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Dave Miller – Tech Enthusiast & Security Expert – August 27th, 2022
If you are the victim of a ransomware attack, you might be wondering, will resetting pc get rid of ransomware, or even will a factory reset destroy ransomware? Ransomware is still a significant problem despite advances in cyber security.
This virus got created to prevent you from accessing your information by encrypting it. So, these malware attacks often leave victims with few options once they’ve taken control. And, your files and data are being held as ransom until you make compensation, which has put you in a difficult situation. To do this, you’ll need to take a few steps, but ultimately, the best thing you can do is take precautions to avoid it in the first place.
Continue reading the article to know what three ways you will have to deal with this malicious attack and what you need to do in the future.
A dangerous AIDS Trojan floppy disc from 1989 that demanded $189 in ransom developed into a trillion-dollar industry. Businesses incur annual losses of billions of dollars due to ransomware, which topped $20 billion in 2021.
Even with its shortcomings, the initial ransomware attack may get regarded as the most effective. But it paved the way for ransomware to develop into the sophisticated operations we see today. Moreover, the continuous surge in ransomware attacks reveals a few other critical themes as the cyber security landscape changes.
Fact: There were 236.1 million ransomware attacks globally in the first half of 2022. Total payments to ransomware attacks are getting close to the momentous $1 million mark.
Although cybercriminals’ tactics have evolved, the basic idea hasn’t changed. Attacks target unprotected people, deny them access to what they require, and demand a ransom in exchange for access. It’s essentially a game over when the malware reaches the target.
It is because it uses symmetric ciphers and asymmetric encryption. This cryptographic technique, which employs either one or two keys to encrypt and decode a file, is used to prevent access. With encryption, the goal is to stop any reversible activity for accessing funds without a key.
Understanding will resetting pc get rid of ransomware or even will a factory reset destroy ransomware requires more description of the ransomware attack scenario. In a ransomware attack, you will receive a malicious attachment via phishing emails and drive-by downloads. And worst of all, Web server exploitation, which you may then use as a gateway to enter a company’s network.
Malware gets downloaded, and then without the user’s awareness, it gets installed. The next steps will vary depending on the attack you are experiencing since there are several ransomware variations, each with distinct traits. But specific ransomware organisations have been more active and prosperous than others.
However, you will only have three final choices for all categories. You have three options: pay the ransom, attempt virus removal, or factory reset the device. Therefore, to find the answer, you must first determine the type of attack. There are primarily two forms of widespread ransomware attacks.
This kind of virus prevents access to a computer system totally by obstructing fundamental computer operations. However, this Locker virus often seeks to lock you out; it seldom targets essential files. Therefore, your data is unlikely to be destroyed entirely before a ransom gets paid. Locker ransomware may demand a payment of $100 to $150 to enable you to take control back
A form of malicious software called crypto-ransomware encrypts files kept on a computer or mobile device and asks the user to pay a ransom in return for the decryption key. Typically, this ransom is between $100 and $300; however, it can also get sought in virtual currency.
Note: Furthermore, of the three possibilities, paying the ransom does not even ensure that the files will get released, And even if you are successful in decrypting the files via various methods, virus eradication is not guaranteed.
Cautious attention and security software get advised to guard against ransomware infiltration. However, since your files are already safe, let’s discuss will a factory reset destroy ransomware or not.
Given how simple it is to reset any device today, people sometimes wonder if doing so will shield it against ransomware. Without question, the reset option for computer devices has transformed and is now a significant option in many situations. Moreover, Some manufacturers employ recovery partitions. These hard disc partition enables you to restore your whole operating system, drivers, and manufacturer’s software if you need to reset.
However, the solution will a factory reset destroy ransomware is not always obvious, and it’s a yes, but still, it depends. In some cases when a ransomware attack would target particular file types.
Your computer would recover in a healthy condition after a reset should remove those malicious files. It is because today, with Windows 11 and modern hardware, it’s comparatively more difficult for malware and viruses to conceal themselves in MBR or firmware. Therefore, rebooting Windows usually gets rid of spyware or viruses.
This kind of reset indicates that you erase all previously recorded information and return your gadget to the condition it was in when it got first sent from the factory. However, you should be OK if you’ve backed up your data elsewhere or in the cloud.
It would be best if you didn’t rely only on factory resets as your primary security line against malware. Even while it could be a solution to your issue.
In 2021, 37% of international firms reported being the target of a ransomware attack. So, here are the other two choices you could have discovered in your quest for ransomware attack relief.
In addition to paying the attackers’ ransom, you might try searching online for decryption software. Many cybersecurity professionals and developers are working on making the decryption tool available for free. These tools can come in handy to get that data back and control your computer. Looking for the file extension on encrypted files can give you an idea of what malware is there.
Once you’ve determined what ransomware is on your computer, you may visit Nomoreransom.org to seek all the most recent tools to decrypt the encrypted files.
You may easily follow the instructions for each tool to try to recover your data. Also, make sure you first delete the virus from your system since it’ll keep your system locked or encrypt files if you don’t. Any trustworthy antivirus programme may perform this task for you.
The problem with this strategy is that not every Ransomware variant offers a decryption tool, but it is worthwhile to consider.
So, in the end, all that’s left is for you to pay the ransom. Even though it could appear like a good alternative, it is not. Not a good idea to do this. Everyone wants their data, which is understandable, but in the long term, it is not worthwhile. Even the FBI opposes using a ransom to counter a ransomware attack. The reason is that paying a ransom doesn’t ensure you of anything and encourages criminals to target additional victims.
You can report to the FBI if you are a victim of such attacks
Get help, contact your neighbourhood FBI field office, or send an online tip.
Alternatively, you can report the incident to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).
Paying the ransom should never be an option, although occasionally, this strategy has failed. However, at least you are not endorsing the criminal activity of these online criminals.
Backfired Incident: Baltimore was the target of one of the worst attacks by Robin Hood. A ransomware variant heavily infiltrated the American city of Baltimore, Maryland’s servers during this incident. The town followed the FBI’s and law enforcement’s orders and refused to pay the $76,000 ransom. It later resulted in the city losing $8 million in services and spending $10 million on data recovery.
With all that in mind, I can readily tell you that the most crucial part of securing your data is prevention. And this prevention needs to happen before you become a victim of such attacks. A ransom note is not something anybody wants to see on their computer. Still, by understanding what ransomware is and adhering to these dos and don’ts, you can help secure your computer data.
The solutions above may or might not work. You can presumably stop these attacks with a PC restart. However, the attack’s file exploitation severity is still an issue. Even if you continue to pay them after attempting every option, they might or might not provide you with a decryption key to restore access. Because of this, backup data beforehand and using appropriate protection tools may dramatically lessen the intensity of an attack, regardless of the kind of ransomware. If not, you will have to deal with the results since it is a losing game.
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Dave Miller is an IT Consultant for Online Cloud Security and has over 7 years of experience in the Information Technology space. He also specializes in repairing laptops & computers. In his spare time, he loves to talk about new technologies and hosts monthly IT and Cyber Security meetings in the Houston area.
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Online Cloud Security is here to recommend you the most secure devices, from laptops to smartphones, we only want to provide you with products that we have tested and used ourselves for online security. Every product that we recommend is heavily inspected and tested for security against hackers, viruses, malware, and any other intruders that may want to steal your information.
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