How to remove Google ransomware

Google ransomware is a file-encrypting virus developed by cyber criminals to extort victims

Google ransomware is a member of the Chaos ransomware family. It infiltrates the network and encrypts critical files such as photos, videos, documents, databases, and so on. Because ransomware employs complex encryption algorithms, it can result in permanent data loss. Decryption without the assistance of cybercriminals is usually impossible.

This variant appends the .google extension to the files that are affected. So, if a file was previously named picture.jpg, it would look something like this after encryption – picture.jpg.google. The icons have also been converted to white pages. A ransom note is generated on the machine shortly after the encryption process is completed. It is a threat actor's message containing their demands.

This virus uses Google's name for the encrypted file marker, but it can be associated with Google company since the search engine providers and technology giant had many issues with spam campaigns and malware distribution via their channels. Google advertising network tools even got included in the malicious campaign where links were pushing malicious sites to users. The name of this huge company gets mudded by these hackers and cybercriminals' activities.

The ransom note

Google ransomware drops a read_it.txt ransom note on the victim's machine:

All of your files have been encrypted
Your computer was infected with a ransomware virus. Your files have been encrypted and you won't
be able to decrypt them without our help.What can I do to get my files back?You can buy our special
decryption software, this software will allow you to recover all of your data and remove the
ransomware from your computer.The price for the software is $24,622.70. Payment can be made in Bitcoin only.
How do I pay, where do I get Bitcoin?
Purchasing Bitcoin varies from country to country, you are best advised to do a quick google search
yourself  to find out how to buy Bitcoin.
Many of our customers have reported these sites to be fast and reliable:
Coinmama – hxxps://www.coinmama.com Bitpanda – hxxps://www.bitpanda.com

Payment informationAmount: 2.1473766 BTC
Bitcoin Address:  17CqMQFeuB3NTzJ2X28tfRmWaPyPQgvoHV

The note offers a solution to recover the files and remove the ransomware from the computer by paying $24,622.70 in Bitcoin for special decryption software. The note also includes a Bitcoin payment address and two cryptocurrency^[1] exchange websites for purchasing Bitcoin.

Paying the ransom is not advised for several reasons. To begin with, paying the ransom does not imply that the cybercriminals will provide the decryption key or unlock the encrypted files. In many cases, victims paid the ransom but were still unable to access their files. Second, paying the ransom encourages cybercriminals to carry on with their illegal activities and target new victims.

Distribution methods

It is unknown how this ransomware spreads, but cybercriminals typically exploit various software vulnerabilities^[2] to gain access. That is why it is critical to update the operating system and software in order to receive all patches. Software developers frequently release new updates, which should be installed as soon as they are available.

Email is another popular method of delivering ransomware. This method has a greater impact on workplaces because people use Office 365 and other programs to open files sent to them at work. Threat actors take advantage of this by attaching infected files to emails.

To make the email appear legitimate, various phishing techniques are employed. Some may appear to have been sent by colleagues, but hackers can also obtain friends' contact information and impersonate them, so users should always check with the person via another platform if they were not expecting any attachments.

People can also become infected by installing “cracked” software,^[3] though this is more common among home users because you cannot download shady files from a work computer. Because people rush through the installation process, these programs are frequently injected with malicious code or have malware bundled together in the installer.

Use professional security tools to eliminate ransomware

The most important step is to disconnect the affected machine from the local network. Disconnecting the ethernet cable should suffice for home users. If this occurred at your workplace, doing so may be difficult; therefore, we have instructions for corporate environments at the bottom of this post.

Attempting to recover your data first may result in permanent loss. It also has the ability to encrypt your files a second time. It will not stop until you remove the malicious files that are causing it. Unless you have prior experience, you should not attempt to remove the malicious program yourself.

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

Performance, stability, and usability issues, to the point where a complete Windows reinstall is required, are expected after a 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 software

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 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 Google 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.