“Help Help Help” Virus Removal (+File Recovery)

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

The malicious programs, which are related to Ransomware, are especially dangerous and disturbing because of their possible effects on your devices – real  file/desktop/screen encryption may occur. After blocking the component of your system they have been programmed to lock up, they proceed with generating a ransom demand in the form of a notification. The warning inside such an often frightening message states that unless you pay the necessary ransom, you will be facing a permanent loss of access to whatever it is that has been encoded. Today we will be reviewing one version of Ransomware, which could be blamed for file encryption and ransom harassment – “Help Help Help” Virus. Continue reading to learn more about Ransomware in general and “Help Help Help” Virus specifically.

Ransomware details

The programs classified as Ransomware first appeared in Russia during the last two decades of the XXth century. Today we distinguish several different type of Ransomware, based on their target on the victim’s device:

1. File-encoding – the actual group “Help Help Help” belongs to. These viruses infect computers, and then check all their disks and drives for the most often used data. Later on, all such data gets locked up with a specialized key, which is awfully hard to be cracked. Such viruses tend to send ransom-demanding messages once they are done with the encryption of the predetermined files. In such a notification, you can expect to see some extra threats and warnings, as well as some detailed payment details.
2. Screen-locking – the viruses, which fall into this category, are believed to invade computers in the same way as the ones from the aforementioned group. The only difference between these two categories is that the screen-blocking versions may only lock up the victim user’s desktop with a huge ransom-demanding pop-up alert. Actually, no files become victims of encryption; only the monitor becomes inaccessible to you. Nonetheless, a ransom is again required and you will see all the payment information in the notification, which blocks your desktop.
3. Ransomware oriented towards mobile devices – Ransomware-like products might infect phones and tablets as well. The way such a virus works in such a case may really resemble the one the screen-blocking viruses, described above, do. Again, it is the display of the contaminated device that gets encoded, and you are told that you need to pay a ransom for making the affected screen accessible to you again.

How does such a virus travel?

“Help Help Help”, as well as the other Ransomware-based programs, may get distributed in various ways. They may be incorporated into some contaminated letters in your email; as well as into their attachments. If this is the case, they are normally bundled with a Trojan horse, which is the tool that ensures their sneaking inside your system. One more popular source of such malicious programs is the so called malicious advertising (‘malvertising’). Some websites include leading-to-malware ads, and once you click on such an ad, you get the virus automatically. Another possible means of distribution might be any drive-by download from contagious websites; also some contaminated shareware or torrents.

Is it possible to safely remove “Help Help Help”? Is there a way to restore the “hijacked” files?

When we talk about contaminations, which are caused by Ransomware, it is vital that you bear in mind that no activity from your side will ever guarantee you the total restoration of the encrypted data. Even if you succeed in removing this danger, your data could still be lost forever. Even in case you DO pay the demanded ransom, the hackers may disappear with it, and leave your files inaccessible for good. As all odds are against you in case you are facing such a Ransomware infection, we suggest that you risk it all and see what you can do before paying off the hackers. You will lose nothing in this case, you will just try to win everything.

Some of the possible solutions include contacting someone who has some experience getting rid of such viruses. It could turn out to be the solution for you. Another possible one is to select a reliable Removal Guide and implement all its instructions. In fact, we have one very useful example down here – just scroll down and check our Removal Guide. Whatever you do, always keep in mind that in the battle against Ransomware-like viruses, your most powerful weapon has always been and will remain being prevention. If you want to avoid file-encryption, simply back up your data as often as you can, and no one will ever be able to harass you.

“Help Help Help” 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

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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.