How to remove .XINOF Files Ransomware

About .XINOF Files Ransomware

.XINOF Files Ransomware is nasty malicious software which locks files. Because of the consequences the infection may have, ransomware is believed to be a highly dangerous malware. A data encryption process will be launched soon after you open the file that has been contaminated. It’s possible that all of your photos, videos and documents were encrypted because you likely regard those files as very vital. You will need a decryption key to decode the files but only the criminals responsible for this ransomware have it. In some cases, a decryption program may be released free of charge by malicious software who may be able to crack the ransomware. It’s not certain whether a decryption utility will be developed but that is your best option if you haven’t made copies of your files.

You will see that a ransom note has been placed either on the desktop or in folders that have encrypted files. It’s certain that cyber crooks behind this ransomware intend to make as much money as possible, so you will be requested to pay for a decryptor if you want to be able to open your files ever again. It’s not shocking but paying crooks is not something we suggest. It is not an impossible for crooks to just take the money and not help you. And naturally that the money will encourage them to make more malicious software. To guarantee you never end up in this situation again, invest into backup. Simply eliminate .XINOF Files Ransomware if you had taken the time to create backup.

Download Removal Toolto remove .XINOF Files Ransomware

False updates and spam emails were probably used to spread the ransomware. Those methods are the most popular among crooks.

Ransomware distribution ways

Although your operating system might get contaminated in a few ways, the most likely way you acquired it was via spam email or fake update. If you recall opening a weird email attachment, you have to be more careful. Do not blindly open every single attachment you get, and first make sure it’s safe. Malware distributors frequently pretend to be from popular companies to establish trust and make people lower their guard. For example, the sender may say to be Amazon and that they are emailing you with concerns about strange behavior in your account. You could make sure the sender is who they say they are pretty easily. Look up the company emailing you, check the email addresses that belong to their employees and see if your sender is legitimate. Additionally, use an anti-malware scanner to check the file before you open it.

Falling for a fake program update could have also resulted in this if you do not think you’ve opened any suspicious emails. Quite often, you might encounter fake update notifications when visiting questionable pages, pushing you into installing something very forcefully. They may also appear as advertisement or banners and seeming rather legitimate. Nevertheless, because those alerts and advertisements appear very fake, people who know how updates work will simply ignore them. Your device will never be malware-free if you routinely download things from sources such as ads. When a program of yours requires an update, either the program in question will alert you, or it’ll automatically update.

What does this malware do

Your files are no longer openable, as you have likely noticed by now. While you might have missed this happening, but the ransomware started encrypting your files soon after the malware file was opened. You’ll know which files have been encrypted because they’ll now have a strange file extension. If your files have been locked, you won’t be able to open them so easily as a complex encryption algorithm was used. A ransom note will then appear, where crooks will tell you that your files have been locked, and how to go about recovering them. Typically, ransom notes look the same, they use scare tactics to intimidate victims, request payments and threaten with permanent file removal. Paying the ransom isn’t a good idea, even if cyber criminals have the decryption tool you need. Realistically, how likely is it that the people who encrypted your files in the first place, will feel any obligation to restore your files, even after a payment is made. Furthermore, if hackers know you’re inclined to pay, they could make you a victim again.

It is possible you could’ve uploaded at least some of your critical files somewhere, so try to recall if that is the case. Our recommendation would be to backup all files that have been locked, for when or if researchers specializing in malware create a free decryptor. Whatever the case may be, you’ll need to uninstall .XINOF Files Ransomware from your device.

It’s essential that you begin backing up your files, and hopefully you will learn from this experience. There is always a possibility that you might lose your files, so having backup is essential. Plenty of backup options are available, and they are quite worth the investment if you don’t want to lose your files.

How to terminate .XINOF Files Ransomware

Most likely, if you were looking for information about what happened to your files, you should not try manual elimination. You should choose anti-malware program for this purpose. You may have trouble opening the software, in which case you ought to, reboot your computer in Safe Mode and try again. You ought to be able to successfully delete .XINOF Files Ransomware when you launch malware removal program in Safe Mode. Removing the ransomware won’t decrypt files, however.

Download Removal Toolto remove .XINOF Files Ransomware

Learn how to remove .XINOF Files Ransomware from your computer

• Step 1. Remove .XINOF Files Ransomware using Safe Mode with Networking.
• Step 2. Remove .XINOF Files Ransomware using System Restore
• Step 3. Recover your data

Step 1. Remove .XINOF Files Ransomware using Safe Mode with Networking.

• a) Step 1. Access Safe Mode with Networking.
• b) Step 2. Remove .XINOF Files 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 .XINOF Files 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 .XINOF Files 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.