Remove .bad files

About .bad files

.bad files may bring about severe damage to your computer and leave your files locked. Due to its damaging nature, it is very dangerous to have ransomware on the system. When the ransomware is initiated, it searches for specific types of files to lock. Users usually find that the encrypted files are photos, videos and documents as they are likely to be the most valuable. The key you need to unlock your files is in the hands of hackers who were the ones who created/spread this ransomware. A free decryptor might become available at some point if malicious software researchers could crack the ransomware. If you don’t have backup for your files and don’t intend to pay, that free decryption program may be your best option.

When the encryption process is complete, you’ll find a ransom note on your desktop or in folders which have encrypted files in them. The ransom note will contain information about what happened to your files, and crooks will request that you pay money so as to get your files back. Our next statement should not surprise you but it isn’t encouraged to pay the hackers anything. It isn’t difficult to imagine hackers taking your money while not providing anything in return. Keep in mind that there’s nothing preventing them from doing just that. A wiser idea would be to purchase backup with some of that requested money. You simply need to terminate .bad files if you do have backup.

Download Removal Toolto remove .bad files

If you recently opened a weird email attachment or downloaded some type of update, that’s how you could’ve contaminated your OS. The reason we say you most probably got it via those methods is because they’re the most popular among crooks.

Ransomware spread methods

The most probable way you got the infection was via spam email or fake program updates. If spam email was how the ransomware got in, you will have to become familiar with how dangerous spam email looks like. Do not rush to open all attachments that end up in your inbox, and first check it is safe. Quite often, senders use known company names because it would lower people’ guard. For example, they could claim to be Amazon and say that they have added a purchase receipt to the email. You could check whether the sender is who they say they are without difficulty. Look up the company the sender claims to be from, check the email addresses that belong to them and see if your sender is real. You ought to also scan the added file with a malicious software scanner to ensure that it’s safe.

If you recently installed a software update via an unofficial source, that may have also been how the ransomware got in. Quite often, you might run into false update notifications when on questionable web pages, pushing you to install something quite annoyingly. The update offers might sometimes appear pretty legitimate. Although no person familiar with how updates are suggested will ever engage with them as they’ll be clearly fake. If you don’t want your system to get infected on a regular basis, you should never download anything from adverts or other dubious sources. If you have automatic updates turned on, programs will update automatically, but if manual update is required, the software will notify you.

How does ransomware behave

We probably do not need to explain what is going on with your files. The encryption process was launched as soon as you opened the infected file and you might not have even noticed, seeing as the process is pretty fast. If you are unsure about which of your files were locked, look for a specific file extension added to files, signaling encryption. There is no use in attempting to open affected files since they’ve been locked with a complex encryption algorithm. If you look on your desktop or folders containing locked files, you will find a ransom note, which ought to contain information on what you can do about your files. Usually, ransom notes follow a certain pattern, they use scare tactics to intimidate victims, request payments and threaten to permanently remove files. It is possible that crooks behind this ransomware have the only way to recover files but despite that, it isn’t recommended to give into the demands. The people to blame for locking your files are unlikely to feel any obligation to help you even if you pay. It wouldn’t shock us if you became a specific target next time because hackers know you were willing to pay once.

Instead of complying with the demands, check various storage devices and social media accounts to see if your files are stored somewhere but you just don’t remember. In case malware specialists are able to create a free decryption utility in the future, store all of your encrypted files somewhere safe. Whatever it is you want to do, eliminate .bad files immediately.

Backing up your files is essential so hopefully you will start doing that. If you do not take the time to make backups, this situation could reoccur. There are various backup options available, some more pricey than others but if you have valuable files it’s worth buying one.

.bad files elimination

Manual removal isn’t suggested. Download malicious software removal program to deal with the infection, because otherwise you’re risking further damaging to your computer. If you are having trouble running the program, boot your system in Safe Mode and try again. There should be no issues when your run the software, so you can successfully eliminate .bad files. However unfortunate it might be, you won’t be able to restore files with anti-malware program as that’s not its goal.

Download Removal Toolto remove .bad files

Learn how to remove .bad files from your computer

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

Step 1. Remove .bad files using Safe Mode with Networking.

• a) Step 1. Access Safe Mode with Networking.
• b) Step 2. Remove .bad files.

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 .bad files.

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 .bad files 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.