What is Avest Ransomware?
Avest Ransomware could be targeted at users from Belarus since it was titled after an organization called ZAO AVEST that operates in Belarus. It is a malicious program that encrypts victims’ files and displays a message. Even though the note does not mention anything about having to pay a ransom, we are almost one hundred percent sure that it is what victims will be asked to do if they contact the malware’s developers, as the message suggests. Naturally, we do not advise dealing with cybercriminals because it could end up hazardously. Also, there might be a free decryption tool available online. Our researchers say a reputable cybersecurity company developed it, so it should be safe to use this decryptor if you download it from their website and not some shady file-sharing site. In the rest of this article, we discuss the malicious application in more detail, so we encourage you to keep reading if you are interested in it. However, if you came here to learn how to delete Avest Ransomware, you could slide below and use our provided instructions.
Where does Avest Ransomware come from?
Avest Ransomware might be spread via Spam emails. For example, the hackers responsible for its distribution could send victims emails that might be said to be from the mentioned organization in Belarus. Inside of such messages, users could find malicious links or attachments that may carry the infection. What is essential to understand is that files infected with threats like Avest Ransomware might look like text documents, pictures, or other types of harmless files. Thus, users who want to keep away from such malware have to be careful even with data they do not see as dangerous. Nonetheless, the suspicion should fall on all files received with Spam emails or messages from unknown senders. Also, it is vital to ask yourself whether you were supposed to receive any data via email. The best way to confirm if you are right to be suspicious is to scan questionable files with a legitimate antimalware tool. It does not take long, and it can prevent you from opening harmful files unknowingly.
How does Avest Ransomware work?
Our researchers did not notice that the sample they tested would need to drop any files to settle in on a system. In other words, Avest Ransomware might start running the moment its launcher is opened. From his moment, the malicious application may begin encrypting various valuable files that could be precious to a victim. As for program data and files belonging to a computer’s operating system, we believe they should be left unencrypted. In fact, all locked files can be recognized from a special second extension that the malware appends. The malware’s extension might look like this: ckey(********).email(data1992@protonmail.com).pack14.
After encrypting files and marking them with the mentioned extension, the threat should drop a file called !!!Readme!!!Help!!!.txt. Users, who open it should see a message saying: “Problems with your data? Contact us: data1992@protonmail.com.” From our experience with such threats, we believe the most likely scenario is that the hackers will provide those who contact them with detailed instructions on how to pay a ransom. To those who agree to pay it, they could offer decryption tools. As said earlier, dealing with hackers is always risky and, in this case, not necessary if you decrypt your files with a decryptor created by cybersecurity experts.
How to erase Avest Ransomware?
There are a couple of ways to deal with a threat like Avest Ransomware. The first one is to remove its launcher manually. If you think you can handle this task, you could try to complete the instructions available below this paragraph. The other way to erase Avest Ransomware is to scan your computer with a legitimate antimalware tool, wait till it detects all possible threats, and then remove them all by clicking a provided deletion button.
Eliminate Avest Ransomware
- Click Ctrl+Alt+Delete.
- Pick Task Manager and select Processes.
- Locate a process belonging to the threat.
- Select it and click End Task.
- Exit Task Manager.
- Click Windows key+E.
- Locate these paths:
%TEMP%
%USERPROFILE%\Downloads
%USERPROFILE%\Desktop - Locate the malicious application’s launcher, right-click it, and select Delete.
- Locate files titled !!!Readme!!!Help!!!.txt, right-click them, and choose Delete.
- Exit File Explorer.
- Empty your Recycle Bin.
- Restart the computer.
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