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How to remove Powd ransomware

Powd ransomware is malware that encrypts files. It comes from the notorious Djvu/STOP ransomware family and is one of the most recent releases. It adds .powd to all encrypted files, and only after they’ve been decrypted will you be able to open them again. The majority of the files it targets are personal ones because they’re the most valuable to users. The malicious actors will try to sell you a decryptor for $980, but before you pay, you should consider all the risks associated with dealing with cyber criminals. For the decryptor, they will demand that you pay $980.

 

 

The most common types of personal files that are encrypted by ransomware include photos, videos, and documents. The .powd extension added to the encrypted files will make them easy to identify. For example, if encrypted, text.txt would become text.txt.powd. You will not be able to open any files with this extension unless you first decrypt them. But getting the decryptor will not be easy because only cybercriminals have it. The process of acquiring it is explained in the _readme.txt ransom note that gets dropped in all folders containing encrypted files.

The ransom note explains that the Powd ransomware decryptor costs $980. Additionally, victims who contact cyber criminals within the first 72 hours will supposedly get a 50% discount. Whether or not that claim is legitimate, it is not recommended to pay the ransom or even communicate with malicious actors. Even if you pay the ransom, there is no guarantee that you will receive a decryptor because you are dealing with cyber criminals. Malware developers are unlikely to feel obligated to help victims even if they pay the ransom. Additionally, bear in mind that the money collected from victim payments would be used to support future criminal activities.

Unfortunately, there currently is no free Powd ransomware decryptor available, thus victims without backups won’t be able to restore their files. At least not at the moment. The Djvu/STOP family of ransomware encrypts files using online keys, which means the keys are unique to each victim. For a decryptor to work for you, you would need to have your specific key. But only the malware operators have those keys, so unless they release them, a free Powd ransomware decryptor is not very likely. It’s not impossible that if cybercriminals ever decide to end their malicious activities or if they’re ever caught by law enforcement, the keys may eventually be released.

We also feel it’s necessary to warn you that there are many fake decryptors promoted on questionable forums. If a decryptor cannot be found on a site like NoMoreRansom, you certainly won’t find it on a random forum. You could even download something malicious if you’re not careful.

As soon as you remove Powd ransomware from your computer, you can begin file recovery from your backup if you have it. We strongly recommend you use anti-virus software to delete Powd ransomware because it’s a complex infection that should not be removed manually unless you know exactly what to do. Manual Powd ransomware would be quite difficult because it’s a sophisticated threat, so you could end up causing even more damage to your computer.

How does ransomware spread?

You are more likely to encounter malware if you have poor online habits. This is why users are always advised to be careful when online and develop better online habits. For example, something as simple as opening the wrong email attachment or downloading a torrent could result in a serious malware infection.

Cybercriminals often use email attachments to spread malware. They generally target thousands of users at a time after purchasing email addresses from hacker forums. They attach malicious files to emails that are made to look like they’re sent by legitimate companies. Fortunately for users, those emails are generally very poorly done so they’re quite easy to recognize. The red flag that’s most obvious in many of these emails is grammar and spelling mistakes. Because malicious senders typically pretend to be employees of legitimate companies, the mistakes are very obvious. Since they appear unprofessional, legitimate emails are unlikely to contain any mistakes, especially if they’re automatically-generated emails.

When you receive emails supposedly sent by a business whose services you use, and they address you using “User”, “Member”, or “Customer” instead of using your name, that is another red flag. Companies automatically insert their customers’ names in their emails to make the email seem more personal. However, because they generally target many users at the same time and do not have access to their personal information, malicious actors are forced to use generic words.

If threat actors were to target a specific person and had access to some of their personal data, they would create significantly more complex malicious emails. These emails would be error-free, address recipients by name, and contain details that would make the email seem more credible. Therefore, it is strongly encouraged to scan any unsolicited email attachments with anti-virus software or VirusTotal before opening them.

Finally, malware is frequently distributed using torrents. Torrent websites are typically not well-moderated, which allows malicious torrents to be uploaded by cyber criminals. Your chance of encountering malware infections greatly increases when you use torrents to download free copyrighted content. Most malware is usually found in torrents related to entertainment, particularly those for video games, movies, and TV series. So using torrents to download copyrighted content is technically theft, not to mention risky for your data and computer.

Powd ransomware removal

Manual Powd ransomware removal is not a good idea because ransomware is quite a sophisticated infection. You run the risk of further damaging your computer if you don’t know what you’re doing. It’s a difficult process that ought to be handled by experts. Using anti-virus software to remove Powd ransomware is much safer as well as easier. You can access your backup and begin restoring your files once the ransomware has been completely removed from the computer.

The only option you have if you don’t have backup copies of your files is to wait for a free Powd ransomware decryptor to be released. There are no guarantees that it will ever be released, however. Nonetheless, it is recommended to make a backup of your encrypted files while you wait for a free decryptor to become available.

Powd ransomware is detected as:

Quick Menu

Step 1. Delete Powd ransomware using Safe Mode with Networking.

Remove Powd ransomware from Windows 7/Windows Vista/Windows XP
  1. Click on Start and select Shutdown.
  2. Choose Restart and click OK.
  3. Start tapping F8 when your PC starts loading.
  4. Under Advanced Boot Options, choose Safe Mode with Networking.
  5. Open your browser and download the anti-malware utility.
  6. Use the utility to remove Powd ransomware
Remove Powd ransomware from Windows 8/Windows 10
  1. On the Windows login screen, press the Power button.
  2. Tap and hold Shift and select Restart.
  3. Go to Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Start Settings.
  4. Choose Enable Safe Mode or Safe Mode with Networking under Startup Settings.
  5. Click Restart.
  6. Open your web browser and download the malware remover.
  7. Use the software to delete Powd ransomware

Step 2. Restore Your Files using System Restore

Delete Powd ransomware from Windows 7/Windows Vista/Windows XP
  1. Click Start and choose Shutdown.
  2. Select Restart and OK
  3. When your PC starts loading, press F8 repeatedly to open Advanced Boot Options
  4. Choose Command Prompt from the list.
  5. Type in cd restore and tap Enter.
  6. Type in rstrui.exe and press Enter.
  7. Click Next in the new window and select the restore point prior to the infection.
  8. Click Next again and click Yes to begin the system restore.
Delete Powd ransomware from Windows 8/Windows 10
  1. Click the Power button on the Windows login screen.
  2. Press and hold Shift and click Restart.
  3. Choose Troubleshoot and go to Advanced options.
  4. Select Command Prompt and click Restart.
  5. In Command Prompt, input cd restore and tap Enter.
  6. Type in rstrui.exe and tap Enter again.
  7. Click Next in the new System Restore window.
  8. Choose the restore point prior to the infection.
  9. Click Next and then click Yes to restore your system.

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Site Disclaimer

2-remove-virus.com is not sponsored, owned, affiliated, or linked to malware developers or distributors that are referenced in this article. The article does not promote or endorse any type of malware. We aim at providing useful information that will help computer users to detect and eliminate the unwanted malicious programs from their computers. This can be done manually by following the instructions presented in the article or automatically by implementing the suggested anti-malware tools.

The article is only meant to be used for educational purposes. If you follow the instructions given in the article, you agree to be contracted by the disclaimer. We do not guarantee that the artcile will present you with a solution that removes the malign threats completely. Malware changes constantly, which is why, in some cases, it may be difficult to clean the computer fully by using only the manual removal instructions.