How to remove AXI ransomware

Is this a serious malware

AXI ransomware will encrypt your data and demand that you make a payment in exchange for their decryptor. Having a system contaminated with ransomware can lead to permanently locked files, which is why it’s considered to be such a harmful infection. As soon as the ransomware is launched, it locates specific types of files to encrypt. Commonly, it targets files such as photos, videos, documents, virtually all files for which users would be willing to pay the ransom. Unfortunately, you will have to get a special key to unlock files, which the criminals behind this malware will offer you for a price. If the ransomware can be cracked, malicious software specialists may be able to develop a free decryptor. If you do not recall ever making copies of your files and do not intend to give into the crooks’ requests, that free decryption tool may be your only option.

In addition to finding files encrypted, a ransom note will also be placed somewhere on your computer. The note will clarify what happened to your files and how you might get them back. Paying cyber criminals isn’t something we advise, for a couple of reasons. It is not that hard to imagine hackers taking your money and not providing a decryptor. Moreover, that payment will probably go towards supporting other malicious software projects. A better idea would be to purchase backup with some of that money. Simply eliminate AXI ransomware if you had created copies of your files.

Download Removal Toolto remove AXI ransomware

If you carry on reading, we’ll explain how the malware managed to get into your machine, but to summarize, you likely ran into it in spam emails and false updates. Those methods are the most common among malicious software developers.

How is ransomware distributed

You can get ransomware in a couple of different ways, but as we’ve said previously, spam email and false updates are possibly the way you got the contamination. We recommend you be more cautious with spam emails if email was how the contamination got into your operating system. When you come across unfamiliar senders, you have to cautiously check the email before opening the file attached. Malicious software spreaders oftentimes pretend to be from familiar companies so that users lower their guard and open emails without thinking about it. For example, they could use Amazon’s name, pretending to be emailing you because they noticed unusual purchases made by your account. If the sender is actually who they say they are, checking that should not be difficult. Look up the company emailing you, check the email addresses that belong to their employees and see if your sender’s is among them. Furthermore, scan the attached file with a malicious software scanner before you open it.

The malware may have also slipped in via fake updates for software. High-risk sites are the most probable place where you might have encountered the fake update alerts. Bogus updates appearing in advertisement or banner form are also quite common. However, for anyone who knows that no actual updates will ever be offered this way, it will immediately become obvious. If you do not want your computer to be full of clutter or infected with malicious software, you ought to stop downloading anything from adverts or other questionable sources. When your software needs an update, either the software in question will alert you, or it’ll automatically update.

How does ransomware behave

Needless to say ransomware locked your files. Soon after you opened the contaminated file, the encryption process, which you wouldn’t necessarily notice, began. All affected files will have a file extension added to them. File encryption has been executed using a complicated encryption algorithm so attempting to open them is no use. Information about what you have to do to restore your files can be found on the ransom note. If you’ve encountered ransomware before, you will see that notes follow a certain pattern, hackers will first attempt to scare you into believing your only option is to pay and then threaten with file removal if you don’t give in. Despite the fact that crooks might are in the possession of the decryptor, there won’t be many people recommending paying the ransom. Relying on people responsible for locking your files to keep their word is not exactly the best decision. The same crooks may target you specifically next time because in their belief if you paid once, you may do it again.

There is a likelihood that you may have uploaded at least some of your files somewhere, so try to remember if that could be the case. Our suggestion would be to store all of your locked files somewhere, for when or if malware researchers manage to make a free decryptor. It’s essential to delete AXI ransomware from your system as soon as possible, in any case.

Backups ought to be made regularly, so hopefully you’ll start doing that. Since the risk of losing your files never goes away, take our advice. There is a variety of backup options available, some more pricey than others but if your files are valuable to you it is worth investing in one.

How to delete AXI ransomware

Trying to eliminate ransomware manually may end in a more damaged system so we do not encourage trying it. Instead, download malware removal program to deal with the infection. You may have to load your computer in Safe Mode in order to successfully launch the malicious software removal program. You should be able to successfully terminate AXI ransomware when you launch anti-malware program in Safe Mode. Bear in mind that malware removal program will not help restore your files, it can only get rid of the malware for you.

Download Removal Toolto remove AXI ransomware

Learn how to remove AXI ransomware from your computer

• Step 1. Remove AXI ransomware using Safe Mode with Networking.
• Step 2. Remove AXI ransomware using System Restore
• Step 3. Recover your data

Step 1. Remove AXI ransomware using Safe Mode with Networking.

• a) Step 1. Access Safe Mode with Networking.
• b) Step 2. Remove AXI ransomware.

a) Step 1. Access Safe Mode with Networking.

For Windows 7/Vista/XP

1. Start → Shutdown → Restart → OK.
2. Press and keep pressing F8 until Advanced Boot Options appears.
3. Choose Safe Mode with Networking

For Windows 8/10 users

1. Press the power button that appears at the Windows login screen. Press and hold Shift. Click Restart.
2. Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Startup Settings → Restart.
3. Choose Enable Safe Mode with Networking.

b) Step 2. Remove AXI ransomware.

You will now need to open your browser and download some kind of anti-malware software. Choose a trustworthy one, install it and have it scan your computer for malicious threats. When the ransomware is found, remove it. If, for some reason, you can't access Safe Mode with Networking, go with another option.

Step 2. Remove AXI ransomware using System Restore

• a) Step 1. Access Safe Mode with Command Prompt.
• b) Step 2. Restore files and settings.

a) Step 1. Access Safe Mode with Command Prompt.

For Windows 7/Vista/XP

1. Start → Shutdown → Restart → OK.
2. Press and keep pressing F8 until Advanced Boot Options appears.
3. Select Safe Mode with Command Prompt.

For Windows 8/10 users

1. Press the power button that appears at the Windows login screen. Press and hold Shift. Click Restart.
2. Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Startup Settings → Restart.
3. Choose Enable Safe Mode with Command Prompt.

b) Step 2. Restore files and settings.

1. You will need to type in cd restore in the window that appears. Press Enter.
2. Type in rstrui.exe and again, press Enter.
3. A window will pop-up and you should press Next. Choose a restore point and press Next again.
4. Press Yes.

While this should have taken care of the ransomware, you might want to download anti-malware just to be sure no other threats are lurking.  

Step 3. Recover your data

• a) Using Data Recovery Pro to recover encrypted files.
• b) Restore files through Windows Previous Versions
• c) Using Shadow Explorer to recover files

While backup is essential, there is still quite a few users who do not have it. If you are one of them, you can try the below provided methods and you just might be able to recover files.

a) Using Data Recovery Pro to recover encrypted files.

1. Download Data Recovery Pro, preferably from a trustworthy website.
2. Scan your device for recoverable files.
3. Recover them.

b) Restore files through Windows Previous Versions

If you had System Restore enabled, you can recover files through Windows Previous Versions.

1. Find a file you want to recover.
2. Right-click on it.
3. Select Properties and then Previous versions.
4. Pick the version of the file you want to recover and press Restore.

c) Using Shadow Explorer to recover files

If you are lucky, the ransomware did not delete your shadow copies. They are made by your system automatically for when system crashes.

1. Go to the official website (shadowexplorer.com) and acquire the Shadow Explorer application.
2. Set up and open it.
3. Press on the drop down menu and pick the disk you want.
4. If folders are recoverable, they will appear there. Press on the folder and then Export.

* SpyHunter scanner, published on this site, is intended to be used only as a detection tool. More info on SpyHunter. To use the removal functionality, you will need to purchase the full version of SpyHunter. If you wish to uninstall SpyHunter, click here.