Remove .777 File Extension Virus

How to Remove 777 File Extension Ransomware?

You have a ransomware infection on board. Unfortunately, this is the worst type of virus you could have possibly gotten yourself stuck with. It locks all your personal files by encrypting them, then leaves your data inaccessible and demands a ransom. Yes, ransomware is notorious for aiming directly at your bank account. As you could imagine, these infections are unpredictable. They get installed in complete silence, get activated in no time and start wreaking havoc immediately. Keep in mind that it’s highly recommended to have a backup of your most valuable files in case some ransomware-type pest invades your PC. Otherwise, you’re risking to lose your private data. The particular infection that’s currently harassing you is very similar to many other viruses of this kind. For starters, it lands on board without any permission. Nobody would download such a pest voluntarily so the parasite mainly relies on your haste and distraction online. Once it gets installed, this program performs a full scan on your PC searching for personal data. And yes, the virus finds it. Ransomware needs to locate your files in order to encrypt them. One quite important piece of information is that the parasite infects a huge variety of files – pictures, music, MS documents, presentations, videos, etc. You will notice that your files now look differently because all this personal information has been modified. The ransomware actually replaces your original file extensions with its malicious .777 extension. Now, you will face numerous problems from this moment on. Your computer won’t be able to recognize the new file format. Logically, you won’t be able to use or view or even open the infected data. Consider it gone. As mentioned, ransomware is known to be the most dangerous kind of infection out there. It locks out your access to your own files and holds them hostage. In the process of encrypting your information, the virus also drops several .txt and .html files. You will find them in all the folders where there’s modified data. The reason why you’re constantly seeing these files is because they contain detailed payment instructions. And hackers definitely want to force them on you. You’re supposed to contact crooks by using a highly questionable email address. Furthermore, you will find links to some TOR websites in order to complete the payment. Why would you pay hackers? Because they promise you a decryption key which should allow you to regain access to your data. Long story short, you cannot trust any of hackers’ promises. Making a deal with crooks would be a mistake and you know it.

How did I get infected with?

Among the most commonly used infiltration techniques at the moment is spam email-attachments. It is also among the oldest ones. Hackers don’t seem to be giving this method up anytime soon because, as you can see, it is effective. Stay away from unreliable spam emails or spam messages even if they appear to be perfectly harmless at first glance. There’s nothing perfectly harmless when hackers are involved. In addition, avoid clicking third-party pop-ups and other questionable web links because those are often unsafe. You might end up on some extremely dangerous website infested with malware so make no mistake. Keep in mind that the Web is full of potential threats which all have to be avoided. A little caution goes a long way. Trojans horses and malicious executables are yet another quite efficient virus distribution techniques. Last but not least, pay close attention to the programs you download off of the Internet. There may be some vicious infection attached to the software bundle and you have to deselect it on time.

Why is 777 File Extension dangerous?

As we mentioned, the .777 file extension makes all your files unreadable. It goes without saying that you might have stored some immensely important information on your PC which would get locked as well. Many people would panic seeing such sudden, unauthorized changes in their private data. However, that’s exactly what hackers want. This is why you’re seeing a ransom note practically everywhere and that is why the devious .777 file extension appeared in the first place. Don’t panic because your worry right now could cost you a hefty sum of money in Bitcoin. Once you give into your anxiety, you stop thinking straight. Ultimately, you may agree to pay the ransom crooks demand from you. Even though you’re supposed to receive a decryption key in exchange for your money, you’re probably going to receive nothing at all. Remember, it’s cyber criminals we’re talking about. They aren’t really famous for playing by the rules, including the rules they invent. Ransomware is just another attempt for a cyber fraud and it goes without saying you shouldn’t allow hackers to blackmail you. Whatever bogus decryption key they offer you to buy, simply ignore it. Instead, follow our manual removal guide and get rid of the parasite for good.

777 File Extension Removal Instructions

STEP 1: Kill the Malicious Process

STEP 2: Reveal Hidden Files

STEP 3: Locate Startup Location

STEP 4: Recover 777 File Extension Encrypted Files

STEP 1: Stop the malicious process using Windows Task Manager

• Open your task Manager by pressing CTRL+SHIFT+ESC keys simultaneously
• Locate the process of the ransomware. Have in mind that this is usually a random generated file.
• Before you kill the process, type the name on a text document for later reference.

• Locate any suspicious processes associated with 777 File Extension encryption Virus.
• Right click on the process
• Open File Location
• End Process
• Delete the directories with the suspicious files.
• Have in mind that the process can be hiding and very difficult to detect

STEP 2: Reveal Hidden Files

• Open any folder
• Click on “Organize” button
  
• Choose “Folder and Search Options”
• Select the “View” tab
• Select “Show hidden files and folders” option
• Uncheck “Hide protected operating system files”
• Click “Apply” and “OK” button

STEP 3: Locate 777 File Extension encryption Virus startup location

• Once the operating system loads press simultaneously the Windows Logo Button and the R key.

• A dialog box should open. Type “Regedit”
• WARNING! be very careful when editing the Microsoft Windows Registry as this may render the system broken.

Depending on your OS (x86 or x64) navigate to:

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run] or
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run] or
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run]

• and delete the display Name: [RANDOM]

• Then open your explorer and navigate to:

Navigate to your %appdata% folder and delete the executable.

You can alternatively use your msconfig windows program to double check the execution point of the virus. Please, have in mind that the names in your machine might be different as they might be generated randomly, that’s why you should run any professional scanner to identify malicious files.

STEP 4: How to recover encrypted files?

• Method 1: The first and best method is to restore your data from a recent backup, in case that you have one.

• Method 2: File Recovery Software – Usually when the ransomware encrypts a file it first makes a copy of it, encrypts the copy, and then deletes the original. Due to this you may try to use file recovery software to recover some of your original files.
• Method 3: Shadow Volume Copies – As a last resort, you can try to restore your files via Shadow Volume Copies. Open the Shadow Explorer part of the package and choose the Drive you want to recover. Right click on any file you want to restore and click Export on it.