ransomware authors, we make sure that they will not send the required decryption tools even after taking the extortion. It has been tendency of such criminals that they often ignore the victims once the ransom is paid or provide rogue software in the name of decryptor which cases even more damages to the system when installed. And therefore, you are strongly denied from making any sort of payment to the hackers no matter what circumstance is.

Ways To Recover The Locked Files:

Before you try to restore the encrypted files, you should perform a quick Pizhon ransomware removal from the computer as early as possible. For file-recovery, you should use other options such as backups that you have saved on any external drive or in its absence; you can also try an effective data-recovery application. You need to be very careful while choosing for a proper recovery tool as hackers may try to deceive you into purchasing a bogus application.

Quick Glance

Name: Pizhon ransomware

Type: Ransomware, Crypto-virus, File-encrypting malware

Short Description: Hazardous malware which encrypts users’ crucial data and then forces them into paying the attackers an amount of ransom to get the decryption software/key.

Extension:  .pizhon with a string of random characters

Ransom Demanding Note: “!!!README!!!.txt”

Attackers’ contact: “[email protected]”

Symptoms: Files become inaccessible stored inside the infected systems, previous functional data now have different extension, A text file is left on each affected folder. Victims are asked to pay an amount of ransom to get the functional decryptor and unlock their encoded data and files.

Distribution methods: 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.

Crypto-virus Distribution Methods:

At most of the times, cyber criminals spread file-encoding viruses with the help of spam campaigns. They send hundreds of dubious emails that include malicious attachments in forms of JavaScript files, executable files like .exe., MS Office or PDF documents, and archive files like ZIP, RAR. As soon as these malevolent attachments are opened, run or executed, the infection process begins.

The dubious mails are presented as legitimate and pretend to be from some well-known companies or reputable institutions. They are specially designed in a way that they can trick the recipients into opening them and downloading the attached files. So, you need to be very attentive while opening emails that are coming from unknown senders as you never know what they are bringing to your device. But at the moment, you must remove Pizhon ransomware from the computer as early as possible.

Antimalware Details And User Guide

Click Here For Windows

Click Here For Mac

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

Step 2: Delete Pizhon ransomware using “System Restore”

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

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