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Desktop Ransomware (Removal Instructions) - Decryption Methods Included

by Lucia Danes - - | Type: Ransomware

Desktop Ransomware Removal Guide

What is Desktop Ransomware?

Desktop Ransomware is a cryptovirus that uses AES encryption algorithm and marks files with the .Lock extension at the beginning of the filename

Desktop RansomwareDesktop Ransomware is a virus that locks your screen with ransom message.

Desktop Ransomware — a cyber threat that encodes personal users' data and marks those files with Lock. prefix. Typically, encrypted data gets the extension at the end of the file name, but this virus drops the extension at the beginning of its name. Hackers behind the virus have been targeting English-speaking users, but there is a great danger to get infected in every world's country. When data gets encoded, the virus locks your Desktop screen and displays the window which contains a ransom demanding message. The HTML window displays the note that suggests to “Get PIN” and activate decryption. However, pressing buttons, writing hackers or keeping contact in any other way may lead to permanent data or even money loss if hackers demand you to pay.[1]

Name Desktop ransomware
Type Cryptovirus
File marker Lock. prefix
Ransom note Displayed on the lock screen Desktop Ransomware called program window
Encryption method AES
Distribution Spam email attachments,
Elimination Use Reimage for Desktop Ransomware removal

Desktop ransomware virus attacks various users all over the world and, in most cases, targets Windows operating system supporting devices. The infiltration starts when DesktopRansomware.exe gets on the device and starts altering system folders files or even Windows Registry keys.

All these changes are made to make Desktop ransomware persistent and running on the system even before the encryption process. Then the file-locking process[2] begins with a system scan that shows what personal data is suitable for the file encoding.

Typical ransomware marks files at the end of the name with file extensions, but this Desktop Ransomware marks data using the prefix. Every file gets this marker, and this way victim knows why records became useless. For example, you cannot open your photo, and you see Lock.MyPhoto.jpg file.

When Desktop Ransomware encryption is done, the virus displays the ransom message which is placed on the screen as an HTML file or lock screen on the Desktop. The message asks to follow the instructions and reads the following:

Welcome in
Desktop Ransomware

Oooooops All your files on the desktop
are encrypted To decrypt files enter PIN
see you soon

Enter PIN

PIN =
Deccryption

Get PIN

Various anti-malware programs can detect Desktop ransomware virus, but the detection rate shows that this is persistent malware. The particular name that is shown on the screen after a full system scan using the program depends on the database in particular. Detection results may differ:

  • Trojan.Generic.D26C1FDB;
  • TR/Kryptik.spuvb;
  • Trojan.GenericKD.40640475;
  • PUA.MSIL.Confuser;
  • Trojan-Ransom.Win32.Encoder.alm;
  • Mal/Generic-S;
  • Win32/Trojan.Ransom.d23;
  • etc.[3]

You need to remove Desktop ransomware using one of the programs that can detect the virus. Anti-malware programs can clean the system from malware, other cyber threats, unwanted programs, and corrupted files. The full system scan significantly improves the performance of your device because it deletes useless programs and files.

Perform Desktop Ransomware removal with Reimage and clean the system afterward. You can use any PC repair tool for this. Make sure to get your software from the official website, provider or at least reputable sources, as various experts[4] recommend.

Desktop Ransomware lock screenDesktop Ransomware is a cryptovirus that focuses on encoding users' files so the ransom can be demanded.

Email spam distributes malicious script via safe-looking attachments

The main technique used to distribute cyber infections is spam email campaigns because this method allows distributing malicious script on the internet. Due to this method, malicious payload or direct malware can get o your system without permission.

Spam emails often may look legitimate and safe because malicious actors misuse various names of well-known companies or services. If you get an email from PayPal or eBay, don't fall for the trick and don't rush to opening the attacked file immediately. Anything labeled as receipts, order information or invoices shouldn't get on your email box if you are not using the service.

Clean your email box more frequently and avoid clicking on any hyperlink provided on email. You can check the purpose of those shortened links and files attached to the email before downloading or clicking on them online.

Terminate Desktop Ransomware using reputable tools

Make sure to remove Desktop Ransomware from the system and employ reliable anti-malware tools for the job. Choose the program and scan the system fully, then follow the suggested procedure and get rid of the virus. However, remember that this cryptovirus makes a few changes behind your back. We can recommend FortectIntego, SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes for system cleaning afterward.

Eliminate all virus related files and perform additional scan after Desktop ransomware removal to fix virus damage. You may need to reboot the device in Safe Mode with Networking before the system scan to make sure that your program is working correctly.

When it comes to Desktop ransomware virus encrypted files, there are a few solutions. Unfortunately, since we have no information about the official decryption tool, we can only offer you data recovery solutions. You can find a few suggestions for file recovery software down below.

Offer
do it now!
Download
Fortect Happiness
Guarantee Download
Intego Happiness
Guarantee
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.
Fortect review | Terms of Use | Privacy policy | Refund Policy | Uninstall guide
Alternative Software
Different software has a different purpose. If you didn’t succeed in fixing corrupted files with Fortect, try running SpyHunter 5.
Download SpyHunter 5 Review »
Privacy policy | Terms of Use | Product Refund Policy | Uninstall Instructions
Malwarebytes
Download | Review | Privacy policy | Terms of Use | Product Refund Policy | Uninstall Instructions
Alternative Software
Different software has a different purpose. If you didn’t succeed in fixing corrupted files with Intego, try running Combo Cleaner.
Download Combo Cleaner Review »
Privacy policy | Terms of Use | Product Refund Policy | Uninstall Instructions

Getting rid of Desktop Ransomware. Follow these steps

Manual removal using Safe Mode

To make sure that Desktop ransomware removal gives the best results, reboot the system in the Safe Mode with Networking and scan the device thoroughly:

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 Desktop Ransomware using System Restore

Try System Restore feature too. This feature allows recovering the previous state of your system:

  • 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 Desktop Ransomware. 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 Desktop Ransomware removal is performed successfully.

Bonus: Recover your data

Guide which is presented above is supposed to help you remove Desktop Ransomware 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 Desktop Ransomware, you can use several methods to restore them:

Recover your data
Recover your data

Try Data Recovery Pro for your encrypted files if you have no backups

If Desktop ransomware encrypted files that you haven't backed up yet, try Data Recovery Pro. Also, this program restores accidentally deleted files

  • 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 Desktop Ransomware ransomware;
  • Restore them.

Employ Windows Previous Versions

Another alternative for data backups is this Windows feature. However, this works if System Restore was enabled before

  • 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”.

ShadowExplorer helps with Desktop ransomware encoded files

If Shadow Volume Copies were left untouched before the Desktop ransomware attack, you could restore data using ShadowExplorer

  • 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.

Decryption is not possible

Finally, you should always think about the protection of crypto-ransomwares. In order to protect your computer from Desktop Ransomware 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
Lucia Danes
Lucia Danes - Virus researcher

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