Read this post to learn how to effectively remove the latest .skymap STOP ransomware infection and how to restore files encrypted with the .skymap file extension added to them.
A ransomware infection, known as the latest version of the Serpent Ransomware viruses has been reported to use strong encryption algorithms to render the files on the computers infected by it no longer able to be opened. The new Serpent virus utilises the AES-256 encryption modes in order to make the files on your computer seem corrupt, whereas in fact they are encrypted. The virus also adds the .skymap file suffix to them and in addition to this demands from victims to pay a hefty ransom fee in order to restore the files. If you have been infected, we advise you to read this post.
| Threat Name | .skymap Files virus |
| Category | Ransomware virus. |
| Main Activity | Infects the computer after which encrypts important documents and holds them hostage until a ransom is paid. |
| Signs of Presence | Files are encrypted with the .skymap file extension. |
| Spread | Via malicious e-mail spam and set of infection tools. |
| Detection+Removal | DOWNLOAD REMOVAL TOOL FOR .skymap Files virus |
| File Recovery | Download Data Recovery Software, to see how many files encrypted by .skymap Files virus ransomware you will be able to recover. |
What Type of Malware Is the .skymap Files virus Ransomware
Ransomware in general has been a growing trend with infection and particularly effective. It prays primarily on those users who do not have a backup of their important files. The .skymap Files virus Ransomware encrypts your important documents, music, videos, pictures, archives and other data, making them no longer effective. The files cannot be opened after they have been attacked by the .skymap Files virus Ransomware and they have a custom extension added after their file name – a random A-Z 0-9 letters.
In fact, the infections with ransomware, just like .skymap Files virus have become so massive that you can be sure that at the moment somebody somewhere in the world is either opening a suspicious spammed e-mail attachment, believing it is legit or clicking on a malicious web link.
But the ransomware can also be spread completely automatically, similar to the WannaCry virus which was spread via a worm infection, causing the data of over 200,000 computers to be encrypted. The creators of ransomware who are involved in this act as if they have nothing to lose and do not mess around. They have invested a lot in their attacks and organized them so that as many inexperienced users as possible become victims.
How to Protect Oneself Against Ransomware Viruses?
After the inevitable has happened, you should learn how to prevent it from happening to you in the future. There are several different solutions to ransomware, but they all come down to two main strategy.
Solution number one is to understand what you are dealing with. If the ransomware virus that has infected you, in this case .skymap Files virus ransomware, make sure to check our website for any solutions of the threat. Usually most antivirus vendors create decryptors for those ransomware viruses that can be cracked, in other words, which are decryptable. Usually a ransomware virus can be decrypted if there is a mistake in the code written by the hackers who made it or of the encryption algorithm (the language used to make your files non-readable) has a method to be decrypted. Usually, however, most ransom viruses have an immensely strong encryption algorithm and they are non-decryptable. Usually it takes some time do develop a decrypter, but keep following this blog post as we will update with a download link to the tool which can get back your data.
How to Remove .skymap Files virus Ransomware and Back Up My Data
The removal process of this virus may prove to be a tricky one. This is primarily because the virus may be involved in several different stages of operation that create mutexes, registry entries and files on your computer. All of the objects created by .skymap Files virus Ransomware may be difficult to remove manually and In some situations may even cause harm to your computer. The safest way to remove malicious files, according to experts is to use an advanced tool that hunts specifically for these type of ransomware infections and removes them. Such tool will not get your files back but will scan your computer automatically and delete the virus as fast as possible so that your PC is safe. And after the removal, you can try using some other third-party methods to restore files that have been encrypted by .skymap Files virus Ransomware while you wait for antivirus vendors to develop a decrypter.
Manual Removal of .skymap Files virus
Preparation before removal of .skymap Files virus:
1.Make sure to backup your files.
2.Make sure to have this instructions page always open so that you can follow the steps.
3.Be patient as the removal may take some time.
Step 1: Reboot your computer in Safe Mode:
Step 2: Cut out .skymap Files virus in Task Manager
Step 3: Eliminate .skymap Files virus‘s Malicious Registries.
For most Windows variants:
Step 4: Scan for and remove all virus files, related to .skymap Files virus and secure your system.
If you are in Safe Mode, boot back into normal mode and follow the steps below
It is advisable to run a free scan before committing to the full version. You should make sure that the malware is detected by SpyHunter first.
Step 5:Recover files encrypted by the .skymap Files virus Ransomware.
Method 1: Using Shadow Explorer. In case you have enabled File history on your Windows Machine one thing you can do is to use Shadow Explorer to get your files back. Unfortunately some ransomware viruses may delete those shadow volume copies with an administrative command to prevent you from doing just that.
Method 2: If you try to decrypt your files using third-party decryption tools. There are many antivirus providers who have decrypted multiple ransomware viruses the last couple of years and posted decryptors for them. Chances are if your ransomware virus uses the same encryption code used by a decryptable virus, you may get the files back. However, this is also not a guarantee, so you might want to try this method with copies of the original encrypted files, because if a third-party program tampers with their encrypted structure, they may be damaged permanently. Most of the currently available decryptors for ransomware viruses can be seen if you visit the NoMoreRansom project – a project that is the result of combined efforts of researchers worldwide to create decryption software for all ransomware viruses. Simply go there by clicking on the following LINK and find your ransomware version decrypter and try it, but always remember to do a BACKUP first.
Method 3: Using Data Recovery tools. This method is suggested by multiple experts in the field. It can be used to scan your hard drive’s sectors and hence scramble the encrypted files anew as if they were deleted. Most ransomware viruses usually delete a file and create an encrypted copy to prevent such programs for restoring the files, but not all are this sophisticated. So you may have a chance of restoring some of your files with this method. Here are several data recovery programs which you can try and restore at least some of your files: