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In this article we are going to try and help you remove .Zepto File Virus. Our instructions cover all Windows versions.
.Zepto File Virus is a particularly nasty virus categorized as ransomware. If you’re on this page due to a recent infection with it – you have certainly gotten yourself in a pickle there. It so happens that ransomware is the number one external security threat for computers with millions of unique samples being invented every year. Though it’s been around for the better part of three decades, it has only started gaining such staggering popularity in recent years. In the beginning the virus was only present in Russia, but as you can tell – it has since spread quite effectively to other parts of the world, making it the second most common and most profitable virus out there.
With all those intimidating stats we’ve probably added to your distress, but this page exists for a reason and it is most definitely not to frighten you into giving up. We have created the below removal guide to help you eliminate the malware from your PC and possibly restore the files it has managed to encrypt. Though we cannot promise you anything on that last part, removing ransomware is what we specialize in and by following the instructions provided below you should be able get rid of it yourself in no time.
So, how did .Zepto File Virus get on your PC?
A logical question and probably the first that anyone would ask themselves after they’ve discovered an alien program on their machine. There are several ways you could have gotten infected and we will mention the most common ones here. Perhaps if you can recall your actions from before seeing the shocking ransom message on your screen, one of these might help you remember what exactly could have happened. Here are the three most common ways of getting ransomware on your PC:
- It’s a fairly new term and you might not yet be familiar with it; the word itself comes from ‘malicious’ and ‘advertisement’. This is actually the most widespread distribution method and a very treacherous one at that. What it represents is an ad, typically displayed on some shady website with a questionable reputation, which upon clicking on downloads the virus onto your system. You might be redirected to some other page as it happens, you might not – but you might realize that something wasn’t quite right at that moment.
- Program bundles. If you download things from those very same obscure websites that look like they might be trouble, you’re asking to get infected by something. Whether it’s ransomware or some relatively harmless program like adware, these are often distributed by the means of being packaged alongside other programs (freeware, shareware, torrents, etc.). Obviously, this information is not disclosed and you won’t find out until you’ve already downloaded your desired content, but it will by then be too late.
- Spam emails. Most people treat spam as an annoyance and underestimate the actual damage they could cause. This is a very effective method for distributing Trojan horses that often serve as a backdoor for things like .Zepto File Virus. The Trojan will usually be embedded within an attached Word or PDF document and the hackers behind will use all sorts of sophisticated ways to trick you into opening it. They could for example pose as a utility bill from a company you use, or they could claim to be sending you a statement from a popular online vendor. Whichever it is, you should always be weary of new messages and think twice before downloading the attachments. If they look suspicious and you’re not confident that they’re safe – avoid opening them altogether.
How to stay safe
With the distribution methods in mind, you already have half of what it takes to adequately protect yourself from .Zepto File Virus. We don’t need to spell it out for you that malicious and untrustworthy websites should be avoided along with their content. It’s paramount that you have a perfectly functional antivirus program will all the bells and whistles, preferably with a browser extension as well, because this will help block potentially dangerous popups from appearing. In addition to this it wouldn’t hurt to install a good antimalware tool, designed to specifically target malicious software like Trojans and ransomware. Make sure you do all of this after you have removed .Zepto File Virus from your system with the help of the below guide. Also, as it is very likely there was a Trojan accompanying it, do make sure to find and delete that one as well.
.Zepto File Virus Removal
# 1
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Enter Windows Safe mode.
- Win 7 Users: Restart your PC –> keep on clicking F8 –> In the subsequent Menu select Safe Mode with Networking.
- Win 8 Users: Start Button –> Control Panel –> System and Security –> Administrative Tools –> System Configuration –> In the subsequent Menu select Safe Boot –>
- Win 10 users: Start Menu –> Power Options Menu –> Hold down the SHIFT button while clicking on Restart –> Troubleshoot –> Advanced Options –> Startup Settings –> Restart –> In the subsequent Menu select Safe Mode with Networking.
# 2
Open Task Manager and locate any processes associated with .Zepto File Virus.
- Press CTRL + SHIFT + ESC keys simultaneously –> Processes Tab –> Select a suspicious process (use Google or ask us in the comments if you are not sure about a process) –> Right Click and Open File Location –> End the suspicious process in Task Manager –> Delete the Folders containing the suspicious files.
# 3
Open the Registry Editor and search for .Zepto File Virus.
- Win 7 Users: Click Start and type regedit –> Enter –> Press CTRL + F buttons –> Type Cryp1 Virus in the search field.
- Win 8/10 users: Start Button –> Choose Run –> type regedit –> Enter Press CTRL + F buttons Type .Zepto File Virus in the search field.
# 4
Try to recover your files. First you will need System Restore.
- Win 7 Users: Start button –> Type Windows System Restore –> Enter –> Open System Restore –> Select a Restore Point and revert to it.
- Win 8 Users: Hold down the Windows key + Q –> Type Recovery –> Settings –> Choose the Recovery icon –> Open System Restore –> Select a Restore Point.
- Win 10 Users: Start Menu –> Power Options Menu –> Hold down the SHIFT button while clicking on Restart –> Troubleshoot –> Advanced Options –> System Restore –> Select a Restore Point and apply it.
Secondly use program that can access your Shadow Copies.
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- Use Google to find the official website of such a program and download it.
- Use the program to select the file types and the hard drive locations you want the program to scan for.
- Start the scan and keep in mind that it might take a while.
- Once the scan has been completed just select the files you want to be recovered.
If you have questions or suggestions feel free to use our comments section!