[bannerTop]
Welcome to our Spora Ransomware removal guide. The following instructions will aid you in removing the unwanted software from your PC.
Awareness regarding Ransomware viruses has never been more important. Currently, this type of malicious malware is arguably one of the most problematic online threats that one can encounter while surfing the internet, and Spora Ransowmare is one of the latest variants of its kind. This dangerous program is capable of locking all your personal data files via a complex encryption code, the key to which is held by the hacker, who’s using the virus. This is all done with the purpose of blackmailing the user into paying ransom in return for the decryption key.
Understanding how Ransomware works
One of the main aspects that make Ransomware such a major issue is the fact that it often remains completely undetected until it has fulfilled its noxious task. This is due to the approach adopted by this particular type of viruses. As we already mentioned above, malware such as Spora uses encryption to lock your files. What’s important about this is that encryption processes are not regarded as dangerous by most antivirus programs. It is actually quite common when regular, legit programs use the method of encryption for protecting their files from corruption. With Ransomware viruses, this technique is turned against you and aimed at your personal files. Due to the fact that most antivirus tools do not detect the encryption as a malicious process, they allow it to continue and be completed. The end result is that your personal data gets locked up under your nose and once you realize what has happened, it is already too late to intercept it.
The importance of being attentive and vigilant
Your security program may not be able to spot the virus, but it is possible that you could do it yourself if you are observant of your PC’s behavior. Encryption processes might often take an extended period of time to be completed and this gives you a window of opportunity to spot the infection. If you notice that your machine is behaving oddly, using more RAM, CPU and free hard-drive space than it should, then there might be something not quite right. Those three are the most common symptoms of Ransomware trying to lock your files and if you notice them, be sure to fully shut down your machine and contact a professional to help you determine if there is indeed Ransomware on your PC. The reason for those symptoms lies within the encryption process itself. Your original files do not actually get encrypted by the virus. Instead, it first needs to copy them and place its encryption on the copies. This requires additional free HDD space and also uses RAM and CPU resources to be completed. After that, the original data is deleted so that you are left only with the locked copies.
Regarding the ransom
If Spora Ransomware manages to complete the encryption of your files, it would usually show a notification on your screen that tells you to pay a certain amount of money in order to get the key needed for your files. Usually, hackers require the payment to be made with bitcoins so as to avoid getting tracked down during and after the transfer (bitcoins are untraceable). There should also be instructions on how to complete the money transfer. When it comes to whether one should opt for that, we strongly advise our readers to seek another way to resolve their problem. Those who use Ransomware to blackmail people are criminals and nothing can make them send you the encryption key, regardless of whether you pay the ransom or not. In reality, the only effect that sending them the demanded money would have is to encourage them to do the same thing over and over again. A much better option is to try our removal guide , which is available below this article. It might potentially help you remove the virus and deal with the problem without paying any money. However, we ought to inform you that there are no guarantees when it comes to Ransomware viruses, since they evolve way too quickly. Our guide might not work in all cases of a Ransomware attacks, yet it is still a better and much safer course of action in comparison to dealing with cyber-criminals.
Tips for keeping you safe!
There are several important rules when it comes to protecting one’s PC from malware such as Spora that you need to remember and use in conjunction with each other.
- Make sure that your browser is not allowed to automatically download anything before first asking for your agreement.
- Stay alert for any malicious spam e-mails and harmful links that might get send to you and make sure to remove them without interacting with them.
- Create a backup copy on a separate device of each important file and piece of data that might get potentially locked in the case of a Ransomware attack.
- Never connect any external devices if you think (or know) that there’s Ransomware on your machine.
- Arm your PC with a high-quality security tool/antivirus program. Some developers are trying to implement certain Ransomware protection features and also, a good antivirus could help you detect backdoor malware. Such viruses are often used for providing Ransomware with a free pass to the user’s PC.
Spora 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
[bannerMiddle]
- 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.
[bannerMiddleSecond]
- 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.
