How to remove Rever ransomware

Rever ransomware developers threaten to leak users' data if demands are not met

Rever ransomware is a type of malware that uses complicated encryption algorithms to lock users' files. The main goal of a ransomware attack is to extort money from innocent people for decryption tools. When the file-locking virus infiltrates the system, users' personal files, like photos, videos, and documents, get appended with an extension that consists of random characters.

So if a file was previously named picture.jpg, after encryption it would look something like this – picture.jpg.508HFMRB. The icons are also changed to white pages so thumbnails are unavailable. Shortly after the encryption process is done, a ransom note @@@ To Restore Your Files.txt is generated on the machine.

The ransom note

The full  @@@ To Restore Your Files.txt ransom note reads as follows:

How To Restore Your Files

* What happend?
———————————————-
Your computers and servers are encrypted, backups are deleted from your network and copied.
We use strong encryption algorithms, so you cannot decrypt your data without us.
But you can restore everything by purchasing a special program from us – a universal decoder.
This program will restore your entire network. Follow our instructions below and you will recover all your data.
If you continue to ignore this for a long time, we will start reporting the hack to mainstream media and posting
your data to the dark web.

* What guarantees?
———————————————-
We value our reputation. If we do not do our work and liabilities, nobody will pay us. This is not in our interests.
All our decryption software is perfectly tested and will decrypt your data. We will also provide support in case of problems.
We guarantee to decrypt one file for free. Go to the site and contact us.
You have three days to contact us otherwise your personal decoder will be deleted and we won't be able to help you!
And your personal data will be public.

* How to contact us?
———————————————-
1) Download for TOX CHAT hxxps://tox.chat/download.html       
2) Open chat

Add ID Chat: AB4FEBA9CABBD9E98CBF6745592B0E1C34F91492FD8D02AD802F92C893F49B201E24614B556E
Your personal ID: –

If we did not answer you, leave the chat enabled, the operator will contact you!

=============!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!=============
DO NOT TRY TO RECOVER FILES YOURSELF!
DO NOT MODIFY ENCRYPTED FILES!
OTHERWISE, YOU MAY LOSE ALL YOUR FILES FOREVER!
==============================================

Rever ransomware developers say that the files are encrypted and the backups are deleted. If victims choose not to contact the cybercriminals or pay them, they threaten to leak the data. The price for the decoder is not specified in the note which means it is discussed privately.

We strongly advise against paying the ransom because threat actors cannot be trusted. Many previous ransomware attack victims come forward and say that they never received the promised decryption tools after paying. Usually, they want to be paid in cryptocurrencies because it provides anonymity.

It is a huge risk to take, as most ransomware creators ask for a significant amount of money. Once you send a cryptocurrency transaction to another wallet, it is impossible to get the funds back. In some cases, third-party recovery tools can help get your files back, so we recommend following our guide.

Distribution methods

The most important thing to do if you want to avoid malware infections is to apply safe browsing practices. Do not browse through shady sites, and do not click on random links or ads. Only use official web stores and developer websites whenever you are looking for new software to install.

It might get costly, but you may save in the long run by keeping your system running smoothly. Torrent websites^[1] and peer-to-peer file-sharing platforms are unregulated and it is impossible to know if the packages you are downloading do not contain any malicious files.

Start the elimination process

The important thing to do is to disconnect the affected machine from the local network as we talked about the dangers of that previously. 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 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 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 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 corrupted system files

Performance, stability, and usability issues, to the point where a full 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,^[2] 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

Only hackers hold the decryption key,^[3] which can unlock your files, so if you did not back them up 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 Rever ransomware.

Only hackers hold the decryption key, which can unlock your files, so if you did not back them up 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 Rever ransomware.

Before you begin, several pointers are important 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.