Aawt File Virus Ransomware Removal (+Decrypt .aawt files)

What is Aawt Ransomware?

Aawt ransomware is a recently found file-encrypting malware. It is a variant of Stop/Djvu family. Upon infiltration, it renders all the files inaccessible by using a powerful encryption algorithm. This dubious virus blackmails users to pay a hefty amount as ransom to buy a decryption key that can unlock their files.

It appends the “.Aawt” extension at the end of all the filenames after encryption. This is why it is also known as .Aawt File Virus. For an instance, a file named “sample.png” will appear as “sample.png.Aawt” and so on. These encoded files cannot be accessed without a decryption tool.

After successful encryption of all the data, a ransom note “_readme.txt” is also created on the computer. It contains information about how to pay the ransom money to purchase the decryption key. Read this guide carefully to learn how to remove Aawt Virus and recover your files.

Aawt Ransomware Overview

Aawt is a virus programmed to extort money from innocent users. It uses file encryption as its weapon to force its victims. It silently intrudes on the targeted system and locks all the data with 2048 bit encryption. Users cannot access any of their data without purchasing the decryption tool.

Aawt Ransomware prevents users from accessing their own files until they pay hefty ransom money. It is a member of the Stop/Djvu Ransomware family. Developers behind these particular threats have been using this illicit profit-making for a long time.

This new variant is almost similar to all its previous versions. It adds its own “.Aawt” extension to encrypted files and leaves “_readme.txt” ransom note. It demands “$980 USD” as ransom money but offers a 50% discount if victims pay within 72 hours. So, a user needs to pay “$490 USD” in bitcoin within 3 days to get a decryption key.

Working of Aawt Virus

Aawt Ransomware is a dangerous computer malware. Once your files are encrypted, you can no longer access them. All your data will still be on your system but only inaccessible. In most cases, it is highly difficult to break encryption without interference from virus creators. However, we strongly advise users to not contact the makers of this virus.

Creators of this threat advise victims to purchase the decryption tool and unique key. They say it’s the only way to recover encrypted files. Developers of this malware launch a new variant almost every week, making it difficult to find a permanent solution. Unfortunately, there is no free decryptor available right now that recovers your files for free.

You might think that the best way to get rid of Aawt File Virus is to pay ransom money. It is very much possible that you will get scammed. Many ransomware victims reported that they did not get the decryption key after paying the extortion. Some said that their computer was attacked again after paying once. So, you cannot trust cyber criminals to be fair. They will surely try to attack your system again for more profit.

Threat Analysis

Name	Aawt
Type	Ransomware, File-Encrypting virus
Family	STOP/DJVU Ransomware
Extension	.Aawt
Threat Level	High (Encrypt all your data and Restrict access to your files).
Symptoms	Victims cannot access any files on their PC and find Ransom notes asking for money.
Damage	Aawt Ransomware will encrypt your data by adding “.Aawt” extension to file names and demand ransom money for the decryption key
Ransom Note	_Readme.txt
Ransom Amount	$490 USD to $980 USD
Distribution	It is mainly distributed through spam emails, bundled freeware, porn, or torrent sites.
Removal	Download SpyHunter 5 Anti-Malware
File Recovery	Download Data Recovery Software

How does Aawt Ransomware spread?

Creators of threats like Aawt Virus use various methods to spread their creation. Spam emails are one of the most used methods to target innocent users. Emails containing malicious attachments and links are used as carriers to distribute harmful threats. When you get an email from an unknown person or organization that carries some attachments, do not open them.  Do not click on links without verifying the sender and always scan attached files before opening.

Aawt File Virus can also get promoted through bundled freeware programs that users download from shady websites. It can also be distributed via P2P file sharing, cracked software or games, illegal patches, and fake updates. Also, avoid browsing porn or torrent sites and clicking on bogus advertisements on the web. Fake pop-up ads offering updates for media players, Adobe or browsers, or even anti-virus are dangerous. They often redirect your suspicious websites that can trigger the download of malware on your system.

How can .Aawt files be decrypted?

As mentioned above, there is no free Aawt virus decryptor available for now. So the best way to recover data is to restore it from the backup. If you have kept a backup copy of all your files then you only need to remove this virus from your PC. It is the only way to prevent this malware from encrypting your files further.

We advise you to use a powerful Anti-malware to scan and remove this threat from your computer. Removal of .Aawt Virus will not restore your data but it will ensure that your PC is safe to bring your backup files. If you don’t have a backup, then you can use professional data recovery software to restore files.

Right now it is the only solution you have unless you want to pay ransom money. Research shows that most victims are unable to recover their files even after paying the extortion fee. Sometimes data get corrupted, some times they don’t get the decryption tool. So we don’t recommend paying money to cybercriminals because it does not guarantee full recovery of encrypted files.

Ransom note “_readme.txt” contains the following text message :

ATTENTION!

Don't worry, you can return all your files!
All your files like pictures, databases, documents and other important are encrypted with strongest encryption and unique key.
The only method of recovering files is to purchase decrypt tool and unique key for you.
This software will decrypt all your encrypted files.
What guarantees you have?
You can send one of your encrypted file from your PC and we decrypt it for free.
But we can decrypt only 1 file for free. File must not contain valuable information.
You can get and look video overview decrypt tool:
hxxps://we.tl/t-ZmofmHikRP
Price of private key and decrypt software is $980.
Discount 50% available if you contact us first 72 hours, that's price for you is $490.
Please note that you'll never restore your data without payment.
Check your e-mail "Spam" or "Junk" folder if you don't get answer more than 6 hours.

To get this software you need write on our e-mail:
support@sysmail.ch

Reserve e-mail address to contact us:
supportsys@airmail.cc

Your personal ID:
-

Rather than giving your hard-earned money to cyber crooks who took your files hostage, invest in good security software. Remove this Aawt Virus completely from your system and make sure that something like this never happens. Always make backups of your important files on external hard drives, USB drives, or cloud drives to avoid data loss in the future.

How to Remove Aawt File Virus

As you already know, Aawt Virus is a notorious and cunning malware that is quite hard to remove through manual means. This virus can keep coming back on the infected computer through files and shortcuts or settings that it has already created on your machine. Removing all those at once is the only way to get rid of this infection and stop it from getting into your system ever again.

So the best way to remove Aawt effectively is to use a powerful Automatic Removal Tool and save your time and efforts. This software is a well-trusted and very powerful anti-malware program that can detect all hidden threats like Trojan, Ransomware, Worms, Spyware, Rootkits, and many others. It also provides 24X7 customer support and one-on-one Spyware HelpDesk support for Custom Malware removal. Advanced System Guard feature detects and removes threats in real-time. It has a very User-Friendly Interface and regular Malware updates make it most effective against the latest malware attacks.

How SpyHunter 5 Anti-Malware Works

• First, you need to click on the below download button to get the software.

Geek’s Recommendation

• Then double-click on the installer you downloaded to install the program.

• Launch the Anti-Malware application and click on Start Scan Now button.

• The software will scan your PC for all hidden threats and viruses on your system.

• Click on the Next button to see results and delete all the threats and viruses.

How To Decrypt .Aawt Files

As all your files are encrypted, you need to recover your data without paying ransom money to hackers. If your files are important then you must have created a backup and you can use that backup to recover your files. If you don’t have a backup or this virus has encrypted your backup files, then you are left to seek professional help.

As there is no Aawt ransomware decryptor available, we recommend you use powerful data recovery software to decrypt Aawt virus files. It is a risk-free and smart way. You can just download the free version and scan your PC for files. There is a high probability that it can recover most of your files in a fraction of the amount that hackers are demanding. It is also needless to say that paying hackers will only motivate hackers to carry out more attacks.

• First, you need to download Data Recovery software on your PC.

Download Data Recovery Software Now

• Install the program, launch it then select the Data type to recover, and click the Next button.

• Select the location from where you want to recover data and click the Scan button.

• After the scan, the software will list all files, select them and click the Recover button.

Manual Aawt Virus Removal Guide

 

Start PC in safe mode with networking

• Press Windows Key + R buttons together on the keyboard.
• Type msconfig in the Run Box then click the OK button.
• Click on the Boot tab then the System configuration window will appear.
• Choose Safe Boot, check the network box, Click Apply, and press the OK button.

Kill Malicious Process From Task Manager

• Press Windows Key + R buttons together on the keyboard.
• Type taskmgr in Run Box and then click the OK button.
• Find the virus related or unknown malicious process.
• Now right-click on it then click End process.

Remove Aawt Ransomware Virus from PC

• First of all Press Windows Key + R buttons together.
• Type appwiz.cpl in the Run box and then click the OK button.
• Now Programs and Features windows will appear on the screen.
• Find and remove all virus related or malicious programs.

Remove Virus related IP addresses from Hosts’ Files

• Press Windows Key + R buttons together on the keyboard.
• Type C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc in Run Box and then click the OK button.
• Now open the host file with Notepad.
• Look for any suspicious IP addresses that might be related to the Virus.
• Delete all the malicious IP addresses and save the host files.

Remove Virus related Windows Registry entries

• Press Windows Key + R buttons together on the keyboard.
• Type regedit in Run Box and then click the OK button.
• Registry Editor will open, then press CTRL +F buttons together.
• Now type Aawt and then click on Find Next button.
• Find all the related entries and delete them one by one

Delete Virus related files from your PC

When a threat gets on to a PC, it most likely creates some files at different locations on the system. These files are used to perform a specific action and also help malware in getting back to the computer once it’s removed. So you just need to find also delete all those files associated with the virus. Carefully follow the below instruction :

• Press Windows Key + R buttons together on the keyboard
• Type each of the following in Run Box and press the OK button

1. %AppData%
2. %LocalAppData%
3. %ProgramData%
4. %WinDir%
5. %Temp%

For the first four options, look for any recent folder related to the .Aawt File Virus and remove them. For the Temp folder, you can delete all the files.

Remove Aawt Virus via system restore

• Press Windows Key + R buttons together on the keyboard.
• Type cmd in Run Box and then click the OK button.
• Type cd restore and press Enter, then type rstrui.exe and press Enter.
• When the System Restore window opens on your computer screen click the Next button, then choose a System Restore point you have created in the past and click the Next button.
• Finally, click on the Yes button to start the system restoration process.

Note: This will only work if you have a restore point set on your PC or it will give an error message. Restoring the computer to a previous version may or may not remove this virus. Most of the time, viruses just delete all the restore points. If this trick does not work for you then don’t get disappointed.

Prevent Aawt Virus in Future

• Use a good anti-virus, be it a free version but don’t use cracked security programs.
• Make sure that your Windows firewall is active, so it can block upcoming threats.
• Keep your Windows/Mac OS and other programs updated to avoid vulnerabilities.
• Download updates only from official websites, don’t use suspicious sites.
• Never download and install pirated software, games, or illegal patches on your PC.
• Do not open spam emails from an unknown sender and scan all attachments before opening.
• Never download freeware third-party programs from unreliable sources or websites.
• Avoid connecting your PC to unsafe public Wi-Fi to protect your privacy.
• You can also use a VPN to spoof your connection and avoid malicious sites.
• Create a system restore point on your system for security purposes.
• Keep a backup of all your important files to avoid data loss.