FabSysCrypto ransomware / virus (Improved Guide) - Recovery Instructions Included

FabSysCrypto virus Removal Guide

What is FabSysCrypto ransomware virus?

FabSysCrypto ransomware pretends to be Locky virus

FabSysCrypto virus is yet another HiddenTear ransomware spin-off[1]. However, it seems that this time ransomware crooks have big plans and seek to scare the victims greatly. To accomplish this goal, the developers of HiddenTear clone FabSysCrypto have designed a ransom note that looks almost identical to the one that Locky ransomware[2] leaves on the compromised computers. Once installed, the ransomware encrypts victim’s files and adds .locked file extension. This is strange because if the ransomware developers actually wanted to make this virus at least a bit similar to Locky, they would have chosen to add .locky or .zepto file extensions. However, the virus creates a ransom note called _HELP_instructions.txt, which is known to be used by many Locky ransomware versions. The FabSysCrypto malware searchers for files with these file extensions: .txt, .doc, .docx, .xls, .xlsx, .sln, .ppt, .pptx, .odt, .jpg, .png, .csv, .sql, .mdb, .php, .asp, .aspx, .html, .xml, .psd. Once it finds a target file, it encrypts it. Again, we want to remind you that this virus is not as dangerous as Locky and there are some third-party tools that might help you to decrypt .locked file extension files corrupted by this virus. Before you take any moves regarding data recovery[3], please remove FabSysCrypto virus using instructions provided below the article. We never advise ransomware victims to deal with ransomware removal in a manual way, so we suggest using anti-spyware or anti-malware tools for FabSysCrypto removal. We highly advise using these malware removers – FortectIntego or SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner.
FabSysCrypto virusThis is how the FabSysCrypto ransom note looks like. It is clear that FabSysCrypto tries to make victim's believe that it is a Locky virus.

FabSysCrypto ransomware is yet another example why open-source malware is a bad thing[4]. Releasing a ransomware code for “educational” purposes is never good because such projects always get exploited by novice cyber criminals who hardly know how to code. Therefore, they take a prepared source code, make a few easy tweaks and customize it for their needs. Although such viruses are not as dangerous and sophisticated as, for example, Spora ransomware[5], they still do damage to the computer and waste computer user’s time. However, Hidden Tear spin-offs often appear to be decryptable, so we suggest you search the web for HiddenTear decryption tools.

How did the virus enter my computer?

Nowadays we see cybercriminals’ tendency to use social engineering skills rather than programming skills when trying to infect computers with ransomware. The most popular malware distribution technique is the same one as it was a year ago. Scammers still rely on malicious spam technique, which helps them to convince unsuspecting users to install ransomware on their systems without realizing what they are doing. It only takes a few minutes to craft an ingenious message and add a few legitimate-looking logos to it, attach a malicious attachment and send such email to thousands of victims. Once opened, the malicious email attachment contaminates the system and damages data stored on it.

How to safely remove FabSysCrypto ransomware from your system?

If you unwillingly installed FabSysCrypto virus on your computer and it damaged your files in a few minutes before you even realized what happened, we suggest you calm down. There is still some hope left, and we believe that sooner or later you will be able to restore your files. Before doing anything else, remove FabSysCrypto malware with anti-malware tools. Please read the FabSysCrypto removal instructions, which are provided below – they will help you to prepare the computer and help you to conjure FabSysCrypto away easier.

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Compatible with Microsoft Windows Compatible with macOS
What to do if failed?
If you failed to fix virus damage using Fortect Intego, submit a question to our support team and provide as much details as possible.
Fortect Intego has a free limited scanner. Fortect Intego offers more through scan when you purchase its full version. When free scanner detects issues, you can fix them using free manual repairs or you can decide to purchase the full version in order to fix them automatically.
Alternative Software
Different software has a different purpose. If you didn’t succeed in fixing corrupted files with Fortect, try running SpyHunter 5.
Alternative Software
Different software has a different purpose. If you didn’t succeed in fixing corrupted files with Intego, try running Combo Cleaner.

Getting rid of FabSysCrypto virus. Follow these steps

Manual removal using Safe Mode

If your antivirus, anti-malware or anti-spyware doesn’t start in regular computer mode, you should try rebooting your device in Safe Mode with Networking. Once you do that, update your security program and run a full system scan then.

Important! →
Manual removal guide might be too complicated for regular computer users. It requires advanced IT knowledge to be performed correctly (if vital system files are removed or damaged, it might result in full Windows compromise), and it also might take hours to complete. Therefore, we highly advise using the automatic method provided above instead.

Step 1. Access Safe Mode with Networking

Manual malware removal should be best performed in the Safe Mode environment. 

Windows 7 / Vista / XP
  1. Click Start > Shutdown > Restart > OK.
  2. When your computer becomes active, start pressing F8 button (if that does not work, try F2, F12, Del, etc. – it all depends on your motherboard model) multiple times until you see the Advanced Boot Options window.
  3. Select Safe Mode with Networking from the list. Windows 7/XP
Windows 10 / Windows 8
  1. Right-click on Start button and select Settings.
    Settings
  2. Scroll down to pick Update & Security.
    Update and security
  3. On the left side of the window, pick Recovery.
  4. Now scroll down to find Advanced Startup section.
  5. Click Restart now.
    Reboot
  6. Select Troubleshoot. Choose an option
  7. Go to Advanced options. Advanced options
  8. Select Startup Settings. Startup settings
  9. Press Restart.
  10. Now press 5 or click 5) Enable Safe Mode with Networking. Enable safe mode

Step 2. Shut down suspicious processes

Windows Task Manager is a useful tool that shows all the processes running in the background. If malware is running a process, you need to shut it down:

  1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard to open Windows Task Manager.
  2. Click on More details.
    Open task manager
  3. Scroll down to Background processes section, and look for anything suspicious.
  4. Right-click and select Open file location.
    Open file location
  5. Go back to the process, right-click and pick End Task.
    End task
  6. Delete the contents of the malicious folder.

Step 3. Check program Startup

  1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard to open Windows Task Manager.
  2. Go to Startup tab.
  3. Right-click on the suspicious program and pick Disable.
    Startup

Step 4. Delete virus files

Malware-related files can be found in various places within your computer. Here are instructions that could help you find them:

  1. Type in Disk Cleanup in Windows search and press Enter.
    Disk cleanup
  2. Select the drive you want to clean (C: is your main drive by default and is likely to be the one that has malicious files in).
  3. Scroll through the Files to delete list and select the following:

    Temporary Internet Files
    Downloads
    Recycle Bin
    Temporary files

  4. Pick Clean up system files.
    Delete temp files
  5. You can also look for other malicious files hidden in the following folders (type these entries in Windows Search and press Enter):

    %AppData%
    %LocalAppData%
    %ProgramData%
    %WinDir%

After you are finished, reboot the PC in normal mode.

Remove FabSysCrypto using System Restore

  • Step 1: Reboot your computer to Safe Mode with Command Prompt
    Windows 7 / Vista / XP
    1. Click Start Shutdown Restart OK.
    2. When your computer becomes active, start pressing F8 multiple times until you see the Advanced Boot Options window.
    3. Select Command Prompt from the list Select 'Safe Mode with Command Prompt'

    Windows 10 / Windows 8
    1. Press the Power button at the Windows login screen. Now press and hold Shift, which is on your keyboard, and click Restart..
    2. Now select Troubleshoot Advanced options Startup Settings and finally press Restart.
    3. Once your computer becomes active, select Enable Safe Mode with Command Prompt in Startup Settings window. Select 'Enable Safe Mode with Command Prompt'
  • Step 2: Restore your system files and settings
    1. Once the Command Prompt window shows up, enter cd restore and click Enter. Enter 'cd restore' without quotes and press 'Enter'
    2. Now type rstrui.exe and press Enter again.. Enter 'rstrui.exe' without quotes and press 'Enter'
    3. When a new window shows up, click Next and select your restore point that is prior the infiltration of FabSysCrypto. After doing that, click Next. When 'System Restore' window shows up, select 'Next' Select your restore point and click 'Next'
    4. Now click Yes to start system restore. Click 'Yes' and start system restore
    Once you restore your system to a previous date, download and scan your computer with FortectIntego and make sure that FabSysCrypto removal is performed successfully.

Bonus: Recover your data

Guide which is presented above is supposed to help you remove FabSysCrypto from your computer. To recover your encrypted files, we recommend using a detailed guide prepared by 2-spyware.com security experts.

You can try to recover your files using methods explained below, however, the most efficient way to restore them is to import them to the computer from a backup. Please remember that the virus must be purged before trying to recover your files.

If your files are encrypted by FabSysCrypto, you can use several methods to restore them:

HiddenTear decryptor

There are some HiddenTear decryption tools available online, however, we are not 100% sure that they are safe to use, so we cannot provide you the download link. If you want to use them, please search the Internet to find them. You can use them at your own risk.

Finally, you should always think about the protection of crypto-ransomwares. In order to protect your computer from FabSysCrypto and other ransomwares, use a reputable anti-spyware, such as FortectIntego, SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes

How to prevent from getting ransomware

Access your website securely from any location

When you work on the domain, site, blog, or different project that requires constant management, content creation, or coding, you may need to connect to the server and content management service more often. The best solution for creating a tighter network could be a dedicated/fixed IP address.

If you make your IP address static and set to your device, you can connect to the CMS from any location and do not create any additional issues for the server or network manager that needs to monitor connections and activities. VPN software providers like Private Internet Access can help you with such settings and offer the option to control the online reputation and manage projects easily from any part of the world.

 

Recover files after data-affecting malware attacks

While much of the data can be accidentally deleted due to various reasons, malware is one of the main culprits that can cause loss of pictures, documents, videos, and other important files. More serious malware infections lead to significant data loss when your documents, system files, and images get encrypted. In particular, ransomware is is a type of malware that focuses on such functions, so your files become useless without an ability to access them.

Even though there is little to no possibility to recover after file-locking threats, some applications have features for data recovery in the system. In some cases, Data Recovery Pro can also help to recover at least some portion of your data after data-locking virus infection or general cyber infection. 

 

About the author
Jake Doevan
Jake Doevan - Computer technology expert

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