This article has been created in order to explain to you how you can remove the .RECOVERYOURFILES virus from your computer and how you can get back files, encrypted by this ransomware.
Yet another ransomware with mysterious origins has popped up on malware researchers’ radar. The malware uses the .RECOVERYOURFILES file extension which it adds to the files after they have been encrypted. Furthermore, the ransomware also drops a ransom note file, called INSTRUCTIONS_RECOVER_FILES.txt. The ransom note’s primary goal is to get users to pay a hefty ransom in order to get their files recovered back to their usual working state. If you are one of the victims of this ransomware virus, we recommend that you read this article thoroughly and learn how you can remove .RECOVERYOURFILES virus and restore files, encrypted by this ransomware virus.
Threat Summary
| Name | .RECOVERYOURFILES Virus |
| Type | Ransomware, Cryptovirus |
| Short Description | Encrypts the files on your computer and then asks you to pay ransom to be able to use them again. |
| Symptoms | Files are appended .RECOVERYOURFILES extension. A ransom note is dropped. |
| Distribution Method | Spam Emails, Email Attachments, Executable files |
| Detection Tool |
See If Your System Has Been Affected by malware
Download
Malware Removal Tool
|
User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss .RECOVERYOURFILES Virus. |
| 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. |
.RECOVERYOURFILES Virus – Infection
To infect a certain computer, the .RECOVERYOURFILES virus aims to get victims to open the infection file themselves. This may happen by sending the file in the form of an e-mail attachment. This e-mail attachment often pretends as it is a legitimate type of file, that is created with the idea to be some type of important document, such as:
- Invoice.
- Receipt.
- Bill.
- Banking document.
In addition to this, the .RECOVERYOURFILES virus may also come in your computer as a result of you having to manually download the malicious files of this ransomware infection. This happens when the crooks decide to upload the files on suspcious websites, whose main purpose is to get users to believe that the files are what they are looking to download, such as:
- Program installers.
- Portable versions of programs.
- Cracks.
- Key generators.
- License activators.
.RECOVERYOURFILES Virus – More Information
The .RECOVERYOURFILES virus is the type of malware which belons to the file encryption kind. These types of viruses strive to get your files to no longer be usable until you pay ransom to the ones behind the malware.
To complete it’s objective successfully, the .RECOVERYOURFILES virus may initially drop it’s ransomware payload on the computers of victims. The files, dropped by the .RECOVERYOURFILES virus may be locked in the commonly targeted Windows system directories under different names, like the image below shows:
After locating it’s payload on your computer, the .RECOVERYOURFILES virus may check if it’s running on actual Windows or if it’s running in a virtual drive. If the malware is running in a virtual environment or has previously infected the same machine, it deletes itself.
In addition to this, the virus may also perform other activites, such as to create registry entries in the Run and RunOnce Windows registry sub-keys with the purpose of getting it’s payload files to run automatically when you boot Windows. They are located in the following sub-keys:
→ HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\
In addition to this, the .RECOVERYOURFILES ransomware also drops it’s ransom note file on the victim PC, called INSTRUCTIONS_RECOVER_FILES.txt. The ransom note has the following message, asking victims to contact the cyber-criminals:
——————— IMPORTANT INFORMATION ————————
ALL YOUR FILES ARE ENCRYPTED WITH RSA-2048 and AES-128 CIPHERS.DECRYPTING OF YOUR FILES IS ONLY POSSIBLE WITH OUR KEY.
This is your ID:
{UNIQUE ID}
SEND MAIL TO RECOVER :
auuahk@yandex.com
ouuohk@eclipso.eu
In addition to this, the ransomware virus may also delete the shadow volume copies on the affected machine, thus preventing the recovery of the files via Windows. To do this, this ransomware may run a script, aimed at running the following commands as an administrator on the victim computers:
→ sc stop VVS
sc stop wscsvc
sc stop WinDefend
sc stop wuauserv
sc stop BITS
sc stop ERSvc
sc stop WerSvc
cmd.exe /C bcdedit /set {default} recoveryenabled No
cmd.exe /C bcdedit /set {default} bootstatuspolicy ignoreallfailures
C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe” /C vssadmin.exe Delete Shadows /All /Quiet
.RECOVERYOURFILES Virus – Encryption Process
The .RECOVERYOURFILES virus is the type of malware, which claims to use the RSA+AES encryption combination which is basically a two-level encryption, includin the assymetric keys from the AES and the unique keys, generated by the RSA encryption algorithm. These types of ciphers are appended when the original files on the infected computer are copied. Te copies of the files are the encrypted ones while the original files may be deleted by the ransomware.
To encrypt the files, the .RECOVERYOURFILES virus scans the infected computer for the following types of files:
- Audio files.
- Videos.
- Documents.
- Images.
- Database files.
- Backup files.
- Signatures.
- Virtual drives.
- Archives.
As soon as .RECOVERYOURFILES virus encrypts the files of victims, the ransomware then adds its distinctive file extension to them, making them appear like the following image:
Remove .RECOVERYOURFILES Ransomware and Restore Your Data
If you want to remove this ransomware virus from your computer, be advised that you should backup your data first, because it may be a risky process. Then, we recommend to follow the removal instructions that are underneath the article to either manually or automatically hunt down the malicious files of the .RECOVERYOURFILES virus and then delete them. For maximum effectiveness, experts do advise users to turn to a professional anti-malware software which will take care of the removal process of this ransomware and make sure this does not happen again.
If you want to try and get your data back, you can attempt several or all of the alternative recovery methods In step “2. Restore files, encrypted by .RECOVERYOURFILES Virus” underneath. They have been created to help you to restore as many encrypted files as possible, without actually having to pay the ransom, although they may not be 100% effective.
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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Attention! SensorsTechForum strongly recommends that all malware victims should look for assistance only by reputable sources. Many guides out there claim to offer free recovery and decryption for files encrypted by ransomware viruses. Be advised that some of them may only be after your money.
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.
About the .RECOVERYOURFILES Virus Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this .RECOVERYOURFILES Virus 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 .RECOVERYOURFILES Virus 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.
References
1. How to Recognize Spam Emails with Ransomware
2. How Does Ransomware Encryption Work?
3. How to Decrypt Ransomware Files
4. Ransomware Getting Greedier and Bigger, Attacks Increase by 40%
5. 1 in 5 Americans Victim of Ransomware
- Guide 1: How to Remove .RECOVERYOURFILES Virus from Windows.
- Guide 2: Get rid of .RECOVERYOURFILES Virus from Mac OS X.
How to Remove .RECOVERYOURFILES Virus from Windows.
Step 1: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove .RECOVERYOURFILES Virus
1. Hold Windows Key + R.
2. The "Run" Window will appear. In it, type "msconfig" and click OK.
3. Go to the "Boot" tab. There select "Safe Boot" and then click "Apply" and "OK".
4. When prompted, click on "Restart" to go into Safe Mode.
5. You can recognise Safe Mode by the words written on the corners of your screen.
Step 2: Uninstall .RECOVERYOURFILES Virus and related software 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:
1. Hold the Windows Logo Button and "R" on your keyboard. A Pop-up window will appear.
2. In the field type in "appwiz.cpl" and press ENTER.
3. This will open a window with all the programs installed on the PC. Select the program that you want to remove, and press "Uninstall"
Follow the instructions above and you will successfully uninstall most programs.
Step 3: Clean any registries, created by .RECOVERYOURFILES Virus 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 .RECOVERYOURFILES Virus there. This can happen by following the steps underneath:
1. Open the Run Window again, type "regedit" and click OK.
2. When you open it, you can freely navigate to the Run and RunOnce keys, whose locations are shown above.
3. You can remove the value of the virus by right-clicking on it and removing it.
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: Scan for .RECOVERYOURFILES Virus with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
1. Click on the "Download" button to proceed to SpyHunter's download page.
2. After you have installed SpyHunter, wait for it to update automatically.
3. After the update process has finished, click on the 'Malware/PC Scan' tab. A new window will appear. Click on 'Start Scan'.
4. After SpyHunter has finished scanning your PC for any files of the associated threat and found them, you can try to get them removed automatically and permanently by clicking on the 'Next' button.
Video Guide for Automatic and Fast Removal
Step 5 (Optional): Try to Restore Files Encrypted by .RECOVERYOURFILES Virus.
Ransomware infections and .RECOVERYOURFILES Virus 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.
1. Download the recommended Data Recovery software by clicking on the link underneath:
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.
Step 6: How to Restore Files Encrypted by Ransomware (Video Guide)
Get rid of .RECOVERYOURFILES Virus from Mac OS X.
Step 1: Uninstall .RECOVERYOURFILES Virus and remove related files and objects
1. Hit the ⇧+⌘+U keys to open Utilities. Another way is to click on “Go” and then click “Utilities”, like the image below shows:
2. Find Activity Monitor and double-click it:
3. In the Activity Monitor look for any suspicious processes, belonging or related to .RECOVERYOURFILES Virus:
4. Click on the "Go" button again, but this time select Applications. Another way is with the ⇧+⌘+A buttons.
5. In the Applications menu, look for any suspicious app or an app with a name, similar or identical to .RECOVERYOURFILES Virus. If you find it, right-click on the app and select “Move to Trash
”.
6. Select Accounts, after which click on the Login Items preference.
Your Mac will then show you a list of items that start automatically when you log in. Look for any suspicious apps identical or similar to .RECOVERYOURFILES Virus. Check the app you want to stop from running automatically and then select on the Minus (“-“) icon to hide it.
7. Remove any left-over files that might be related to this threat manually by following the sub-steps below:
- Go to Finder.
- In the search bar type the name of the app that you want to remove.
- Above the search bar change the two drop down menus to “System Files” and “Are Included” so that you can see all of the files associated with the application you want to remove. Bear in mind that some of the files may not be related to the app so be very careful which files you delete.
- If all of the files are related, hold the ⌘+A buttons to select them and then drive them to “Trash”.
In case you cannot remove .RECOVERYOURFILES Virus via Step 1 above:
In case you cannot find the virus files and objects in your Applications or other places we have shown above, you can manually look for them in the Libraries of your Mac. But before doing this, please read the disclaimer below:
1: Click on "Go" and Then "Go to Folder" as shown underneath:
2: Type in "/Library/LauchAgents/" and click Ok:
3: Delete all of the virus files that have similar or the same name as .RECOVERYOURFILES Virus. If you believe there is no such file, do not delete anything.
You can repeat the same procedure with the following other Library directories:
→ ~/Library/LaunchAgents
/Library/LaunchDaemons
Tip: ~ is there on purpose, because it leads to more LaunchAgents.
Step 3 (Optional): Try to Restore Files Encrypted by .RECOVERYOURFILES Virus.
Ransomware infections and .RECOVERYOURFILES Virus 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.
1. Download the recommended Data Recovery software by clicking on the link underneath:
Simply click on the link and on the website menus on top, choose Data Recovery - Data Recovery Wizard for Windows or Mac (depending on your OS), and then download and run the tool.
.RECOVERYOURFILES Virus FAQ
What is .RECOVERYOURFILES Virus ransomware and how does it work?
.RECOVERYOURFILES Virus 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 algorithm how 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.
How does .RECOVERYOURFILES Virus ransomware infect my computer?
Via several ways..RECOVERYOURFILES Virus Ransomware infects computers by being sent via phishing e-mails, 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.
After you download and execute this attachment, a drive-by download occurs and your computer is infected with the ransomware virus.
Another way, you may become a victim of .RECOVERYOURFILES Virus 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 ..RECOVERYOURFILES Virus files?
You can't. At this point the ..RECOVERYOURFILES Virus files are encrypted. You can only open them once they are decrypted.
Decryptor did not decrypt my data. What now?
Do not panic and backup the files. If a decryptor did not decrypt your ..RECOVERYOURFILES Virus files successfully, then do not despair, because this virus is still new.
One way to restore files, encrypted by .RECOVERYOURFILES Virus ransomware is to use a decryptor for it. But since it's a new virus, advised that the decryption keys for it may not be out yet and available to the public. We will update this article and keep you posted as soon as this decryptor is released.
How Do I restore "..RECOVERYOURFILES Virus" files (Other Methods)?
Yes, sometimes files can be restored. We have suggested several file recovery methods that could work if you want to restore ..RECOVERYOURFILES Virus files.
These methods are in no way 100% guarantee that you will be able to get your files back. But if you have a backup, your chances of success are much greater.
How do I get rid of .RECOVERYOURFILES Virus ransomware virus?
The safest way and the most efficient one for the removal of this ransomware infection is the use a professional anti malware software. It will scan for and locate .RECOVERYOURFILES Virus ransomware and then remove it without causing any additional harm to your important ..RECOVERYOURFILES Virus files.
Also, keep in mind that viruses like .RECOVERYOURFILES Virus ransomware also install Trojans and keyloggers that can steal your passwords and accounts. Scanning your computer with an anti-malware software will make sure that all of these virus components are removed and your computer is protected in the future.
What to Do If nothing works?
There is still a lot you can do. If none of the above methods seem to work for you, then try these methods:
- Try to find a safe computer from where you can can login on your own line accounts like One Drive, iDrive, Google Drive and so on.
- Try to contact your friends, relatives and other people so that they can check if they have some of your important photos or documents just in case you sent them.
- Also, check if some of the files that were encrypted it can be re-downloaded from the web.
- Another clever way to get back some of your files is to find another old computer, a flash drive or even a CD or a DVD where you may have saved your older documents. You might be surprised what will turn up.
- You can also go to your email account to check if you can send any attachments to other people. Usually what is sent the email is saved on your account and you can re-download it. But most importantly, make sure that this is done from a safe computer and make sure to remove the virus first.
More tips you can find on our forums, where you can also asks any questions about your ransomware problem.
How to 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.