Remove Mailrepa.lotos@aol.com Ransomware

How to Remove Mailrepa.lotos@aol.com Ransomware?

Mailrepa.lotos@aol.com seems like your every-day email. But it’s more than that. This is the email address you have to use if you wish to free your files. But maybe we’re getting ahead of ourselves. Let’s start at the beginning. The Mailrepa.lotos@aol.com email is connected to a ransomware tool. It’s the address, which the infection provides you with as a means of communication. After it encrypts your data, it leaves you a message. In it, it states that your data is now locked. And, if you wish to unlock it, you have to pay a ransom. It contains instructions and requirements, as well as the email. You’re expected to contact the people behind the infection via the email. Do NOT do that! Don’t write to these strangers! Don’t communicate with them in any way! If you reach out to them, you make things worse. Don’t email them and, whatever you do, do NOT pay the ransom! If you transfer even $1 to them, you expose your privacy. You’ll give access to your personal and financial information to cyber criminals. Do you think that will end well for you? Don’t fool yourself. Don’t be naive. Be smart! Yes, your data may be important, but your privacy takes precedent. Files are replaceable, while privacy is not. Make the right choice, and forsake your data. Pictures are not worth jeopardizing your private life.

How did I get infected with?

Ransomware tools sneak into your system quite subtlety. They’re so skilled in their deceit that they not only invade your PC, but do so undetected. That’s right. By the time you realize you have an infection, the damage is already done. In other words, when the encryption is complete. The tool’s usual antics involves the use of the old but gold means of infiltration. It hides behind freeware. Or, hitches a ride with spam email attachments or corrupted links. Or, it can pretend to be a fake update. Imagine the following. You may be convinced you’re updating your Java or Adobe Flash Player. But you’re wrong. In actuality, you’re installing a dangerous ransomware. If that’s a scenario, you want to avoid, be more careful! Don’t rush and don’t throw caution to the wind. Infections prey on gullibility, distraction, and haste. So, don’t provide them. Instead, do your due diligence and be extra attentive.

Why is Mailrepa.lotos@aol.com dangerous?

Ransomware infections slither into your system, and go to work. They encrypt everything. Every file, you have stored on your PC, gets locked. The tool adds a special extension at the end of each file and, thus, renders it inaccessible. Once the extension is in place, you cannot open the file. And, no matter how many times you rename or move it, it’s no use. It remains locked. After the encryption, the program displays a ransom message. It explains your situation and gives you instructions. The tool states you’re dealing with a ransomware. It makes sure you know that the only way to save your files is compliance. The infection states that you cannot free your data unless you pay the ransom. After payment is complete, you’ll receive a decryption key. And, when you apply that key, you’ll release your data from the cyber threat’s control. It seems simple enough. But appearances can be deceiving. Even if you ignore your better judgment, and decide to trust these extortionists, odds are NOT in your favor. Let’s examine your best-case scenario, shall we? You pay the ransom, and the kidnappers keep their word. They send you the proper decryption key, and it works. You free your files. And, then what? You have NO guarantees the infection won’t strike again. And, soon! After all, by paying, you don’t get rid of the malware itself. You just temporarily deal with one of the consequences of its presence. Think about it. It can act up again and encrypt everything. And, then you’re back to square one. Only this time you have less money, and strangers have access to your privacy. So, ask yourself, as important as your data may be to you, is it worth the risk? Do you deem it more important than your personal and financial details?

Mailrepa.lotos@aol.com Removal Instructions

STEP 1: Kill the Malicious Process

STEP 2: Reveal Hidden Files

STEP 3: Locate Startup Location

STEP 4: Recover Mailrepa.lotos@aol.com 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 Mailrepa.lotos@aol.com 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 Mailrepa.lotos@aol.com 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.