.zzzzz File Virus Ransomware Removal (With File Recovery)

These instructions were created to assist users in removing the .zzzzz File Virus Ransomware and recover the encrypted files.

Ransomware viruses are currently the most harmful type of virus that you can encounter. These malicious programs are capable of locking all your personal files by using a sophisticated encryption code. Once locked, the documents cannot be accessed until ransom is paid to the hacker using the virus. Recently, an increasing number of customers have been reporting infections with new Ransomware called .zzzzz File Virus. The goal of the following article is to inform our readers about .zzzzz File Virus and provide them with some essential tips and guidelines to help them handle the new threat. Additionally, there is a removal guide for Ransomware viruses that will help you remove the noxious software and restore your files without the need to pay the ransom.

About Ransomware

First of all we need to give you some general idea about how Ransomware viruses function and what makes them so dangerous and difficult to handle. A typical Ransomware virus oftentimes remains undetected by a lot of antivirus programs. Even though there might be some symptoms of the infection, it could be really hard to spot the malicious program once it is inside your computer. Another thing that needs to be mentioned is that there might not always be an effective method to deal with the infection. This particular type of malware is evolving rapidly and solutions that might have worked for earlier version might prove to be utterly ineffective for the newer viruses of this kind. The same applies for our guide. It might or it might not help you, depending on your specific case. Still, it is a good idea to give it a try before you try anything else.

Encryption

When talking about Ransomware, it is very important to understand how their encryption works. First of all, the method of encryption is commonly used by all sorts of software and is not an inherently malicious process. Many programs, for example, use it to protect their files. That is why antivirus programs usually do not target encryption processes and their source as potential threats. This enables the Ransomware to lock your files without getting interrupted or even detected. However, you should know that .zzzzz File Virus needs time to encrypt your data. First of all, it needs to copy all the files that it has targeted, locking them with its encryption. The original files are actually not locked – they are deleted by the virus. Nevertheless, the encrypted copies that it has made are still intact. The problem is that they are inaccessible to you, because you do not have the decryption key.

This sophisticated process, as we mentioned, requires time and considerable amounts of system resources, such as RAM, CPU and free disk space. This gives you the chance to manually spot the infection by observing your task manager and taking notice of the general behavior of your PC. If you notice that something unusual is happening and a lot of resources are being used for no visible reason, then it could be Ransomware. In this situation, you must shut down your computer ASAP and seek professional help – it might not be too late to save some of your data.

Blackmailing

If the virus succeeds in encrypting your documents, it will display a message on your screen. The message tells you that you will have to pay a certain amount of money to the hacker if you want the key for the locked files. The currency used for the ransom is usually bitcoins, since they are untraceable and allow the criminal to retain their anonymity. We strongly advise against paying the money to the hacker. There is no knowing if you’d actually get hold of the decryption key. Also, if you pay the ransom, this will only encourage the cyber-criminal to keep on using the Ransomware for more blackmailing. Therefore, a much better alternative is to make use of our guide and see if it helps you. It costs you nothing and could potentially save you a lot of money and time.

Tips

The next tips and guidelines are very important! They will help you protect your system and files in the future. Make sure you remember them and use them from now on.

• Be very careful when browsing the internet. Stay away from any shady and illegal sites, because those might be filled with all sorts of unwanted and harmful software, such as the .zzzzz File Virus virus. Also, use only reputable and trusted sources when you want to download something.
• Be vigilant and cautious when checking your email inbox. If a letter seems suspicious, you should better delete it without opening it, especially if it’s from an unknown sender. Also, do not click on any obscure links and online ads.
• Download and install high-quality antivirus software. Newer versions of some antivirus programs have some form of Ransomware protection. Also, oftentimes .zzzzz File Virus might get to the user’s computer with the help of another virus that serves as a backdoor – an antivirus can help you fend off such backdoors.
• Backup your important files on a separate device so that you always have a safe copy of your important files that is untouched by the virus. DO NOT connect your backup device to your PC if you suspect a Ransomware infection, since it might also get attacked by the virus!

SUMMARY:

Name	.zzzzz File Virus
Type	Ransomware
Danger Level	High (Ransomware is by far the worst threat you can encounter)
Symptoms	If unusually amounts of RAM, CPU and hard-drive free space are being used and your computer is experiencing an unusual slowdown, then it might have been infected by Ransomware.
Distribution Method	The most common techniques used for infecting computers with Ransomware are harmful spam e-mails, malicious links and Trojans or other viruses that provide a backdoor for the Ransomware.

.zzzzz File Virus Removal

 Here is what you need to do in order to remove a Ransomware virus from you computer.

I – Reveal Hidden files and folders and utilize the task manager

1. Use the Folder Options in order to reveal the hidden files and folders on your PC. If you do not know how to do that, follow this link.
2. Open the Start Menu and in the search field type Task Manager.
   
3. Open the first result and in the Processes tab, carefully look through the list of Processes.
4. If you notice with the virus name or any other suspicious-looking or that seems to consume large amounts of memory, right-click on it and open its file location. Delete everything in there.
   

• Make sure that the hidden files and folders on your PC are visible, else you might not be able to see everything.

5. Go back to the Task Manager and end the shady process.

II – Boot to Safe Mode

• Boot your PC into Safe Mode. If you do not know how to do it, use this guide/linked/.

III – Identify the threat

1. Go to the ID Ransomware website. Here is a direct link.
2. Follow there in order to identify the specific virus you are dealing with.

IV – Decrypt your files

1. Once you have identified the virus that has encrypted your files, you must acquire the respective tool to unlock your data.
2. Open your browser and search for how to decrypt ransomware, look for the name of the one that has infected your system.
3. With any luck, you’d be able to find a decryptor tool for your ransomware. If that doesn’t happen try Step V as a last ditch effort to save your files.

V – Use Recuva to restore files deleted by the virus

1. Download the Recuva tool. This will help you restore your original files so that you won’t need to actually decrypt the locked ones.
2. Once you’ve downloaded the program, open it and select Next.
   
3. Now choose the type of files you are seeking to restore and continue to the next page.
4. When asked where your files were, before they got deleted, either use the option In a specific location and provide that location or choose the opt for the I am not sure alternative – this will make the program look everywhere on your PC.
   
5. Click on Next and for best results, enable the Deep Scan option (note that this might take some time).
   
6. Wait for the search to finish and then select which of the listed files you want to restore.

• Keep in mind it is possible that not all files might be fully recovered. You can check in what condition the files are from the State column in the list of deleted files.