Malware

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About Kronos ransomware

Kronos ransomware is categorized as ransomware that locks data. Ransomware in general is classified as a highly harmful infection because of its behavior. Ransomware does not encrypt every single file but actually scans for specific file types. Typically, the encrypted files are photos, videos and documents because of how important they are likely to be to you. Sadly, in order to decrypt files, you require the decryption key, which the ransomware authors/distributors will offer you for a price. The good news is that ransomware could be cracked by people specializing in malicious software, and they may release a free decryption application. Seeing as there are not many choices available for you, this may be the best one you have.

On your desktop or in folders holding encrypted files, a ransom note will be placed. You’ll see a short explanation about why and how your files have been locked, in addition to being offered a decryptor. We are not going to stop you from paying cyber crooks, but that option isn’t suggested. Oftentimes, hackers take the money but do not send a decryption tool. There are no guarantees they will not do that. To be sure you never end up in this situation again, buy backup. Just uninstall Kronos ransomware if you do have backup.

If you remember recently opening a spam email attachment or downloading a program update from an unreliable source that’s how it managed to gain access into your device. Such methods are favored by cyber crooks because advanced knowledge is not needed.

Download Removal Toolto remove Kronos ransomware

How does ransomware spread

Spam emails and fake updates are probably how you obtained ransomware, even though other distribution methods also exist. Since dangerous spam campaigns are pretty typical, you have to learn what malicious spam look like. Before opening an file attached, you need to attentively check the email. Malicious program distributors oftentimes pretend to be from legitimate companies so that users lower their guard and open emails without thinking about it. It’s pretty common for the sender to claim to be from Amazon or eBay, with the email saying that a receipt for a purchase has been added as an attachment. But, these kinds of emails are easy to check. Look into the email address and see if it’s among the ones the company actually uses, and if you find no records of the address used by someone real, do not open the file attached. You should also scan the added file with a malware scanner.

It’s also not impossible that you were deceived into installing a false program update. Often, you’ll see the false updates on questionable websites. They also appear in advert form and could look fully legitimate. Still, for anyone who knows that no real updates will ever be offered this way, it will immediately be clear as to what’s going on. If you continually download from questionable sources, you’ll end up with all kinds of junk on your device. When a program needs an update, the software will alert you itself or it’ll happen without you needing to do anything.

What does this malware do

Ransomware has locked your files, which is why you cannot open then. File encryption might not be necessarily noticeable, and would have began quickly after the contaminated file was opened. A certain file extension will show files that have been locked. Because a powerful encryption algorithm was used, you won’t be able to open the encrypted files so easily. Details about how your files could be recovered will be given in the ransom note. If you’ve ran into ransomware before, you will see that notes follow a certain pattern, crooks will initially try to scare you into believing your only option is to pay and then threaten with file removal if you don’t comply. Even if the criminals have the only decryptor for your files, giving into the requests isn’t suggested. Even after you make a payment, we doubt that cyber criminals will feel a sense of obligation to help you. It wouldn’t shock us if you were targeted again by the same cyber crooks because they know you have paid once.

It might be possible that you’ve uploaded some of your files somewhere, so check storage devices you have and various social media accounts. Because it’s possible for malicious software specialists to develop free decryption tools, if one isn’t presently available, back up your encrypted files for when/if it is. Whatever it is you wish to do, remove Kronos ransomware promptly.

We hope this will serve as a lesson on why you need to start doing frequent backups. You may jeopardize your files again if you do not. There are various backup options available, some more expensive than others but if your files are precious to you it is worth investing in one.

How to uninstall Kronos ransomware

Manual elimination isn’t the encouraged option. Instead, download malware removal program to take care of the infection. If malware removal program cannot be launched, boot your device in Safe Mode. Initiate a scan of your device, and delete Kronos ransomware as soon as it is found. Getting rid of the ransomware won’t restore files, however.

Download Removal Toolto remove Kronos ransomware

Learn how to remove Kronos ransomware from your computer

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

a) Step 1. Access Safe Mode with Networking.

For Windows 7/Vista/XP
  1. Start → Shutdown → Restart → OK. win-xp-restart How to remove Kronos ransomware
  2. Press and keep pressing F8 until Advanced Boot Options appears.
  3. Choose Safe Mode with Networking win-xp-safe-mode How to remove Kronos ransomware
For Windows 8/10 users
  1. Press the power button that appears at the Windows login screen. Press and hold Shift. Click Restart. win-10-restart How to remove Kronos ransomware
  2. Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Startup Settings → Restart. win-10-options How to remove Kronos ransomware
  3. Choose Enable Safe Mode with Networking. win-10-boot-menu How to remove Kronos ransomware

b) Step 2. Remove Kronos 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 Kronos ransomware using System Restore

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

For Windows 7/Vista/XP
  1. Start → Shutdown → Restart → OK. win-xp-restart How to remove Kronos ransomware
  2. Press and keep pressing F8 until Advanced Boot Options appears.
  3. Select Safe Mode with Command Prompt. win-xp-safe-mode How to remove Kronos ransomware
For Windows 8/10 users
  1. Press the power button that appears at the Windows login screen. Press and hold Shift. Click Restart. win-10-restart How to remove Kronos ransomware
  2. Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Startup Settings → Restart. win-10-options How to remove Kronos ransomware
  3. Choose Enable Safe Mode with Command Prompt. win-10-boot-menu How to remove Kronos ransomware

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. command-promt-restore How to remove Kronos ransomware
  3. A window will pop-up and you should press Next. Choose a restore point and press Next again. windows-restore-point How to remove Kronos ransomware
  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

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. data-recovery-pro How to remove Kronos ransomware
  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. windows-previous-version How to remove Kronos ransomware
  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. shadow-explorer How to remove Kronos ransomware
  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.

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