Remove Cryptobot and Restore the Encrypted Files

How to Remove Cryptobot Ransomware?

Cryptobot is a malicious ransomware. This tool slithers its way into your system and causes you all kinds of grief. As soon as it latches on, it encrypts every single file you have stored on your computer, and also makes it impossible for you to use it properly. Cryptobot takes over your PC and leaves you no choice but to comply with its demands. Oh, yes. There are demands. Once the tool finishes with the encryption of your data, it displays a ransom note that addresses its requests. It claims that if you comply and go through with what it asks of you, it will send you a decryption key. You can then use the decryption key to regain control of your system and your currently encrypted files. That sounds easy enough, right? Well, in reality, it’s not. It’s quite risky as there are NO guarantees of any kind that even if you do everything the ransomware requests, it will deliver on its promises. There are several ways this can go down if you go through with its demands. One, the tool doesn’t give you a decryption key. Two, it gives you a decryption key, but it’s fake and doesn’t work. Three, it provides you with the right key, and you release your PC and data from captivity. But don’t get too thrilled just yet. Even this best case scenario hides risk. There is NOTHING stopping Cryptobot from attacking you in the same manner the following day, and forcing you to pay its ransom again. And then again, and again, and again. Don’t fall into this enchanted circle. Break the never-ending loop by cutting your losses, and not going through with the ransom. It is for the best. You can’t possibly win!

How did I get infected with?

Cryptobot is highly resourceful and masterful when it comes to tricking you into allowing it in. The tool is so skilled in the arts of deceit that it has no problem fooling you to agree to its installation. In fact, it not only dupes you into giving it the green light, but also keeps you oblivious that you did. More often than not, the ransomware sneaks in undetected by hitching a ride with freeware or by hiding behind spam email attachments, corrupted links, or websites. It can also pose as a bogus system or program update. For example, while you may be utterly convinced that you’re updating your Java or Adobe Flash Player, in actuality, you’re agreeing to install a hazardous infection. If you wish to keep Cryptobot away from your computer, be sure to not rush and to be more careful! After all, a little extra attention today can save you a lot of troubles and headaches tomorrow.

Why is Cryptobot dangerous?

Immediately after Cryptobot invades your PC, it encrypts every single thing you have on it. You won’t be able to access or open any of your files. Say goodbye to your photos, music, videos, documents, everything. The only way you’ll be able to regain control of your system, and take back your data, is if you comply with the ransom and the aforementioned best case scenario unfolds. And, that’s highly unlikely. In fact, if you decide to go through with the tool’s demands, you’ll end up causing further damages. If the ransom demands you pay for the decryption key, and you do that, you’re only setting yourself up for a bad time. By paying these “kidnappers”, you’re putting yourself in a very vulnerable position. You will be granting malicious strangers with wicked intentions with access to your personal and financial information. Don’t DO that! It’s better to lose your data than to lose your privacy! The best thing you can do is accept the fact that you’ve lost your files, and move on. If you wish to protect yourself from any future losses, be sure to create back-ups of the data you deem important. That way, should you get stuck in the same situation again, you won’t be forced to choose between your privacy and your data. Remember, it’s not worth the gamble! Don’t place your faith in strangers with agendas! It’s a fight doomed for failure.

Cryptobot Removal Instructions

STEP 1: Start Your Computer into Safe Mode with Networking

• Make sure you do not have any floppy disks, CDs, and DVDs inserted in your computer
• Restart the computer
  
• When you see a table, start tapping the F8 key every second until you enter the Advanced Boot Options

• in the Advanced Boot Options screen, use the arrow keys to highlight Safe Mode with Networking , and then press ENTER.

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

• A dialog box should open. Type iexplore www.virusresearch.org/download-en

• Internet Explorer will open and a professional scanner will prompt to be downloaded
• Run the installer
• Follow the instruction and use the professional malware removal tool to detect the files of the virus.
• After performing a full scan you will be asked to register the software. You can do that or perform a manual removal.

Remove Cryptobot Manually

Open your task Manager by pressing CTRL+SHIFT+ESC keys simultaneously

Locate the process of teslacrypt. 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.

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 run the professional scanner to identify the files.

It is always a good idea to use a reputable anti-malware program after manual removal, to prevent this from happening again.

Restore Encrypted Files

There are several methods you can use, however nothing is guaranteed.

Method 1 – recover the encrypted files by hand:

You can try to use the built in feature of Windows called System Restore. By default the system restore feature is automatically turned on. Windows creates shadow copy snapshots that contain older copies since the system restore was performed. These snapshots will let us to recover any previous version of your file, although it will not be the latest one, still you can recover some important information. Please note, that Shadow Volume Copies are only available with Windows XP SP2, Vista, Windows 7 and Windows 8.

Method 2 –  partially restore the encrypted files by using Microsoft Office junk files:

Basically you need to show your hidden files. The fastest way to do that is:

1. Open Folder Options by clicking the Start button .
2. In the search box type “FOLDER OPTIONS”.
3. Select View TAB
4. Under Advanced settings, find Show hidden files and folders and select it and then click OK.

In the picture above I marked two hidden files. You are interested in every file that looks like ~WRL382.tmp This is actually a Microsoft office junk file that contains the previous version of the Word document itself. The Cryptowall parasite will not encrypt these files. The name of the file will be unknown, but you can recover a lot of lost documents using this method. This can be utilized for Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel. In addition you can try to match the file sizes in order to figure out what is what and eventually you can restore a slightly older original document. In the picture on the left there is another method you can locate the files in question.All you have to do is to hit the start button  and type *.tmp. You will be presented a list of all the temp files located in your computer. The next thing is to open them one by one with Microsoft Word/Excel and recover the lost information, by saving it to another place. You can do that, by opening a new instance of MS Word/Excel, trough the file menu select open and then navigate to the location of the TMP file.

Method 3 – Decrypt Encrypted Files

Unfortunately, there is no possibility to decrypt the encrypted files by CryptoBot Ransomware for now. Please, have in mind that even if you pay there is still a huge risk that you will not get all your files back.