CTB-Locker ransomware removal (Windows):Quick solution to remove CTB-Locker virus
What is CTB-Locker?
STEP 1. CTB-Locker virus removal using safe mode with networking.
STEP 2. CTB-Locker ransomware removal using System Restore.
Step 1
Windows XP and Windows 7 users: Start your computer in Safe Mode. Click Start, click Shut Down, click Restart, click OK. During your computer start process, press the F8 key on your keyboard multiple times until you see the Windows Advanced Option menu, then select Safe Mode with Networking from the list.
Safe Mode with Networking
Windows 8 users: Go to the Windows 8 Start Screen, type Advanced, in the search results select Settings. Click on Advanced Startup options, in the opened “General PC Settings” window select Advanced Startup. Click on the “Restart now” button. Your computer will now restart into “Advanced Startup options menu”. Click on the “Troubleshoot” button, then click on “Advanced options” button. In the advanced option screen click on “Startup settings”. Click on the “Restart” button. Your PC will restart into the Startup Settings screen. Press “5” to boot in Safe Mode with Networking.
Windows 8 Safe Mode with networking
Step 2
Log in to the account infected with the CTB-Locker virus. Start your Internet browser and download a legitimate anti-spyware program. Update the anti-spyware software and start a full system scan. Remove all entries detected.
If you cannot start your computer in Safe Mode with Networking, try performing a System Restore.
Video showing how to remove ransomware virus using “Safe Mode with Command Prompt” and “System Restore”:
1. During your computer start process, press the F8 key on your keyboard multiple times until the Windows Advanced Options menu appears, and then select Safe Mode with Command Prompt from the list and press ENTER.
Boot your computer in Safe Mode with Command Prompt
2. When Command Prompt mode loads, enter the following line: cd restore and press ENTER.
system restore using command prompt type cd restore
3. Next, type this line: rstrui.exe and press ENTER.
system restore using command prompt rstrui.exe
4. In the opened window, click “Next”.
restore system files and settings
5. Select one of the available Restore Points and click “Next” (this will restore your computer system to an earlier time and date, prior to the CTB-Locker ransomware virus infiltrating your PC).
select a restore point
6. In the opened window, click “Yes”.
run system restore
7. After restoring your computer to a previous date, download and scan your PC with recommended malware removal software to eliminate any remaining Critroni files.
To restore individual files encrypted by this ransomware, try using the Windows Previous Versions feature. This method is only effective if the System Restore function was enabled on an infected operating system. Note that some variants of CTB-Locker are known to remove Shadow Volume Copies of the files, so this method may not work on all computers.
To restore a file, right-click on it, go into Properties, and select the Previous Versions tab. If the relevant file has a Restore Point, select it and click the “Restore” button.
Restoring files encrypted by CryptoDefense
If you cannot start your computer in Safe Mode with Networking (or with Command Prompt), boot your computer using a rescue disk. Some variants of ransomware disable Safe Mode, thus making its removal complicated. For this step, you require access to another computer.
To protect your computer from file encrypting ransomware such as this, use reputable antivirus and anti-spyware programs. As an extra protection method, you can use programs called HitmanPro.Alert and EasySync CryptoMonitor, which artificially implant group policy objects into the registry to block rogue programs such as CTB-Locker.