Remove Cerber 5.0.1 Ramsomware From Computer

Remove Cerber 5.0.1 Virus File Ransomware in just a few easy steps with our removal guide which works with all versions of Windows.

Among the most dangerous viruses you may come across online we can distinguish the ones based on Ransomware as the greatest threats nowadays. Cerber 5.0.1 is file-encrypting Ransomware and the article below describes all its characteristics and qualities, the most disturbing of which are its ability to lock up important data and to demand ransom in exchange for it.

Ransomware – pretty much the most alarming threat you may come across on the Internet

Various cyber threats might come from various sources while you are surfing the web. However, only a few kinds of malware are more disturbing than the viruses based on Ransomware, especially the ones that fall into the subcategory of file-encoding Ransomware. First of all, you should know that there could be different types of ransom-requiring malware and here we will list them all:

• Screen-blocking Ransomware (both computer and mobile-device oriented) – such viruses demand ransom for unblocking the screen of your device, which they tend to lock. They do not encrypt files and do not put any data in danger. Still, they are quite cruel and you would not want to catch such a virus.
• The subgroup of the data-blocking Ransomware, which Cerber 5.0.1 belongs to. Such malicious programs are truly hazardous as they sneak into your system; then determine which files you will probably miss the most and encrypt all of them with a complex two-part key. The removal of such viruses could be incredibly difficult. Also, in case you decide to pay the demanded ransom, you can never be sure the hackers will give you the access to your encrypted data back. Everything is a matter of a risk when it comes to this malware version.
• Sometimes government agencies create programs based on Ransomware, because this is the only way to make hackers pay for whatever crimes they have committed. This usage of Ransomware is quite positive, but rare, though.

Where and how is it possible to catch Cerber 5.0.1?

This kind of malware is quite widely spread and the potential victim users may catch it from various online locations and diverse sources. Although we cannot list all of the possible ones, we have gathered the most common ones below. Check the following list for more information:

• Fake ads that you see popping up while surfing the Internet: Sometimes some banners and pop-ups you might come across on the web could contain Ransomware. Unfortunately, there is no way we can determine which ads exactly lead to viruses and which ones do not. As a result, the proper piece of advice here is to stay away from them all. Do not open them or click on them under any circumstances. Stay safe.
• Fake update notifications: Sometimes you might receive update requests that do not come from your operating system. On the contrary, they might come from viruses. It is recommended that you check for the necessary available updates manually, and shouldn’t trust the update alerts as they might be malicious.
• Spam letters and email attachments: In this case the Ransomware you might catch could be bundled with a Trojan horse virus. Hackers might do that to ensure the safe entrance of the Ransomware into your PC. Most of the Trojans could be programmed to let another virus inside anyone’s system. Also, this possibility is very alarming because even the attachments inside your email may contain this malicious combo, no matter whether they represent archives, documents or images. As soon as you open a contaminated letter or an attachment, your machine may become a victim of Cerber 5.0.1.
• Other potential sources could be the web pages that stream torrents, videos, free software or anything illegally – such websites often contain malware.

What to do in case Cerber 5.0.1 has infected your PC

Sadly enough, there is no correct answer to this question. Bear in mind just one thing – never pay the ransom unless this is the only thing you haven’t done to try to save your files so far. Try all the other options – consulting an expert; installing special software; reinstalling your OS. Do not simply venture into surrendering to the hackers too quickly as this could motivate them to harass many more people in the same way they have disturbed you. What is more, do not expect that you will be able to recover your encrypted data, no matter what you do. This may not be possible as Cerber 5.0.1 is extremely difficult to remove and counteract. We recommend that you use our guide below to at least try to get rid of the infection and decrypt your data.

Cerber 5.0.1 file Ransomware Removal

Step 1 – hunt for active virus processes

To do this, you will have to make use of your Task Manager. Use the R-Ctrl+Shift+Esc key combination in order to open it. Now, go to the Processes tab and sort the list by order of CPU and/or memory used. Now, look through the list – if any process is using up very high amounts of memory or has a suspicious name or description, then it might be a process ran by the Ransomware. End that process immediately and move on to the next step.

Now open your start menu and search for MSConfig. Go to the Startup section and see if there are any suspicious entries with unknown manufacturers. Disable anything that seems illegitimate. Keep in mind that the virus may duplicate the names of real programs!

Step 2 – prepare your PC for the removal process

Next thing you need to do is boot your machine into Safe Mode and reveal all hidden files and folders. Click on the links for detailed instructions.

Step 3 – find and delete virus-related files

1. Open your Registry Editor by typing regedit in the Run window (Winkey+R) and pressing Enter, then open Edit->Find. Search for the virus name.
2. If there are any results, delete those registry entries.
3. Open your Start Menu and in the search field type each of the following and go to the corresponding location:
   1. %AppData%
   2. %LocalAppData%
   3. %ProgramData%
   4. %WinDir%
   5. %Temp%
4. Delete everything from Temp. In the other folders, see if there has been added anything recently that seems suspicious. If that is the case, delete the new entries.

Step 4 – look for Hosts file manipulation

1. Use the Win-key+R combination to open Run and hit enter after you copy-paste the following:

notepad %windir%/system32/Drivers/etc/hosts

2. A notepad file will open. If your PC has been infected, may be IP addresses at the bottom of the file. Delete them.

• Note that if those IP’s are either 0.0.0.0 or 127.0.0.1, then they are not coming from a virus, thus this is no indication of an infection.

Step 5 – decrypt already encrypted files

For this, you will first have to identify the virus you are dealing with and then acquire the corresponding decryptor tool that can help you decrypt your files.

1. To identify the Ransomware, go to this link and follow the instructions.
2. Now that you know what you are dealing it, make a search for how to decrypt ransomware and look for a decryptor for your specific virus.