Berta is a dedicated malware researcher, dreaming for a more secure cyber space. Her fascination with IT security began a few years ago when a malware locked her out of her own computer.
Berta is a dedicated malware researcher, dreaming for a more secure cyber space. Her fascination with IT security began a few years ago when a malware locked her out of her own computer.
Berta is a dedicated malware researcher, dreaming for a more secure cyber space. Her fascination with IT security began a few years ago when a malware locked her out of her own computer.
Note! Your computer might be affected by Red Alert and other threats.
Threats such as Red Alert may be persistent on your system. They tend to re-appear if not fully deleted. A malware removal tool like SpyHunter will help you to remove malicious programs, saving you the time and the struggle of tracking down numerous malicious files. SpyHunter’s scanner is free but the paid version is needed to remove the malware threats. Read SpyHunter’s EULA and Privacy Policy
Berta is a dedicated malware researcher, dreaming for a more secure cyber space. Her fascination with IT security began a few years ago when a malware locked her out of her own computer.
This article aims to aid you in removing Red Alert virus fully. Follow the ransomware removal instructions at the end of the article.
Red Alert virus is a ransomware that gets its name from the ransom note it generates. The cryptovirus will encrypt your files and put the extension .locked to each and every one of them. The encryption algorithm that is used is AES. Researchers believe that it is a variant of HiddenTear. To see how you can try to restore your files read the article carefully.
Threat Summary
Name
Red Alert
Type
Ransomware, Cryptovirus
Short Description
The ransomware will encrypt your files and afterward display a ransom note with instructions for payment.
Symptoms
The ransomware will encrypt your files and put the extension .locked to each one of them.
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.
Red Alert Virus – Infection
Red Alert ransomware could spread its infection using many different ways. One of those ways is by spreading the payload as an executable file. After that .exe file is opened, the malicious script inside it will infect your computer system. The executable might be presented as a crack file for the games of the NFS (Need for Speed) series. The file can also be presented as ”Microsoft-Corporation.exe”. You can view the analysis of that particular executable in question that contains the payload script, from the below screenshot of the VirusTotal website:
Red Alert ransomware could be spreading its payload on social media services and sites for file-sharing. The malicious script could be hidden inside the install setup of applications, which are advertised as helpful and legitimate. Do not just open files coming from suspicious sources, links and e-mails. First, scan them with security software and check their size and signatures for anything that seems out of the ordinary. You should give a read to the tips for ransomware prevention topic in our forum.
Red Alert Virus – Details
Red Alert virus is a ransomware which is named after the name given in the ransom message it provides – Red Alert. It is a variant of the open-source ransomware project HiddenTear.
Right after Red Alert ransomware encrypts your files it will place the extension .locked as the extension on each file that is locked. The ransomware is very likely to create entries in the Windows Registry to achieve some persistence. Those registry entries could make the cryptovirus start automatically with each boot of the Windows operating system.
The following files are associated with the ransom note, instructions and the wallpaper that is put as your desktop background after file encryption:
MESSAGE.txt
nouaISJakoKASasdij.txt
wiASJiAjsKOQWEKnsyass.txt
ransom.jpg
When the process of encryption of your files is complete, an image will be placed as a wallpaper on your desktop background with the ransom instructions. You can see the ransom message from the screenshot right here below:
The ransom note reads the following:
RED ALERT YOUR FILES HAS BEEN BLOCKED All Your Files Has been Blocked !!! To you unlock the files access “MESSAGE” file and follow the instructions or we will delete ALL your personal archives. YOUR FILES HAS BEEN BLOCKED
The BitCoin address that is provided for payment is 13h4GSyvr8Zno2nGrXqVtsEEn8DGw8oGXB. However, that data is for informative purposes only. You should NOT even consider of paying the criminals any amount of money. That would only result in the cyber crooks making more viruses with that money or encourage them of doing more criminal activities. Besides, know that nobody can guarantee that your files will get recovered if you pay the demanded sum of money.
The Red Alert ransomware encrypts files and appends the .locked extension to each and every one of them. The encryption algorithm which is used is believed to be AES and malware researchers state that the ransomware is a variant of the HiddenTear open-source project. A list with extensions of files which the virus searches to encrypt is not available, but you can see some of these extensions below:
The Red Alert cryptovirus is very likely set to erase all Shadow Volume Copies from the Windows operating system by utilizing the command given here:
→vssadmin.exe delete shadows /all /Quiet
Read along and find out what types and methods you can try out to restore at least parts of your files.
Remove Red Alert Virus and Restore .locked Files
If your computer got infected with the Red Alert ransomware virus, you should have some experience in removing malware. You should get rid of this ransomware as fast as possible before it can have the chance to spread further and infect more computers. You should remove the ransomware and follow the step-by-step instructions guide given below. To see ways that you can try to recover your data, see the step titled 2. Restore files encrypted by Red Alert.
Note! Your computer system may be affected by Red Alert and other threats. Scan Your PC with SpyHunter SpyHunter is a powerful malware removal tool designed to help users with in-depth system security analysis, detection and removal of threats such as Red Alert. Keep in mind, that SpyHunter’s scanner is only for malware detection. If SpyHunter detects malware on your PC, you will need to purchase SpyHunter’s malware removal tool to remove the malware threats. Read our SpyHunter 5 review. Click on the corresponding links to check SpyHunter’s EULA, Privacy Policy and Threat Assessment Criteria.
To remove Red Alert follow these steps:
1. Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove Red Alert files and objects
OFFER
Manual Removal Usually Takes Time and You Risk Damaging Your Files If Not Careful!
We Recommend To Scan Your PC with SpyHunter
Keep in mind, that SpyHunter’s scanner is only for malware detection. If SpyHunter detects malware on your PC, you will need to purchase SpyHunter’s malware removal tool to remove the malware threats. Read our SpyHunter 5 review. Click on the corresponding links to check SpyHunter’s EULA, Privacy Policy and Threat Assessment Criteria
Boot Your PC Into Safe Mode
1. For Windows XP, Vista and 7. 2. For Windows 8, 8.1 and 10. Fix registry entries created by malware and PUPs on your PC.
For Windows XP, Vista and 7 systems:
1. Remove all CDs and DVDs, and then Restart your PC from the “Start” menu. 2. Select one of the two options provided below:
– For PCs with a single operating system: Press “F8” repeatedly after the first boot screen shows up during the restart of your computer. In case the Windows logo appears on the screen, you have to repeat the same task again.
– For PCs with multiple operating systems: Тhe arrow keys will help you select the operating system you prefer to start in Safe Mode. Press “F8” just as described for a single operating system.
3. As the “Advanced Boot Options” screen appears, select the Safe Mode option you want using the arrow keys. As you make your selection, press “Enter“.
4. Log on to your computer using your administrator account
While your computer is in Safe Mode, the words “Safe Mode” will appear in all four corners of your screen.
Step 1: Open up the Start Menu.
Step 2: Click on the Power button (for Windows 8 it is the little arrow next to the “Shut Down” button) and whilst holding down “Shift” click on Restart.
Step 3: After reboot, a blue menu with options will appear. From them you should choose Troubleshoot.
Step 4: You will see the Troubleshoot menu. From this menu choose Advanced Options.
Step 5: After the Advanced Options menu appears, click on Startup Settings.
Step 6: From the Startup Settings menu, click on Restart.
Step 7: A menu will appear upon reboot. You can choose any of the three Safe Mode options by pressing its corresponding number and the machine will restart.
Some malicious scripts may modify the registry entries on your computer to change different settings. This is why cleaning your Windows Registry Database is recommended. Since the tutorial on how to do this is a bit long and tampering with registries could damage your computer if not done properly you should refer and follow our instructive article about fixing registry entries, especially if you are unexperienced in that area.
2. Find files created by Red Alert on your PC
Find files created by Red Alert
1. For Windows 8, 8.1 and 10. 2. For Windows XP, Vista, and 7.
For Newer Windows Operating Systems
Step 1:
On your keyboard press + R and write explorer.exe in the Run text box and then click on the Ok button.
Step 2:
Click on your PC from the quick access bar. This is usually an icon with a monitor and its name is either “My Computer”, “My PC” or “This PC” or whatever you have named it.
Step 3:
Navigate to the search box in the top-right of your PC’s screen and type “fileextension:” and after which type the file extension. If you are looking for malicious executables, an example may be “fileextension:exe”. After doing that, leave a space and type the file name you believe the malware has created. Here is how it may appear if your file has been found:
N.B. We recommend to wait for the green loading bar in the navination box to fill up in case the PC is looking for the file and hasn’t found it yet.
For Older Windows Operating Systems
In older Windows OS’s the conventional approach should be the effective one:
Step 1:
Click on the Start Menu icon (usually on your bottom-left) and then choose the Search preference.
Step 2:
After the search window appears, choose More Advanced Options from the search assistant box. Another way is by clicking on All Files and Folders.
Step 3:
After that type the name of the file you are looking for and click on the Search button. This might take some time after which results will appear. If you have found the malicious file, you may copy or open its location by right-clicking on it.
Now you should be able to discover any file on Windows as long as it is on your hard drive and is not concealed via special software.
IMPORTANT! Before starting the Automatic Removal below, 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.
Use SpyHunter to scan for malware and unwanted programs
3. Scan for malware and unwanted programs with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
Scan your PC and Remove Red Alert with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool and back up your data
1. Install SpyHunter to scan for Red Alert and remove them.2. Scan with SpyHunter, Detect and Remove Red Alert. Back up your data to secure it from malware in the future.
Step 1: Click on the “Download” button to proceed to SpyHunter’s download page.
It is recommended to run a scan before purchasing the full version of the software to make sure that the current version of the malware can be detected by SpyHunter. Click on the corresponding links to check SpyHunter’s EULA, Privacy Policy and Threat Assessment Criteria.
Step 2: Guide yourself by the download instructions provided for each browser.
Step 3: After you have installed SpyHunter, wait for it to update automatically.
Step 1: After the update process has finished, click on the ‘Malware/PC Scan’ tab. A new window will appear. Click on ‘Start Scan’.
Step 2: 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.
Step 3: If any threats have been removed, it is highly recommended to restart your PC.
Back up your data to secure it against attacks in the future
IMPORTANT! Before reading the Windows backup instructions, we highly recommend to back up your data with a cloud backup solution and insure your files against any type of loss, even from the most severe threats. We recommend you to read more about it and to download SOS Online Backup.
4. Try to Restore files encrypted by Red Alert
Try to Restore Files Encrypted by Red Alert
Ransomware infections and Red Alert aim to encrypt your files using an encryption algorithm which may be very difficult to decrypt. This is why we have suggested several alternative methods that may help you go around direct decryption and try to restore your files. Bear in mind that these methods may not be 100% effective but may also help you a little or a lot in different situations.
Method 1: Scanning your drive’s sectors by using Data Recovery software. Another method for restoring your files is by trying to bring back your files via data recovery software. Here are some suggestions for preferred data recovery software solutions:
Method 2: Trying Kaspersky and EmsiSoft’s decryptors. If the first method does not work, we suggest trying to use decryptors for other ransomware viruses, in case your virus is a variant of them. The two primary developers of decryptors are Kaspersky and EmsiSoft, links to which we have provided below:
To restore your data in case you have backup set up, it is important to check for Volume Shadow Copies, if ransomware has not deleted them, in Windows using the below software:
Method 4: Finding the decryption key while the cryptovirus sends it over a network via a sniffing tool.
Another way to decrypt the files is by using a Network Sniffer to get the encryption key, while files are encrypted on your system. A Network Sniffer is a program and/or device monitoring data traveling over a network, such as its internet traffic and internet packets. If you have a sniffer set before the attack happened you might get information about the decryption key. See how-to instructions below:
Berta is a dedicated malware researcher, dreaming for a more secure cyber space. Her fascination with IT security began a few years ago when a malware locked her out of her own computer.
Berta is a dedicated malware researcher, dreaming for a more secure cyber space. Her fascination with IT security began a few years ago when a malware locked her out of her own computer.
1. For Windows XP, Vista and 7.
2. For Windows 8, 8.1 and 10.
Fix registry entries created by malware and PUPs on your PC.
1. Install SpyHunter to scan for Red Alert and remove them.
Back up your data to secure it from malware in the future.
