Remove Amber (Phobos) ransomware

About Amber (Phobos) ransomware

Amber (Phobos) ransomware will effect your device very seriously because it will encrypt your files. Due to its destructive nature, it is highly dangerous to catch the infection. File encryption will be launched soon after you open the file that has been infected. Victims often find that photos, videos and documents will be targeted due to their value to users. Files can’t be opened so easily, you’ll have to unlock them using a specialized key, which is in the hands of the crooks behind this malware. Do not lose hope, however, as researchers specializing in malicious software could be able to develop a free decryptor. If backup isn’t available, waiting for the mentioned free decryptor is probably your best choice.

Once the encryption process is finished, you will find a ransom note on your desktop or in folders which have encrypted files in them. The note will clarify that your files have been encrypted and how you might get them back. We are not going to stop you from paying cyber criminals, but that option is not recommended. We wouldn’t be surprised if the crooks just take your money. It’s highly likely your money would go towards future malware. Consider investing into backup. Simply erase Amber (Phobos) ransomware if you had made backup.

We will clarify in more detail how the infection got into your operating system in the first place, but in short, it was likely distributed through spam emails and fake updates. We’re so sure about this because those methods are the most commonly used.

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Ransomware distribution ways

You could acquire ransomware in a couple of different ways, but as we’ve said above, spam email and fake updates are probably the way you got the infection. Since of how common spam campaigns are, you have to learn what malicious spam look like. If you get an email from an unfamiliar sender, carefully check the contents before opening the attachment. Oftentimes, senders use recognizable company names as that would make users feel more secure. For example, senders pretend to be from Amazon or eBay, with the email saying that a receipt for a purchase has been added as an attachment. Nevertheless, these types of emails are not hard to analyze. All you really need to do is check if the email address matches any real ones used by the company. In addition, email attachments have to be scanned with trustworthy scanners before you open them.

If if spam email was not how you got it, fake program updates might have been used to infect. Dangerous web pages are where we believe you encountered the fake update alerts. Fake updates pushed through advertisements or banners are also pretty common. For anyone familiar with how alerts about updates are pushed, however, this will bring about immediate suspicion. You should never download updates or software from sources such as adverts. Take into consideration that if a program needs an update, the program will either automatically update or you’ll be alerted via the application, not through your browser.

What does ransomware do

Your files have been locked, as you’ve likely noticed by now. Right after the contaminated file was opened, the encryption process began, which you wouldn’t have necessarily noticed. You will be able to quickly tell which files have been affected since they’ll have a file extension added to them. Complex encryption algorithms were used for your file encryption, so do not bother attempting to open them as there will be no use. If you check your desktop or folders that contain files that have been encrypted, a ransom note should become visible, which ought to contain information on how to recover your files. If it is not your first time running into ransomware, you will see a certain pattern in ransom notes, crooks will initially try to intimidate you into believing your only choice is to pay and then threaten with file deletion if you refuse. Giving into the requests is not the recommended option, even if that’s the only way to get files back. It is not likely that the people to blame for your file encryption will feel any obligation to help you after you pay. It would also not surprise us if you became a specific target next time because cyber criminals know you’ve paid once.

Instead of giving into the demands, check various storage devices and online accounts to see whether your files are being kept somewhere but you have simply forgotten. In case a free decryptor is released in the future, store all of your encrypted files somewhere safe. Whatever it is you want to do, delete Amber (Phobos) ransomware promptly.

Backups need to be made on a regular basis, so we hope you’ll start doing that. It’s not unlikely that you will end up in the same situation again, so if you don’t want to jeopardize your files again, backing up your files is important. Backup prices vary depending in which backup option you choose, but the investment is certainly worth it if you have files you don’t wish to lose.

Amber (Phobos) ransomware removal

Truth be told, if you were searching for an explanation about what happened to your files, you should not try manual removal. Use anti-malware program to get rid of the threat, unless you want to risk doing further harm to your system. If you cannot launch the malware removal program, load your system in Safe Mode. Initiate a scan of your computer, and when it is found, eliminate Amber (Phobos) ransomware. Alas, malicious software removal program can’t decrypt files, it will just just take care of the infection’s removal.

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Learn how to remove Amber (Phobos) ransomware from your computer

• Step 1. Remove Amber (Phobos) ransomware using Safe Mode with Networking.
• Step 2. Remove Amber (Phobos) ransomware using System Restore
• Step 3. Recover your data

Step 1. Remove Amber (Phobos) ransomware using Safe Mode with Networking.

• a) Step 1. Access Safe Mode with Networking.
• b) Step 2. Remove Amber (Phobos) 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 Amber (Phobos) 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 Amber (Phobos) 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.