This article will aid you to remove .FileSlack Ransomware. Follow the ransomware removal instructions provided at the end of the article.
.FileSlack Ransomware is one that encrypts your data and demands money as a ransom to get it restored. Files will receive the .FileSlack extension. The .FileSlack Ransomware will leave ransomware instructions as a desktop wallpaper image. Keep on reading the article and see how you could try to potentially recover some of your locked files and data.
Threat Summary
| Name | .FileSlack ransomware |
| Type | Ransomware, Cryptovirus |
| Short Description | The ransomware encrypts files by placing the .FileSlack extension on the affected files on your computer system and demands a ransom to be paid to allegedly recover them. |
| Symptoms | The ransomware will encrypt your files and leave a ransom note with payment instructions. |
| Distribution Method | Spam Emails, Email Attachments |
| Detection Tool |
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User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss .FileSlack ransomware. |
| Data Recovery Tool | Windows Data Recovery by Stellar Phoenix Notice! This product scans your drive sectors to recover lost files and it may not recover 100% of the encrypted files, but only few of them, depending on the situation and whether or not you have reformatted your drive. |
.FileSlack Ransomware – Distribution Techniques
This particular threat was found in a low quantity attack campaign which shows that it is very possible that it is currently an early testing release. As such we do not have information about the preferred method of distribution of the final samples that are to be released. We presume that the most popular ones are going to be used at the same time in order to increase the number of affected victims.
One of the most popular ways is to deliver phishing email messages which are sent in a bulk manner and attempt to manipulate the victims into thinking that they have received a legitimate notification from a well-known company or service. The body contents will contain links to the .FileSlack ransomware file or they can be directly attached.
A similar strategy is to deploy fake malicious sites which pose as legitimate search engines, download portals and software landing pages. They will be hosted on domains that are similarly named after the real domains. Stolen or hacker-made security certificates may also be used to make the pages appear as safe.
A mechanism that is often employed to embed the virus installation scripts is to place them into payload carriers, two of the most popular types are the following:
- Documents — The virus installation scripts can be placed as macros which are essential features that can be made part of every popular format: spreadsheets, presentations, text documents and databases. Whenever they are opened by the victim users a prompt will appear asking them to enable the scripts. The quoted reason that is most commonly displayed is that this is a requirement in order to correctly view the file.
- Malicious Application Installers — The other strategy is to create virus-infected setup files of popular software which are distributed using the mentioned distribution methods. The criminal collective will choose applications which are commonly installed by end users: system utilities, creativity suites, productivity and office apps and etc. The hackers will take the real file and modify it accordingly. Then it can be sent via email messages, linked in fake sites or uploaded to file-sharing networks.
Larger campaigns can be planned by programming browser hijackers to deliver them as payloads. They are malicious web browser plugins which have the main goal of redirecting the victims to a preset landing page. This is done by changing their default settings: home page, search engine and new tabs page. The ransomware infection will be done as soon as the plugins are installed. They are often found on the relevant web browser plugin repository containing fake user reviews and descriptions that promise numerous performance enhancements and feature additions.
.FileSlack Ransomware – Detailed Analysis
As no information is available about the .FileSlack ransomware we assume that only the base encryption engine is part of it. These early versions of the virus can merely present a modular framework on which to work on. As such it is possible that the default behavior pattern as observed by us.
Most viruses will start the infection by retrieving sensitive information from the compromised machines. This is done via an engine that is programmed to look for certain strings according to the desired information. If it interacts with the Windows Volume Manager service then it can also access and retrieve data from network shares and removable storage devices as well. In most of the registered cases this engine will have the main goal of assigning an unique ID to each machine. This is done by using an algorithm that takes its input parameters from the list of installed hardware components, user settings and environment values.
The collected information can be used to bypass security software found on the infected machines. The engine will scan the memory and hard disk contents for any services that can block the .FileSlack Ransomware. The list includes anti-virus products, firewalls, virtual machine hosts and sandbox environments.
When the ransomware engine has obtained access to the system it can proceed with various changes. A list of the most popular ones is the following:
- Boot Options — By changing the default boot options the .FileSlack ransomware can start automatically as soon as the computer is powered on. In addition manual recovery instructions may no longer work as access to the recovery options can be blocked. In this case only a quality anti-spyware solution will be able to remedy the infection.
- Windows Registry Values Changes — The engine can access and modify the Windows Registry by both creating entries for itself and changing existing ones. This is particularly dangerous as any manipulation of the operating system strings can lead to severe performance issues to the point of being unable to use the computer unless the malware is completely removed. Changes to third-party applications can result in sudden applications errors and shut down.
- Data Removal — The engine can be instructed to locate and delete sensitive files which makes recovery very difficult: System Restore Points, Backups and Shadow Volume Copies.
- Additional Payload Delivery — The ransomware is capable of delivering other threats to the compromised machines. This is done so because the ..FileSlack Ransomware may have already bypassed key security infrastructure through its first set of commands and the second dropped virus will be able to unfold all of its potential.
Any other malicious behavior can be programmed by the criminals — most likely the scope of the commands that are to be executed will depend on the hacker configuration and the intended targets.
.FileSlack Ransomware – Encryption Process
Like other popular viruses the .FileSlack ransomware will launch the encryption engine once all prior modules have finished running. It will probably use a built-in list of target file type extensions which are to be processed by a strong cipher. An example list can include the following data types:
- Backups
- Databases
- Archives
- Images
- Music
- Videos
All affected files will receive the .FileSlack extension and the associated ransomware note will be called Readme_Restore_Files.txt.
Remove .FileSlack Ransomware and Try to Restore Data
If your computer system got infected with the .FileSlack ransomware virus, you should have a bit of experience in removing malware. You should get rid of this ransomware as quickly as possible before it can have the chance to spread further and infect other computers. You should remove the ransomware and follow the step-by-step instructions guide provided below.
Martin Beltov
Martin graduated with a degree in Publishing from Sofia University. As a cyber security enthusiast he enjoys writing about the latest threats and mechanisms of intrusion.
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Step 1: Scan for .FileSlack ransomware with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
Ransomware Automatic Removal - Video Guide
Step 2: Uninstall .FileSlack ransomware and related malware from Windows
Here is a method in few easy steps that should be able to uninstall most programs. No matter if you are using Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista or XP, those steps will get the job done. Dragging the program or its folder to the recycle bin can be a very bad decision. If you do that, bits and pieces of the program are left behind, and that can lead to unstable work of your PC, errors with the file type associations and other unpleasant activities. The proper way to get a program off your computer is to Uninstall it. To do that:
Follow the instructions above and you will successfully delete most unwanted and malicious programs.
Step 3: Clean any registries, created by .FileSlack ransomware on your computer.
The usually targeted registries of Windows machines are the following:
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
You can access them by opening the Windows registry editor and deleting any values, created by .FileSlack ransomware there. This can happen by following the steps underneath:
Tip: To find a virus-created value, you can right-click on it and click "Modify" to see which file it is set to run. If this is the virus file location, remove the value.
Before starting "Step 4", please boot back into Normal mode, in case you are currently in Safe Mode.
This will enable you to install and use SpyHunter 5 successfully.
Step 4: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove .FileSlack ransomware
Step 5: Try to Restore Files Encrypted by .FileSlack ransomware.
Method 1: Use STOP Decrypter by Emsisoft.
Not all variants of this ransomware can be decrypted for free, but we have added the decryptor used by researchers that is often updated with the variants which become eventually decrypted. You can try and decrypt your files using the instructions below, but if they do not work, then unfortunately your variant of the ransomware virus is not decryptable.
Follow the instructions below to use the Emsisoft decrypter and decrypt your files for free. You can download the Emsisoft decryption tool linked here and then follow the steps provided below:
1 Right-click on the decrypter and click on Run as Administrator as shown below:
2. Agree with the license terms:
3. Click on "Add Folder" and then add the folders where you want files decrypted as shown underneath:
4. Click on "Decrypt" and wait for your files to be decoded.
Note: Credit for the decryptor goes to Emsisoft researchers who have made the breakthrough with this virus.
Method 2: Use data recovery software
Ransomware infections and .FileSlack ransomware aim to encrypt your files using an encryption algorithm which may be very difficult to decrypt. This is why we have suggested a data recovery method that may help you go around direct decryption and try to restore your files. Bear in mind that this method may not be 100% effective but may also help you a little or a lot in different situations.
Simply click on the link and on the website menus on the top, choose Data Recovery - Data Recovery Wizard for Windows or Mac (depending on your OS), and then download and run the tool.
.FileSlack ransomware-FAQ
What is .FileSlack ransomware Ransomware?
.FileSlack ransomware is a ransomware infection - the malicious software that enters your computer silently and blocks either access to the computer itself or encrypt your files.
Many ransomware viruses use sophisticated encryption algorithms to make your files inaccessible. The goal of ransomware infections is to demand that you pay a ransom payment to get access to your files back.
What Does .FileSlack ransomware Ransomware Do?
Ransomware in general is a malicious software that is designed to block access to your computer or files until a ransom is paid.
Ransomware viruses can also damage your system, corrupt data and delete files, resulting in the permanent loss of important files.
How Does .FileSlack ransomware Infect?
Via several ways..FileSlack ransomware Ransomware infects computers by being sent via phishing emails, containing virus attachment. This attachment is usually masked as an important document, like an invoice, bank document or even a plane ticket and it looks very convincing to users.
Another way you may become a victim of .FileSlack ransomware is if you download a fake installer, crack or patch from a low reputation website or if you click on a virus link. Many users report getting a ransomware infection by downloading torrents.
How to Open ..FileSlack ransomware files?
You can't without a decryptor. At this point, the ..FileSlack ransomware files are encrypted. You can only open them once they are decrypted using a specific decryption key for the particular algorithm.
What to Do If a Decryptor Does Not Work?
Do not panic, and backup the files. If a decryptor did not decrypt your ..FileSlack ransomware files successfully, then do not despair, because this virus is still new.
Can I Restore "..FileSlack ransomware" Files?
Yes, sometimes files can be restored. We have suggested several file recovery methods that could work if you want to restore ..FileSlack ransomware files.
These methods are in no way 100% guaranteed that you will be able to get your files back. But if you have a backup, your chances of success are much greater.
How To Get Rid of .FileSlack ransomware Virus?
The safest way and the most efficient one for the removal of this ransomware infection is the use a professional anti-malware program.
It will scan for and locate .FileSlack ransomware ransomware and then remove it without causing any additional harm to your important ..FileSlack ransomware files.
Can I Report Ransomware to Authorities?
In case your computer got infected with a ransomware infection, you can report it to the local Police departments. It can help authorities worldwide track and determine the perpetrators behind the virus that has infected your computer.
Below, we have prepared a list with government websites, where you can file a report in case you are a victim of a cybercrime:
Cyber-security authorities, responsible for handling ransomware attack reports in different regions all over the world:
Germany - Offizielles Portal der deutschen Polizei
United States - IC3 Internet Crime Complaint Centre
United Kingdom - Action Fraud Police
France - Ministère de l'Intérieur
Italy - Polizia Di Stato
Spain - Policía Nacional
Netherlands - Politie
Poland - Policja
Portugal - Polícia Judiciária
Greece - Cyber Crime Unit (Hellenic Police)
India - Mumbai Police - CyberCrime Investigation Cell
Australia - Australian High Tech Crime Center
Reports may be responded to in different timeframes, depending on your local authorities.
Can You Stop Ransomware from Encrypting Your Files?
Yes, you can prevent ransomware. The best way to do this is to ensure your computer system is updated with the latest security patches, use a reputable anti-malware program and firewall, backup your important files frequently, and avoid clicking on malicious links or downloading unknown files.
Can .FileSlack ransomware Ransomware Steal Your Data?
Yes, in most cases ransomware will steal your information. It is a form of malware that steals data from a user's computer, encrypts it, and then demands a ransom in order to decrypt it.
In many cases, the malware authors or attackers will threaten to delete the data or publish it online unless the ransom is paid.
Can Ransomware Infect WiFi?
Yes, ransomware can infect WiFi networks, as malicious actors can use it to gain control of the network, steal confidential data, and lock out users. If a ransomware attack is successful, it could lead to a loss of service and/or data, and in some cases, financial losses.
Should I Pay Ransomware?
No, you should not pay ransomware extortionists. Paying them only encourages criminals and does not guarantee that the files or data will be restored. The better approach is to have a secure backup of important data and be vigilant about security in the first place.
What Happens If I Don't Pay Ransom?
If you don't pay the ransom, the hackers may still have access to your computer, data, or files and may continue to threaten to expose or delete them, or even use them to commit cybercrimes. In some cases, they may even continue to demand additional ransom payments.
Can a Ransomware Attack Be Detected?
Yes, ransomware can be detected. Anti-malware software and other advanced security tools can detect ransomware and alert the user when it is present on a machine.
It is important to stay up-to-date on the latest security measures and to keep security software updated to ensure ransomware can be detected and prevented.
Do Ransomware Criminals Get Caught?
Yes, ransomware criminals do get caught. Law enforcement agencies, such as the FBI, Interpol and others have been successful in tracking down and prosecuting ransomware criminals in the US and other countries. As ransomware threats continue to increase, so does the enforcement activity.
About the .FileSlack ransomware Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this .FileSlack ransomware how-to removal guide included, is the outcome of extensive research, hard work and our team’s devotion to help you remove the specific malware and restore your encrypted files.
How did we conduct the research on this ransomware?
Our research is based on an independent investigation. We are in contact with independent security researchers, and as such, we receive daily updates on the latest malware and ransomware definitions.
Furthermore, the research behind the .FileSlack ransomware ransomware threat is backed with VirusTotal and the NoMoreRansom project.
To better understand the ransomware threat, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.
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