How To Remove Pepe ransomware (+Decrypt Files)

Tips To Restore Files from Pepe ransomware

If your System is infected with Pepe ransomware and you are unable to access even single file. Is this Ransomware demands money? Are you worried about how to recover files? Don’t worry this guide will help you to restore all encrypted files and remove Pepe ransomware from PC.

What is Pepe ransomware?

Pepe ransomware is a file encrypting virus that is mainly designed to encrypts the personal documents found on the victimize System. It was discovered and distributed by the team of cyber hacker with the sole motive to extort huge ransom by the phishing innocent users. It is able to invade all kind of Windows System and easily encrypt all stored personal and important data and files like as documents, text, images, audios, videos, games, apps and so on by using a strong encryption algorithm. It also makes the files completely inaccessible for the victim by appended “.pepe” extension at the end of every files. Therefore accessing even single file is completely inaccessible for the users. While victim tries to access even single file then the ransom note “!INFO.HTA” appears on the System screen which inform victim about their encrypted files and instruct them how to restore data.

The ransom note “!INFO.HTA” explained in a pop-up Window which explained that their all kind of data and files are encrypted with the powerful encryption algorithm therefore accessing even single file is impossible. In order to know more information and about how to purchase a decryption software or key victim must need to establish contact email address. Unfortunately cyber criminals are the only ones who have the decryption tool or key that can decrypt data. There is no other tool that could do that. The price of the decryption tool or key is not specified it is only depends on how quickly victim will establish contact with the developer.  The payment should be done in the form of Bitcoins within 48 hours after contacted otherwise the decryption key will delete permanently. As a proof victim can send only one encrypted non-valuable files which does not exceed from 1 MB. Victim also informed that any attempt to rename files or decrypt them with some third party software may cause permanent data loss.

Do Not Pay Ransom Money?

Victim do not pay ransom money to the hacker because it is not good idea to trust the hacker who encrypted all files and forcing you to pay ransom money to unlock or recover your data. Hacker often cut all the communication after received ransom money. So you should not think about to pay ransom money to hacker. You might lose your data and money as well.

What Victim should do in this situation?

Don’t try to pay ransom money to- the hacker because this action is too risky for you. If your PC files really encrypted by this infection and you want to restore at any cost. The only way to restore files without paying money is to remove Pepe ransomware firstly and completely from PC. After that you can restore data and files by using data recovery Software or any backup if you have in the form of external hard disk.

Threat Summary:

Name: Pepe ransomware

Threat Type: Ransomware, File Virus, Crypto locker Virus

Encrypted File Extension: .pepe

Ransom Demanding Message: “!INFO.HTA”

Symptoms: All your files are encrypted by Pepe ransomware, cannot open any files as earlier states.

Distribution Methods: It mostly distributed into the PC via the spam email attachments, updating System Software and other tricky ways.

Removal Tool: In order to keep the System files safe and secure from more encryption then you are highly advice to remove Pepe ransomware completely from PC by using antimalware tool.

How did Pepe ransomware get intrude into the System?

Pepe ransomware mostly intrude into the System via the spam email attachments, freeware installation, updating System Software and other tricky ways. Spam email often sends by the team of cyber-criminal which contains malicious attachments in the form of documents, text, pictures, PDF, Java script and so on. These attachments seem so legit and useful as well as send through reputable organisation. Once opening such types of attachments causes the infiltration of malicious infections. Freeware often comes with the pre-package of additional malicious program. While users download and installed freeware program into the System without checking the custom or advance options then the additional malicious program also gets installed with them which leads lots of infections.

How To Prevent the System from Pepe ransomware:

Do not try to open any mail which received from unknown sender. If you don’t know the sender name and address, please try to verify that firstly. Users must check the grammatical error and spelling mistakes of the body content. Users are highly advice, do not try to download and installed freeware program from third party site. Use official or trustworthy site while downloading and installed especially freeware program. Read the installation guide carefully till the end. It is highly important to select custom or advance options to prevent the installation of additional malicious program. Always use official or relevant sources while updating System Software.

[Tips & Tricks] How to remove Pepe ransomware ?

If your System has infected with Pepe ransomware , then be careful. You should try to remove this Ransomware from your computer immediately. As we all know that Ransomware is able to encrypt/lock your personal files stored in your computer hard drives by adding its own extension in each file. However, it spreads the copies of itself in each location of your computer quickly and makes all types of files encrypted. So, we recommended you to remove Pepe ransomware from System as soon as possible. Here, you can get proper solution to remove Ransomware from your machine. To remove crypto-malware, read the instructions given below.

Harmful impacts of Pepe ransomware : How it gets into your machine? And what it does?

Thanks to Cyber security experts & researchers who have discovered Pepe ransomware that is activity being distribute against computer users. It uses several techniques to get enters into your PCs and makes all files of your System locked. According to experts, cybercriminals uses several techniques to spread Pepe ransomware in your machine i.e.,

• Infected files: The hackers can create infected documents by injecting malicious codes in it and spread these malicious files via free software packages which you are downloaded from internet.
• Phishing Campaigns: Cybercriminals use email spam techniques to distribute Pepe ransomware on target machine. They can launch large scale email campaigns and develop such websites that will impersonate genuine services. As receipt or visitors, you will see stolen or fabricated content that forced the users into downloading and running the infected files.
• Malicious sites or file sharing network: Cyber crooks can redirect your browser’s search on shady or hacked websites and also use file sharing network to spread the harmful programs.

Further explanation about Pepe ransomware , this nasty Ransomware injects malicious codes in targeted machine and performs malicious actions against System security including disabled all the security application, block Firewall, Modifies System registry setting, locks all files and many other damages in your computer. The main motive of cybercriminals behinds the Ransomware attack is to lock your personal files and asks you to pay ransom money for decryption key. However, it spreads the copies of ransom note as explanation on your System screen which suggests you what to do when all files have been locked.

Pepe ransomware considered as crypto-virus helps extortionists to earn illegal money

It is another dangerous Ransomware program created cybercriminals for malware campaigns. Initially, the extortionists start injecting System registry to achieve and interfere with processes in Windows. However, it encrypts all files stored in your computer and displays the ransomware note in front of you on the screen. They demand certain amount of ransom money and ask you to contact their technical experts for further information about decryption key. We recommended you should not to pay any amount of extortion money for decryption. I am sure that Pepe ransomware or hacker behind this ransomware will never decrypt or recover your files at any cases. However, it could be set to delete all Shadow Volume copies from Windows Operating System. In case if your System has infected with Pepe ransomware , then you should try to remove Pepe ransomware and also try to know how to get back your encrypted data.

Preparation before starting the procedure to remove Pepe ransomware

• Before starting the removal process, make sure you have strong backup of your all files. You should have strong backup & recovery tool to insure your files against any data loss.
• You should follow the removal steps in proper ways and to do that you can open the instructions in front of your eyes.
• Be patient while removal process not done and follow the instructions carefully.

Procedure 1: Boot your PC in Safe Mode to isolate and remove Pepe ransomware

Step 1: Press “Windows + R” key from keyboard and type “msconfig” and click on “OK”

Step 2: Now, go to “Boot” tab

Step 3: Select “Safe Boot > Network” and click on “Apply” and “OK”

Step 4: Click on “Restart” to go into safe mode

Procedure 2: Clean the System Registries, created by Pepe ransomware on your machine

In most of the cases, Pepe ransomware (Ransomware) targeted following System registries of Windows machine

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce

To open registry editor and delete any values created by Pepe ransomware , you can follow the instruction given below

Step 1: Press “Windows + R” key from keyboard and type “regedit” and click on “OK”

Step 2: Once System registry Editor opened, you can freely navigate to “Run and RunOnce” keys whose location are shown above

Step 3: Now, you can remove the value of virus by right clicking on it and removing it

Procedure 3: How to find files created by Pepe ransomware on your System?

Find files in Windows Operating System (For Windows 8, 8.1 and Windows 10)

Step 1: Press “Windows + R” key from keyboard and type “explorer.exe” and click on “OK”

Step 2: Click on your PC either “My Computer”, “My PC” or “This PC”

Step 3: Now, navigate to search box in top-right of your PC screen and type “file extension” after which type the file extension.

Find files in Windows Operating System (For Windows XP)

Step 1: Click on “Start Menu” icon and then choose “search” preference

Step 2: Now, choose “More Advanced options” from search assistant box

Step 3: After that, type the name of file which you are looking for and click on search button.

Procedure 4: How to restore or recover encrypted files? (Automatic Solution)

 

We recommended you to please avoid paying any extortion money for decryption and use powerful backup & recovery tool to restore files encrypted by Ransomware. You can easily restore all files locked by Ransomware if you have created backup of your files in some other external storage media drives. In case if you have not created any backup of your data or not backup & recovery software is not available in your computer, then you have to use third-party data recovery tool for creating backup. To do this, follow the instruction given below

Step 1: At first, you need to download “Data Recovery Tool”

Step 2: Now, execute “Data Recovery Setup” carefully by following On-Screen instructions

Step 3: After that, launch the software and scan the PC deeply to retrieve the files encrypted by Pepe ransomware

Step 4: Now, restore the files encrypted by Ransomware