How to remove Assist Ransomware and decrypt .assist files

What is Assist Ransomware

Using a set of cryptographic algorithms, Assist Ransomware encrypts personal data and claims money for its decryption. This practice is highly-popular around ransomware infections as they make everything possible to leave no choice to desperate victims. Because of powerful ciphers applied by Assist, manual decryption becomes quite an arduous task. This is why cybercriminals offer to contact them via the team-assist002@pm.me e-mail address and receive further instructions. This information is listed inside of the note (ASSIST-README.txt) created after your data is locked completely.

Not to mention that this version of ransomware encrypts files using the .assist extension. To illustrate, a file like 1.mp4 will get a new look of 1.mp4.assist after the encryption is done. As mentioned, the only possible method to get 100% decryption is with the help of ransomware developers, however, this is not the best option since they can fool you and do not give any software for restoring the data. We strongly insist on deleting Assist Ransomware from your computer to prevent further encryption, especially if you do not regret the lost data that much. As an additional measure, you can try some third-party tools to run partial decryption, but this might not revive all of your data. Whatever the case, both removal and decryption tips can be found down below.

How Assist Ransomware infected your computer

Infections like Assist Ransomware are usually spread via spam messages, trojans, fake software cracking tools, backdoors, keyloggers, and other dubious channels. The most prominent, however, has been around spam messages that contain malicious attachments. This is might be the most lucrative method for extortionists to deliver malicious programs. As it covers a wide range of users, more likely the traffic of successful infections will satisfy the expectations of developers. They disguise such messages as legitimate companies promoting their services. Usually, there is a file attached to the message. If you are being asked to open it up, then it is a trap meant to spread malware. In order to prevent this and many other channels from reaching your PC, you should be careful and stay away from untrusted content. Additionally, you can get some anti-malware software involved. We have some of it discussed down below.

1. Download Assist Ransomware Removal Tool
2. Get decryption tool for .assist files
3. Recover encrypted files with Stellar Data Recovery Professional
4. Restore encrypted files with Windows Previous Versions
5. Restore files with Shadow Explorer
6. How to protect from threats like Assist Ransomware

Assist Ransomware files:


ASSIST-README.txt
{randomname}.exe


Assist Ransomware registry keys:

no information

How to decrypt and restore .assist files

Use automated decryptors

Download Kaspersky RakhniDecryptor

Use following tool from Kaspersky called Rakhni Decryptor, that can decrypt .assist files. Download it here:

Download RakhniDecryptor

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 .assist files by uploading samples to Dr. Web Ransomware Decryption Service. Analyzing of 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 Assist Ransomware and removed it 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 .assist files

1. Download Stellar Data Recovery Professional.
2. Click Recover Data button.
3. Select type of files you want to restore and click Next button.
4. Choose location where you would like to restore files from and click Scan button.
5. Preview found files, choose ones you will restore and click Recover.

Download Stellar Data Recovery Professional

Using Windows Previous Versions option:

1. Right-click on infected file and choose Properties.
2. Select Previous Versions tab.
3. Choose particular version of the file and click Copy.
4. To restore the selected file and replace the existing one, click on the Restore button.
5. In case there is no items in the list choose alternative method.

Using Shadow Explorer:

1. Download Shadow Explorer program.
2. Run it and you will see screen listing of all the drives and the dates that shadow copy was created.
3. Select the drive and date that you want to restore from.
4. Right-click on a folder name and select Export.
5. In case there are no other dates in the list, choose alternative method.

If you are using Dropbox:

1. Login to the DropBox website and go to the folder that contains encrypted files.
2. Right-click on the encrypted file and select Previous Versions.
3. Select the version of the file you wish to restore and click on the Restore button.

How to protect computer from viruses, like Assist 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.

Download ZoneAlarm Anti-Ransomware

2. Back up your files

As an additional way to save your files, we recommend online backup. Local storages, such as hard drives, SSDs, flash drives, or remote network storages can be instantly infected by the virus once plugged in or connected to. Assist 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.

Download MailWasher Pro