This article as been created in order to help explain what is the PedCont ransomware virus and how to remove this malware from your computer plus how to restore files, encrypted by it.
The PedCont ransowmare is a virus which claims to encrypt the files on your computer, making them no longer usable after which the malware starts to encrypt the files on your computer. In addition to this, the ransomware also leaves behind a ransom note file, whose primary purpose is to get victims to pay a hefty ransom in order to get the encrypted files to work once again. If your computer has been infected by the PedCont ransomware virus, keep reading this article. It will show you how you can remove this ransomware infection from your computer and how you can restore the files, encrypted by it on your computer.
Threat Summary
| Name | PedCont Ransomware |
| Type | Ransomware, Cryptovirus |
| Short Description | Aims to encrypt the files on your computer, while dropping a ransom note which asks you to pay a hefty ransom to get the files recovered back to normal. |
| Symptoms | Files may no longer be able to be opened and a ransom note appears on the user’s computer, shortly after the screen of the victim goes black. |
| Distribution Method | Spam Emails, Email Attachments, Executable files |
| Detection Tool |
See If Your System Has Been Affected by malware
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Malware Removal Tool
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User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss PedCont 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. |
Pedcont Ransomware – Distribution
The PedCont ransomware virus is the type of malware, whose primary purpose is to infect you unnoticed and conduct it’s activities without you being able to stop the virus. To reach this end goal, the ransomware virus may perform series of unwanted activities on the victim’s computer, the main of which are reported to be via malicious e-mail attachments or URLs posted on the e-mails themselves. The e-mails that may be sent to the victims may aim to get them to open the attachments, while portraying them as important documents, such as invoices as well as other documents that must be opened immediately.
In addition to via e-mail, the PedCont ransomware virus may also spread by being uploaded on websites, while posing as a file which claims to be a seemingly legitimate type of software installer or some kind of a software license activator, whose main goal is to claim to help you activate your OS, a game or a program.
PedCont Ransomware – More Information
As soon as PedCont ransomware has infected your computer system, the virus may drop it’s payload files, which in their turn may reside in the following Windows directories:
- %AppData%
- %Local%
- %LocalLow%
- %Roaming%
- %Temp%
Among the payload of PedCont ransomware is it’s main malicious file, detected(4ee60e0221726dbbe2da563c4d175b57d7b51e9e83e2c4b78364fba2272121c2) by security researchers to be the following:
→ SHA-256: 4ee60e0221726dbbe2da563c4d175b57d7b51e9e83e2c4b78364fba2272121c2
Name: AliceRides.mp4_Unpack.WinRAR_SFX.scr
Size:539 KB
From the file it appears as it is posing as a legitimate screensaver, however it contains an embedded self extracting archive.
→ Related:How to Check SFX Self-Extracting .exe Archives Online
In addition to this, among the files dropped by this virus is also it’s ransom note type of file, whose primary purpose is to get victims to pay a hefty ransom fee in order to recover their files. The ransom note appears like the following:
Text from image:
ATTENTION H! – Please read this immediately:
Dear potential criminal,
Due to you actively seeking out child pornography or similarly illegal content on the
Deep Web, you have been infected with our ransomware called PedCont.WHAT HAS ALREADY HAPPENED:
All of your sensitive data, location and files – pictures, videos, documents, etc. – have
been auto-collected and saved to an external server and will be stored & protected for
the next 72 hours (counting from the first time you see this message). If we do not
receive any cooperation from your part once the time is up, international authorities
WILL be contacted and sent detailed information about everything that we have
scraped from your computer.While it is no longer necessary for this program to stay on your computer, should you
wish to prevent legal prosecution and safely get rid of our records, do NOT manually
remove it, but instead follow the steps listed below:WHAT WE REQUIRE OF YOU:
In addition to this, the ransomware virus also aims to perform series of other unwanted activities on the victim’s computer, such as extract informtion from it in order to check whether or not it is running in a virtual environment. In addition to this, the ransomware infection may also delete the volume shadow copies from the victim’s computer, preferrably by executing a script. This script makes it possible to run Windows Command Prompt as an administrator and then focus on performing various different types of methods and activities on the user’s computer
PedCont Ransomware – Encryption Process
PedCont ransomware has been classified as a destructive ransomware type by cyber-sec researchers(https://twitter.com/leotpsc/status/1003517608283369472) with allegations that the ransomware aims to delete the display drivers on the computers infected by it and allegedly encrypting the important files on the victim’s cpomputer. The encryption process of PedCont ransomware virus is conducted by firstly checking for the types of files that are targeted for encryption, which are usually often used file types, such as:
“PNG .PSD .PSPIMAGE .TGA .THM .TIF .TIFF .YUV .AI .EPS .PS .SVG .INDD .PCT .PDF .XLR .XLS .XLSX .ACCDB .DB .DBF .MDB .PDB .SQL .APK .APP .BAT .CGI .COM .EXE .GADGET .JAR .PIF .WSF .DEM .GAM .NES .ROM .SAV CAD Files .DWG .DXF GIS Files .GPX .KML .KMZ .ASP .ASPX .CER .CFM .CSR .CSS .HTM .HTML .JS .JSP .PHP .RSS .XHTML. DOC .DOCX .LOG .MSG .ODT .PAGES .RTF .TEX .TXT .WPD .WPS .CSV .DAT .GED .KEY .KEYCHAIN .PPS .PPT .PPTX ..INI .PRF Encoded Files .HQX .MIM .UUE .7Z .CBR .DEB .GZ .PKG .RAR .RPM .SITX .TAR.GZ .ZIP .ZIPX .BIN .CUE .DMG .ISO .MDF .TOAST .VCD SDF .TAR .TAX2014 .TAX2015 .VCF .XML Audio Files .AIF .IFF .M3U .M4A .MID .MP3 .MPA .WAV .WMA Video Files .3G2 .3GP .ASF .AVI .FLV .M4V .MOV .MP4 .MPG .RM .SRT .SWF .VOB .WMV 3D .3DM .3DS .MAX .OBJ R.BMP .DDS .GIF .JPG ..CRX .PLUGIN .FNT .FON .OTF .TTF .CAB .CPL .CUR .DESKTHEMEPACK .DLL .DMP .DRV .ICNS .ICO .LNK .SYS .CFG”
After this is done, the files on the computer that has been infected are no longer openable and the victim is accused of performing online crime. The only way ot seems to be following the instructions and paying the ransom, which is highly inadvisable.
Remove PedCont Ransomware and Restore Encrypted Files
If you have unfortunately been infected by PedCont ransomware virus, we advise that you read the manual and automatic instructions underneath in order to learn ow to remove this malware from your computer. If manual removal of this threat does not seem to work out for you, we recommend that you remove it automatically, preferrably by downloading and running a scan with an advanced anti-malware software, as most security experts recommend. Such program will make sure to remove PedCont ransomware automatially from your computer and make sure to ensure that future protection is guaranteed as well.
If you want to restore files that have been encrypted by this ransomware infection, we advise that you try out the alternative methods underneath in step “2. Restore files, encrypted by PedCont” ransomware. They are in no way 100% guarantee to be able to recover all of your files, but with their aid you may be able to recover most of the encrypted files.
Ventsislav Krastev
Ventsislav is a cybersecurity expert at SensorsTechForum since 2015. He has been researching, covering, helping victims with the latest malware infections plus testing and reviewing software and the newest tech developments. Having graduated Marketing as well, Ventsislav also has passion for learning new shifts and innovations in cybersecurity that become game changers. After studying Value Chain Management, Network Administration and Computer Administration of System Applications, he found his true calling within the cybersecrurity industry and is a strong believer in the education of every user towards online safety and security.
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Step 1: Scan for PedCont Ransomware with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
Ransomware Automatic Removal - Video Guide
Step 2: Uninstall PedCont 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 PedCont 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 PedCont 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 PedCont Ransomware
Step 5: Try to Restore Files Encrypted by PedCont 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 PedCont 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.
PedCont Ransomware-FAQ
What is PedCont Ransomware Ransomware?
PedCont 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 PedCont 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 PedCont Ransomware Infect?
Via several ways.PedCont 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 PedCont 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 .PedCont Ransomware files?
You can't without a decryptor. At this point, the .PedCont 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 .PedCont Ransomware files successfully, then do not despair, because this virus is still new.
Can I Restore ".PedCont Ransomware" Files?
Yes, sometimes files can be restored. We have suggested several file recovery methods that could work if you want to restore .PedCont 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 PedCont 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 PedCont Ransomware ransomware and then remove it without causing any additional harm to your important .PedCont 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 PedCont 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 PedCont Ransomware Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this PedCont 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 PedCont 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.
As a site that has been dedicated to providing free removal instructions for ransomware and malware since 2014, SensorsTechForum’s recommendation is to only pay attention to trustworthy sources.
How to recognize trustworthy sources:
- Always check "About Us" web page.
- Profile of the content creator.
- Make sure that real people are behind the site and not fake names and profiles.
- Verify Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter personal profiles.