ZekwaCrypt Ransomware : Remove Ransomware And Restore Your Files

The below given article will assist you to remove ZekwaCrypt Ransomware permanently from your compromised PC. Follow the removal instructions that has been given at the end of the post.

Know some more about ZekwaCrypt Ransomware

ZekwaCrypt Ransomware is yet another ransom threat that has also known as Win32/Zekwacrypt.A. Its initial detection was made on May 24, 2016. This ransom virus is so dangerous for your valuable database, important files, personal computers and your corporate networks. It has been found that the initial variant of this threat has been delivered via spam emails that looks like send from a famous company and a legit source like social media. It is detected that the new variants has not been launched in this following month.

However, the online security researchers received various versions of this ransom threat been reported that encrypts data across all memory drives. This newer variant has also been distributed among the PC users by sending phishing messages that lure to download and open their attachments. After getting into the users system, it configure your system files and then start encryption process to encode them. After encipher the files it appends a new file extension with infected files to identify them easily. Then after send a ransom note on the victim’s desktop to ask money from the it to buy the decryption tool to remove the extension and gain the access to your files again.

Technical details : ZekwaCrypt Ransomware

Name	ZekwaCrypt Ransomware
Type	Ransomware
Symptoms	Encrypted files and data of the system with a new file extension
Ransom demand	$300 to $800
Risk Level	High
Distribution	Spam emails, malicious ads, exploits kits etc.
File Extensions	“.zekwakc“

ZekwaCrypt Ransomware : Spreading ways and preventions

The malicious developers of ransomware like ZekwaCrypt Ransomware generally uses spam email attachments as the most preferred distribution technique. These emails carries an attachments which are specially crafted by the threat actors and when you download and open it on your system then you got infected by this ransom virus. So always keep in mind that avoid to open spam emails and download their attached files. If you do not take some other preventive steps like careless clicks on ads, suspicious links, pop-ups and other fake update links, malicious visits on unsafe sites, unauthorized downloads from unauthentic sites.

How does ZekwaCrypt Ransomware works on the compromised PC?

After following successful intrusion on users PC, It instantly make severe changes into your registry settings to launch itself with every boot of your PC. The registry entries are used by this threat can be seen as :

Then it encrypts your files by using some mostly used encryption algorithm and append“.zekwakc” new file extension with each encoded files. It can encrypts over 600 types of files. One of its main vicious doing is to delete Shadow Volume Copies from your Windows Explorer to your chance to backup of your files. So it is impossible to restore your files back. It avoids some of your system folders like

• Borland
• Content.IE5
• Framework
• i386
• Microsoft
• Mozilla
• Temp
• Torrent
• Torrents
• Windows

After encryption it demand ransom money about $300 to $800 from the victims to remove the extension and unlock the files. It can also work into offline mode. So its better to store a good backup of your files on a storage device that may not be connected with your system all the time and use a strong anti-malware to remove ZekwaCrypt Ransomware completely.

Free Scan your Windows PC to detect ZekwaCrypt Ransomware

Free Scan your Windows PC to detect ZekwaCrypt Ransomware

A: How To Remove ZekwaCrypt Ransomware From Your PC

Step: 1 How to Reboot Windows in Safe Mode with Networking.

• Click on Restart button to restart your computer
• Press and hold down the F8 key during the restart process.

• From the boot menu, select Safe Mode with Networking using the arrow keys.

Step: 2 How to Kill ZekwaCrypt Ransomware Related Process From Task Manager

• Press Ctrl+Alt+Del together on your keyboard

• It will Open Task manager on Windows
• Go to Process tab, find the ZekwaCrypt Ransomware related Process.

• Now click on on End Process button to close that task.

Step: 3 Uninstall ZekwaCrypt Ransomware From Windows Control Panel

• Visit the Start menu to open the Control Panel.

• Select Uninstall a Program option from Program category.

• Choose and remove all ZekwaCrypt Ransomware related items from list.

B: How to Restore ZekwaCrypt Ransomware Encrypted Files

Method: 1 By Using ShadowExplorer

After removing ZekwaCrypt Ransomware from PC, it is important that users should restore encrypted files. Since, ransomware encrypts almost all the stored files except the shadow copies, one should attempt to restore original files and folders using shadow copies. This is where ShadowExplorer can prove to be handy.

Download ShadowExplorer Now

 

• Once downloaded, install ShadowExplorer in your PC
• Double Click to open it and now select C: drive from left panel

• In the date filed, users are recommended to select time frame of atleast a month ago
• Select and browse to the folder having encrypted data
• Right Click on the encrypted data and files
• Choose Export option and select a specific destination for restoring the original files

Method:2 Restore Windows PC to Default Factory Settings

Following the above mentioned steps will help in removing ZekwaCrypt Ransomware from PC. However, if still infection persists, users are advised to restore their Windows PC to its Default Factory Settings.

System Restore in Windows XP

• Log on to Windows as Administrator.
• Click Start > All Programs > Accessories.

• Find System Tools and click System Restore

• Select Restore my computer to an earlier time and click Next.

• Choose a restore point when system was not infected and click Next.

System Restore Windows 7/Vista

• Go to Start menu and find Restore in the Search box.

 

• Now select the System Restore option from search results

• From the System Restore window, click the Next button.

• Now select a restore points when your PC was not infected.

• Click Next and follow the instructions.

System Restore Windows 8

• Go to the search box and type Control Panel

• Select Control Panel and open Recovery Option.

• Now Select Open System Restore option

• Find out any recent restore point when your PC was not infected.

• Click Next and follow the instructions.

System Restore Windows 10

• Right click the Start menu and select Control Panel.

• Open Control Panel and Find out the Recovery option.

• Select Recovery > Open System Restore > Next.

• Choose a restore point before infection Next > Finish.

Step-By-Step Video Removal Guide To Decrypt ZekwaCrypt Ransomware

Method:3 Using Data Recovery Software

Restore your files encrypted by ZekwaCrypt Ransomware with help of Data Recovery Software

We understand how important is data for you. Incase the encrypted data cannot be restored using the above methods, users are advised to restore and recover original data using data recovery software.

Download Data Recovery Software