Recently, a dangerous ransomware named ‘Wannacry’ has been affecting the computers worldwide creating the biggest ransomware attack the world has ever seen. The cyber attack that wreaked havoc across the world, striking everyone from hospitals to police departments to business organizations, had targeted around 200,000 organizations in 150 countries, by Monday afternoon.
The cyber attack appears to have used a flaw in Microsoft’s software, discovered by the NSA and leaked by hackers, to spread rapidly across networks, taking control of a computer or mobile device, locking away files and preventing the user from accessing data on their own device. The only way for the victims to gain access to their data is to pay a ransom via bitcoins to whoever infected their device with that malware.
Have you also faced a ransomware attack so far, where some of your files are no longer accessible? Here are some of the tools and websites you can use to prevent or solve these problems. Some of these sites even offer tools to decrypt what the malware has locked, in case the worst has happened.
1. No More Ransom (Web) – Learn About Ransomware
The “No More Ransom” website is an initiative by the National High Tech Crime Unit of the Netherlands’ police, Europol’s European Cybercrime Centre and two cyber security companies – Kaspersky Lab and Intel Security. It has come up with the goal to help victims of ransomware, to retrieve their encrypted data without having to pay the criminals.
The site believes that it is much easier to avoid the threat than to fight against it once the system is affected. So, it aims to educate users about how ransomware works and what countermeasures can be taken to effectively prevent infection.
Don’t pay these scammers as it is not guaranteed that you can get your data back, the site advises, as it works hard to help you overcome your problem. They have created a repository of keys and applications that can decrypt data locked by different types of ransomware.
To visit the site: Click Here
2. ID Ransomware (Web) – Identify What Ransomware Encrypted Your Files
All too often after a ransomware attack, the first question is, “what encrypted my files?”, followed by “can I decrypt my data?”. ID Ransomware helps you figure out which one you’re infected with. It helps you in identifying what ransomware may have encrypted your files. It will attempt to point you in the right direction, and let you know if there is a known way of decrypting your files.
By simply uploading a ransom note, and/or an encrypted file (preferably both for best results), the site will use several techniques to help identify what ransomware may have encrypted the files. This includes assessing the ransom note name, file name patterns of the encrypted file, and in some cases, even byte patterns in the encrypted file itself. Then it’ll figure out the type of ransomware. With that information, you can attempt to decrypt your locked files and get your data back, thus becoming free from that ransom.
‘Knowing is half the battle’ is the policy of this web service.
To visit the site: Click Here
3. Avast Decryption Tools (Windows): Fix Your Encrypted Files
Avast is committed to fighting back against ransomware and one of the ways they are doing so is by providing free decryption tools to ransomware victims. Avast now offers ransomware victims 14 free decryption tools to help them get their files back.
Avast currently has decryption tools for Alcatraz Locker, Apocalypse, BadBlock, Bart, Crypt888, CryptoMix (offline), CrySiS, FindZip, Globe, HiddenTear, Jigsaw, Legion, NoobCrypt, Stampado/Philadelphia, SZFLocker, and TeslaCrypt. Just download the tool, run it, and hopefully, your files should be fixed.
To visit the site: Click Here
4. RansomFree (Windows): Real-Time Ransomware Protection
The consequences of a ransomware attack are dire, so the second layer of defense like Cybereason RansomFree is a great idea.
CyberReason’s RansomFree is the only free tool that provides ransomware protection against 99% of ransomware strains for computers and servers running Windows. It’s free to download and easy-to-install. So go ahead and install it. The ransomfree download is available for Windows 7, 8 and 10, but there are no versions for MacOS or Linux.
One very visible feature of this utility is its creation of “bait” files in locations typically targeted by ransomware. Any attempt to modify these files triggers a ransomware takedown. On your personal computer, RansomFree could intervene before ransomware has a chance to encrypt a single one of your precious family photos, critical business documents, or sensitive transaction information.
To visit the site: Click Here
5. Bitdefender Anti-Ransomware Software
Bitdefender Anti-Ransomware is a free security tool that can protect against existing and emerging ransomware attacks. It has been designed to protect the system against the CTB-Locker, Locky, Petya and TeslaCrypt crypto ransomware families.
Bitdefender’s program runs silently in the background after it has been installed on a supported version of the Windows operating system. According to Bitdefender, it will protect against known and possible future versions of these families. It is a Non-intrusive and easy to use software which keeps your files safe from encryption.
To visit the site: Click Here
6. HitmanPro.Alert
HitmanPro.Alert is at first glance an anti-exploit program which should help against certain ransomware attacks as well. But instead of stopping there, it includes protection against CryptoGuard ransomware as well. The program requires a valid HitmanPro license.
HitmanPro.Alert, which includes the discovery and removal abilities of HitmanPro, turns your computer into a highly undesirable victim, automatically stopping and revealing attacks in real-time, without using virus signatures. HitmanPro.Alert detects intruders like banking malware, remote access tools, and crypto-ransomware, simply by observing the behaviors that these threats exhibit.
To visit the site: Click Here
