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In this article we are going to try and help you remove .zzzzz. Our instructions cover all Windows versions.

One of the latest nasty cryptoviruses, which is troubling many businesses as well as online users, is called .zzzzz. We won’t lie if we say that this Ransomware, unfortunately, is very unpleasant to deal with, and if you have been infected, there are two major options you have. Either you have to submit to the hackers and pay the required ransom, without any guarantee that you will get your decryption key, or you can remove the nasty malware on your own and try to restore your encrypted files by other means. If you are looking for the latter, the removal guide below may offer you a solution to effectively get rid of .zzzzz as well as a few things you can try to get some of your files. Take a look at the information that follows to gain a better understanding of the threat you are facing and to learn how to handle it best.

What makes .zzzzz such a dangerous threat?

For the short period it has been around, .zzzzz has managed to gain its place among the most feared Ransomware threats. This new cryptovirus, attacks your computer by infiltrating all your disks and storage devices and applying a very complex encryption algorithm. The aim of the crooks behind the threat is to lock your most important files and prevent your access to them unless you pay a fat sum in Bitcoins as ransom. They usually place their demands in a disturbing ransom note once the whole encryption process is completed and only then, the victims would know what a nasty threat they have been infected with. What is worse, there isn’t really any program that can open the encrypted data and it may stay locked forever unless a proper decryption key is applied.

So is there an option to save your PC and files?

We have to be very frank here – if your computer has been attacked by .zzzzz, there isn’t much you can do. Even security experts are facing difficulties combatting the newer and more sophisticated Ransomware versions, which come up every day, so there really isn’t a solution that works 100%. The good thing is that if you are able to detect the threat, which can be done manually with the help of the instructions in the removal guide below, you may be able to clean your system from the infection. You can delete .zzzzz and all of its malicious files, and soon your computer will be Ransomware-free again.

However, bringing your encrypted files back to normal may not always end with success. .zzzzz has a very complex encryption algorithm and without a proper decryptor, the locked files may not be unlocked. This is the main idea of the crooks behind the Ransomware – to make the files un-decryptable so the victims would pay the ransom. But there is a trick here that the crooks would never tell you – they only need the money and no matter how much they promise you that once you pay you will get a decryption key that will bring all your files back to normal, the truth is that there is no guarantee for that. Not only may you not get any key at all, but even if you really receive one, it may not work. Many Ransomware victims have had this bitter experience of burning their money and still begin left with their data locked, so the risk of losing both your hard earned money and your files is very real. That’s why, many reputed security experts, including our team, would advise the .zzzzz victims not to pay any cent to the hackers. There are a few things they can try, which despite not giving any guarantee, at least won’t cost anything.

How to deal with the .zzzzz infection?

First thing’s first: removing .zzzzz is essential for the health of the infected system. Not only may the Ransomware encrypt any other external device that is connected to the PC, but it actually might come along with a hidden Trojan horse inside the system. This means, that the computer is compromised by two very dangerous malicious programs, which if not removed on time, may cause even worse harmful actions. That’s why, before any attempts to restore the encrypted data, the victims should eliminate both these threats. The removal guide below can help in that. And only then, when the computer is clean, one should try to extract some of the files with the help of the tips included in the guide. A backup from a cloud or an external drive will be the easiest, that’s why for future protection it is best to invest in one. Staying away from sketchy online content, spam emails, suspicious links, and unknown web locations may also minimize the chances of bumping into such a nasty threat.  But the optimal protection hides in the well maintained and regularly updated system and a reputed antivirus software.

Remove .zzzzz from your system

# 1

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Enter Windows Safe mode.

  • Win 7 Users: Restart your PC –> keep on clicking F8 –> In the subsequent Menu select Safe Mode with Networking.
  • Win 8 Users: Start Button –> Control Panel –> System and Security –> Administrative Tools –> System Configuration –> In the subsequent Menu select Safe Boot –>
  • Win 10 users: Start Menu –> Power Options Menu –> Hold down the SHIFT button while clicking on Restart –> Troubleshoot –> Advanced Options –> Startup Settings –> Restart –> In the subsequent Menu select Safe Mode with Networking.

# 2

Open Task Manager and locate any processes associated with .zzzzz.

  • Press CTRL + SHIFT + ESC keys simultaneously –> Processes Tab –> Select a suspicious process (use Google or ask us in the comments if you are not sure about a process) –> Right Click and Open File Location –> End the suspicious process in Task Manager –> Delete the Folders containing the suspicious files.

# 3

Open the Registry Editor and search for .zzzzz.

  • Win 7 Users: Click Start and type regedit –> Enter –> Press CTRL + F buttons –> Type Cryp1 Virus in the search field.
  • Win 8/10 users: Start Button –> Choose Run –> type regedit –> Enter Press CTRL + F buttons –> Type .zzzzz in the search field.

# 4

Try to recover your files. First you will need System Restore.

  • Win 7 Users: Start button –> Type Windows System Restore –> Enter –> Open System Restore –> Select a Restore Point and revert to it.
  • Win 8 Users: Hold down the Windows key + Q –> Type Recovery –> Settings –> Choose the Recovery icon –> Open System Restore –> Select a Restore Point.
  • Win 10 Users: Start Menu –> Power Options Menu –> Hold down the SHIFT button while clicking on Restart –> Troubleshoot –> Advanced Options –> System Restore –> Select a Restore Point and apply it.

Secondly use program that can access your Shadow Copies.

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  • Use Google to find the official website of such a program and download it.
  • Use the program to select the file types and the hard drive locations you want the program to scan for.
  • Start the scan and keep in mind that it might take a while.
  • Once the scan has been completed just select the files you want to be recovered.

If you have questions or suggestions feel free to use our comments section!