Guide to Remove French101 Ransomware-converted

Guide to Remove French101 Ransomware
Are your system files encrypted? Are you finding it arduous to access your data or files? Do you
observe an alien extension appended to the documents name? If yes, then the real culprit behind
this unexpected disturbance can be a Ransomware program like French101 Ransomware.
Continue to read to learn what menace French101 can cause & how to get rid of French101
Ransomware.
What Is French101 Ransomware
French101 is a malware crafted by Cyber crooks to extort money from the innocent users by
encoding their data files & making them inaccessible.
Discovered by a security researcher named Pertovic, French101 Ransomware stealthily marches
in to the system along with spam e-mails & attachments. Following the system invasion, it
encrypts all the important data & files of the user, hence making them completely inaccessible.
Every attempt to open the encrypted files goes in vain.
A ransom note follows when users try to open an encoded file. The developers ask the users to
pay the ransom in Bitcoins in order to purchase the decryption key & retrieve the encrypted files.
According to a detailed report by the security researchers, French101 Ransomware is a variant of
the giant Scarab Ransomware family & encrypting files on the infected system via an AES
Algorithm.
Threat Behavior of French101 Ransomware
French101, a crypto-extortionist malware is the recent menacing feather in the Ransomware
world. This silent intruder breaks into the users’ system via spam e-mails, infected software, fake
updates, adult content sites, torrent sites, shareware file downloads or bundled with other free
third-party applications.
While most of the computer users are aware that malign threats like French101 Ransomware set
foot in the systems via spam e-mails, cyber criminals seem to be two steps ahead of the users.
You must have noticed e-mails with intriguing subjects flooding your inbox every now & then.
These may include subject lines like- Bank Details, Credit Card Bills, You Won a Prize, Free
Lottery Tickets etc. Please note that a mere click on these e-mails can infect your system with a
myriad of malware including Ransomware.
Following the successful invasion, the French101 Ransomware initiates a highly sophisticated
AES Algorithm & encrypts all the files on the targeted system. The Ransomware entitles an
extensive identifier to each infected system. The identifier that is released on the infected system
contains hundreds of random characters & extracted as a ransom note in the text format.
The text file containing Ransom Note is named as – “HOW TO RECOVER ENCRYPTED
FILES.TXT”. It has been observed that the ransom note for French101 resembles Scarab’s,
however the e-mail contacts mentioned in the note differ.
The note prompts the user to contact the cyber crooks via any pof the below mentioned e-mails•
[email protected]
•
[email protected]
•
[email protected]
The Ransom Note for the French101 Ransomware reads as follows:
This dubious Ransomware infection takes below mentioned files extensions hostage:
•
Text Documents (.txt, .doc, .xis, .pdf).
•
Multi-media documents such as images, audio files, video files
French101 Ransomware - Distribution Tactics
The cybercriminals use various strategies for malware distribution which include –
1. Software Bundling: Software bundling is the process in which a malicious program is
distributed with other free software, to get an unnoticed entry into your computer system.
When a user installs a free application, the malicious programs gains a front door entry
with the free application, the user has downloaded. Thus, it is a good idea to keep an eye
on the installation screens while installing these free applications.
2. Infected Storage Devices: Your system can also get infected by using removable media
such as USB hard drives and jump drives without scanning them with an anti-virus.
3. Spam Emails – Spamming is the most economic and common method used for the
distribution of such malware. The targeted users get genuine looking emails which
contain .doc, .txt, and other similar attachments. These attachments can be named as
anything which can grab the user’s attention and triggers him/her to open the attachment.
As soon as the user opens this attachment, the malware infects the user’s computer
system.
4. Malicious Websites or Malevolent Advertisements: The malicious websites are the
ones which are created just for promoting the malware infections. Such websites include
but are not limited to porn sites, torrent sites and other free downloading platforms. By
visiting such websites, the adware infects the user’s computer without permission. Fake
advertisements and updates like Flash player and windows updates which ask the user to
update to the latest version are a few examples. When the users click on such links, their
computer system gets infected. That is why, it is highly recommended to resist clicking
on such links. Also avoid clicking on advertisements offering free stuff such as Win an
iPhones, cars or free overseas trips etc.
Threat Summary
Name: French101
Targeted Operating System: Windows
Category: Ransomware
Symptoms: User’s files are encrypted & inaccessible. All locked files are appended
with .french101 extension & a ransom note demanding a ransom in bitcoin(s) prompts on
the screen
.
How to Remove French101 Ransomware from my SystemSTEP A: Remove the services installed by French101 Ransomware from the
system using safe mode with Command Prompt
For Window 7/XP
1. Click on Windows icon present in the lower left corner of the computer screen.
2. Select and click Restart.
3. When the screen goes blank, keep tapping F8 key until you see the Advanced Boot
Options window.
4. With the help of arrow keys on keyboard, Select Safe Mode with Command
Prompt from the list and press the Enter Key. The system will then restart to Safe Mode
with Command Prompt.
5. Click on the username and enter the password (if any).
STEP B: Restore your system files and settings
Method 1 Using Control Panel
1. Click on the ‘Start’ button on the taskbar. This will open the Start menu.
2. Click on the ‘Control Panel’ button in the Start menu. This will open the control
panel window.
3. In the Control Panel window, click on the ‘View by:’ button on the top right.
Select the Large Icon option
4. In the control Panel window click on the ‘Recovery Icon’. This will open a
window that will ask ‘Restore the computer to an earlier point in time’
5. Click on the ‘Open system restore’ button. This will open the ‘system
restore ’window where you need to click on the Next Button.
6. Select the restore point that is prior the infiltration of French101 Ransomware. After
doing that, click Next.
7. This will open the ‘Confirm your restore point’ dialog box. Click on Finish
button. This will restore your system to a previous restore point before your system was
infected by French101 Ransomware
Method 2 Using Command Prompt
1. Type cmd in the search box and click on the command prompt to open the
Command Prompt window. box and clicking on it.
2. Once the Command Prompt window shows up, enter cd restore and
click Enter.(Ensure that you in the system32 directory of Windows folder in C
Drive)
3. Now type rstrui and press Enter again.
4. When a new window shows up, click Next and select your restore point that is
prior the infiltration of French101 Ransomware. After doing that, click Next.
5. This will open the ‘Confirm your restore point’ dialog box. Click
on Finish button. This will restore your system to a previous restore point before
your system was infected by French101 Ransomware.
Method 3 : Using type ‘rstrui’ in the search box
1. Type ‘Rstrui’ in the search box present on the task bar. This will open the System restore
dialog box.
•
Continue to follow steps 4 & 5 of Method 2 to restore the System Files and settings.
How to Remove French101 Ransomware from my System-
STEP A: Remove the services installed by French101 Ransomware from
the system using safe mode with Command Prompt
For Windows 10/Windows 8
1. Press and hold the Shift Key and simultaneously click on the windows icon present in the
lower left corner of your computer screen.
2. While the Shift key is still pressed click on the Power button and then click on Restart.
3. Now select Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Startup Settings.
4. When the Startup Settings screen appears which is the first screen to appear after restart.
select and click on Enable Safe Mode with Command Prompt. The system will then
restart to Safe Mode with Command Prompt
5. Click on the username and enter the password.
STEP B: Restore your system files and settings
Method 1 Using Control Panel
1. Click on the ‘Start’ button on the taskbar. This will open the Start menu.
2. Click on the ‘Control Panel’ button in the Start menu. This will open the control panel
window.
3. In the Control Panel window, click on the ‘View by:’ button on the top right. Select the
Large Icon option.
4. In the control Panel window click on the ‘Recovery Icon’. This will open a window that
will ask ‘Restore the computer to an earlier point in time’.
5. Click on the ‘Open system restore’ button. This will open the ‘system restore ’window
where you need to click on the Next Button.
6. Select the restore point that is prior the infiltration of French101 Ransomware. After
doing that, click Next.
7. This will open the ‘Confirm your restore point’ dialog box. Click on Finish button. This
will restore your system to a previous restore point before your system was infected by
French101 Ransomware.
Method 2 Using Command Prompt
1. Type cmd in the search box and click on the command prompt to open the
Command Prompt window. box and clicking on it.
2. Once the Command Prompt window shows up, enter cd restore and click Enter.(Ensure
that you in the system32 directory of Windows folder in C Drive)
3. Now type rstrui and press Enter again.
4. When a new window shows up, click Next and select your restore point that is prior the
infiltration of French101 Ransomware. After doing that, click Next.
5. This will open the ‘Confirm your restore point’ dialog box. Click
on Finish button. This will restore your system to a previous restore point before your
system was infected by French101 Ransomware.
Method 3 : Using type ‘rstrui’ in the search box
1. Type ‘Rstrui’ in the search box present on the task bar. This will open the System restore
dialog box.
•
Continue to follow steps 4 & 5 of Method 2 to restore the System Files and settings.
Tips to prevent your computer system from getting infected –
1. Keeping the Operating System Updated- In order to remain protected and avoid such
infections, it is recommended to keep your Operating System updated by enabling the
automatic update on your system. The systems with outdated or older versions of
Operating System become an easy target for the attackers.
2. Resist clicking on spam emails – One of the major techniques used for malware
distribution is forwarding spam emails to the user. The system gets infected as soon as
the user clicks on the attachment. These mails appear to be genuine, so be aware and
resist falling for these tricks.
3. Keep an eye on third party installations- It is quite important that you take due care
while installing any third party applications for they are major source of such infections.
Such malware programs come bundled with the free applications thereby requiring the
user to remain cautious.
4. Regular periodical backup- In order to keep your data and files safe, it is recommended
to take regular back up of all your data and files either on an external drive or cloud.
5. Use Anti-Virus Protection- we strongly recommend the use of antivirus protection
internet security in your pc like BULL GUARD and Hitman Pro so that is remains safe.
6. Enable the Ad Blocker/Popup Blocker in your browser- Enabling the popup blocker/
ad blocker in your chosen browser will help you to stay protected from annoying adware.
Resource Link: https://www.virusremovalguidelines.com/ransomware/get-rid-of-french101ransomware-malware-removal-guidelines