Remove .PROTECTED Virus Ransomware (+File Recovery)

About .PROTECTED

.PROTECTED is identified by our malware research group as the new ransomware infection. Some anti-virus programs currently find it, nevertheless, there are specific applications that bypass it and hence permit its breach. Individuals have come to calling it that, because of the expansion, it includes at the end of your files. Let’s clarify. Ransomware tool invade your computer system using slyness and skill. After that, once they go into, they spread their corruption. They make use of security formulas to secure your documents. Then, obtain you for their launch. After .PROTECTED sneaks into your system, it places each one of your files under lock-down. It affixes its own expansion at the end, hence making it inaccessible. And, no data can leave its reach. It targets files, archives, photos, music, video clips, all of it! Afterwards, you can much longer open it. Relocating the file, or relabeling it, won’t help. The only means to release your information from the ransomware’s maintain, is conformity. The infection expects you to pay a ransom, if you desire to release your documents. It makes that clear, in the ransom note it leaves after encryption. The note is typically a text documents, left on your Desktop. You can also discover it in every folder that contains secured data. It describes your situation, and gives you a way out. According to .PROTECTED, the only way to free your files is with an unique decryption secret. And, to obtain it, you need to pay a ransom money. The amount varies, as well as it’s generally requested in Bitcoin. But various other cryptocurrencies are likewise an option. The infection assures, to send you the trick you need, after you complete the transfer. And, that’s it. That’s all you get– a promise. You have zero warranties that compliance results in something favorable. Do not rest on the word of cyber wrongdoers. These are undependable individuals with malicious agendas. People, that will certainly double-cross you. Do NOT pay them a dollar. Don’t contact them Do NOT comply with their demands. It might appear a difficult phone call to make, but it’s the ideal one.

Exactly how did my PC obtained damaged by .PROTECTED?

Your computers gets contaminated with the .PROTECTED infection as a result of your failing to be conscientious. Some individuals do not pay attention to vital details while surfing the web or setting up numerous programs. And also, possibly this is the method you wound up with an infection. Below’s the important things. The infection makes use of the old yet gold invasive approaches to trick you. And, slip past you undetected. That consists of hiding behind damaged links, sites, and also gushes. It uses freeware as a method to hide itself. And, impersonates a phony system or program update. Like, Adobe Flash Player or Java. But, most of the time, it uses spam emails. You receive an e-mail that seems to come from a popular company. Like, Amazon or PayPal. And also, the email prompts you to click a web link, or download and install an attachment. If you do, you wind up with a ransomware. Remember that these types of dangers prey on your negligence. They need you to rush, and also skip doing due persistance. That reduces their concealed infiltration. They rely on you to leave your destiny to opportunity. Don’t! Do not pick recklessness over caution. One keeps infections out. The various other invites them in.

Why is .PROTECTED hazardous?

Do NOT act the way .PROTECTED advises you. Following its harmful commands is dangerous and will certainly make your purse thinner. Hence, don’t pay them cash. Do not connect to the cyber kidnappers. If you do, you’ll regret it. It’s a futile attempt to restore your information, and also it will not finish well for you. Below’s why. There are a few situations that can unfold, when you see the ransom money note on your screen. State, you determine to abide. You reach out to the extortionists, pay their ransom, and also wait. You await them to send you the decryption trick they promised. Well, what happens if they don’t? Besides, you have no warranties. All, you hinge on, is a promise. Can you really believe the word of cyber abductors? The solution is ‘No.’ These are individuals, that will certainly dissatisfy you. Don’t give them money! There’s additionally an additional option. They can, actually, send you a decryption key. But, when you attempt to apply it, it fails to function. Yes, they can send you the incorrect one. After that, you have much less loan, and your data continues to be secured. Do not pay! And, even your best-case scenario, isn’t a factor for pleasure. What takes place after you pay the ransom money, get the appropriate trick, and also free your documents? Well? Consider it. You paid money to get rid of a sign, however not the infection triggering it. So, you remove the file encryption, but the .PROTECTED ransomware continues to be. It’s still hiding in the corners of your system, complimentary to strike once again. After that, you’re back at square one. There aren’t enough methods to emphasize this enough. Do NOT pay!

So, your computer obtained struck by .PROTECTED as well as most likely you have lost time trying to remove it by hand. We are definitely positive that the service below will most definitely be effective in erasing .PROTECTED in an automatic way. However let us first discuss avoidance of such ransomware assaults in future. Is there something that you can do to prevent this kind of unpleasant risk from entering into your PC ahead of time? There are couple of things we want to discuss right here. First one is your personal duty for being extremely careful while you use your computer system and mainly while you surf the web. When inspecting your e-mail as well as see some dubious attachments included, do not hurry up to open them. In the same way, when you are on Facebook as well as somebody in your get in touches with sends you messages having attachments, be really mindful, particularly if these are some executable data. The 2nd thing to take into consideration is checking the reliability of your existing anti-virus program. Sadly, there are a lot of safety applications these days that just assert to be trustworthy, whereas in times of genuine malware invasions they simply fail to do the work as promoted. In situation .PROTECTED permeated right into your computer system this implies that your present anti-virus did not do its marketed function as well as really stopped working to safeguard your system. So, certainly, it is a reason for you to reevaluate your options and absolutely switch over to a few other application that can definitely make the wanted degree of defense. We might additionally discuss some percentage of individuals that like not to have any type of anti-virus software application in all. Definitely, this is a serious error on their component, since presently the internet contains cyber risks that might covertly penetrate prone systems, especially those that are not provided with some fundamental level of security. So, having anti-malware permanently running and also safeguarding your computer is a must-do point in today’s cyber globe.

.PROTECTED removal guide

STEP 1. Recover files from .PROTECTED ransomware encryption

There are a lot of different ransomware viruses on the internet. Some of them are more dangerous than the others because they not only leaving malicious processes to protect themselves, but also removing backups of your system to make the recovery process impossible.

Please Note: Not all ransomware infections are able to remove backups of your system, so it is always worth to try a windows recovery method below. In order to protect your backups from this danger, try our Anti-Ransomware product:

We recommend use Safe Mode with command prompt to safely perform a recovery of your files. You will have to reboot your computer, so you better save this instruction some where on your hard drive or read if from second computer.

• Windows 7 users: You need to reboot your system and before its loaded constantly press “F8” button until you see boot options.
• Windows 8/10 users: Press the “Power” button from Windows login screen or Settings. Hold the Shift key on your keyboard and click on “Restart”
• After your computer reboots – Click on “Troubleshoot” – press “Advanced options” – “Startup Settings”
• Click the “Restart” button and your computer will reload again and show you the list with all options. You need to choose the “Safe Mode with Command Prompt”
• When your windows loads, enter the following line: cd restore and press Enter.
• After that type rstrui.exe line and press Enter.
• A recovery window will open before you, Click Next to proceed.
• In the next window, you need to choose a Restore point. All files in protected drives will be recovered at the time when this point was created (prior to the infection with .PROTECTED). In the case when ransomware removes these backups, there will be no Restore points listed. Select a Restore point and click “Next”.
• Click “Finish” in this window and confirm the recovery process by pressing “Yes“.

Simple example of how to recover your files from ransomware infection:

STEP 2. Removing .PROTECTED ransomware malicious files

Once the recovery process is complete, you should consider scanning your computer with a GridinSoft Anti-Malware in order to find any traces of .PROTECTED infection. Though some ransomware viruses are removing themselves right after the encryption of your files, some may leave malicious processes on your computer for special purposes of cyber criminals.

1. Run GridinSoft Anti-Malware and choose the scan type, which is suitable for your needs. Of course, for the accuratest scan results we recommend you to choose the “Full Scan”.
2. Give Anti-Malware a little time to check your system:
3. Move to quarantine all the viruses and unwanted files, that you see in the results list:
4. Enjoy the malware removal process:

Use of On-run protection may additionaly prevent different types of cyber attacks, our protect may flag the downloader of the ransomware as a malicious application preventing the download of .PROTECTED.

STEP 3. Prevent the .PROTECTED ransomware infection with GridinSoft Anti-Ransomware

Despite that some ransomware can remove backups of your OS, our product GridinSoft Anti-Ransomware is able to protect them from the removing in the first place. When some kind of a malicious program or ransomware virus tries to delete your backups, out program intercepts this request and blocks the sending process.
Note: that the product is still in Beta testing phase, some bugs and glitches are possible.
Besides the protection tool, you should read and learn few simple rules. Follow them every time you work on your computer and your will decrease chances of your infection to a minimum:

• Don’t open suspicious spam letters. No way! Be very careful with your downloads. Download and install software preferably from its official website.
• Do backups of your important files regularly. Storing your really important files in few different places is a good decision.
• Keep your system free from adware, hijackers and PUPs The infected computer will be more likely compromised with other malicious software, and ransomware is not an exception in this case.
• Don’t panic and be reasonable. Don’t pay the ransom fee right after you got infected, it is always best to search on the internet for some answers. It is possible that someone have developed a decryption tool that might help you.