Remove Cadq ransomware

About this ransomware

Cadq ransomware will effect your system in a very bad way because it will encrypt your data. Because of how easy it is to catch the threat, ransomware is considered to be one of the most damaging malware you can get. As soon as the ransomware is initiated, it locates specific files to lock. People usually find that the encrypted files include photos, videos and documents as they’re likely to be ones people will pay for. A decryption key is required to decrypt the files but only the hackers responsible for this ransomware have it. A free decryption utility might be released at some point if malware researchers are able to crack the ransomware. If you do not have backup for your files and don’t intend to pay, that free decryptor may be your only option.

In addition to the encrypted files, you’ll also see a ransom note placed somewhere on your device. If it’s yet to be clear, the note should clarify what happened to your files, and offer a decryption program for a price. While we can’t say what you should do as we’re talking about your files but paying for a decryption program is not recommended. It wouldn’t surprised us if the hackers don’t actually help you but just take your money. Who will prevent them from doing just that. Consider investing into backup. If copies of files have been made, you do not have to worry about file loss and could just eliminate Cadq ransomware.

Download Removal Toolto remove Cadq ransomware

The infection’s spread methods will be clarified in more detail later on but in short you likely fell for a fake update or opened a dangerous spam email. The reason we say you likely got it via those methods is because they’re the most popular among cyber crooks.

How is ransomware spread

We think that you installed a fake update or opened a file attached to a spam email, and that’s how the ransomware managed to get in. Since dangerous spam campaigns are quite typical, you have to become familiar with what dangerous spam look like. If you get an email from an unfamiliar sender, you need to carefully check the contents before you open the attachment. You ought to also know that cyber criminals tend to pretend to be from legitimate companies so as to make users lose their guard. It is quite usual for the sender to claim to be from Amazon or eBay, with the email saying that questionable purchases are being made by your account. It isn’t difficult to verify if the sender is who they say they are. Simply locate a list of email addresses used by the company and see if your sender’s email address is in the list. You should also scan the file with a credible scanner for malware.

If it was not spam email, fake software updates might be accountable. Often, you will see the false updates on questionable pages. Occasionally, they appear as advertisements or banners and can appear quite credible to the inexperienced eye. However, because those notifications and adverts seem quite bogus, people who know how updates work will simply ignore them. Unless you want to put your system in jeopardy, you have remember to never download anything from suspicious sources, which include advertisements. If you’ve set automatic updates, programs will update automatically, but if manual update is required, the application will alert you.

What does ransomware do

Ransomware has encrypted your files, which is why they can’t be opened. File encryption might not be necessarily noticeable, and would have began quickly after the infected file was opened. Files that were affected will now have an extension, which will help you differentiate affected files. Since a strong encryption algorithm was used for file encryption, do not waste your time attempting to open files. The ransom note, which ought to be put either on your desktop or in folders containing encrypted files, ought to explain what happened to your files and how you could restore them. Text files that act as the ransom note ordinarily tend to threaten users with file deletion and encourage victims to pay the ransom. Despite that hackers might posses the decryptor, there won’t be many people recommending paying the ransom. What is there there to guarantee that you will be sent a decryptor after you pay. Moreover, if you paid once, hackers might make you a victim again.

Before you even consider paying, try to recall if you’ve stored some of your files anywhere. Or you could backup files that have been locked and hope this is one of those cases when malware researchers develop free decryptors. In any case, you’ll need to remove Cadq ransomware from your system.

Backups need to be made on a routine basis, so we hope you will start doing that. There is always a risk that you might end up in the same type of situation, so having backup is necessary. Backup prices differ depending in which form of backup you pick, but the investment is definitely worth it if you have files you do not want to lose.

Cadq ransomware elimination

If you aren’t highly experienced with computers, manual elimination may end in disaster. Instead, allow malicious software removal program to deal with the infection. If anti-malware program can’t be launched, reboot your device in Safe Mode. The malicious software removal program should work properly in Safe Mode, so you should not come across problems when you uninstall Cadq ransomware. You ought to keep in mind that anti-malware program won’t help recover your files, it will only erase malware for you.

Download Removal Toolto remove Cadq ransomware

Learn how to remove Cadq ransomware from your computer

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

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

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