Remove Pulsar1 Virus Ransomware (+File Recovery)

How to Remove Pulsar1 Ransomware?

Readers recently started to report the following message being displayed when they boot their computer:

———————————————- ALL YOUR FILES ARE ENCRYPTED ———————————————–

Don’t worry, you can return all your files!
All your files documents, photos, databases and other important are encrypted with strongest encryption and unique key.
The only method of recovering files is to purchase decrypt tool and unique key for you.
This software will decrypt all your encrypted files.
What guarantees do we give to you?
You can send one of your encrypted file from your PC and we decrypt it for free.
But we can decrypt only 1 file for free. File must not contain valuable information
Don’t try to use third-party decrypt tools because it will destroy your files.
Discount 50% available if you contact us first 72 hours.
—————————————————————————————————————————
To get this software you need write on our e-mail:
blower@firemail.cc
Reserve e-mail address to contact us:
blower@firemail.cc
Your personal ID:
[redacted 43 alphanumeric chars]

Pulsar1 is yet another ransomware of the Djvu family. This virus sneaks into your system, spreads its roots around your entire OS, and locks your files. The news is bad! Pulsar1 Ransomware is a complete and utter menace. It alters settings, modifies the registry, drops malicious files, and starts dangerous processes. This, of course, happens without any noticeable symptoms. The virus is designed to be stealthy. It lurks in the background and wrecks your system without triggering any alarms. The virus detects and corrupts the user-generated files. This cryptovirus attaches the “.Pulsar1” file extension at the end of the corrupted files and drops a ransom note. Pulsar1 demands about $500 paid in Bitcoin. It threatens to double the sum if you fail to start the paying procedure within 72 hours. Do not swing into action! The threat actors promise file decryption, but they don’t deliver. These criminals are notorious for double-crossing their victims. They use psychological games to trick you into impulsive actions. The crooks urge you to act immediately. Don’t make their job easier. Slow things down! Take a moment to consider the situation. You are dealing with experienced liars. Do not sponsor their criminal activities. Consider discarding your files. If you have file backups saved on external devices or clouds, you can use them to restore your data. Just make sure that the virus is completely removed before you attempt any file-recovery operations.

How did I get infected with?

Torrents, fake updates, corrupted links, malicious bundles, spam messages. There are myriads of virus distribution methods. And Pulsar1 Ransomware takes advantage of all known tricks. This virus lurks in the shadows and waits for you to let your guard down. Do not make that mistake! No anti-virus app can protect you if you throw caution to the wind. Only your caution can keep your system secure and virus-free. Always take the time to do your due diligence! Don’t visit questionable websites. Download software from reliable sources only. Don’t skip the terms and conditions. And, of course, be careful with your inbox. Whether they are instant messages or emails, treat all unexpected messages as potential threats. Take a minute to verify their senders. If, for example, you receive an unexpected email from an organization, go to their official website. Compare the email addresses listed there to the questionable one. If they don’t match, delete the pretender immediately. You can also enter the suspicious addresses into a search engine. If they were used for questionable business, someone might have complained online. Even a little extra attention can spare you an avalanche of issues. Always keep your guard up!

Why is Pulsar1 dangerous?

Pulsar1 Ransomware wreaks utter havoc. The virus sneaks into your system and corrupts your files. Pictures, music, databases, archives, documents. The virus gets your precious data under lock and key. You cannot view or edit your files. The ransomware holds your files as hostages and demands an astonishing ransom. Unfortunately, there is no third-party decryption tool for this virus. Paying the ransom, however, is not advisable. You are dealing with criminals. These experienced crooks know what they are doing. They demand Bitcoin. This currency is untraceable. No one can help you get your money back if something goes wrong. And that’s almost inevitable. The threat actors behind ransomware tend to ignore their victims once they receive the money. There are also many cases when the victims paid just to be blackmailed for more. Some victims received nonfunctional keys and tools. Others – restore their files just to have them re-encrypted hours later. Do not test your luck! Your best course of action is the immediate removal of Pulsar1. Find where the virus lurks and delete it upon detection!

Pulsar1 Removal Instructions

STEP 1: Kill the Malicious Process

STEP 2: Reveal Hidden Files

STEP 3: Locate Startup Location

STEP 4: Recover Pulsar1 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 Pulsar1 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 Pulsar1 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.