Remove GonaCry Ransomware

About GonaCry Ransomware

GonaCry Ransomware is nasty malware that will lock your files. Due to how ransomware behaves, it is very dangerous to catch the infection. As soon as the ransomware launches, it locates specific types of files to lock. Typically, the encrypted files include photos, videos and documents as they’re likely to be ones users will be willing to pay for. The key you need to decrypt your files is in the hands of cyber criminals who were the ones who created/spread this ransomware. Occasionally, a decryptor might be developed free of charge by malicious software analysts, if they are able to crack the ransomware. Seeing as there aren’t many choices available for you, this might be the best one you have.

You will see a ransom note put on your operating system after the encryption process has been completed. The note will explain that your files have been encrypted and how you could recover them. Despite the fact that there might be no other way to get your files back, giving into the demands is not a great idea. It would not surprised us if the hackers do not actually help you but just take your money. That money will also go towards making more malicious software. We should warn you, if you do not wish to be put in this kind of situation again, you need to have trustworthy backup to guard your files. You simply need to uninstall GonaCry Ransomware if you do have backup.

The malware’s distribution methods will be explained more thoroughly later on but the short version is that false updates and spam emails were probably used. Such methods are rather commonly used by cyber crooks since superior ability is not required.

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How does ransomware spread

We think that you fell for a false update or opened a spam email attachment, and that is how the ransomware got in. Become familiar with how to identify malicious spam emails, if you believe ransomware got into your system when you opened a file attached to a spam email. Always attentively check the email before opening an attachment. It’s also rather usual to see cyber criminals pretending to be from popular companies, as a well-known company names would make users less apprehensive. Amazon might be displayed as the sender, for example, and that they’re emailing you because your account displayed weird behavior or that a purchase was made. Whether it’s Amazon or some other company, you should be able to easily check that. You simply need to see if the email address matches any that belong to the company. You are also suggested to scan the file that has been attached with a malware scanner to ensure that it will not harm your system.

The malware may have also slipped in via fake updates for software. Often, you will see such false program updates on high-risk pages. It’s also not uncommon for those malicious update notifications to appear via ads or banners. Still, for those who knows that real updates are never offered this way, such bogus notifications will be obvious. Don’t use adverts as download sources, because you’re needlessly jeopardizing your device. When a program requires an update, you would be alerted via the program itself, or it may update itself automatically.

What does ransomware do

In case you have not noticed yet, your files have been locked by ransomware. When the infected file was opened, the ransomware started encrypting your files, which you might not have necessarily noticed. A certain file extension will mark files that have been encrypted. There is no use in attempting to open affected files as a powerful encryption algorithm was used for their encryption. The ransom note, which could be seen either on your desktop or in folders containing encrypted files, ought to explain what happened to your files and what your options are. If it is not your first time dealing with ransomware, you will notice that notes follow a specific pattern, crooks will intimidate you to believe your sole option is to pay and then threaten to remove your files if you do not give in. Despite that crooks may posses the decryption tool, you will not find many people suggesting giving into the demands. What guarantee is there that files will be restore after you pay. The same crooks might target you particularly next time because in their belief if you gave into the demands once, you might do it again.

Your first course of action should be to try and recall whether you’ve uploaded any of your files somewhere. In the future, malicious software specialists may make a decryption tool so keep your encrypted files stored somewhere. It is important to uninstall GonaCry Ransomware from your device as quickly as possible, whatever the case may be.

Backing up your files is essential so hopefully you will begin doing that. Otherwise, you will end up in the same situation, with probably permanent file loss. There are various backup options available, some more pricey than others but if your files are precious to you it’s worth investing in one.

GonaCry Ransomware removal

Manual elimination is not suggested. You ought to choose anti-malware program for this purpose. You will likely have to load your device in Safe Mode in order to successfully launch the malicious software removal program. There ought to be no problems when your launch the program, so you can delete GonaCry Ransomware successfully. Regrettably, anti-malware program can’t decrypt files, it will merely just take care of eliminating the threat.

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Learn how to remove GonaCry Ransomware from your computer

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

Step 1. Remove GonaCry Ransomware using Safe Mode with Networking.

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