GoldenEye Ransomware Removal (+instructions to recover files)

Welcome to our GoldenEye Ransomware Virus removal guide. On this page we will cover what you need to do to remove it and recover files infected with it.

A ransom note greets you from the screen, stating that your files have been encrypted with Goldeneye ransomware? Without a doubt, this is a stressful situation, especially when you are facing one of the nastiest online threats ever. However, don’t stress out – there is a way to remove Goldeneye from your system and on this page we are going to show you exactly how to do that. Below you will find a removal guide, with the help of which you will be able to wipe off all the traces of this nasty ransomware. And not only that – our team will try its best to help you restore some of your encrypted data as well. In the same guide, we have included some tricks you can try and eventually extract a copy of some of your files. The best thing is you don’t need to pay a cent for that. So keep on reading to know more.

The infamous Ransomware and its malicious abilities

In the basis of Ransomware’s harmful abilities lays the file encryption process. This is a method of data securing that prevents access to it by applying a complex mixture of symbols combined in an algorithm. The encryption itself is not a bad thing – it is widely used by many institutions and businesses as the safest known method of digital data protection. However, some unscrupulous hackers have found a way to use this method as a harmful virus, which locks the users’ data and then asks for ransom to release it. This illegal money-making scheme is called Ransomware, and Goldeneye is one of the latest threats of this type. It appears that it has been released just recently, but the number of its victims is growing rapidly.

How is Goldeneye infecting users?

Goldeneye is a sophisticated threat, which hides in seemingly harmless content and locations where people least expect it. This ransomware is usually distributed via emails as an attachment. It is very likely to appear as a fully legitimate message or file. The harmful payload may be hidden in office documents or JavaScript files, torrents, misleading links, fake ads, software installers and more. Another very successful distribution method of this malware are Trojan horse infections, which can silently compromise your computer and introduce Goldeneye through some vulnerabilities of your system. The infection happens within a minute and a single click on the compromised content is enough for the malware to activate its encryption.

What happens when Goldeneye attacks your system?

The moment your system is infected with Goldeneye, this virus starts to infiltrate your hard drives for targeted file types. Then, the encryption process begins. It usually remains undetected until all the data is encrypted. Unfortunately, there are hardly any symptoms, which may indicate what nasty activity is running in the background. Once the process is completed, the file extension of the affected files is usually changed to some strange one such as “sample.doc.Goldeneye”. A ransom note appears on the victim’s screen immediately after the encryption has taken place. This note usually contains some message from the crooks behind the ransomware. The hackers usually demand ransom to be paid if you want to get your files back. They usually promise to send you a special decryption key, which will decrypt your files, once the payment is made. Sometimes, they may even act more aggressively and directly threaten you in various ways and set a deadline. The ransom is usually demanded in Bitcoins, not in conventional currencies, because this untraceable crypto-currency helps the hackers remain undetected by the authorities.

Should you fulfill the demands of the hackers?

If you decide to pay the required ransom, there are a few things we should warn you about. First of all, the sad statistics show that there are many people who are so stressed out about losing their data that they decide to pay. This doesn’t help the authorities in the fight against ransomware, but in fact, makes the virus an even more popular “business model” among criminals. The more people agree to pay, the more profits the crooks gain and respectively, the more ransomware threats they create. Moreover, security experts acknowledge that there’s a large number of people who, despite paying, get a decryption key that doesn’t work or worse – don’t even receive a decryption key from the crooks. And once compromised by the malware, their machines may become toys in the hands of the hackers who may introduce further harmful threats.  That’s why, when it comes to such dangerous malware, removing it from your machine and preventing any unauthorized access may be a wiser decision than making a group of cyber criminals richer. 

Goldeneye Ransomware Virus Removal

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

Preparation: You need to repair the Master Boot Records of your PC. In order to do that you will need the Windows installation CD. Once you put it in your DVD drive, select the boot Windows from CD/DVD option. Once Windows boots from the CD/DVD select Windows Repair. Now you will need to open the Command Prompt. On most Windows OS versions you can do that by typing Command Prompt in the Search Field and clicking on the corresponding action. If you are running on a Windows 10 though, you can do that by opening Start Menu => All apps=>Windows System=> locate Command Prompt. Once you run it you need to do the following:

Type bootrec / fixmbr and hit enter.

Type bootrec / fixboot and hit enter.

Type bootrec / rebuildbcd and hit enter.

You can now reboot your system and proceed with the removal of Goldeneye Ransomware Virus.

1. Open the first result and in the Processes tab, carefully look through the list of Processes.
2. 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.