How to remove Polaris Ransomware and decrypt your files

What is Polaris Ransomware

Polaris is a ransomware program that uses a combination of AES and RSA algorithms to encrypt users’ data. Unlike other infections of this type, Polaris does not add any extension to the encrypted files. The only thing that changes is accessibility to files – victims are no longer eligible to open the stored data. In order to solve this, Polaris developers encourage their victims to read recovery instructions in a file called WARNING.txt.

The text note creates at the end of encryption and says you should contact extortionists using e-mail communication (pol.aris@opentrash.com
or pol.aris@tutanota.com). There is also an option to add cybercriminals on Discord instead. Whilst writing a message, victims should state the name of the company that got under attack. This is a clue that Polaris targets business networks so they could afford to pay the required ransom. The most common advice you may see on the web regarding ransom payments is to avoid them as much. This is true because many cybercriminals tend to fool their victims and not send any decryption tools eventually. Despite this, it is hard to recover data even with high-tier utilities that are available on the market. AES and RSA algorithms make files ciphered enough to prevent external attempts of their decryption. In other words, it is unlikely some third-party tools will be able to decrypt Polaris files. For this reason, the best way to avoid paying the ransom is to use backup copies. If you have the same files stored in a different location that was not attacked by the virus, then you can restore your data fast and for free. Simply delete the virus and plug your device to transfer them in. Whatever the case, it is always necessary to delete the malicious program from your computer. Otherwise, it may continue encryption or even spread on other networks. You can find deletion instructions and some recovery tips in our guide below.

How Polaris Ransomware infected your computer

Ransomware viruses are known to be distributed through weak RDP configurations, e-mail spam letters, trojans, backdoors, keyloggers, fake software “crackers”, unreliable updates or software installers, and many other channels as well. Business networks are usually infected via some device vulnerabilities by hacking ports and other poorly-protected channels. Individuals, however, are more likely to catch a ransomware virus whilst downloading cracked, pirated, or freeware programs from third-party resources. Lots of inexperienced and naive users are prone to open malicious content inside of fake e-mail messages. Cybercriminals attach files like .DOCX, .EXE, .XLXS, .JS, .RAR, .ZIP and name them with clickbait titles to raise the interest of opening them. As a result, many ventures into the trap and open such files without thinking. This leads to malware infection and future damage to the privacy of innocent users. To prevent this in the future, it is important to filter your e-mail and not open suspicious attachments from unknown sources. Some messages may look legitimate, but they are actually fake disguised as DHL, DPD, FedEx, or any other popular firm. If you want to learn more about protection against threats like ransomware on your system, follow our guide below.

1. Download Polaris Ransomware Removal Tool
2. Get decryption tool for your 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 Polaris Ransomware

Polaris Ransomware files:


WARNING.txt
systemd-timed
polaris
{randomfilename}.exe


Polaris Ransomware registry keys:

no information

How to decrypt and restore your files

Use automated decryptors

Download Kaspersky RakhniDecryptor

Use the following tool from Kaspersky called Rakhni Decryptor, which can decrypt your 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 your 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 Polaris 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 your 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 Polaris 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. Polaris 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