Rector Ransomware

There has been a marked rise in ransomware infections in the last few years. From a relatively rare type of infection, these types of problems have progressed to become one of the most popular ways in which con artists may harass computer users. PC security analysts have noticed, in recent weeks, attacks involving the Rector Ransomware. This ransomware infection, based in Russia (as many ransomware attacks currently are) uses an attack pattern that is typical of these kinds of infections. The Rector Ransomware takes a computer hostage by encrypting the victim's files. The Rector Ransomware is not as well implemented as many other types of ransomware, but uses an effective encryption algorithm and attack strategy that makes its attack as effective as other encryption ransomware.

How Encryption Ransomware Attacks such as the Rector Ransomware Work

In the case of attacks involving the Rector Ransomware and other, similar encryption ransomware attacks, computer users' files are encrypted and cannot be decrypted without access to the decryption key. If computer users have failed to backup their files properly, they will not be able to recover them without paying for the decryption key. However, PC security researchers strongly advise against making this payment, since it is not certain that they will be able to decrypt their files even after they pay the amount required by the Rector Ransomware. Attacks like the Rector Ransomware scan the contents of a computer and encrypt all the files with certain extensions, usually targeting documents and media files in order to increase the likelihood of encrypting an important business or school document or treasured family photos or videos. After encrypting a file, the Rector Ransomware renames the file and drops ransom notes in the form of text files on the directories where the Rector Ransomware has encrypted a file. The Rector Ransomware will also change the affected computer's Desktop into a ransom note.

Dealing with Rector Ransomware and Recovering Encrypted Files

PC security researchers advise computer users to remain calm in the face of a Rector Ransomware attack. The people behind these kinds of attacks rely on making computer users panic and act irrationally, often using alarming messages claiming that the decryption key will be deleted after a certain time, increasing the amount of the ransom, or claiming that the files were decrypted as part of a law enforcement operation. Malware analysts advise computer users to avoid paying the Rector Ransomware's ransom unless they have no other choice. These attacks would not be feasible unless computer users continue to pay the ransom, financing attackers' further activities.

In most cases, encrypted files cannot be recovered without having the decryption key. However, there are some rare cases where some of the data can be recovered from the Shadow Volume using tools designed for this. However, like many other ransomware infections, the Rector Ransomware will also delete shadow copies and disable System Restore and other features on the affected computer. The Rector Ransomware infection itself can be removed with the help of a reliable security application that is fully up-to-date, but recovery of the files is not currently possible with available technology. The same encryption technology that allows computer users to maintain their privacy when sending data online is also used, in this case, to attack computer users.

Prevention is the key when dealing with these kinds of attacks. Computer users should backup their files, preferably the entire contents of their hard drive, but at least their essential or irreplaceable files. In any cases, these kinds of files should always be backed up since hard drives will fail and other problems may arise. In most cases, malware analysts recommend the use of an external device for backing up as well as a cloud solution. Keeping a backup of important files means that computer users can restore their files after using a reliable security program to remove the Rector Ransomware.