Crypt0l0cker Virus File Removal (+File Recovery)

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Welcome to our Crypt0l0cker Virus File removal guide. The following instructions will aid you in removing the unwanted software from your PC.

Many infected users have recently reached us with a request to help them remove one very nasty Ransomware infection called Crypt0l0cker Virus. This cryptovirus is one of the latest online threats, and it silently encrypts the files on the infected computers with a very strong encryption algorithm. Then, the crooks behind it, post a ransom note on the victim’s screen to blackmail them for money. If you have been asked to pay ransom to get your files back, then on this page you will probably find the solution you may need. In the next lines, we will speak about the specifics of Ransomware, the tricky methods it uses to infect the unsuspecting users and, of course, the options that they have to combat the infection and its nasty encryption. We have also prepared a removal guide, which may help you remove Crypt0l0cker Virus and eliminate its traces from your machine. So, check it below and let us know how it worked for you.

Ransomware and its specifics

Ransomware infections are one of a kind. They don’t resemble any other type of malware available online and use a specific method to do harm. Instead of deleting your files, or destroying your system, a threat like Crypt0l0cker encrypts your most used data like pictures, music, working files, documents, videos, games, and all the nice things that you probably keep on your PC. What this means is, that thanks to a very complex algorithm of symbols, every single file on your system becomes locked and unreadable by any program. No actual corruption is done to the files, however, you will not be able to access them, no matter what you try.

This is the goal of the malicious hackers behind the Ransomware. They basically know how dear to the users their data is and how desperately they may need it, whether for work or for sentimental reasons. Moreover, they would do almost anything to get it back, and here is where the criminal scheme plays its role. The encryption applied by Crypt0l0cker ensures that you cannot access any of your files. A simple blackmail scheme is applied here, where, if you want to gain the access back, you will need to pay ransom to the hackers, who are keeping hostage of your data. They will gladly notify you about the encryption with a ransom message and will offer you a decryption key, which you will need to pay for, to decrypt your files.

Is paying the ransom a good idea?

Paying the ransom to save their files is the first think that the victims of Ransomware may think of. However, this may not be a good decision because it hides a couple of risks. First of all, dealing with unscrupulous cyber criminals is never a good idea, especially when they have compromised your computer and are aggressively blackmailing you. Keeping your data hostage by having the decryption key in their hands and asking money from you, without any guarantee that you will really be able to decrypt your files, is pure extortion. You never know whether the crooks will send you the key once they get your payment or not. The chance of losing your money and being left with your data locked, however, is very real. You can’t hope that you will somehow return your money either, because the hackers usually ask for the ransom in Bitcoins – a special cryptocurrency that is practically untraceable and even the authorities cannot help you in getting your money back.

An alternative to that risk is to remove Crypt0l0cker from your computer with the help of the removal guide below and try some other methods to restore your files. This way, you will eliminate the nasty infection, but we need to warn you that your files may remain encrypted. Unfortunately, in most of the cases, the malicious effect of the Ransomware attack is that its encryption may not be reversible without the proper decryption key. But some of your files may still be recovered for free if you keep some backup copies or extract them from your system backups. The guide below will show you how to do that, so it may be worth giving it a try instead of paying the ransom to the crooks. For future protection against Ransomware, it is best if you generally avoid sketchy online content, popping ads, spam emails and attachments, where Trojans may be lurking. These guys play a great role in the silent and undetected delivery of the Ransomware to your machine. So keep your system clean from Trojans, regularly updated, and well-protected with a reputable antivirus software. Make it a habit to backup your most valuable data on a frequent basis. This way, even if a virus like Crypt0l0cker attacks you, the hackers won’t be able to blackmail you for your files and the only thing you will have to do is to remove it from your system.

Crypt0l0cker Virus File 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

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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.
   

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• 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.