Remove STOLEN ransomware and restore locked files

Effective methods to delete STOLEN ransomware

STOLEN ransomware is defined as file encrypting virus whose main purpose is to encrypt all kinds of files including pictures, audios, videos, backups, documents etc and demand huge amount of ransom money in order to decrypt them. Mainly, this virus is developed by a team of remote hacker with a sole motive to make illegal money by phishing novice users.

After encryption process, it adds “.STOLEN” extension as suffix at the end of all encrypted files and makes it inaccessible so that you can’t access them. Once completed, this malware drops a ransom note named “READ_ME_SECURITY_WARNING.txt” on your system screen which describes about infection along with decryption details, how to contact cyber criminals and demanded ransom money.

According to the ransom note, victims must pay 3000 BTC (approx $137 million USD at the time of the writing) to the indicated digital wallet in order to regain access to the files. Users are also provided some time to pay money that is within 30 days of the ransomware attack otherwise the sum will be doubled or data will be publicized online.

Once the money is transferred, the created message informs the victims to contact the criminals by using the Bitmessage communication protocol. We strongly advised victims not to communicate with the cyber criminals and pay any ransom to them because there is no any proof that after getting money they will provide you decryption tool. In this way, you can lose your files and money as well.

Therefore, it is recommended to remove STOLEN ransomware completely from the PC in order to prevent this malware from encrypting more data. After that, use backup files of the locked data in order to restore files. If not found, the last option is to use a third-party data recovery software. Before you begin with the data recovery process scan the system with powerful anti-malware tool.

How did ransomware infect my PC?

STOLEN ransomware and other malware are being spread worldwide via different distribution techniques. The most common techniques is spam email campaign which attaches malicious files like as torrent file, zip file, exe file, archive file and other similar types of files. Once users open such types of files, malware gets installed into the PC without any user’s approval. Another technique is the bundling of freeware programs, peer to peer sharing files, clicking on malicious links, visiting pornographic website and many more.

Remove STOLEN ransomware

Well there are two possible ways to remove this particular malware from PC. The first and easiest method is to use automatic malware scanner tool which helps user to delete STOLEN ransomware and all kinds of harmful threats automatically from infected system. The second way is to remove this threat is by using a manual removal method which is very lengthy and complicated and hence you need to make sure that you are technically assured to complete all these process properly. Now, the choice is yours.

Text presented in STOLEN ransomware’s text file (“READ_ME_SECURITY_WARNING.txt”):

All your DATA has been STOLEN
—
For several months we have been downloading your databases, sources software, private email, documents and etc
It’s time to discuss the ransom amount
transfer “3000” BITCOINS to our wallet : “bc1qcw4xraclcjevcj4hcrvxtr054538cqq5hgaawq”
if we do not receive the transfer within 30 days, the AMOUNT WILL DOUBLE
if after 45 days you do nothing, then we will sell part of the information on the black market,
and publish some of it in internet, and notify all clients/partners/staff and maximum number of media and bloggers
they will be interested to know all the details about how and that your company has lost the data,
and is trying to hide information about data stolen.
—
After payment, write to us a use secure client Bitmessage
—
address: BM-NBaptUA9UYd1LNe19A13YRVduqXjDZkK
subject : –
We will reply within 72 hours
—
download latest client hxxps://download.bitmessage.org/snapshots/
—

Antimalware Details And User Guide

Click Here For Windows

Click Here For Mac

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

Step 2: Delete STOLEN ransomware using “System Restore”

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

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