All_Your_Documents ransomware / virus (Virus Removal Instructions) - Recovery Instructions Included
All_Your_Documents virus Removal Guide
What is All_Your_Documents ransomware virus?
Infected with All_Your_Documents virus? Here is what you need to know:
All_Your_Documents virus is a new crypto-ransomware [1] infection that was named after a Zip archive that it creates on the infected computers in order to store all of the encrypted files. We should note that Zip archives are especially favored by ransomware developers because they can be password protected [2], which means that the encrypted files may not only be rendered unreadable but impossible to access entirely. This sort of double encryption becomes a major obstacle when trying to recover files in alternative ways instead of paying the ransom to the extortionists directly. Either way, though the data recovery may seem only possible to achieve through collaboration with the criminals, we strongly advise you not to involve in such business. And it’s not because we do not want you to get back your files. We simply want to protect you from further data loss, hardware corruption and financial damage that the All_Your_Documents malware attack may lead to. It is not worth paying the extortionists simply because there is no way of knowing whether they are going hand the files back or rob you off your money and leave you with a messed up computer. Thus, it is always better to remove All_Your_Documents virus from the computer and wait for the computer security experts to come up with a free and safe decryption software. You may achieve the virus removal with the help of a well-rated anti-malware software FortectIntego.
As we have already mentioned, All_Your_Documents virus carries out its attacks slightly differently that most ransomware do. It encrypts files and zips them into a password-protected archive [3] labeled All_Your_Documents.rar, where they are kept “safe” from the possibility of alternative recovery. It is interesting that all the encrypted OpenOffice, PDF, Microsoft Office files, images, video and other documents feature no distinct extensions and maintain their original title form. Nevertheless, this brings little use for the victims who still can’t reach their files nor apply most recovery techniques to bypass the encryption and access them. As an unmatched solution, the hackers offer the victims to purchase an individualized decrypter and continue to explain all the conditions to obtain it in the ransom note called All Your the Files in the Archive!.txt. The ransom note is written in English, so we can presume that it is primarily focused on the English-speaking users. Nevertheless, it does not mean that computers located in non-English speaking countries are not on the All_Your_Documents ransomware’s target list. It is likely that that as the virus continues to spread around it will infect more and more countries. Thus everyone should be prepared for the potential attack and quick All_Your_Documents removal.
Ransomware distribution: how does the system infiltration work?
Spam emails with appended malicious attachments, exploit kits [4], software update scams and infected software bundles are the most typical ways All_Your_Documents virus spreads around. Most of these strategies ensure quick and effortless system infiltration; thus they are so often employed by the hackers. Nevertheless, neither of these strategies would be as successful without the contribution from the users. Of course, this contribution is never voluntary and occurs primarily because the users are poorly informed about the dangers of web browsing. Keep in mind that the developers of All_Your_Documents exploit this weakness to trick unsuspecting users into downloading the malware on their computers. Thus, to avoid it you should keep on top of the web security and constantly learn about the latest ransomware infiltration techniques [5].
Where should you start the All_Your_Documents removal?
First of all, if you are hoping to recover your files in the future using some free decrypter, you should first backup the encrypted files so that they won’t be deleted during All_Your_Documents removal. Once that’s done, you can then continue by launching your system in Safe Mode and running an automatic scan of the computer using specialized anti-malware utilities. With the help of these tools, you should be able to remove All_Your_Documents virus quickly and without leaving malicious residue files on your computer.
Getting rid of All_Your_Documents virus. Follow these steps
Manual removal using Safe Mode
All_Your_Documents can try blocking your antivirus and prevent you from eliminating its malicious files from your computer. In such a case, you should check out the following instructions and decontaminate the virus manually:
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
- Click Start > Shutdown > Restart > OK.
- 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.
- Select Safe Mode with Networking from the list.
Windows 10 / Windows 8
- Right-click on Start button and select Settings.
- Scroll down to pick Update & Security.
- On the left side of the window, pick Recovery.
- Now scroll down to find Advanced Startup section.
- Click Restart now.
- Select Troubleshoot.
- Go to Advanced options.
- Select Startup Settings.
- Press Restart.
- Now press 5 or click 5) Enable Safe Mode with Networking.
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:
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard to open Windows Task Manager.
- Click on More details.
- Scroll down to Background processes section, and look for anything suspicious.
- Right-click and select Open file location.
- Go back to the process, right-click and pick End Task.
- Delete the contents of the malicious folder.
Step 3. Check program Startup
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard to open Windows Task Manager.
- Go to Startup tab.
- Right-click on the suspicious program and pick Disable.
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:
- Type in Disk Cleanup in Windows search and press Enter.
- 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).
- Scroll through the Files to delete list and select the following:
Temporary Internet Files
Downloads
Recycle Bin
Temporary files - Pick Clean up system files.
- 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 All_Your_Documents using System Restore
A way to decontaminate All_Your_Documents virus is illustrated below. Please follow these steps if your antivirus is having trouble initiating and scanning the system.
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Step 1: Reboot your computer to Safe Mode with Command Prompt
Windows 7 / Vista / XP- Click Start → Shutdown → Restart → OK.
- When your computer becomes active, start pressing F8 multiple times until you see the Advanced Boot Options window.
-
Select Command Prompt from the list
Windows 10 / Windows 8- Press the Power button at the Windows login screen. Now press and hold Shift, which is on your keyboard, and click Restart..
- Now select Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Startup Settings and finally press Restart.
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Once your computer becomes active, select Enable Safe Mode with Command Prompt in Startup Settings window.
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Step 2: Restore your system files and settings
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Once the Command Prompt window shows up, enter cd restore and click Enter.
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Now type rstrui.exe and press Enter again..
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When a new window shows up, click Next and select your restore point that is prior the infiltration of All_Your_Documents. After doing that, click Next.
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Now click Yes to start system restore.
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Once the Command Prompt window shows up, enter cd restore and click Enter.
Bonus: Recover your data
Guide which is presented above is supposed to help you remove All_Your_Documents from your computer. To recover your encrypted files, we recommend using a detailed guide prepared by 2-spyware.com security experts.If your files are encrypted by All_Your_Documents, you can use several methods to restore them:
How to recover files encrypted by All_Your_Documents virus using Data Recovery Pro?
If you manage to regain access to the All_Your_Documents.rar folder, you can then try decrypting files using Data Recovery Pro. Here we explain how to use this tool:
- Download Data Recovery Pro;
- Follow the steps of Data Recovery Setup and install the program on your computer;
- Launch it and scan your computer for files encrypted by All_Your_Documents ransomware;
- Restore them.
Windows Previous Versions feature can help you with the recovery of files encrypted by All_Your_Documents
Windows Previous Versions feature is a useful technique which you may use to roll back files encrypted by All_Your_Documents ransomware. Learn how to use it below:
- Find an encrypted file you need to restore and right-click on it;
- Select “Properties” and go to “Previous versions” tab;
- Here, check each of available copies of the file in “Folder versions”. You should select the version you want to recover and click “Restore”.
Access your files again with the help of ShadowExplorer
ShadowExplorer is a data recovery feature that will work only if the ransomware leaves Volume Shadow Copies of the files in tact. If it does, you should definitely try out these steps:
- Download Shadow Explorer (http://shadowexplorer.com/);
- Follow a Shadow Explorer Setup Wizard and install this application on your computer;
- Launch the program and go through the drop down menu on the top left corner to select the disk of your encrypted data. Check what folders are there;
- Right-click on the folder you want to restore and select “Export”. You can also select where you want it to be stored.
Free All_Your_Documents decrypter
Unfortunately, All_Your_Documents is currently undecryptable, so the only chance recover your files is by trying out one of the previous methods we have introduced before.
Finally, you should always think about the protection of crypto-ransomwares. In order to protect your computer from All_Your_Documents 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.
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- ^ Crypto-ransomware description. F-secure. Cyber Security Solutions for your Home and Business.
- ^ Lincoln Spector. How to encrypt and password-protect ZIP files the right way. PCworld. News, tips and reviews from the experts on PCs, Windows, and more.
- ^ Song He. Password protected archives help malware evade detection. Comodo. News and Internet Security Information.
- ^ Exploit Kit definition. TrendMicro. Cyber Security Solutions .
- ^ Ransomware on the rise: Norton tips on how to prevent getting infected. Norton. Antivirus Software and Spyware Removal blog.