Remove VASA LOCKER Ransomware And Access Encrypted Files

Easy Steps To Delete VASA LOCKER Ransomware

VASA LOCKER Ransomware is a type of highly dangerous computer virus which encrypts files and then forces victims into paying a hefty sum of ransom for their decryption. This deadly crypto-malware uses SHA256 hashing, ChaCha8 encryption and ECDH key exchange algorithm to lock the targeted data and secure its keys. It also renames the compromised files by appending “.__NIST_K571__” extension with each of them as suffix. It can compromise almost all types of data including images, videos, audios, documents, PDFs etc. and make them totally useless. This notorious ransomware mainly targets organizations, companies but can also affect regular users.

Depth Analysis Of VASA LOCKER Ransomware:

Once the encryption process is completed, VASA LOCKER Ransomware drops a ransom note titled “DECR.TXT” on each affected folder and informs victims about the unpleasant situation. It states that all files stored inside the machine have been encrypted and backups have been deleted. To recover those files, users must purchase a “special program” (decryption software) from the attackers. For more details, victims have to contact the criminals via the provided email address. They are also warned not to modify the files or attempt to restore them manually as it may result in permanent data loss.

VASA LOCKER Ransomware tries to delete the shadow copies before and after the file encryption. That makes even more complex to get back those data. Additionally, it encrypts remote drives and shuts down processes or services that may prevent it from encoding files by utilizing the Restart Manager. firefox.exe, isqlplussvc.exe, excel.exe, notepad.exe, ocssd.exe, sql.exe, outlook.exe, dbsnmp.exe are some examples of processes that are shut down by this virus.

Should You Pay The Ransom?

Although, it is true that data encrypted by VASA LOCKER Ransomware can’t be accessed without using the decryption tool. Nonetheless, paying ransom to the criminals is never recommended as there is absolutely no guarantee that they will provide you the appropriate decryptor even after taking the extortion. There are multiple occasions when criminals just ignored the victims once the ransom is paid or delivered rogue software in the name of decryption tool. So, never trust such hackers and try to recover the compromised data using alternative methods.

What Should The Victims Do?

Here in such precarious situation, the first thing any victimized person needs to do is to perform VASA LOCKER Ransomware removal from the computer immediately. As far as retrieving the infected files is concerned, you should use backups that you have saved on any external drive. Or in the absence of a proper backup, we recommend trying an effective file-recovery application which you can download right here via the link provided under this article.

Threat Details

Name: VASA LOCKER Ransomware

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

Short Description: Dangerous malware that locks essential files and then asks victims to pay the attackers a huge sum of ransom to get the decryption software/key.

Extension: “.__NIST_K571__”

Ransom Notes: DECR.TXT

Attackers’ Contact: [email protected]

Additional Information: VASA LOCKER Ransomware encrypts remote drives and uses the Restart Manager to shut down processes or services that may prevent it from encoding files

Symptoms: Files become unusable stored on the infected computers, previous functional data now have different extension, a ransom demanding note is displayed. Victims are asked to pay an amount of ransom to decrypt their encrypted 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.

Intrusion of VASA LOCKER Ransomware:

This type of computer viruses can be distributed in multiple ways including spam emails, drive-by downloads, Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) attacks, deceptive ads and so on. It can also be propagated via file-sharing platforms, especially popular torrent sites. However, the most widely used ransomware distribution technique is still malspam campaign during which, thousands of phishing emails are sent by cyber criminals. These emails generally contain a malicious file that is specially designed to install virus. The attached file could be in multiple formats such as: archive files like ZIP, RAR, MS Office, PDF documents, executable files (like .exe), JavaScript files. As soon as the recipients open the attachment, it leads to the installation of VASA LOCKER Ransomware or other crypto-threat.

Tips To Prevent Ransomware Intrusion:

To prevent such hazardous attacks, files should never be opened that are attached with emails coming from unknown addresses. Moreover, any software or products should only be downloaded from official sites, reliable channels, direct links and avoid using peer-to-peer sharing networks, third-party downloaders, installers etc. Moreover, update or activate any application via the official tools only and use an anti-malware suite and keep it up-to-date. In case your device is already infected with this destructive virus, you must remove VASA LOCKER Ransomware from the PC without wasting any time.

Text Presented In The Ransom Note:

———– [ Hello! ] ————->

       ******BY VASA LOCKER******

What happend?

———————————————-

Your computers and servers are encrypted, backups are deleted from your network and copied. We use strong encryption algorithms, so you cannot decrypt your data.

But you can restore everything by purchasing a special program from us – a universal decoder. This program will restore your entire network.

Follow our instructions below and you will recover all your data.

If you continue to ignore this for a long time, we will start reporting the hack to mainstream media and posting your data to the dark web.

What guarantees?

———————————————-

We value our reputation. If we do not do our work and liabilities, nobody will pay us. This is not in our interests.

All our decryption software is perfectly tested and will decrypt your data. We will also provide support in case of problems.

We guarantee to decrypt one file for free. Go to the site and contact us.

How to contact us?

———————————————-

Using EMAIL:

1) Open your mail

2) Write us: [email protected]

YOUR PERSONAL ID, ATTACH IT:

–

!!! DANGER !!!

DO NOT MODIFY or try to RECOVER any files yourself. We WILL NOT be able to RESTORE them.

!!! DANGER !

Antimalware Details And User Guide

Click Here For Windows

Click Here For Mac

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

Step 2: Delete VASA LOCKER Ransomware using “System Restore”

Step 1: Remove VASA LOCKER 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 VASA LOCKER Ransomware using “System Restore”

Log-in to the account infected with VASA LOCKER 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 VASA LOCKER 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 VASA LOCKER 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 VASA LOCKER 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 VASA LOCKER 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 VASA LOCKER 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 VASA LOCKER 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 VASA LOCKER 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 VASA LOCKER 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.