Remove KCTF Locker Ransomware

Is this a severe threat

KCTF Locker Ransomware is categorized as ransomware, a kind of malicious program that will lock your files. You’ve got a highly serious infection on your hands, and it may lead to serious trouble, such as permanent data loss. What’s worse is that it is very easy to obtain the infection. Ransomware creators count on users being careless, as contamination usually enters via spam email attachments, infected adverts and false application downloads. And once it is opened, it will start encoding your files, and once the process is complete, it’ll request that you pay a certain amount to get a decryptor, which should in theory recover your data. Depending on which ransomware you have, the money demanded will be different. Paying isn’t something we advise doing, so consider all scenarios. Do not trust crooks to keep their word and restore your data, since there is nothing stopping them from simply taking your money. There are many accounts of users receiving nothing after giving into with the requests. We advise to take part of the requested money and invest it into backup, instead. There are many options, and we are sure you will find one best suiting your needs. For those who did back up files before the malicious software entered, simply uninstall KCTF Locker Ransomware and restore files from where they are kept. These types of threats are everywhere, so you need to prepare yourself. To protect a machine, one should always be on the lookout for potential malware, becoming familiar with their spread methods.

Download Removal Toolto remove KCTF Locker Ransomware

How does ransomware spread

Normally, data encrypting malware is acquired when you open an infected email, press on an infected advertisement or use dubious platforms as a source for downloads. However, it’s possible for ransomware to use methods that need more expertise.

Since ransomware might be obtained via email attachments, try and remember if you have recently obtained something strange from an email. You open the email, download and open the attachment and the ransomware is now able to start the encryption process. It’s pretty ordinary for those emails to cover topic like money, which is the topic users are likely to think is important, thus would open such an email without thinking. Usage of basic greetings (Dear Customer/Member), prompts to open the file attached, and obvious mistakes in grammar are what you should be wary of when dealing with emails with attached files. Your name would certainly be used in the greeting if it was a legitimate company whose email you need to open. It would not be surprising to see names like Amazon or PayPal used, because when people notice a known name, they are more likely to let down their guard. You may have also gotten the threat through some other ways, like malicious advertisements or bogus downloads. Compromised sites could be hosting malicious ads, which if pressed may trigger malicious software to download. And attempt to stick to valid download sources as often as possible, because otherwise you may be endangering your computer. One thing to take into consideration is to never download anything, whether programs or an update, from weird sources, such as adverts. If a program was in need of an update, it would alert you via the program itself, and not through your browser, and most update themselves anyway.

What happened to your files?

Infection leading to permanent data loss isn’t an impossible scenario, which is why ransomware is is categorized as a dangerous-level infection. It has a list of files types it would target, and it’ll take a short time to find and encrypt them all. All encrypted files will have an extension attached to them. The reason why your files might be not possible to decrypt for free is because some data encoding malicious software use strong encryption algorithms for the encoding process, and may be impossible to break them. A ransom note will then be dropped, which should explain what has happened. The note will demand that you buy a decryption key to recover files, but paying would not be the best decision. By paying, you would be trusting hackers, the people who are accountable for locking your data in the first place. The money you supply cyber crooks with would also support their future ransomware projects. These types of threats are believe to have made $1 billion in 2016, and such a successful business is constantly attracting more and more people. We recommend you consider investing the demanded money into some type of backup option. And if this kind of threat hijack your system, you would not be risking your data. If you aren’t planning on complying with the requests, proceed to erase KCTF Locker Ransomware if it is still on your computer. If you become familiar with the spread methods of this infection, you should be able to avoid them in the future.

KCTF Locker Ransomware termination

Take into consideration that you’ll need to obtain anti-malware software if you want to fully terminate the ransomware. If you are reading this, you might not be the most experienced when it comes to computers, which means you shouldn’t try to eliminate KCTF Locker Ransomware manually. Employ dependable elimination software instead. Such security tools are developed to uninstall KCTF Locker Ransomware and all other similar infections, so issues shouldn’t occur. So that you aren’t left on your own, instructions below this article have been placed to help you. Sadly, those utilities cannot help you decrypt your files, they’ll merely terminate the infection. In some cases, however, malware researchers can release a free decryptor, so be on the look out for that.

Download Removal Toolto remove KCTF Locker Ransomware

Learn how to remove KCTF Locker Ransomware from your computer

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

Step 1. Remove KCTF Locker Ransomware using Safe Mode with Networking.

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