Ransomware is one of the most common forms of malware, especially among hackers. It’s malicious software that encrypts data and holds it hostage for a ransom payment. If you have been hit by ransomware, you need to remove it from your computer as soon as possible before it spreads further.

Here are some steps to help you remove ransomware:

Here are the steps to remove ransomware:

Now that you know what ransomware is and how it works, here are the steps to remove it:

  • Make a copy of your encrypted files.
  • Find the ransomware code and note it down.
  • Remove the ransomware by yourself (if possible). If not, ask for help in removing it from an expert who knows this kind of thing well, as they’ll likely be able to get rid of the malware in much less time than you would on your own. If you rather use tools, use Malwarebytes.

How to remove ransomware? (Step by step guide)

Make a copy of your encrypted files.

If your system gets infected with ransomware, and you don’t have a regular backup, it is important to copy your encrypted files. You can use any of the following methods:

  • A cloud storage service (e.g., Google Drive)
  • An external hard drive

Find the ransomware code and note it down.

  • Go to your desktop and find the ransomware file that you have downloaded.
  • Right-click on it, select “Properties” and then look at the details of that particular file.
  • You should see some code that looks like random letters and numbers. If you don’t know what this means, take a picture of it with your smartphone or write down all of those strange codes somewhere so that you can refer back to them later on when removing the virus from your computer (you’ll need them).

Remove the ransomware by yourself.

  • Remove the ransomware by yourself.
  • Clean your computer, remove all malicious programs, and restore system settings.
  • Run a virus scan to ensure no other malware is present on your PC. If you don’t have anti-virus software or need to update it, download and install one from an official source (here are some options). If you still want to learn about how ransomware works and how to protect yourself from it in the future, check out our article: “What is Ransomware?”
  • Reinstall Windows operating system or reinstall all your programs if you’re unsure whether they were affected by malware (but we recommend reinstalling Windows as this will solve most problems).

Ask for help.

If your computer has been infected with ransomware, you should ask for help from a professional. A good antivirus software will always be able to detect and remove it. In addition, we advise you to call a professional computer repair service or computer security company with experience in removing the infection. This will allow them to clean your system without damaging it further.

Here is a step by step guide to remove ransomware from your computer

  • Use a tool like Malwarebytes to remove the ransomware. You may have to pay the ransom if you can’t remove it, which I do not recommend!
  • If you can’t pay the ransom, try to decrypt your files with a tool like RannohDecrypt or NoMoreRansom (this will work if you are lucky).

Conclusion

We hope this guide has helped you to understand how ransomware operates, and the steps you need to take if your computer is infected. If your computer has been infected with a ransomware virus, we recommend that you remove it by yourself. If this is not possible because of lack of technical knowledge or experience then there are many companies out there who offer free services for removing malware from computers. Make sure to contact them before attempting any actions yourself

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Last Update: March 22, 2023