Welcome to our Braincrypt File Virus Ransomware removal guide. The following instructions will aid you in removing the unwanted software from your PC.
You have probably heard the term ‘Ransomware’. It refers to all the software that does something bad to your system like encrypting essential data; and then demands money in exchange for setting that data ‘free’. Braincrypt File Virus is exactly this kind of malware. We have provided all the details about this malicious threat in the paragraphs below. Ransomware represents a very cruel software family. All the programs that fall into that category show very disturbing features. In the next paragraph we have described the most common subtypes of this software. These programs may have various purposes and ways of acting but what they all have in common is their ability to harass the user into paying ransom for something that they have hijacked. Let’s review the types and the common ways of catching this kind of virus.
Types of Ransomware known to us so far
This malware category is divided into the following subcategories:
- The biggest share belongs to the so-called file-encrypting programs. Braincrypt has been identified as such. These programs tend to sneak into your PC in a shady way, stay there until they determine which folders and files you regularly open or use in any way; and lock them up with a very hard-to- crack encryption key. Then there a ransom notification appears, which is supposed to inform you about the encryption of your files; the payment details and the hackers’ demands. Such alert messages could really be scary. Rarely could you come across a more disturbing program as your files may never be saved and you may end up harassed for money.
- Also, there are screen-locking programs. They could be either computer-oriented, and block the monitor of your computer or laptop; or mobile device oriented and lock up the screens of your smartphones and tablets. The essential part is that no encryption of files occurs; you are just unable to reach anything on your device and you are expected to pay ransom in order to unblock your screen.
- There are also Ransomware-based programs that are sent by the authorities to cyber criminals to make them pay fines. We can say that this is the only potential positive side of this kind of viruses.
The most common Ransomware sources
You can easily catch Ransomware in general and Braincrypt in particular these days, as all these viruses could be incorporated in practically anything on the web. They might be parts of torrents; shareware; web pages and illegal-software distributing websites. Nevertheless, the most common sources are the ones you will find discussed below:
- Fake pop-ups and other ads: Not all of the advertisements on the web are harmless. Some of them are actually tools for redirecting you to malware-containing web pages. As you cannot tell the malicious from the harmless ones, we simply advise you to avoid them all. Do not load, click on or open any pop-up, banner or other types of ads that you may come across on the Internet.
- Fake update alerts: Sometimes you may receive fake update notifications which work in the same way as the fake pop-ups – they lead to dangerous web pages. Do not automatically install anything and check for updates regularly and manually. This should work to save you from this distribution trap.
- Spam inside your email: Simply do not open any letter that seems suspicious or whose sender you do not recognize as familiar. All of them might be malware-containing and you should stay as far away as possible from them. Do not forget that not only the letters themselves could be malicious, their attachments could carry viruses as well, no matter whether they are images, documents, .exe files or archives. It is important to mention here that in such a case (email-distributed Ransomware) Braincrypt might be travelling with another virus – a Trojan-based one. You should be really cautious, as Trojans tend to cause even more serious damage than the Ransomware-based programs.
Tips to avoid a possible contamination
What you should do is to simply avoid all the possible sources and spend your money on a great anti-malware tool, not on paying ransoms. A good level of Internet literacy will help you successfully avoid the threat.
How to proceed if Braincrypt has already infected your machine
In case you have already received the awful ransom-demanding alert, you can only hope for the best as there is practically no 100%-sure way to remove this virus and decrypt your files. Of course, you can try several options but not a single one of them can promise you successful results. We recommend that you try the removal guide below first, as it is paramount that you remove the virus. In addition, it may be able to help you restore some of your files.
Braincrypt File Virus Ransomware 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
- 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.
- Open the Start Menu and in the search field type Task Manager.
- Open the first result and in the Processes tab, carefully look through the list of Processes.
- 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.
- 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
- Go to the ID Ransomware website. Here is a direct link.
- Follow there in order to identify the specific virus you are dealing with.
IV – Decrypt your files
- Once you have identified the virus that has encrypted your files, you must acquire the respective tool to unlock your data.
- Open your browser and search for how to decrypt ransomware, look for the name of the one that has infected your system.
- 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
- Download the Recuva tool. This will help you restore your original files so that you won’t need to actually decrypt the locked ones.
- Once you’ve downloaded the program, open it and select Next.
- Now choose the type of files you are seeking to restore and continue to the next page.
- 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.
- Click on Next and for best results, enable the Deep Scan option (note that this might take some time).
- 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.
