What is Acepy Ransomware
If you are no longer able to access your files and see them appear like this 1.pdf.acepy, then you are most likely infected with Acepy Ransomware. It is an encryption virus designed to render files inaccessible and blackmail victims into paying the so-called ransom. The infection does so through a ransom note (ACEPY_README.txt) created upon successfully encrypting the targeted data. It also force-opens a Command Prompt window with information identical to the text file we mentioned above. You can take a closer look at what cybercriminals write in the aforementioned notes here:
All your files have been encrypted by the Acepy Ransomware!
All your photos, videos, music and documents have been encrypted with the extension ".acepy".
There's no way to recover them without the special key. Please contact AcepyRansom@protonmail.com to get it!
The notes briefly describe how to recover blocked files. Victims have to contact Acepy developers through the AcepyRansom@protonmail.com e-mail address and purchase special decryption software for the price announced after establishing communication with them. While there is no definite information on how much swindlers require to pay, meeting their demands is highly unrecommended. This is because of cybercriminals’ tendency to fool their victims and not send any promised decryption tools afterwards. Despite this, the initial virus developers might be the only figures able to fully decrypt your data. Using third-party decryption tools as an attempt to avoid paying the ransom often flows in no anticipated results. The only guaranteed and best way to recover your data for free is via backup copies. It is important to delete the virus first and then try any recovery options. Although third-party tools are generally useless in decrypting high-level ciphers, we are still going to mention some of them in our instructions below. You can give them a try if no other option is left to restore access to data.
How Acepy Ransomware infected your computer
For now, there is no one defined way of how Acepy infects its victims. However, the majority of ransomware infections target the same distribution vectors – via e-mail spam messages, trojans, fake software installers or updates, backdoors, keyloggers, malicious downloads, exploits of system vulnerabilities, and other channels as well. E-mail spam might be the most popular vector abused by cybercriminals. They take infectious files and attach them inside of legitimate-looking messages. These messages are often masked under templates used by popular firms like DHL, DPD, FedEx, and others. It may also be common to see fake giveaway e-mails designed to promote infection as well. The range of attached files usually fluctuates between MS Office documents, PDFs, JavaScript, Archive, and Executable files as well. Do not click on them and you will be safe from getting infected eventually. We encourage you to glance through our guidelines below and learn broader protection tips against threats like Acepy Ransomware in the future.
- Download Acepy Ransomware Removal Tool
- Get decryption tool for .acepy files
- Recover encrypted files with Stellar Data Recovery Professional
- Restore encrypted files with Windows Previous Versions
- Restore files with Shadow Explorer
- How to protect from threats like Acepy Ransomware
Download Removal Tool
To remove Acepy Ransomware completely, we recommend you to use Norton Antivirus from Symantec. It detects and removes all files, folders, and registry keys of Acepy Ransomware and prevents future infections by similar viruses.
Alternative Removal Tool
To remove Acepy Ransomware completely, we recommend you to use SpyHunter 5. It detects and removes all files, folders, and registry keys of Acepy Ransomware. The trial version of Spyhunter 5 offers virus scan and 1-time removal for FREE.
Acepy Ransomware files:
ACEPY_README.txt
{randomname}.exe
Acepy Ransomware registry keys:
no information
How to decrypt and restore .acepy files
Use automated decryptors
Download Kaspersky RakhniDecryptor
Use following tool from Kaspersky called Rakhni Decryptor, that can decrypt .acepy files. Download it here:
There is no purpose to pay the ransom because there is no guarantee you will receive the key, but you will put your bank credentials at risk.
Dr.Web Rescue Pack
Famous antivirus vendor Dr. Web provides free decryption service for the owners of its products: Dr.Web Security Space or Dr.Web Enterprise Security Suite. Other users can ask for help in the decryption of .acepy files by uploading samples to Dr. Web Ransomware Decryption Service. Analyzing files will be performed free of charge and if files are decryptable, all you need to do is purchase a 2-year license of Dr.Web Security Space worth $120 or less. Otherwise, you don’t have to pay.
If you are infected with Acepy Ransomware and removed from your computer you can try to decrypt your files. Antivirus vendors and individuals create free decryptors for some crypto-lockers. To attempt to decrypt them manually you can do the following:
Use Stellar Data Recovery Professional to restore .acepy files
- Download Stellar Data Recovery Professional.
- Click Recover Data button.
- Select type of files you want to restore and click Next button.
- Choose location where you would like to restore files from and click Scan button.
- Preview found files, choose ones you will restore and click Recover.
Using Windows Previous Versions option:
- Right-click on infected file and choose Properties.
- Select Previous Versions tab.
- Choose particular version of the file and click Copy.
- To restore the selected file and replace the existing one, click on the Restore button.
- In case there is no items in the list choose alternative method.
Using Shadow Explorer:
- Download Shadow Explorer program.
- Run it and you will see screen listing of all the drives and the dates that shadow copy was created.
- Select the drive and date that you want to restore from.
- Right-click on a folder name and select Export.
- In case there are no other dates in the list, choose alternative method.
If you are using Dropbox:
- Login to the DropBox website and go to the folder that contains encrypted files.
- Right-click on the encrypted file and select Previous Versions.
- Select the version of the file you wish to restore and click on the Restore button.
How to protect computer from viruses, like Acepy Ransomware, in future
1. Get special anti-ransomware software
Use ZoneAlarm Anti-Ransomware
Famous antivirus brand ZoneAlarm by Check Point released a comprehensive tool, that will help you with active anti-ransomware protection, as an additional shield to your current protection. The tool provides Zero-Day protection against ransomware and allows you to recover files. ZoneAlarm Anti-Ransomware is compatible with all other antiviruses, firewalls, and security software except ZoneAlarm Extreme (already shipped with ZoneAlarm Anti-Ransomware) or Check Point Endpoint products. The killer features of this application are: automatic file recovery, overwrite protection that instantly and automatically recovers any encrypted files, file protection that detects and blocks even unknown encryptors.
2. Back up your files
As an additional way to save your files, we recommend online backup. Local storage, such as hard drives, SSDs, flash drives, or remote network storage can be instantly infected by the virus once plugged in or connected to. Acepy Ransomware uses some techniques to exploit this. One of the best services and programs for easy automatic online backup is iDrive. It has the most profitable terms and a simple interface. You can read more about iDrive cloud backup and storage here.
3. Do not open spam e-mails and protect your mailbox
Malicious attachments to spam or phishing e-mails are the most popular method of ransomware distribution. Using spam filters and creating anti-spam rules is good practice. One of the world leaders in anti-spam protection is MailWasher Pro. It works with various desktop applications and provides a very high level of anti-spam protection.
