What is Ann Ransomware?
There are often several ways to refer to the same infection. Here we encounter such situation with Ann Ransomware. It is easy to tell that this program is a computer threat that can encrypt target files, but you can find information on the same program under the AskHelp@protonmail.com Ransomware tag. On the other hand, it doesn’t matter which keyword you choose when you look for information on this program. The bottom line is that you need to remove Ann Ransomware for good, and the instructions applied to AskHelp@protonmail.com Ransomware work for this program, too. After all, it’s the same application.
Where does Ann Ransomware come from?
Like most of the ransomware infections, Ann Ransomware seems to have employed the most common ransomware distribution methods. We believe that this program arrives in spam email attachments or reaches target systems through corrupted Remote Desktop Protocol connections.
Some users may wonder how it is possible to accidentally install the likes of Ann Ransomware on your computer when you have a full control of what files you open and what programs you download. However, we would like to emphasize that ransomware programs tend to target small businesses because they happen to be more vulnerable.
Now, why are small businesses more vulnerable to a malware infection? That is so because they are less likely to spend money on cyber security or on employee education. With fewer safety measures out there, a ransomware distribution campaign is more likely to affect a connected system, spreading from one machine to another. So it is a lot more dangerous to have an entire network of systems infected with something like this, as opposed to one individual computer.
The problem with small businesses being targeted by such infections is that employees tend to open a lot of files every single day. Sometimes they open such files automatically, without thinking much, and this is exactly what the people behind these infections hope for. They expect to infect users who have their guard down, and they do not think twice before opening a random attached file. Consequently, the likes of Ann Ransomware and many other dangerous programs manage to enter target systems and leave them in chaos.
What does Ann Ransomware do?
The program functions just like any other ransomware infection. Upon installation, it scans the affected system looking for the file formats it can encrypt. The encryption takes down most of the files in the %UserProfile% directory; although the program leaves the Windows system files intact. There are actually programs that encrypt the entire system, and then users cannot run their computers. However, this program still needs you to access the Internet, so that you could contact its developers and transfer the ransom fee. Hence, it does not cripple the entire system.
Ann Ransomware also runs a few processes that delete the Shadow Volume copies, and it makes it impossible to restore the encrypted files from the backup that is within the system (provided you had one). On the other hand, you can still get your files back if you have copies saved on an external hard drive. You just need to remove Ann Ransomware from your system, then terminate the encrypted files, and finally, transfer the healthy files back.
Please note that this program will try to push you into paying the ransom fee. Supposedly, if you pay the ransom, the people behind Ann Ransomware would issue the decryption key that should unlock your files. However, you should never trust a cyber criminal to really do that. It is far more likely that they will run away with your money, rather than give you the decryption key.
How do I remove Ann Ransomware?
You can follow the manual removal instructions below to get rid of this infection. However, if you think that manual removal is too much for you, we would like to recommend using a licensed antispyware tool. It would help you locate all the malicious files, and it would delete them for you automatically. What’s more, by acquiring a computer security application, you would safeguard yourself from other infections in the future. You just have to remember that an antispyware program may not be enough to maintain your system’s safety if you are not careful about what you download from the web.
Manual Ann Ransomware Removal
- Press Win+R and enter %AppData%. Press OK.
- Remove the BMP, VBS, and BAT format files with random filenames.
- Delete the ransomware log files from your Desktop.
- Go to the Downloads folder.
- Remove the most recently downloaded files.
- Perform a full system scan.
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