IRansom ransomware / virus (Updated Guide) - Nov 2016 update
iRansom virus Removal Guide
What is iRansom ransomware virus?
The same scenario: iRansom demands money in return for the data
iRansom virus has joined the enormous collection of other file-encrypting malware. Naturally, it encodes the files and requires to remit the payment in exchange for the data. Usually, the amount of ransom equals $90 USD. The users affected by the virus might panic thinking that there is no solution. Note that know that ransomware viruses work as military-grade encryptors that use specific ciphers to generate encryption and decryption keys. Such threats create unique key sets for each compromised computer, so key sharing isn’t going to restore files. The virus adds .locked file extensions to encrypted data and then launches a ransom note declaring:
Your files have been locked by iRansom!
[number of encrypted files] total files have been encrypted using the strongest encryption.
The entire ransom message can be seen in the picture provided below. The ransom-demanding program showcases a countdown clock that promises to destroy the private decryption key when its value reaches zero. Of course, like any other ransom-demanding parasite, iRansom malware wants to receive the ransom in Bitcoins (approximately 0.15 BTC equals to 90$). To explain to the victim how to transfer the payment to a provided Bitcoin wallet, the ransom note presents a link to a website that provides more information on how to get Bitcoins and set up a wallet. The user is asked to contact criminals via galaxyhiren@sigaint.org email address. However, we suggest you leave those $90 to yourself because malware researchers have already started talking about iRansom decryption tool that might be released soon. Therefore, we advise you to to be patient and not pay the ransom. We strongly recommend you to run FortectIntego to remove iRansom virus and then backup encrypted files to have their copies before experimenting with decryption tools. We invite users who cannot start their anti-malware programs to look at iRansom removal instructions presented below this article.
The distribution tendencies of the malware
Ransomware uses tricky techniques to get unauthorized access to victim’s computer. In most cases, ransomware authors disguise malicious files like documents or JS files, which they add to malicious spam emails that they send out to thousands of recipients. Malicious emails are hard to recognize because typically they look like they came from legitimate and trustworthy companies. These days scammers have no shame to hide behind legitimate companies’ and organizations’ good names, so be suspicious of every email that you get. We suggest you inspect how does the sender’s email address look like, and check if there are any grammatical errors in the message. Frauds are typically unlettered people, and they can hardly write even short messages without making tens of obvious grammatical mistakes. However, you should also beware of menaces such as exploit kits and drive-by downloads, which also help to deliver ransom-demanding viruses to target computers. The most effective way to fight against such threats is to protect the computer with anti-malware software.
Infected with iRansom? You can remove it!
Have you been attacked by iRansom virus? If so, do not wait any longer and take actions to find and remove all components of this virus. Otherwise, it can initiate the another encryption of your files. The best way to remove iRansom virus is to scan the system with a powerful malware-detecting tool, such as FortectIntego or Malwarebytes, and let it wipe out malicious components automatically. If you can see that your security software is blocked by this malware, you should follow iRansom virus-free.
Getting rid of iRansom virus. Follow these steps
Manual removal using 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 iRansom using System Restore
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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 iRansom. 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 iRansom from your computer. To recover your encrypted files, we recommend using a detailed guide prepared by 2-spyware.com security experts.This version of ransomware appears to be poorly coded and might be decryptable. Therefore, we encourage you to refrain from paying the ransom and simply wait, because iRansom ransomware decrypter might appear soon. In the meantime, try the following methods:
If your files are encrypted by iRansom, you can use several methods to restore them:
Use Data Recovery Pro to recover files encrypted by iRansom
You can try to recover your files with a help of Data Recovery Pro. Simply use it as explained below:
- 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 iRansom ransomware;
- Restore them.
Look for Windows Previous Versions feature on your computer to decrypt your encrypted files
If your files have been encoded, you might still be able to restore them if you had System Restore feature enabled on your computer a while ago. For using this feature, follow these steps:
- 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”.
Finally, you should always think about the protection of crypto-ransomwares. In order to protect your computer from iRansom 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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