How to remove Key group ransomware

Key group ransomware encrypts users' files and demands them to pay a ransom

The Key group file-locking variant belongs to the Xorist ransomware family. It is considered to be a ransomware-type malware that uses encryption^[1] to lock personal files, like photos, videos, and documents. This version is known to change the desktop wallpaper as well. Infections like this can potentially result in permanent data loss if users do not have backups.

The affected files are appended with the .keygroup777 or .keygroup extension. The icons are also changed to white pages so thumbnails are unavailable. Users are unable to open, view, or use the encrypted files. Ransomware attacks have been gradually increasing in numbers so users should learn about the safety precautions they can take to avoid them.

The ransom note

Key group ransomware generates two notes on the device – a pop-up window and a text file “HOW TO DECRYPT FILES.txt.” The ransom note is a message from the ransomware developers. Usually, they try to pressure or intimidate victims into paying money for a decryption tool. Some even give a time limit and threaten to leak the data if their demands are not met.

The ransom amount varies greatly. It can be anywhere from a couple of dollars, to thousands of dollars. Some cybercriminals specify the amount in the note, and some negotiate privately depending on the importance of the information. If the encrypted files belong to a business, there is a chance that threat actors will ask for a significant amount of money.

We strongly advise against paying the ransom as cyber criminals cannot be trusted. Many previous ransomware victims have come forward and said that they never received the promised decryption tools. Besides, most often they ask to be paid in cryptocurrencies because it provides anonymity.

But once you send a cryptocurrency transaction to another wallet it is impossible to get it back. There are no refunds, and often it is hard or impossible to find out to who the digital wallet belongs. Even though there are almost no other options to decrypt your files, it is too much of a risk.

Distribution methods

Generally, users get infected with ransomware and other malware because they are not careful while browsing the web or do not know certain security rules they should apply. Here is a list of things you should not do if you want to avoid virus infections:

• Do not use unsafe file downloading sources. Torrent websites and peer-to-peer file-sharing platforms are unregulated, so they are the perfect breeding ground for all kinds of malware. It is impossible to know if the files you are downloading are not malicious. 
• Do not open email attachments from unknown senders. Cybercriminals can create letters that look like important and urgent messages from well-known companies, and they can trick people into opening infected email attachments or malicious links using social engineering.

What you should do instead:

• Use official web stores and developer websites. It may be tempting to install “cracked” software^[2] for free because buying programs can be expensive. However, it may save you money in the long run by keeping your system safe and running smoothly.
• Keep your operating system and software updated. Hackers can use software vulnerabilities to deliver their malicious programs. Software developers release security patches regularly so they should be installed as soon as they come out to ensure the safety of your system.

Ransomware removal process

The important thing to do is to disconnect the affected machine from the local network as we talked about the dangers of that previously. For home users, disconnecting the ethernet cable should do the job. If this happened at your workplace, doing that might be complicated, so we have instructions for corporate environments at the bottom of this post.

If you try to recover your data first, it can result in permanent loss. It can also encrypt your files the second time. It will not stop until you remove the malicious files causing it first. You should not attempt removing the malicious program yourself unless you have experience. Manual removal of ransomware is extremely complicated and is suitable for people with advanced IT skills.

Use anti-malware tools like SpyHunterCombo Cleaner or MalwarebytesMalwarebytes to scan your system. This security software should find all the related files and entries and remove them automatically for you. In some cases, malware does not let you use antivirus in normal mode, so you need to access Safe Mode and perform a full system scan from there:

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 10 / Windows 8

1. Right-click on Start button and select Settings.
   
2. Scroll down to pick Update & Security.
3. On the left side of the window, pick Recovery.
4. Now scroll down to find Advanced Startup section.
5. Click Restart now.
6. Select Troubleshoot.
7. Go to Advanced options.
8. Select Startup Settings.
9. Click Restart.
10. Press 5 or click 5) Enable Safe Mode with Networking.

Repair corrupted system files

Performance, stability, and usability issues, to the point where a full Windows reinstall is required, are nothing unusual after a malware infection. These types of viruses can alter the Windows registry database, damage vital bootup, and other sections, delete or corrupt DLL files, etc. Once a system file is damaged by malware, antivirus software cannot fix it.

Manual troubleshooting of such damage is also very complicated and can take a long time. This is why FortectIntego was developed. It can fix a lot of the damage caused by an infection like this. Blue Screen errors,^[3] freezes, registry errors, damaged DLLs, etc., can make your computer completely unusable. By using this maintenance tool, you could prevent yourself from having to reinstall Windows completely.

• Download the application by clicking on the link above
• Click on the ReimageRepair.exe
  
• If User Account Control (UAC) shows up, select Yes
• Press Install and wait till the program finishes the installation process
• The analysis of your machine will begin immediately
• Once complete, check the results – they will be listed in the Summary
• You can now click on each of the issues and fix them manually
• If you see many problems that you find difficult to fix, we recommend you purchase the license and fix them automatically.

Try recovering data with third-party software

Only hackers hold the decryption key, which can unlock your files, so if you did not back them up previously, there is a good chance that you will never get them back. You can try using data recovery software, but keep in mind that third-party programs cannot always decrypt files. Whatever the situation may be, we suggest at least trying this method. Before you proceed, copy the corrupted files and place them in a USB flash drive or another external storage device. And remember – only do this if you have already removed the Key group ransomware.

Before you begin, several pointers are important while dealing with this situation:

• Since the encrypted data on your computer might permanently be damaged by security or data recovery software, you should first make backups of it – use a USB flash drive or another storage.
• Only attempt to recover your files using this method after you perform a scan with anti-malware software.

Install data recovery software

1. Download Data Recovery Pro.
2. Double-click the installer to launch it.
3. Follow on-screen instructions to install the software.
4. As soon as you press Finish, you can use the app.
5. Select Everything or pick individual folders where you want the files to be recovered from.
6. Press Next.
7. At the bottom, enable Deep scan and pick which Disks you want to be scanned.
8. Press Scan and wait till it is complete.
9. You can now pick which folders/files to recover – don't forget you also have the option to search by the file name!
10. Press Recover to retrieve your files.