Remove .stone file ransomware

About .stone file ransomware

.stone file ransomware is dangerous malicious software that will lock your files. Having a computer contaminated with ransomware could lead to permanent file encryption, which is why it is considered to be such a dangerous threat. As soon as it’s launched, it will start scanning for and locking certain files. Ransomware has particular files it targets, and those are files that hold the most worth to people. Unfortunately, you’ll have to get a special key in order to unlock files, which the ransomware developers/distributors will offer you for a price. If the ransomware is decryptable, malicious software researchers might be able to release a free decryption utility. This is your best option if you haven’t made backup.

Soon after file encryption, you will see that a ransom note has been placed either in folders holding encrypted files or the desktop. We’re certain that hackers behind this malware want to make as much money as possible, so you will be requested to pay for a decryptor if you want to recover your files. Paying for a decryption tool is not suggested due to a couple of factors. Criminals simply taking your money while not helping you with file recovery isn’t impossible. And naturally that the money will encourage them to develop more malicious software. To ensure you are never in this kind of situation again, buy backup. Simply terminate .stone file ransomware if you had created backup.

Download Removal Toolto remove .stone file ransomware

We will explain the spread methods more thoroughly later on but the short version is that bogus updates and spam emails were likely how you got it. Both methods are commonly used by ransomware creators/distributors.

How does ransomware spread

You might get ransomware in a variety of ways, but as we’ve mentioned above, you possibly got the infection through false updates and spam emails. We recommend you be more careful in the future if email was how the contamination managed to get into your system. When dealing with unknown senders, you have to carefully check the email before opening the attached file. In order to make you less cautious, hackers will pretend to be from companies you’re likely to be familiar with. For example, they may use Amazon’s name, pretending to be emailing you with concerns about strange behavior in your account. Nevertheless, you can easily examine whether that is really true. Check the sender’s email address, and whether it sees real or not check that it really belongs to the company they say to be from. Furthermore, use an anti-malware scanner to ensure the file is harmless before you open it.

Downloading false program updates from suspicious sources may have also resulted in this if you don’t believe you’ve opened any suspicious emails. Quite often, you may run into false update notifications when on suspicious websites, pushing you into installing something pretty forcefully. The offers to update can look rather legitimate. Although no person familiar with how updates are suggested will ever engage with them as they will be obviously false. Unless you wish to put your computer at risk, you should remember to never download anything from questionable sources, which include adverts. When software of yours needs an update, you’ll either be alerted about it via the application, or it will update itself automatically.

What does this malware do

Ransomware has encrypted your files, which is why you cannot open then. Soon after the infected file was opened, the encryption began, and you could have missed it. Affected files will now have a file extension added to them, which will help you figure out which files have been affected. Because of the strong encryption algorithm used, you won’t be able to open the affected files so easily. A ransom note will then appear, where crooks will tell you what happened to your files, and how you may get them back. Ransom notes typically follow a certain pattern, threaten with forever lost files and tell you how to restore them by paying the ransom. Paying crooks isn’t a good idea, even if cyber criminals have the decryption tool. Even after you pay, we doubt that cyber criminals will feel obligated to help you. Crooks may also remember that you paid and target you again, thinking you’ll pay a second time.

It’s possible you might have uploaded at least some of your files somewhere, so try to remember if that could be the case. If you are out of options, back up the encrypted files for safekeeping, it’s not impossible that a malware analyst will release a free decryptor and you may restore files. It is critical to remove .stone file ransomware and the quicker you do it, the better.

We hope this will serve as a lesson for you to regularly back up your files. There is always a risk that you might end up in the same kind of situation, so having backup is critical. Backup prices differ based on in which backup option you choose, but the purchase is absolutely worth it if you have files you want to keep safe.

Ways to remove .stone file ransomware

If you’re reading this, manual elimination is not a great idea. To eliminate the malware use anti-malware program, unless you are willing to risk doing damage to your device. Generally, users have to reset their systems in Safe Mode so as to run anti-malware program successfully. As soon as your computer loads in Safe Mode, allow the malicious software removal program to terminate .stone file ransomware. You ought to bear in mind that anti-malware program can’t help you with files, it can only get rid of the malware for you.

Download Removal Toolto remove .stone file ransomware

Learn how to remove .stone file ransomware from your computer

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

Step 1. Remove .stone file ransomware using Safe Mode with Networking.

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