How to remove Theva Ransomware and decrypt .theva files

What is Theva Ransomware

Theva is the name of a ransomware virus that encrypts system-stored data and demands victims to pay money in Bitcoin for its decryption. During encryption, targetted files end up visually altered – for instance, 1.pdf will change to 1.pdf.[sql772@aol.com].theva and so forth with other files. Upon successful blockage of data, Theva Ransomware represents its decryption instructions in a text document called #_README_#.inf. It also changes victims’ desktop wallpapers.

In order to recover the data, victims are urged to contact cybercriminals via the given e-mail address (sql772@aol.com) and pay the ransom in Bitcoin cryptocurrency. It is said the price for decryption depends on how fast victims establish contact with swindlers. Following successful payment, threat actors promise to send the necessary decryption tool that will unlock all blocked data. In addition, extortionists also offer to send up to 3 files (no more than 10MB and without valuable information) and get them decrypted completely for free. Many cybercriminals use this “marketing move” to prove their decryption abilities and motivate victims towards paying the money. If sufferers of Theva Ransomware fail to contact the swindlers as said, the decryption key will be deleted making files permanently locked. Ransomware developers tend to use various intimidation techniques to make victims act upon their requests, however, please note that not all cybercriminals can be trusted. Some of them fool their victims and do not send any promised decryption tools even after the payment. Unfortunately, developers of Theva Ransomware might be the only option to actually decrypt your files. For now, there are no free third-party decryptors that could do it on their own. Thus, you can only return your data either by taking the risk and collaborating with cybercriminals, or recovering files from an available backup. You can also not do anything if the encrypted data was not important and you can afford to lose it. Backups are copies of files stored on external storage (e.g., cloud, USB pen drives, etc.) that were not affected at the time of infection. Using a backup is always a safer and completely free option. Unless you are planning to pay the ransom, deleting ransomware is crucial to not let it encrypt other files at the time of manual recovery. It is also important to remove it after decrypting files with cybercriminals if you decide to. Follow our guide below to do so and get protection against such threats in the future.

How Theva Ransomware infected your computer

Most ransomware infections (and other malware types) penetrate systems via trojans, malicious e-mail spam letters, fake updates, and license cracking tools, malicious installers of pirated or cracked software, unprotected RDP configuration, unreliable ads, backdoors, keyloggers, and other dubious channels. The most common technique that cybercriminals often rely on is to make inexperienced users open some malicious file or link. For instance, ransomware can be put into the disguise of a legitimate-looking file (.DOCX, .XLSX, .PDF, .EXE, .ZIP, .RAR, or .JS extensions) and be distributed in spam e-mail letters. Such e-mails tend to impersonate legal companies/entities (e.g., delivery companies, tax authorities, banks, and so forth) and are named in click-bait ways to reflect some “importance”, or “urgency”. If the attached content ends up opened according to cybercriminals’ guidelines, the contained infection will be likely deployed for installation on the targeted system. Thus, you should always examine the letters you receive for senders’ addresses, irrelevant content, suspicious links/attachments, and so forth. A similar infection pattern can be seen in other distribution channels as well, for instance, when users download some pirated or cracked version of the software from a shady web page. While the installation of such software may look completely unsuspicious, the final result can alas be an inadvertent infection of malware. Beware of interacting with dubious download sources, torrent-sharing pages, suspicious ads, potentially malicious attachments/links, and other kinds of risky content. Download software only from official resources to prevent drive-by (stealth) installations of malware. Read our guide below to learn more about establishing protection against threats like ransomware (and other malware) in the future.

1. Download Theva Ransomware Removal Tool
2. Get decryption tool for .theva 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 Theva Ransomware

Theva Ransomware files:


#_README_#.inf
{randomname}.exe


Theva Ransomware registry keys:

no information

How to decrypt and restore .theva files

Use automated decryptors

Download Kaspersky RakhniDecryptor

Use following tool from Kaspersky called Rakhni Decryptor, that can decrypt .theva 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 .theva 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 Theva 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 .theva 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 Theva 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. Theva 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