How to remove FirstKill ransomware

FirstKill ransomware infection can cause victims to lose all their personal files

FirstKill ransomware is a dangerous file-locking malware that uses complicated encryption algorithms to lock users' personal files, such as photos, videos, and documents. The main goal of this virus is to extract money from victims for a decryption tool.

When it infiltrates the system, the affected files are appended with the .FirstKill extension. So if a file was previously named picture.jpg, after encryption it would look like this – picture.jpg.FirstKill. The malicious program also changes the desktop wallpaper.

The ransom note

FirstKill ransomware generates a ransom note CO_SIĘ_STAŁO.html on the machine. A ransom note is written by cyber criminals. This is where they explain what happened to users' files and state their demands. Threat actors want to get paid, so they ask for money in return for a decryption key.^[1]

Usually, they want to be paid in cryptocurrencies,^[2] because it provides anonymity. However, it is a huge risk to send cryptocurrencies because there are no refunds or other ways to get the funds back if something goes wrong. Cybercriminals cannot be trusted.

Many previous ransomware attack victims have come forward and said that they never received the promised decryption tools after paying. Even though it is almost impossible to decrypt the files without the key that threat actors hold, there are third-party recovery tools that help in some cases.

Distribution methods

Cybercriminals use various tactics to spread their malicious programs. Most often, people get infected by installing “cracked” software.^[3] Torrent websites and peer-to-peer file-sharing platforms are unregulated, so it is impossible to know if the packages you are downloading do not contain any malicious files.

It is best to only use official web stores and developer websites. Apps that get listed on digital marketplaces have to go through an extensive review process. It might get costly but you may save in the long run by keeping your system running smoothly. Besides, there are plenty of free options to choose from.

Another method used is email. Threat actors use social engineering to create convincing letters that look like urgent messages from well-known companies. They include infected attachments or malicious links. You should never open email attachments from someone you do not personally know.

Many users also do not know how important it is to keep the operating system and software updated. Hackers can use software vulnerabilities^[4] to deliver their malicious programs. Software developers regularly release security patches so they should be installed immediately.

Use professional security tools to eliminate malicious files

The critical thing to do is disconnect the affected machine from the local network. 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.

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 is not letting 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 the 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 the 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 the 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.

Fix system errors to prevent Windows reinstallation

Performance, stability, and usability issues, to the point where a complete Windows reinstall is required, are expected after malware infection. These types of infections 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 is not able to repair it. 

This is why FortectIntego was developed. It can fix a lot of the damage caused by an infection like this. Blue Screen errors, freezes, registry errors, damaged DLLs, etc., can make your computer completely unusable. By using this maintenance tool, you could avoid Windows reinstallation.

• 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.

File recovery options

Many people think that they can fix their files with anti-malware tools, but that is not what they are designed for. All the security tools can do is detect suspicious processes in your system and eliminate malicious files. The truth is, that the files can be restored only with a decryption key or software that only the cybercriminals have.

If you did not back up your data previously, you possibly lost your files forever. You can try using data recovery software, but third-party programs cannot always decrypt the files. We suggest at least trying this method. Before proceeding, you have to copy the corrupted files and place them in a USB flash drive or another storage. And remember – only do this if you have already removed the FirstKill ransomware.

Before you begin, several pointers are essential 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.