How to remove Axxes Ransomware and decrypt .axxes files

What is Axxes Ransomware

Axxes is a ransomware virus. Infections of this type are designed to prevent users from accessing their personal data. This is done through the so-called encryption process usually followed by attempts to blackmail victims into paying money for data return. After successfully attacking a system, Axxes enciphers targeted files and renames them using the .axxes extension. To illustrate, a regular file like 1.png will change to 1.png.axxes and reset its icon as well. The rest of the data will be renamed based on the same pattern as well. Next, the virus creates two files containing decryption instructions (RESTORE_FILES_INFO.hta and RESTORE_FILES_INFO.txt).

Cybercriminals say all business- and employee-related data has been both encrypted and uploaded to external servers. Should victims refuse to collaborate with the developers, the latter claim they hold their right to publish victims’ data on specialized resources. To avoid this, victims are guided to open Tor Browser at the attached website address and contact swindlers to pay for decryption. The onion page also displays a number of tabs including what other companies have been compromised by the virus already. It is unfortunate, but for now, there are no free means to decrypt Axxes files completely. Furthermore, cutting all the ends with cybercriminals will definitely motivate them to leak your collected data. In such situations, business victims are advised to negotiate unless there is nothing important to lose due to the leakage. Otherwise, paying the ransom might be the only way out of potential reputational damage. You can only recover your files through backups; third-party recovery and decryption tools can also be used, but should not be deemed to actually help. If there are no backup copies available and you want to not collaborate with cybercriminals despite the aforementioned publication risks, you can still try some tools from our guide below. Note that prior to using any recovery means, it is vital to remove Axxes Ransomware from the infected machine. Instructions on proper deletion can also be found in the article below.

How Axxes Ransomware infected your computer

Cybercriminals are prone to use a variety of different channels to increase the chances for successful penetration of malware. Trojans, e-mail spam letters, fake software updates/installers, backdoors, keyloggers, exploits of NAS (Network Attached Storage) systems, unprotected RDP configuration, and more can be used to distribute malicious infections. Business networks can be infected through minor vulnerabilities of NAS or QNAP systems used to store large volumes of data. If such a breach happened, it is worth contacting the NAS or QNAP support to get updates on potential vulnerabilities which could be exploited. In more general cases, ransomware infects users through e-mail spam letters. Such letters are bundled with malicious attachments disguised as MS Office documents, PDFs, ZIP, RAR, JavaScript, and other file types. Once such files are opened (usually under the pretense of doing something “important” or “urgent”), they will carry malware straight into the system. The same may work with malicious links, which can be attached to such messages as well. Many distribution channels you see on this list manage to find success due to naiveness, uncarefulness, or willingness to save on licensed software. You can follow our tutorial below for more useful information on how to protect yourself against such threats in the future.

1. Download Axxes Ransomware Removal Tool
2. Get decryption tool for .axxes 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 Axxes Ransomware

Axxes Ransomware files:


RESTORE_FILES_INFO.hta
{randomname}.exe


Axxes Ransomware registry keys:

no information

How to decrypt and restore .axxes files

Use automated decryptors

Download Kaspersky RakhniDecryptor

Use following tool from Kaspersky called Rakhni Decryptor, that can decrypt .axxes 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 .axxes 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 Axxes 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 .axxes 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 Axxes 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. Axxes 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