Cancer virus (Free Guide) - Quick Decryption Solution
Cancer virus Removal Guide
What is Cancer virus?
How dangerous is Cancer virus?
Cancer virus has been recently noticed spreading and pretending to be a hazardous file-encrypting malware[1]. However, it does not act like a typical encryption malware. It does not use any strong encryption algorithm to encrypt targeted files. What is more, malware does not demand to pay the ransom for data recovery. Cancer malware also resembles a lockscreen ransomware[2]. After infiltration, it starts running various processes and delivers unknown errors warning about system-related problems. These alerts might be impossible to close, or they may lock computer’s screen. Surprisingly, malware does not leave any ransom note[3] with instructions how you should treat this cyber infection. It only drops an ewwwwww ~ cancer.png file, which becomes a new background picture that includes unpleasant words “I have cancer.” Sadly, changing the wallpaper won’t help. In order to get rid of this cyber threat and all its negative features, you have to perform Cancer removal.
Cancer ransomware aims at Microsoft Office and OpenOffice documents, PDF and text files, various formats of images, audio or video files, archives, databases, and many other mostly used files. In this way, it makes the attack even worse because users are scared of losing their files. During this fake file-encryption process, malware appends a .cancer file extension to each affected file. However, it seems that you might be able to recover your files simply from Shadow Volume Copies, using Windows Previous Versions features or using other data recovery tools. After infiltration Cancer virus also renames C: drive to “CANCERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR.” The reason why it behaves in this way it’s unknown. This fake crypto-malware might be just a test version of a serious cyber threat that might appear on the Web soon. Cyber criminals may update the virus and launch another attack. However, next time they might use unbreakable encryption algorithms and demand to pay few Bitcoins for decryption software. Therefore, you should remove Cancer as soon as it appears on your computer and starts messing up with it. When you notice suspicious warnings or the changed wallpaper, run a full system scan with FortectIntego. However, if your computer’s screen is locked or you cannot install security software, scroll down till the end. There you will find instructions how to start the automatic removal.
How do hackers distribute the malware?
Cancer screenlocker virus is a brand new malware, and specific distribution techniques have not been discovered yet. Though, it seems that developers apply same old strategies to infiltrate computers. Malicious spam emails[4] and their attachments stay the main way how malware travels on the Web. Cyber criminals think of many reasons to convince people to open an infected email attachment; so, always be careful and do not rush opening the attachments. What is more, Cancer malware might also be using exploit kits, fake software updates[5], and installers. Hence, it’s important to choose secure sources for software installation and keep your programs updates. We highly recommend setting automatic updates because you won’t be bothered by suspicious ads claiming about the necessity to install some updates.
The step-by-step guide for Cancer removal
Cancer removal requires performing a full system scan with reputable malware removal software. Scanning the system with such tools as FortectIntego or Malwarebytes ensures that all virus related-components will be found and removed from the system. Malware not only makes a havoc on your PC by messing up with your files, running various processes and delivering system warnings. It also makes your computer vulnerable. As a result, other malware and viruses may try to attack and cause even more damage to you. Therefore, remove Cancer as soon as it steps inside your computer and replaces the wallpaper. However, if you have difficulties with installing an anti-malware program or cannot run a full system scan, follow the instructions below.
Getting rid of Cancer virus. Follow these steps
Manual removal using Safe Mode
If your computer’s screen is locked or malware prevents from installing security tools to run the system scan, follow the instructions to reboot your PC to the Safe Mode.
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 Cancer using System Restore
Sometimes malware can lock affected computer’s screen and block access to the malware removal software. In this case you won’t be able to start malware removal. Follow the instructions to get access to the anti-malware software.
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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 Cancer. 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 Cancer from your computer. To recover your encrypted files, we recommend using a detailed guide prepared by 2-spyware.com security experts.If Cancer virus encrypted your files, try these methods below to restore them.
If your files are encrypted by Cancer, you can use several methods to restore them:
Use Data Recovery Pro to restore files encrypted by Cancer ransomware
Data Recovery Pro offers an automatic solution to recover damaged, deleted or encrypted files. We can assure that this tool is simple to use even for not experienced computer users.
- 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 Cancer ransomware;
- Restore them.
Restore individual files encrypted by Cancer virus using Windows Previous Versions feature
This method may help to recover individual files only if System Restore function has been enabled before ransomware attack.
- 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”.
Use ShadowExplorer to restore files encrypted by Cancer screenlocker virus
If malware failed to delete Shadow Volume Copies of the targeted files, you could use ShadowExplorer to restore them. Follow the instructions:
- 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.
Finally, you should always think about the protection of crypto-ransomwares. In order to protect your computer from Cancer and other ransomwares, use a reputable anti-spyware, such as FortectIntego, SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes
How to prevent from getting malware
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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- ^ Rene Millman. What is malware?. IT PRO. IT Analysis and Business Insight.
- ^ Ransomware. Microsoft. Malware Protection Center.
- ^ What is a Ransom Note?. wiseGEEK. Clear Answars for Common Questions.
- ^ Beyond Email: 5 Alternative Ways to Fall Victim to Ransomware. IT Business Edge. News, Analysis, and Trends.
- ^ Can You Tell the Difference Between Fake and Legitimate Software Updates?. Invision. Kansas City IT Support.