CryptoShield Ransomware Removal (+File Recovery)

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In this article we are going to try and help you remove CryptoShield. Our instructions cover all Windows versions.

Ransomware viruses are evolving at a rapid pace and more sophisticated threats are coming up to encrypt the users’ files and blackmail them for money. One of the latest versions of this nasty type of malware called CryptoShield is the subject of the present removal guide, and in case that you have been infected with it, in the next lines our team will try to help you out. You probably would like to learn how to remove the harmful infection and for that, we have prepared a step-by-step guide that can help you locate and manually delete CryptoShield from your system. We will also give you a few suggestions on how to recover some of your files, so if you don’t feel like paying ransom to the crooks, these may be useful for you. For the effective elimination of the Ransomware, however, we suggest you first read the information that we have included below. It will give you an idea about how the malicious encryption operates and how you can recognize its symptoms.

CryptoShield and its characteristics:

CryptoShield is a threat that significantly differentiates from most other malware. Unlike viruses or Trojans, it does not corrupt your system or files, but the harmful effect of the Ransomware hides in its malicious encryption. What this threat would do is, it will lock your most used files (such as documents, work files, projects, music, images, videos, etc.) and this way, make them inaccessible to you. They will still be there on your machine, but you won’t be able to open any of the encrypted files with any program, no matter what you try. The purpose of all that encryption is online blackmail. Once you are prevented from accessing your data, you will be asked to pay ransom to the anonymous hackers behind the Ransomware, if you want to regain your access. Otherwise you will have to say bye-bye to all the nice things you keep on your PC. This is a pretty common criminal technique that cyber criminals use to extort money out of unsuspecting online users and businesses all around the world.

How can you recognize the symptoms of a Ransomware infection?

We need to say that recognizing a Ransomware infection in the moment of contamination or before the encryption process has completed is very tricky. But still, there are a few slight hints that may give you an indication. You may catch it from seemingly harmless files, images, spam emails, attachments, torrents, different installers, malvertisements or Trojan horses. If you are observant enough, you may have a chance to identify the malicious activity that might be happening silently on the background of your system and eventually stop it before it has encrypted all of your files. In case you have loads of data on your PC, it will eventually take some time for CryptoShield to apply its encryption to each and every file and during that time you may notice some high CPU and RAM usage. If this appears to be unusual to you, you can always check your Task Manager for the active processes on your machine and if you spot some unfamiliar ones, this may be the sign of an infection. However, if your PC is powerful enough, you may not be able to notice these signs, and what is worse is that most of the time, the Ransomware is programmed in such a way that it really tries to remain undetected until the entire encryption process is completed. Only then, a ransom note will appear on the victim’s screen and reveal the harmful consequences. However, if you do notice some strange symptoms like the ones above, it is best to turn your PC off and contact a security expert.

The options:

Being attacked by CryptoShield, you technically have two options if you want to get your files back. You either have to pay the ransom or you have to remove the malware and restore your data by other means. If you keep backups of your important files somewhere on a cloud or an external drive, you basically have eliminated the chance of the hackers to blackmail you and the only thing you need to do is to remove the Ransomware from your PC. You can easily do that if you follow the instructions in the removal guide below. If you don’t have backups, then you can try to extract some of your files from your system, and we have included the instructions for that as well. The sad thing is that we can’t guarantee you they will work flawlessly because the CryptoShield encryption is really sophisticated one and no one can promise you a 100% recovery from such a nasty threat. Even the crooks behind the Ransomware can’t promise you that because, as it often happens with such malicious encryptions, the decryption key (if you ever receive one) may fail to restore your files. The only sure thing is that there is a great risk of you losing your money if you pay the ransom. So, take that into account and select wisely how you would like to deal with this infection.

CryptoShield Ransomware Removal

# 1

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Enter Windows Safe mode.

• Win 7 Users: Restart your PC –> keep on clicking F8 –> In the subsequent Menu select Safe Mode with Networking.
• Win 8 Users: Start Button –> Control Panel –> System and Security –> Administrative Tools –> System Configuration –> In the subsequent Menu select Safe Boot –>
• Win 10 users: Start Menu –> Power Options Menu –> Hold down the SHIFT button while clicking on Restart –> Troubleshoot –> Advanced Options –> Startup Settings –> Restart –> In the subsequent Menu select Safe Mode with Networking.

# 2

Open Task Manager and locate any processes associated with CryptoShield.

• Press CTRL + SHIFT + ESC keys simultaneously –> Processes Tab –> Select a suspicious process (use Google or ask us in the comments if you are not sure about a process) –> Right Click and Open File Location –> End the suspicious process in Task Manager –> Delete the Folders containing the suspicious files.

# 3

Open the Registry Editor and search for CryptoShield.

• Win 7 Users: Click Start and type regedit –> Enter –> Press CTRL + F buttons –> Type Cryp1 Virus in the search field.
• Win 8/10 users: Start Button –> Choose Run –> type regedit –> Enter Press CTRL + F buttons –> Type CryptoShield in the search field.

# 4

Try to recover your files. First you will need System Restore.

• Win 7 Users: Start button –> Type Windows System Restore –> Enter –> Open System Restore –> Select a Restore Point and revert to it.
• Win 8 Users: Hold down the Windows key + Q –> Type Recovery –> Settings –> Choose the Recovery icon –> Open System Restore –> Select a Restore Point.
• Win 10 Users: Start Menu –> Power Options Menu –> Hold down the SHIFT button while clicking on Restart –> Troubleshoot –> Advanced Options –> System Restore –> Select a Restore Point and apply it.

Secondly use program that can access your Shadow Copies.

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• Use Google to find the official website of such a program and download it.
• Use the program to select the file types and the hard drive locations you want the program to scan for.
• Start the scan and keep in mind that it might take a while.
• Once the scan has been completed just select the files you want to be recovered.

If you have questions or suggestions feel free to use our comments section!