Ransomware

Carver File Virus (Carver Ransomware) Removal & Decryption

Carver Virus is a nasty file encrypting malware that belongs to the Phobos Ransomware group. It encrypts all the files on the infected PC and leaves a ransom note to demand extortion money. While encrypting your data, it appends the Victims’ unique ID, cyber criminal’s email address, and a “.Carver” extension to original file names.

For example, a file named “1.jpg” would become “1.jpg.id[9ECFA84E-3455].[ineedatool@rape.lol].Carver” after encryption process. After encrypting all your files, ransom notes “info.hta” (pop-up window)  and “info.txt” (text file) are created on the infected PC. The note contains threatening messages and instructions to contact attackers for buying the decryptor. Read this guide to know how to remove this virus and recover files.

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Threats like Carver virus keep getting back on the PC if all associated files are not removed. So you are advised to use a powerful Malware Removal Tool to run a thorough scan of your PC and delete all threats at once.

Compatible with: Windows 11/10/8/7 (32 Bit and 64 Bit)

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What is Carver Virus

If you encounter this dubious Carver malware on your system then it is safe to assume that all your files have been encrypted and you are not able to access any of your data. After successful encryption of your files, this nasty Carver File virus will also add its malicious extension to all the file names to mark them locked and then leave a ransom note on your system demanding money to give you the decryption key. It is a serious threat and all your files are now hijacked which can not be deciphered without the private key generated for your system.

Carver Virus will ask you in its ransom note that all your files are encrypted and can be decoded but you will need a decryption key that you can only get by paying ransom money through BitCoin. Hackers behind this threat will ask you to send some of your files with your unique ID for free decryption to prove that they can recover your files once you pay the money. It is a phishing technique and most users fall for this kind of trick. When attackers recover some of the encrypted files, then victims get more than willing to pay ransom money. They simply hope that they can recover all their files at once after paying ransom money.

How does your PC get Infected?

Carver File Virus mostly enters your system secretly and thus you don’t even know notice when and how all your files got encrypted. Hackers use spam email techniques to send malicious attachments directly to the targeted machine through the user’s inbox and viruses get installed as soon as the user opens that mail. Your system could get infected by this nasty virus when you download bundled freeware programs, shareware applications, cracked software, illegal patches, etc. from untrusted and shady websites that are more likely used by hackers for spreading malware.

This deceptive Carver Ransomware infection could also contaminate your system when you browse porn or torrent sites, click on ads, pop-ups, banners, etc. that redirect your browser to malicious websites, share files on unsafe networks, and other social engineering attack methods. So you need to be very careful around the Internet if you want to avoid any malware attacks. You should also keep a backup of all your important files in case of Ransomware intrusion.

Carver Ransomware: Threat Analysis

Name Carver
Type Ransomware, File-Encrypting virus
Extension .Carver
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 It will  encrypt your data by adding its extension to file names and demand ransom money for the decryption key
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

Why not pay Ransom money

One thing you should know is that most of the victims complain that they got cheated by ransomware viruses. They did not get any decryption tool after they sent the money. Cybercriminals even stop responding to their emails and they never get any reply about how to recover their files. So it is quite clear that paying extortion money is not a good idea because hackers do not restore encrypted data ever.

What to do now

Now the fact is Carver virus has encrypted all your files you need them back but there is no way you can trust hackers for decoding your data after your pay the ransom fees. There is no free decryptor available for the Phobos ransomware or this particular variant which makes the situation more harassing. So now you are left with some very important choices like first creating a backup of all your encrypted files and storing them on any cloud drive. Now if you have a backup of your data then you can simply remove this virus from your computer using the Automatic Malware Removal software and recover your files through backup.

If you don’t have a backup of your files, then you first remove Carver virus and then try to recover your files through shadow file recovery which can only recover files from the C drive. If you want to recover all your data then you can use Data Recovery Software to restore all your files. Now if you want the free solution, you may have to wait for a long time for any free decryptor.

Reinstalling Windows or formatting your computer will not do any good because this virus can still get back up on your system, but it will eliminate any chance you have of recovering your files because your hard drive will get overwritten after which no data recovery process will work. So you are advised to follow the below guide to permanently remove Carver File Virus from your computer and recover your files using data recovery software.

How To Remove Carver File Virus

Follow this guide carefully to remove this virus completely from your system. Below you can find step-by-step instructions on how to effectively get rid of this nasty threat easily. Removal of threats like Carver File Virus is never easy, so we have simplified the process for you in several small steps.

Quick Summary of Removal Instructions:

  1. Automatic Carver Ranomware Removal Guide
  2. How To Decrypt .Carver Files
  3. Manual Carver File Virus Removal Guide
  4. Start PC in Safe Mode With Networking
  5. Kill Malicious Process From Task Manager
  6. Remove Carver Virus From Registry Editor
  7. Remove Carver Ransomware via system restore
  8. Prevent Carver Ransomware in Future

Please Bookmark This Page by pressing the {ctrl+D} button or print it out on paper before you start the removal process because you may need to restart your PC or browser.

Automatic Carver Ransomware Removal Guide

It can be hectic to remove threats from an infected PC but the use of powerful Anti-Malware can make it quite easy. SpyHunter anti-malware can help you to remove Trojan, Ransomware, Spyware, Adware, PUPs, etc. easily. You can scan your system for Carver File virus and all other hidden threats at once. All you need to do is to download this software and run a new scan on your PC.

It will find all the threats and viruses in no time and save you lots of time and effort. This amazing software 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 definition updates make it most effective against the latest attacks.

How SpyHunter 5 Anti-Malware Works

  • You will begin by downloading the software on your system for which you have to click on the below download button.

Geek’s Recommendation

Threats like Carver File Virus keep getting back on the machine if all associated files are not removed. So you are advised to use a powerful Malware Removal Tool to run a thorough scan of your PC and delete all threats at once.

SpyHunter 5 Anti-Malware offers a 7-day fully-functional Free Trial. Credit card required, NO charge upfront. No charge if you cancel up to two business days before the trial period ends. Read SpyHunter 5 Review, and Free SpyHunter Remover details.

  • Once the software has been downloaded, double-click on SpyHunter-Installer.exe to install the Anti-Malware program on your PC and proceed with the setup.

double clickAllow access

  • After installation, you will need to launch the Anti-Malware application. From the welcome screen click on the Start Scan Now button to initiate a new scan of your PC.

Scan for Carver

  • Once the scanning process begins, it will take some time to run a thorough diagnostic of your PC and find all hidden threats and malware.

Scan for Carver

  • Soon you will find a complete list of all the threats on your system screen. Then you will need to click on the Next button to delete all the viruses.

Remove Carver

How To Decrypt .Carver Files

As there is no Carver ransomware decryptor available, you will need to use alternate options to restore your files. The first one is to use the backup. If you have created a backup of your important files then it is going to be quite easy. However, if you don’t have any backup files or they also got encrypted by the virus then you will have to try a data recovery software.

We recommend using Stellar Data Recovery software because it is a powerful and trusted data recovery software. Paying ransom money is not ideal because it will only motivate hackers to carry out more attacks. You can wait for any free decryptor to be launched but it can take forever. Download the free trial version of data recovery and scan your PC for files. It may be able to recover some of your files and save you lots of money.

  • Click on the below download button to get started instantly with the data recovery process on your PC.

Download Data Recovery Software Now

  • After the download click on the installer file and complete the software installation. Then launch the application and select the Data type to recover, and click the Next button.

select Data type

  • After the selection of data, you will need to select the location from where you want to recover data. Choose the location and then click on the Scan button.

Select location

  • The software will take some time to scan your system. You will see a list of all the files that can be recovered. You can preview them or click on the Recover button to save them.

Recover Carver encrypted files

Manual Carver File Virus Removal Guide

Before you start Manual Removal

Attention! For the safety of your system, please confirm a few things before you begin manual removal:

  1. You have done this before, which means you have experience in removing the virus manually;
  2. That you know your way around PC and  all necessary processes and applications;
  3. You know about Registry entry and the Serious repercussions of any mistake;
  4. Make sure you can reverse any mistake made during virus removal.

If you don’t attain any of the above standards, then manual removal could be a very risky idea. It is most likely best for you to use the SpyHunter 5 Anti-Malware which is totally secure and efficient method.

SpyHunter 5 Anti-Malware offers a 7-day fully-functional Free Trial. Credit card required, NO charge upfront. No charge if you cancel up to two business days before the trial period ends. Read SpyHunter 5 Review, and Free SpyHunter Remover details.

Start PC in safe mode with networking

  • Click on the Windows and R keys together on your keyboard to open the Windows Run Box.
  • Now you will need to type in MSConfig and then click the OK button.
  • The System configuration settings box will appear on your computer screen.
  • Click on the Boot tab, check the Safe Boot option, and select the network box,
  • Finally, you will have to click on Apply and then press the OK button.

Safe boot

Kill Malicious Process From Task Manager

  • Open the Windows Rub box again on your PC by pressing the Windows and R keys together on your keyboard.
  • This time you will have to type in taskmgr and then click the OK button to open Windows Task Manager. Look for any unknown or malicious running on your system.
  • Select the process which is taking lots of systems resources and then click on the End Task button.

Stop Carver related task

Uninstall Carver Virus from Control Panel

  • Again you will need to open the Windows Run Box, so press the Windows and R keys together.
  • This time you need to open the Windows Control Panel, so type in appwiz.cpl and then click the OK button.
  • Programs and Features windows will appear on your computer screen with a list of all the installed applications.
  • Now you need to look for any unknown or Carver Ransomware related program and then Uninstall it from your PC.

Remove Carver

Remove Carver Virus From Registry Editor

  • Again open the Windows Run Box on your PC by using the Windows and R keys.
  • To open the Windows Registry Editor, type in Regedit and click the OK button.
  • Now you will have to find the Carver Ransomware related registry files and remove them.
  • Press CTRL and F keys together on the keyboard to start a Find query.
  • Type the virus name and click on Find Next button to find malicious entries and delete them.

Remove Carver related registry

Warning: Meddling with Windows Registry files might not be a good idea if you don’t have advanced knowledge about registry files. Deleting the wrong file can break down your entire system. Proceed at your own risk, or just skip this step. You can choose the Automatic Removal method and avoid all the problems.

SpyHunter 5 Anti-Malware offers a 7-day fully-functional Free Trial. Credit card required, NO charge upfront. No charge if you cancel up to two business days before the trial period ends. Read SpyHunter 5 Review, and Free SpyHunter Remover details.

Remove Malicious IP addresses from Windows Hosts Files

  • To open the Windows hosts file, simply press the Windows and R keys together on the keyboard.
  • Type C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc in Run Box and then click the OK button.
  • Now you will need to access the Windows hosts file using Notepad.
  • Most threats add malicious IP addresses here to automatically connect to remote servers.
  • Delete all the malicious IP addresses below the localhost and save the file.

Remove Carver virus related IP address

Delete Virus related files from your PC

When malware infects your system, it normally creates several malicious files and spread them at different locations. After you remove the malware, these leftover files help them to get back to your computer. Remove all virus related files at once by following the below instruction :

  • Open the Windows Run Box again by using the Windows and R keys together.
  • Now you will open the below paths one by one using the Run Box and remove malicious files.
  1. %AppData%
  2. %LocalAppData%
  3. %ProgramData%
  4. %WinDir%
  5. %Temp%

For the first four options, look for any recent folder related to the Carver File Virus and remove them. For the Temp folder, you can delete all the files at once. Use Ctrl, Shift, and Delete keys together for permanent removal.

Remove Carver Ransomware via system restore

  • You will again need the Windows Run Box, so press the Windows and R keys together.
  • Open the Command Prompt by typing in cmd and then clicking the OK button.
  • Type cd restore and press Enter, then type rstrui.exe and press Enter.
  • The System Restore window will get opened instantly then click on the Next button.
  • Choose a System Restore point you have created in the past and click the Next button.
  • Finally, when you will hit the Yes button, the system restoration process with start immediately.

Remove Carver via system restore

Note: System restore to remove a virus will only work if you have a restore point set on your PC. Otherwise, no changes will be made to your system and it will not remove any threats. Be advised, restoring the computer to a previous version does not always guarantee virus removal. Most viruses delete restore points, so don’t get disappointed if this trick does not work for you.

Prevent Carver Ransomware in Future

  • Get a powerful Anti-Malware or Anti-virus to fight cyber threats. Free versions do not offer the best protection and cracked security programs can do more damage than good.
  • Always keep your Windows firewall active, and your OS updated along with other important programs. Only download updates from official sites or reliable sources.
  • Check HTTPS before entering your email, password, credit card details, etc. to any site. Do not visit sites that do not have SSL security. Also, don’t forget to Enable Phishing and Malware protection in Browser.
  • Do not download or install any type of pirated software, games, or illegal patches. Avoid using shady sites to acquire freeware programs because they often use software bundling. Never install a program that asks you to inactivate your anti-virus software.
  • Avoid opening spam emails from unknown senders.  Always scan all the email attachments before opening them. Never click on any suspicious links with some too good to be true offers.
  • Connecting your PC or mobile devices to unsafe public Wi-Fi is not a good idea. You can also avoid unwanted threats coming from malicious sites by using a VPN to spoof your connection.
  • Keep regular backups of all your important data on external hard drives or cloud drives to avoid data loss in case of a ransomware attack. Also, create a system restore point on your system for security purposes.

About the author

Robert Calvert

Robert is the Chief Security Expert and Founder of PCSafetyGeek.com website. He is a cybersecurity enthusiast who loves to research about Malware outbreaks and write about their remedies. He also like to spend time trying new software, reviewing them and sharing IT news. However he is a real coffee lover and likes to play chess in spare time (which is quite rare 😜).

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