KawaiiLocker ransomware / virus
KawaiiLocker virus Removal Guide
What is KawaiiLocker ransomware virus?
KawaiiLocker ransomware is not kawaii at all
When you hear the word “Kawaii,” the first thing that comes to your mind is Japanese culture, for sure. However, KawaiiLocker virus is not anyhow related to this cute and playful attitude, because it is a malicious computer virus that encrypts files on the infected computer and demands a ransom. After infecting the system, it saves Crypt_list and KawaiiLocker.exe file, which is responsible for data encryption procedure, later on, it creates HOW DECRYPT FILES.TXT file, which appears to be the ransom note. What is more, this ransomware seems to target Russian computer users, since its ransom note is written in The Russian language. It explains what happened to the computer, and that files are unrecoverable unless the victim pays up. It demands 6000 rubles, which, if we convert this amount to USA dollars, is approximately 94$. It is worth mentioning that the ransom price is comparatively low, because, for example, the infamous Zepto virus demands even 4 BTC, which is around 2500$. No matter that the ransom price is not exceedingly high, we still do not recommend paying it. You might receive another infectious file that can compromise your PC system even more. Even if KawaiiLocker decrypter can decrypt your files, it is not recommended to buy it because this way, you would support cyber criminals and allow them to continue their malicious activities.
This ransomware does not provide the link to the payment website and rather leaves criminals’ email address for those who seek to get in touch – decrypt2016@yahoo.com. The victim gets a warning that if he/she does not pay up within one week, the decryption key is going to be destroyed, and files will remain encrypted forever. When you see such threats, it is easy to get scared and start to panic, however, remember that you can always recover your files from a backup. Unfortunately, the virus deletes Windows Volume Shadow Copies by completing this command in Windows Command Prompt – vssadmin delete shadows /for=C: /all /quiet. Now, it is your choice whether you wish to pay the ransom or not. We can only repeat our opinion – we do not encourage victims to do it. One thing that you must do is to remove KawaiiLocker virus from the system using a powerful software capable of removing ransomware threats. We suggest using FortectIntego or SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner software for that. Please, do not try to remove KawaiiLocker malware manually because you can do more harm than good!
Techniques used to distribute this virus
Cybercriminals utilize advanced techniques to conceal malicious files and make them look safe. They do their best trying to deceive anti-malware programs and become able to bypass victim’s computer protection. Therefore, it is right to say that authors of this malware tend to spread it using Trojan horse technique. Typically, they send this virus to victims via email, pretending that they are trustworthy people from legitimate companies that deliver important documents or other types of files. They politely ask the victim to open email attachments, which contain malware. Remember – you should never open emails that come from unknown parties! Sometimes, you can identify that a cyber criminal is trying to deceive you by noticing grammar mistakes in their messages (they tend to leave a lot of errors in their messages).
Ransomware can also be distributed via exploit kits, malvertising, and bogus software updates. Unfortunately, it can be very hard to identify which advertisement is the safe one and which one is deceptive, besides, exploit kits can only be blocked with the help of reliable anti-malware software, and that is why you should always keep one installed on your PC.
How to remove KawaiiLocker ransomware?
The consequences of KawaiiLocker ransomware attack can be tragic. This virus can severely mess up your computer system by corrupting essential files. If you happened to infect your PC with this virus accidentally, do not wait any longer and take actions to remove KawaiiLocker virus from the system. This time, we do not provide manual removal instructions because such infections are extremely dangerous, and it can be tough to remove them manually. We strongly recommend using automatic malware removal software for KawaiiLocker removal. Instructions on how to launch it are given below.
Getting rid of KawaiiLocker 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 KawaiiLocker 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.
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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 KawaiiLocker. 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 KawaiiLocker from your computer. To recover your encrypted files, we recommend using a detailed guide prepared by 2-spyware.com security experts.We strongly recommend you NOT to buy the KawaiiLocker decrypter from cyber criminals as it might not help you to recover your files. Do not waste your money supporting cyber criminals, because you might be deceived!
If your files are encrypted by KawaiiLocker, you can use several methods to restore them:
Try to recover files using Data Recovery Pro
You can try to restore your files with the help of Data Recover Pro.
- 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 KawaiiLocker ransomware;
- Restore them.
Try to restore files using Windows Previous Versions
If you enabled this feature a while ago, you might be able to recover some files from Windows Previous Versions. Follow these instructions to try to restore some files:
- 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 KawaiiLocker and other ransomwares, use a reputable anti-spyware, such as FortectIntego, SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes
How to prevent from getting ransomware
Stream videos without limitations, no matter where you are
There are multiple parties that could find out almost anything about you by checking your online activity. While this is highly unlikely, advertisers and tech companies are constantly tracking you online. The first step to privacy should be a secure browser that focuses on tracker reduction to a minimum.
Even if you employ a secure browser, you will not be able to access websites that are restricted due to local government laws or other reasons. In other words, you may not be able to stream Disney+ or US-based Netflix in some countries. To bypass these restrictions, you can employ a powerful Private Internet Access VPN, which provides dedicated servers for torrenting and streaming, not slowing you down in the process.
Data backups are important – recover your lost files
Ransomware is one of the biggest threats to personal data. Once it is executed on a machine, it launches a sophisticated encryption algorithm that locks all your files, although it does not destroy them. The most common misconception is that anti-malware software can return files to their previous states. This is not true, however, and data remains locked after the malicious payload is deleted.
While regular data backups are the only secure method to recover your files after a ransomware attack, tools such as Data Recovery Pro can also be effective and restore at least some of your lost data.
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