How to remove AvosLocker Ransomware and decrypt .avos files

What is AvosLocker Ransomware

AvosLocker is one of the most recent ransomware infections that encrypt personal files using both AES-256 and RSA-2048 algorithms. Along with this, the virus adds new .avos extension to each file that got encrypted. To illustrate, a sample file like 1.pdf will change to 1.pdf.avos and reset its original icon at the end of encryption. After all files have been configured with the new extension, users will see a text note called GET_YOUR_FILES_BACK.txt explaining how to recover the data.

To do this, victims are instructed to visit the onion link via Tor browser, enter their personal ID, and therefore get the price for decryption suite to return their data. For now, this looks to be the only option available to recover your data completely. There is no third-party tool that has been successfully tested in decrypting AvosLocker files. It is worth noting that paying the monetary ransom may bear the risk of losing your money as well. This is why the best-case scenario in this situation is using backup copies of data. If you do not have any to capitalize on, you can still give it a try using third-party decryptors. This gives no guarantee for successful decryption but is still worth trying unless you have other options remaining. Follow our guide below to remove AvosLocker from your computer and learn some recovery methods.

How AvosLocker Ransomware infected your computer

There is no single method entitled to the distribution of malware like AvosLocker. File-encrypting programs are common to spread via e-mail spam, trojans, backdoors, keyloggers, untrustworthy downloads, fake software updates or “crackers”, unprotected RDP configuration, and many more to lengthen this list. E-mail is deemed to be the most popular distribution method. It implies sending spam letters bundled with malicious attachments from ostensibly legitimate addresses. Cybercriminals use nice-looking templates from legal campaigns (DHL, DPD, FedEx, Banks, etc.) to force people into believing they are trustworthy. Once trust has been achieved, users become more humble to click on the attached files. As a rule, extortionists attach PDF, Word, EXE, or JavaScript files as they are easy to reconfigure for storing a virus. After clicking on such, users are more likely to end up the victims of AvosLocker or various other malware that strolls around the web. The majority of people are negligent and inattentive, which costs them dozens of innocent files stored on a system. This is why it is important to keep your head on a swivel whilst browsing e-mail messages or any other content around the web. Below, we have dedicated a separate section meant to help you increase protection against such threats in the future.

1. Download AvosLocker Ransomware Removal Tool
2. Get decryption tool for .avos 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 AvosLocker Ransomware

AvosLocker Ransomware files:


GET_YOUR_FILES_BACK.txt
{randomname}.exe


AvosLocker Ransomware registry keys:

no information

How to decrypt and restore .avos files

Use automated decryptors

Download Kaspersky RakhniDecryptor

Use following tool from Kaspersky called Rakhni Decryptor, that can decrypt .avos 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 .avos 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 AvosLocker 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 .avos 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 AvosLocker 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 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. AvosLocker 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