Delete Insta ransomware & Recover ‘.insta’ Encrypted Files

Research Report on Insta ransomware

Insta ransomware : New Variant of Stroman Ransomware

 

Insta ransomware is yet another newly discovered file-encoder virus which is appeared as a new variant of Stroman ransomware that was detected earlier in year 2018. According to the cyber security analysts, this malware uses an unbreakable and strong AES-256 file encryption algorithm in order to make the victim's files inaccessible. In addition to that, this ransomware appends the affected file named by adding a weird '.insta' file extension onto them. After that, criminal hackers suggest victimized users to contact them using through BitMessage platform which is mentioned in the ransom note named 'filesinfo.txt' displayed on your computer screen when Insta ransomware successfully performs the file-encryption process.

How Does Insta ransomware Invade Your PC?

In most of the cases, this type of ransomware virus infiltrates the user's computer with the help of spam email campaigns. The malicious payload of this malware immediately runs on the system when the system users open an obfuscated file attached to spam email which arrived from unknown sources. As a result, the executable of Insta ransomware gets dropped onto the system and started encoding the specific types of files in computer's background. Once it does that, the malware drops a ransom note on each folder containing enciphered files. The ransom message contains information about the file-encryption and data recovery possibilities as well.

Is It Necessary To Contact Insta ransomware Developers?

Contacting the creators or operators of this precarious cyber infection is never recommended because the way that they provides is not the single method to recover the Insta ransomware encoded files. Cyber extortionists responsible for this vicious attack convince you to pay a specific sum of ransom money in the form of Bitcoin cryptocurrency. However, contacting the hackers can even lead to the possible threats and receiving the ransom money, they usually get disappear without even providing you the right decryption key needed to decode the files encrypted by Insta ransomware virus.

Dealing with Nasty Insta ransomware Infection

Malware researchers at RMV strongly suggest system users to remove Insta ransomware first and then try to recover the enciphered files. Instead of increasing the risk of getting your machine damaged severely, use a reputable and powerful anti-malware shield to eliminate it completely and permanently from your computer. Technically speaking, removing ransomware threat does not bring the files back to the previous normal condition. However, you can use a reputed data recovery software in order to retrieve the files encrypted by Insta ransomware after its successful removal.

Free Scan your Windows PC to detect Insta ransomware

 

Remove Insta ransomware From Your PC

Step 1: Remove Insta ransomware in Safe Mode with Command Prompt

• First of all disconnect your PC with network connection.
• Click restart button and keep pressing F8 key regularly while system restart.

• You will see “Windows Advanced Options Menu” on your computer screen.

• Select “Safe Mode with Command Prompt” and press Enter key.

• You must login your computer with Administrator account for full privilege.

• Once the Command Prompt appears then type rstrui.exe and press Enter

• Now follow the prompts on your screen to complete system restore.

Step 2: Remove Insta ransomware using MSConfig in Safe Mode:

• Power off your computer and restart again.
• While booting press the “F8 key” continuously to open “Windows Advanced Options Menu”.

• Use the arrow keys to select “Safe Mode” option and press Enter key.

• Once system get started go to Start menu. Type “msconfig” in the search box and launch the application.

• Go to the Startup tab and look for files from %AppData% or %Temp% folders using rundll32.exe. See an example below:

C:\Windows\System32\rundll32.exe C:\Users\username\appdata\local\temp\regepqzf.dll,H1N1

• Disable all the malicious entries and save the changes.
• Now restart your computer normally.

Step 3 : Kill Malicious Process Related To Insta ransomware

• Press Alt+Ctrl+Del buttons together.

• It will open the Task manager on your screen.
• Go to Process Tab and find Insta ransomware related process.
• Click the End Process Now button to stop the running process.

Step 4 : Remove Insta ransomware Virus From Registry Entry

• Press “Windows + R” key together to open Run Box.

• Type “regedit” and click OK button.

• Find and remove Insta ransomware related entries.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnceEx

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServicesOnce

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\Run

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Runonce

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServicesOnce

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\Run

Now hopefully you have completely removed the Insta ransomware virus from your computer. If you are still get ransom message from the threat or unable to access your files, then it means that virus still remain into your computer. In such situation you don’t have any other option except removing this virus using any powerful malware removal tool.

Whereas if you have any backup of your infected or encrypted files, then you can also reinstall your Windows OS. This will erase all your files and data as along with the Insta ransomware infection. You will get a completely empty computer system with no files. Now you can use your backup to get your files. If you don’t have any backup then using malware removal tool is a better option for you.

If you have any query or question regarding your computer, then you can easily ask your problem to our experts. Go to the Ask Any Question page and get the answer for your query directly from out experts.