Remove HACK ransomware virus

About HACK ransomware virus

HACK ransomware virus is classified as ransomware that locks files. Due to its harmful nature, it is very dangerous to have ransomware on the device. Ransomware targets specific files, which will be encrypted soon after it launches. Ransomware targets particular files, and those files have the most worth to victims. You’ll need to get a special decryption key to recover files but sadly, it is in the possession of people who are responsible for the attack. A free decryptor may become available after some time if malicious software researchers are able to crack the ransomware. It isn’t certain whether a decryption tool will be released but that might be your only option if backup hasn’t been made.

When the encryption process has been finished, you will find a ransom note on your desktop or in folders which have encrypted files in them. The cyber crooks behind this ransomware will offer you a decryption application, explaining that it is the only way to recover files. We cannot exactly recommend you to pay for a decryption program. Criminals taking your money and not helping you recover files isn’t a surprising scenario. Furthermore, that payment will probably go towards supporting other malware projects. You also need to buy backup, so that you do not end up in this situation again. Just terminate HACK ransomware virus if you had taken the time to make backup.

Download Removal Toolto remove HACK ransomware virus

It’s very likely that you opened a malicious email or fell for a fake update. Those methods are very common among cyber criminals.

How is ransomware spread

You can get your system infected in a couple of different ways, but as we’ve mentioned above, spam email and fake updates are possibly the way you got the contamination. Since of how common spam campaigns are, you need to familiarize yourself with what malicious spam look like. Do not rush to open all attachments that land in your inbox, and first make sure it is safe. In order to make you less careful, cyber criminals will use known company names in the email. Amazon might be shown as the sender, for example, and that they’re emailing you because unusual behavior was noticed on the account or that an unusual purchase was made. But, it’s not difficult to verify this. Check the sender’s email address, and however legitimate it appears initially, check that it actually belongs to the company they claim to represent. Moreover, you need to use reliable scanners to scan the email attachments before opening them.

Fake software updates may also be to blame if you do not think you got it via spam emails. Often, you will encounter such bogus program updates on dubious sites. Fake updates promoted through ads or banners are also rather frequent. We highly doubt anyone familiar with how updates work will ever fall for this trick, however. Your device will never be clean if you continue to download anything from suspicious sources. If you have automatic updates turned on, you won’t even be alerted about it, but if manual update is required, the program will alert you.

What does ransomware do

If you’re wondering what is going on with your files, they were locked. Right after you opened an infected file, the encryption process began, which you would not have necessarily see. A strange extension will be added to all files that have been encrypted. As a complex encryption algorithm was used for file encryption, don’t even attempt to open files. The ransom note, which could be found either on your desktop or in folders that contain encrypted files, should explain what happened to your files and how you can recover them. Typically, ransom notes look almost identical, they scare victims, demand payments and threaten with permanent file deletion. Paying the ransom isn’t something a lot of people will recommend, even if that’s the only way to restore files. Relying on people who locked your files in the first place to keep their word is not exactly the wisest idea. If you pay this time, hackers may think you would be inclined to pay again, therefore you could become a target again.

You ought to first try and remember whether you have uploaded any of your files somewhere. In case a free decryption utility is released in the future, keep all of your encrypted files somewhere safe. It’s essential to remove HACK ransomware virus whichever option you pick.

Backups should be made regularly, so we hope you’ll begin doing that. Otherwise, you might end up in the same exact situation again, with the likelihood of losing your files looming over you. Several backup options are available, and they are quite worth the investment if you wish to keep your files safe.

Ways to remove HACK ransomware virus

If you’re not sure about what you need to do, manual removal isn’t the option you need to select. You have to get malware removal program so as to safely erase the infection. If anti-malware program can’t be initiated, load your system in Safe Mode. The malicious software removal program should be working fine in Safe Mode, so you should be able to terminate HACK ransomware virus. It’s unfortunate but malware removal program won’t help with file recovery, it will only get rid of the infection for you.

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Learn how to remove HACK ransomware virus from your computer

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

Step 1. Remove HACK ransomware virus using Safe Mode with Networking.

• a) Step 1. Access Safe Mode with Networking.
• b) Step 2. Remove HACK ransomware virus.

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 HACK ransomware virus.

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 HACK ransomware virus 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.