How to remove KesLan ransomware from the operating system

What is KesLan?

Discovered by GrujaRS, KesLan is a malicious program categorized as ransomware. It is designed to encrypt data and demand a ransom payment for decryption (i.e., payment for decryption tools/software). There are several variants of this ransomware. During encryption, KesLan appends files with the ".TR" extension, and so a file like "1.jpg" appears as "1.jpg.TR".

A different variant of this malware renames files with the ".TMTEAM" extension (e.g. "1.jpg.TMTEAM"). There are several other possible extensions: ".MMTeam", ".Sifrelendi" and ".TRSomware". Actions the ransomware takes following encryption depends on its version.

One creates a text file called "Dosyalarını Kurtarmak İstiyorsan Oku!!!.txt" (".TR" variant), whilst another creates "@Lütfen Beni Oku!@.txt" and changes the desktop wallpaper to "@TMTeam@.png" (".TMTEAM" variant). These text files (and the wallpaper) are ransom messages in Turkish.

According to a rough translation, the message within the "Dosyalarını Kurtarmak İstiyorsan Oku!!!.txt" file states that the cost of a decryption tool is 400 Turkish liras (approx. $69 US dollars). The message informs victims that paying the ransom is the only way to recover encrypted data.

Additionally, it states that this payment must be made in the Bitcoin cryptocurrency. The other version of the KesLan text file ("Dosyalarını Kurtarmak İstiyorsan Oku!!!.txt") contains a more detailed message.

It claims that all of the user's important files (documents, photos, videos, databases, etc.) have been encrypted and only the cyber criminals behind the infection can restore them to their original condition. This ransom message does not specify the size of payment, but gives victims seven days to pay, claiming that after this period, decryption will no longer be possible.

Users are instructed to contact the developers of KesLan via the Discord communication platform. Once the transaction is made, victims are promised that they will be sent the tools necessary to recover their data.

The message ends with warnings, which instruct users not remove the ransomware program or run any anti-virus software, otherwise they will experience permanent data loss. The message recommends that they disable antivirus software, as this can automatically eliminate KesLan and the result is identical.

Furthermore, the device must be connected to the internet, so that the criminals can communicate with the victims. The text presented on the wallpaper ("@TMTeam@.png") is a practically identical ransom message to "Dosyalarını Kurtarmak İstiyorsan Oku!!!.txt".

Unfortunately, as in most cases of ransomware infections, manual decryption is impossible without the interference of the developers, unless the malware is still in development and/or has certain flaws/bugs. Regardless, you are strongly advised against communicating with and/or paying cyber criminals.

Often, despite meeting the ransom demands, affected users do not receive the promised decryption tools/software. Therefore, their files remain encrypted and beyond repair.

To prevent KesLan from further encryption, it must be removed from the system, however, removal will not restore already compromised files. The data can be recovered form a backup, if one was made prior the infection and stored in a different location.

Screenshot of a message encouraging users to pay a ransom to decrypt their compromised data:

LockBit, IMI, ROGER, JavaRatty are a few examples of other malicious programs under this classification. Ransomware is created to encrypt data and demand payment for decryption, however these infections are not identical. Crucial differences include the cryptographic algorithm (symmetric or asymmetric) used to encrypt the files and the ransom size.

Cyber criminals prefer digital currencies (primarily, cryptocurrencies), since these transactions are difficult/impossible to trace. To ensure data safety, keep backups on remote servers and/or unplugged storage devices. Ideally, several backup copies should be stored separately, in different locations.

How did ransomware infect my computer?

Ransomware and other malware usually proliferate via spam campaigns, trojans, untrustworthy download channels, fake software updaters and illegal activation ("cracking") tools. Spam campaigns are used to send deceptive emails on a large scale. These emails are usually disguised as "official", "important", "urgent" and so on.

They contain infectious files (or links leading to them). The attachments can be in various formats: archive (RAR, ZIP) and executable (.run, .exe) files, PDF and Microsoft Office documents, JavaScript, etc. When dangerous files are run, executed or otherwise opened, they are triggered to initiate the system infection (i.e., they begin downloading/installing malware).

Trojans are malicious programs designed to cause chain infections. Untrustworthy download sources such as unofficial and free file-hosting sites, P2P sharing networks (BitTorrent, Gnutella, eMule, etc.) and other third party downloaders are likely to offer malicious content (e.g. in the guise of normal software or bundled with it).

Fake updaters cause infections by misusing weaknesses of outdated programs or simply by installing malware rather than the updates. Rather than activating licensed products, illegal activation tools ("cracks") can download/install malware.

How to protect yourself from ransomware infections

You are strongly advised not to open suspicious/irrelevant emails. All attachments and links found in suspect mail must never be opened, as these files are the source of a potential infection. Only official and verified download channels should be used. Software activation and updating should be performed with tools/functions provided by legitimate developers.

Illegal activation ("cracking") tools and third party updaters are high-risk, and therefore should not be used. It is important to have a reputable anti-virus/anti-spyware suite installed and kept up-to-date.

Use these programs to perform regular system scans and removal of all detected threats. If your computer is already infected with KesLan, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this ransomware.

Text presented in KesLan ransomware text file ("Dosyalarını Kurtarmak İstiyorsan Oku!!!.txt"):

Sen:  Dosyalarımı Nasıl Kurtarabilirim

Ben:  400 TL Karşılığın'da Dosyalarınızı Kurtarabilirsiniz.
Aksi Taktir'de Dosyalarınızı Sonsuza Kadar Kurtaramazsınız. :)
Kısaca 400 = Decryptor Kapiş?

Sen:  Adresi Ver OÇ
BTC(Bitcoin) Address:

Ben:  Kes Lan

Screenshot of files encrypted by KesLan (".TR" extension):

Screenshot of the second KesLan variant text file ("@Lütfen Beni Oku!@.txt"):

Text presented in this file:

Bilgisayarıma ne oldu?
Önemli dosyalarınız şifrelidir.
Belgelerinizin, fotoğraflarınızın, videolarınızın, veritabanlarının ve diğer dosyalarınızın birçoğu şifrelendiğinden artık erişilebilir değillerdir. Belki dosyalarınızı kurtarmanın bir yolunu bulmakla meşgulsünüz, ancak zamanınızı boşa harcamayın. Şifreleme servisimiz olmadan dosyalarınızı kimse kurtaramaz.

Dosyalarımı Kurtarabilir miyim?
Tüm dosyalarınızı güvenli ve kolay bir şekilde kurtarabileceğinizi garanti ederiz. Ama yeterince zamanınız yok.
Eğer 7 gün içinde ödeme yapmazsanız, dosyalarınızı sonsuza dek kurtaramazsınız.

Nasıl ödeme yaparım?
Ödeme için discord'dan bizi ekleyin: 0xDays#8262
Ödemenizin ardından size özel decryptor yani şifre çözücüyü vereceğiz.
Ödeme yapıldıktan sonra decryptor(şifre çözücü) ile hemen dosyalarınızın şifresini çözmeye başlayabilirsiniz.

Siz, ödeme yapana ve ödeme işleme koyulana kadar, bu yazılımı kaldırmamaya ve anti-virüsünüzü bir süre devre dışı bırakmamenizi önemle tavsiye ederiz. Virüsten koruma yazılımınız güncellenir ve bu yazılımı otomatik olarak kaldırırsa, ödeme yapsanız bile dosyalarınızı kurtaramazsınız!
Ve sakın unutmayın internetinizi açık brakın yoksa sizle iletişime geçemeyiz.

Screenshot of files encrypted by KesLan (".TMTEAM" extension):

Screenshot of the second KesLan variant wallpaper ("@TMTeam@.png"):

Text presented in the wallpaper:

Oops Tüm Dosyalarınız Şifrelendi!
Önemli dosyalarınız şifrelidir.
Belgelerinizin, fotoğraflarınızın, videolarınızın, veritabanlarının ve diğer dosyalarınızın birçoğu şifrelendiğinden artık erişilebilir değillerdir. Belki dosyalarınızı kurtarmanın bir yolunu bulmakla meşgulsünüz, ancak zamanınızı boşa harcamayın. Şifreleme servisimiz olmadan dosyalarınızı kimse kurtaramaz.

Dosyalarımı Kurtarabilir miyim?
Tüm dosyalarınızı güvenli ve kolay bir şekilde kurtarabileceğinizi garanti ederiz. Ama yeterince zamanınız yok. Eğer 7 gün içinde ödeme yapmazsanız, dosyalarınızı sonsuza dek kurtaramazsınız.

Nasıl ödeme yaparım?
Ödeme için discord'dan bizimle iletişime geçin: 0xDays#8262
Ödemenizin ardından size özel decryptor yani şifre çözücüyü vereceğiz.
Ödeme yapıldıktan sonra decryptor(şifre çözücü) ile hemen dosyalarınızın şifresini çözmeye başlayabilirsiniz.

Siz, ödeme yapana ve ödeme işleme koyulana kadar, bu yazılımı kaldırmamaya ve anti-virüsünüzü bir süre devre dişi bırakmamenizi önemle tavsiye ederiz. Virüsten koruma yazılımınız güncellenir ve bu yazılımı otomatik olarak kaldırırsa, ödeme yapsanız bile dosyalarınızı kurtaramazsınız!
Ve sakin unutmayın internetinizi açık brakın yoksa sizinle iletişime geçemeyiz.

Update December 5, 2019 - Cyber criminals have recently released an updated version of KesLan ransomware, which now provides ransom messages in both English ("@Please_Read_Me@.txt") and Turkish ("@Lütfen_Beni_Oku!@.txt").

Screenshot of the English ransom note ("@Please_Read_Me@.txt"):

Text presented within this message:

Q: What happened to my files?

A: Your important files are encrypted. This means that you can no longer access them until they are decrypted.
   If you follow our instructions, we guarantee that you can decrypt all your files quickly and safely!
   Let's start decoding!

Q: What should I do?

A: You must pay the service fee for decryption first.
   Please send $ 100 bitcoin to this bitcoin address: 1MyAGtQZTGndY2wRGD5pscNJbHir3jFDib

   Then, please locate an application file named "@ MMDecrypt0r @ .exe". It is decryption software.
   (You may need to disable your antivirus software for a while.)

Q: How can I trust you?

A: Don't worry about decryption.
   We will definitely decrypt your files because if we deceive users, no one will trust us.

Screenshot of the Turkish ransom message ("@Lütfen_Beni_Oku!@.txt"):

Text presented within this message:

Q: Dosyalarıma ne oldu?

A: Önemli dosyalarınız şifrelenmiştir. Bu, şifresi çözülene kadar onlara artık erişemeyeceğiniz anlamına gelir.
   Talimatlarımızı yerine getirirseniz, tüm dosyalarınızın şifresini hızlı ve güvenli bir şekilde çözebileceğinizi garanti ederiz!
   Şifre çözmeye başlayalım!

Q: Ne yapayım?

A: İlk önce şifre çözme için servis ücreti ödemeniz gerekir.
   Lütfen bu bitcoin adresine 100$ değerinde bitcoin gönderiniz: 1MyAGtQZTGndY2wRGD5pscNJbHir3jFDib

   Daha sonra, lütfen "@MMDecrypt0r@.exe" adlı bir uygulama dosyası bulun. Şifre çözme yazılımıdır.
   (Virüsten koruma yazılımınızı bir süre devre dışı bırakmanız gerekebilir.)
   
Q: Nasıl güvenebilirim?

A: Şifre çözme konusunda endişelenmeyin.
   Dosyalarınızı kesinlikle şifresini çözeceğiz çünkü kullanıcıları aldatırsak kimse bize güvenmeyecek.

Screenshot of the desktop wallpaper:

Screenshot of files encrypted by the updated KesLan ransomware (".TRSomware" extension):

KesLan ransomware removal:

Instant automatic malware removal:

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Removal and file recovery procedure

If your files are encrypted with a new extension and a ransom note has appeared, you've been hit by ransomware. Don't pay. The procedure below works in order: contain the infection, identify the variant, remove the ransomware itself (so anything you restore doesn't get re-encrypted), and try to recover files using free decryption tools, Windows Volume Shadow Copies, or backups. Run a full system scan with Combo Cleaner to remove the infection - then move on to file recovery.

Common ransomware behaviors

VisibleEncrypts your files and renames them

The ransomware reads each file, encrypts the contents with the attacker's public key, and writes the encrypted bytes back to disk. Most variants also rename the file by appending a new extension - .net, .locked, .crypt, .lockbit, .djvu, etc. Without the matching private key, the encrypted files cannot be opened normally. Recovery depends on a free decryption tool, a recoverable Volume Shadow Copy, or a clean backup.

VisibleDrops a ransom note in every encrypted folder

A text or HTML file (usually named HOW_TO_DECRYPT.txt, README.txt, _readme.txt, or similar) is placed in every folder that contains encrypted files. The note explains the situation, lists a payment amount in cryptocurrency, gives a deadline, and provides a contact email or .onion site. Save the note - don't delete it. Its exact wording, the email address, and the bitcoin wallet are how you identify the variant in the next phase.

VisibleReplaces the desktop wallpaper

Many ransomware variants change the Windows wallpaper to a black or red image with the ransom message and instructions. The wallpaper is just a visual scare tactic - it doesn't add any actual capability and reverts to normal once the ransomware is removed. Photograph it before removal in case the contact details are useful for variant identification or for reporting to authorities.

HiddenDeletes Volume Shadow Copies

One of the first things modern ransomware does after launching is run vssadmin delete shadows /all /quiet to wipe Windows' built-in Volume Shadow Copies - the snapshots that Previous Versions and System Restore rely on. Some ransomware doesn't fully succeed (especially on systems where the user lacks full admin rights), leaving partial shadow copies recoverable. Phase 4 step 11 covers how to check what survived.

HiddenDisables Windows Defender and other security tools

Before encrypting, the ransomware tries to silence anything that could alert you or block it - Windows Defender real-time protection, third-party antivirus services, backup agents (Veeam, Acronis), and sometimes the Windows Event Log service. It often modifies Group Policy or registry keys to keep these off after reboot. Phase 3 step 9 explicitly turns Tamper Protection back on so the next ransomware attempt can't repeat the trick.

HiddenSpreads laterally to other PCs on the network

Network-aware ransomware (LockBit, Conti, BlackCat, Akira families) doesn't stop at the first machine. It scans for SMB shares, mapped drives, and other PCs on the same network, then encrypts whatever it can reach. On Windows domains, a single compromised user with admin rights can lead to all-domain encryption. This is why Phase 1 step 2 disconnects the network as the very first action - it stops the spread immediately.

HiddenSteals data before encrypting (double extortion)

Modern ransomware (LockBit, BlackCat / ALPHV, Akira, Cl0p, Royal) almost always exfiltrates data before encrypting. The attacker then runs a "double extortion" play: pay the ransom for decryption, plus pay again to prevent the stolen data from being leaked on the group's leak site. Paying the first ransom does not get the leaked data back - assume that anything the ransomware could read was uploaded. This is one more reason not to pay: the data is already out.

Tools you'll need

Combo Cleaner Antivirus 7-days free trial

Recommended primary scanner. VB100 certified. Removes the ransomware infection so file recovery doesn't get re-encrypted.

Microsoft Defender Offline Free · built-in

Built into Windows. Scans before Windows fully loads to catch persistence the running scanners miss.

Microsoft Safety Scanner (MSERT) Free

Microsoft's free on-demand scanner. Always-current signatures - the binary expires every 10 days.

ID Ransomware Free · web

Upload a ransom note and a sample encrypted file - identifies the variant family and tells you whether a free decryptor exists.

No More Ransom Project Free · web

Joint project of Europol, Dutch Police, and security vendors. Free decryption tools indexed by ransomware family.

Shadow Explorer Free

Browse Windows Volume Shadow Copies as a normal file tree - useful when ransomware partially failed to delete them.

Recuva Free

Deleted-file recovery. Long-shot for ransomware - only helps if the variant deleted unencrypted originals before encrypting copies.

Phase 1~ 5 min

Don't pay & contain

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1

Don't pay the ransom

1 min · read⚠ Do not skip

Paying the ransom does not guarantee you'll get your files back. Major ransomware response studies consistently show that a meaningful percentage of paying victims either receive a non-working decryptor, only partial decryption, or no decryptor at all. Beyond that:

• Paying confirms you as a willing target - re-attack rates within 12 months are high
• Several ransomware groups have been sanctioned (US OFAC, UK OFSI). Paying these groups may be illegal under sanctions law in your country
• The ransom funds the next attack - on you or someone else
• Modern ransomware almost always exfiltrates data first, so paying doesn't get the leaked data back. Assume anything the malware could read was uploaded
• Decryptors, even when they work, often leave files corrupted because the encryption itself was buggy or rushed

The path below tries every legal, free recovery option first. Pay only as an absolute last resort, after consulting a lawyer and your country's cyber crime authority.

2

Disconnect from the network and log out of cloud storage

2 minNo tool needed

Pull the Ethernet cable and turn off Wi-Fi on the affected PC. If multiple computers share the network, do the same on every machine you suspect could be affected, including any servers and NAS units.

Then sign out of cloud storage clients (OneDrive, Dropbox, Google Drive, iCloud) from their app settings. If you can, pause the sync. Some ransomware uses the running sync client to push encrypted versions over your clean cloud copies.

Why this matters

Modern ransomware spreads laterally across SMB shares, mapped drives, RDP, and reachable network neighbors. Disconnecting stops the spread the moment you do it. Logging out of cloud sync clients prevents the ransomware from encrypting the cloud copies of your files via the sync API.

3

Unplug external drives and USB storage

1 minNo tool needed

Safely eject any external drives, USB sticks, SD cards, and network-attached storage shares - then unplug them. If a drive was connected when the ransomware ran, the files on it may already be encrypted, but unplugging stops further damage.

Critically: don't reconnect any drive (including your most recent backup) to this PC until the ransomware is removed in Phase 3. Reconnecting an external backup to an actively-infected PC is the most common way that backup gets encrypted too.

Phase 2~ 5 min

Identify the variant

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4

Save the ransom note and a sample encrypted file

2 min

Copy the ransom note and one small encrypted file (under 1 MB) to a USB stick, or photograph the note with your phone. You'll need both for the variant identification step.

The ransom note is usually one of:

• A .txt file in every encrypted folder (typically HOW_TO_DECRYPT.txt, README.txt, or _readme.txt)
• An .html file with the same purpose
• A changed desktop wallpaper - photograph it
• A lock-screen interrupt that runs at startup - rarer

Important

Don't delete the note. Variant identification depends on its exact wording, the contact email, and the bitcoin wallet address. The note is also evidence if you report to authorities.

5

Identify the variant with ID Ransomware

Tool: ID Ransomware3 min

From a clean device (your phone is fine, or another PC that wasn't on the affected network), visit id-ransomware.malwarehunterteam.com. Upload the ransom note and the sample encrypted file. The site identifies the variant family and tells you whether a free decryptor exists.

Pro tip

ID Ransomware is run by the Malware Hunter Team. Files you upload are kept private - they're used for analysis, not published. If you're concerned about uploading data anyway, you can paste the contact email and bitcoin wallet from the note - those are often enough for identification.

Phase 3~ 30-45 min

Remove the ransomware

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The ransomware itself must be removed before any file recovery. If it's still active, anything you restore in Phase 4 gets re-encrypted within minutes.

6

Boot to Safe Mode with Networking and download the scanners

5 min

Safe Mode loads only the minimal Windows drivers, which prevents most ransomware from auto-running while you set up the scanners.

Windows 11: open Settings → System → Recovery, click Restart now next to Advanced startup. After the restart, click Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Startup Settings → Restart, then press 5 or F5.

Windows 10: click the Windows logo, hold Shift, click the Power icon and choose Restart. From the Choose-an-option screen, click Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Startup Settings → Restart, then press F5.

Once Safe Mode has loaded, turn Wi-Fi back on and download Combo Cleaner (used in step 8) and Microsoft Safety Scanner (used in step 9). Save both installers to your Desktop, then disconnect Wi-Fi again before scanning.

7

Run Microsoft Defender Offline

Tool: Built into Windows15 min

Reboot to normal Windows. Open Windows Security → Virus & threat protection → Scan options. Select Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan) and click Scan now. The PC restarts into a stripped-down environment and scans the disk before Windows fully loads.

Why this comes first

Some ransomware variants drop bootkit components or kernel hooks that hide from any scanner running on the same Windows session that's already infected. A pre-boot offline scan sees the disk before the malware can load itself.

Recommended antivirus

Combo Cleaner

VB100 certified. Includes anti-trojan, registry/persistence scanning, and anti-spyware in one pass. The 7-day free trial is available.

Download Combo Cleaner

8

Run a full Combo Cleaner scan

Tool: Combo Cleaner20-40 min

Run the installer you downloaded in step 6 and start a full system scan (not the quick scan). Let it complete, review what it detected, and apply the recommended actions. Combo Cleaner quarantines the ransomware executable and the registry / scheduled-task entries that re-launch it on reboot.

9

Run Microsoft Safety Scanner and re-enable Defender

Tool: MSERT15 min

Run Microsoft Safety Scanner (MSERT.exe) as a second-opinion full scan. The binary expires every 10 days so the copy you downloaded has the latest signatures.

Once it finishes, open Windows Security → Virus & threat protection → Manage settings and confirm Real-time protection, Cloud-delivered protection, and Tamper Protection are all on. Many ransomware variants disable Defender during the attack - this is where you switch it back on so the next attempt can't repeat the trick.

Why a second scan

Different scanning engines catch different threats. Running an additional Microsoft scan after Combo Cleaner is the most underused verification step in malware removal - and free.

Phase 4~ 30-60 min · results vary

Try to recover files

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Try the steps in order. The first decryptor that works ends the recovery process - no need to do all four.

10

Check the No More Ransom Project for a free decryptor

Tool: nomoreransom.org★ Cleanest path if listed5 min

Visit nomoreransom.org and search the Decryption Tools list for the variant name returned by ID Ransomware. The project is run by Europol, the Dutch Police, and security vendors - everything listed is legitimate and free.

If a decryptor exists, download it onto a clean PC, copy it across, and follow its instructions exactly. Decryptors usually want you to point them at a sample encrypted file plus its known unencrypted version (sometimes any image you previously had a backup of works).

Free decryptors exist for parts of the STOP/Djvu, GandCrab, REvil, Avaddon, Conti and Hive families, among others. Most modern variants don't have public decryptors - if yours isn't listed, that's expected; move to the next step.

11

Try Windows Volume Shadow Copies

Tool: Shadow Explorer / vssadmin15 min

Windows automatically creates Volume Shadow Copies of files when System Restore points are made or scheduled backups run. Most ransomware tries to wipe these (vssadmin delete shadows /all /quiet), but the deletion sometimes fails partially - especially if the running user doesn't have full admin rights. When it does fail, snapshots survive that contain pre-encryption versions of your files.

First, check what's there. Open Command Prompt as Administrator and run:

vssadmin list shadows

If you see entries listed, shadow copies survived. To restore from them:

• Built-in: right-click any folder → Properties → Previous Versions tab. Pick a snapshot dated before the infection and restore.
• Better tool for browsing: install Shadow Explorer (free). It shows all snapshots as a normal file tree and lets you copy out only the files you want.

Why check this even when there's a decryptor

Shadow Copies recover the original files exactly, with no risk of decryption errors. If they survived, this is faster and cleaner than running a decryptor on the encrypted set.

12

Restore from cloud or external backup

Tool: your backup software30 min

If you have a backup that pre-dates the infection, this is the cleanest recovery available. Important precautions:

• Don't reconnect a backup drive until Phase 3 is complete. If the ransomware is still active, plugging in the backup encrypts it too.
• For cloud backups (OneDrive, Dropbox, Google Drive, iCloud), use the Version History feature to roll individual files back to pre-encryption versions.
• OneDrive specifically has a "Restore your OneDrive" feature: if it detected mass file changes, you can roll back the entire account up to 30 days. Sign in at OneDrive on the web, click the Settings gear, and choose Restore your OneDrive. Microsoft 365 subscribers also get ransomware detection alerts; non-subscribers get one free recovery.
• Verify the restored files open correctly before you delete the encrypted set. Test a few documents, photos, and any database / project files.

13

Try Recuva as a last-resort recovery

Tool: Recuva30 min

Recuva is a long shot, not a primary recovery tool. Most modern ransomware encrypts files in place - it reads the original, encrypts the data, and writes the encrypted bytes back to the same disk location. In that case, the original isn't deleted, just rewritten - and Recuva has nothing to find.

But for older or simpler variants that deleted originals before creating encrypted copies (rather than encrypting in place), Recuva can sometimes pull the originals from unallocated disk space. Worth trying as a last resort, especially before you use the disk much further.

If you try it:

• Stop using the disk as much as possible - every disk write reduces recovery odds
• Run Recuva from a USB stick, not from the affected disk
• Use Deep Scan mode (slower but the only mode worth running for this scenario)

Don't skip the steps above expecting Recuva to bail you out. It works in maybe 5-20% of cases, depending on the variant and how soon you try.

Phase 5~ 20 min + ongoing

Report & prevent re-infection

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14

Report the attack to authorities

10-20 min

Even if your files aren't recovered, your report helps authorities track variants, attribute groups, and warn future victims. In some jurisdictions (especially the US and UK) early reporting can sometimes help recall a wired ransom payment via banking partners.

United States: ic3.gov (FBI) + stopransomware.gov (CISA)

United Kingdom: reportfraud.police.uk (Report Fraud, the successor to Action Fraud) + NCSC

Canada: antifraudcentre.ca

Australia: ReportCyber

Spain: Policía Nacional (Oficina Virtual de Denuncias)

France: cybermalveillance.gouv.fr

Germany: BKA

Italy: Polizia Postale

Netherlands: Politie

Poland: CERT Polska

Portugal: CNCS

EU (other): your national CERT

Save the report number - banks, insurers, and credit bureaus will ask for it. If you operate a business, you may also have legal disclosure obligations (GDPR in the EU, state breach laws in the US) that run on a 72-hour clock.

15

Plan 3-2-1 backups going forward

30 min initial

The single best defense against ransomware is a tested backup. Use the 3-2-1 rule:

• 3 copies of your data
• 2 different storage media (e.g., internal drive + external drive)
• 1 offline / air-gapped copy (an external drive that isn't always connected)

Recommended cadence:

• Daily: cloud sync (OneDrive, Dropbox, Google Drive) - convenient, but vulnerable if the ransomware reaches the sync folder. The Version History feature is what saves you
• Weekly: external drive that you connect briefly, then disconnect - the air-gap is what protects against ransomware
• Monthly: a second external drive stored off-site (different physical location) - protects against fire, theft, flood

Important

Test the backup at least once. Open a few files from it, check sizes match, restore one to a different folder. An untested backup isn't a backup - it's a hope.

16

Patch the entry point and monitor for 30 days

5 min/day · 30 days

Most reinfections happen via the same vector that worked the first time. Until you've patched the entry point, watch for:

• Unusual disk activity, unexpected file modifications, or unfamiliar processes in Task Manager
• Unexpected reboots or new accounts you didn't create
• Defender or your antivirus turning itself off again

Common entry vectors and what to do about each:

• Phishing email with a malicious attachment - review email filters and train yourself / staff to recognise the patterns - see pcrisk's Phishing/Scam reference
• Exposed RDP with weak passwords - disable Remote Desktop from Settings → System → Remote Desktop if you don't need it. If you do, put it behind a VPN and require a long password plus MFA
• Unpatched VPN appliances or public-facing apps - check the vendor's advisories page and apply the latest firmware
• Cracked / pirated software - was the most common vector for STOP/Djvu in particular. Don't run software from torrent sites

Run a Combo Cleaner scan weekly for the first month. Update Windows, browsers, and applications aggressively.

Important: Removing a ransomware infection requires a full system scan, not a manual file delete. If you're not confident with the manual procedure, run an automated scan with Combo Cleaner and Windows Defender and stop there - that combination removes the vast majority of consumer ransomware variants. Then move to Phase 4 for file recovery, or to Phase 5 if your files are unrecoverable and you need to start fresh from a clean Windows install.