How to Identify which Ransomware has Infected your Computer

Ransomware is undoubtedly one of the most dangerous threats your PC will find! The effect of a ransomware attack does depend upon your purposes of using the PC. If you just store some movies or music inside, you can simply format the PC, and start from scratch. However, if you are using your computer for storing valuable, confidential data, it’s impossible to do a formatting. That’s when you have to remove the ransomware from the infected device. And, identifying the infected ransomware is the first step of ransomware removal. Once you have identified the ransomware type, you can seek some professional help for moving on. At the least, you can get some precautionary methods to get rid of such ransomware, at least in the future.

In this article, we have come up with a tutorial on how to identify which ransomware has infected your computer. Before we move on to the step-by-step guide, we will tell you how the identification of ransomware can help you.

Why Should I Identify Ransomware?

You can confirm that you have been victimized to ransomware through different signs. In most cases, you’d have received a ransom note from the hacker. The note will guide you through the process to pay the ransom and get your files back. In case if you did not know, ransomware attacks will encrypt your files using some kind of technology and make those files inaccessible from your side. In worst cases, web browsers and likewise applications may be blocked from running. Despite what that particular ransomware has blocked, it’s all done through encryption. Each ransomware follows a particular type of encryption technology — and that’s the whole point.

Read: How to Use Bitdefender 2016 Ransomware Protection Effectively

If you can identify the ransomware that has infected your computer, you may be able to find a way to decrypt your data. It needs to be noted that there is no surety, whatsoever. There are some professionals or services that MAY help you to decrypt the data and access them once again. So, there is a slight — when we say ‘slight’, we mean that — chance that it may help you regain access to PC files. In short, identifying the ransomware will surely help.

So, How to Identify Ransomware?

Now, we are on to the steps to identify the ransomware. It needs to be noted that several algorithms are used to find the causing ransomware from input details. If the hacker has created something unique to attack you, lesser chances are there to get your data back. And we are using a dedicated ransomware identification tool here — ID Ransomware.

About ID Ransomware

ID Ransomware is a website that helps you detect the ransomware that has infected your computer. It’s a completely free website and will always be free for use. It needs to be noted that ID Ransomware is not meant to help you in the removal process of ransomware. On the other hand, it can guide you on the further process, by identifying the particular type of ransomware that’s troubling you. It’s like valuable information because your recovery process depends upon the type. It is time to move on to our steps.

Step 1:

As we said, it’s a web-based service and you have to log onto https://id-ransomware.malwarehunterteam.com/ to access this website. You will land on an easy-to-use web page.

Step 2:

This is the most important part of identifying the cause of ransomware attacks. And, there are two methods you can use to detect what has affected and encrypted your data. They are:

1. Upload the Ransom Note: As we said, most ransomware attacks leave a ransom note on your PC. it is by following the ransom note that you can pay money to the hacker and hopefully get the data back. So, if you have that note stored in the device, you can upload that particular note into ID Ransomware.
2. Upload Encrypted File: This is an alternative method if you cannot find/upload the ransom note. There may be a bunch of files that the ransomware has encrypted in the device. You can pick one file from the list and upload it to the website.

Then, you can click the ‘Upload’ Button.

Step 3:

Now, the ID Ransomware website will analyze the ransom note/sample encrypted file for finding the ransomware. There are different kinds of algorithms used for the products. According to their claims — which are true, by the way —, the ID Ransomware website will help you identify 177 different ransomware types. If the uploaded files match with characters of any of these ransomware files, you will be notified.

Well, that’s pretty much about detecting the ransomware that has caused your issue. If you have followed these steps, you will possibly have the name of the ransomware with you. Now, you can move forward with the available processes.

Summing Up

So, this is how we did identify which ransomware had affected your computer and encrypted all the data. As we said, our method is not about decryption of the data. In fact, you cannot simply go and decrypt data that has been encrypted by a ransomware attack. Of course, you have to seek the help of a professional. And, it’s a good thing if you know the name of the ransomware when you approach the professional. Despite all these way-outs, it’s always good if you can take enough precaution against Ransomware attacks, where you can install Bitdefender Free Anti-Ransomware Tool.