What is Paymen45 ransomware?

Paymen45 is a dangerous virus that first emerged in April 2020. This virus attacks users’ files by applying a strong encryption algorithm. To regain access to data, cybercriminals blackmail victims stating that the only way to see files again is to buy decryption software. Nevertheless, users are encouraged not to contact them or pay for the ransom since deals with malefactors may end up with money loss or identity theft. Instead, you may follow our step-by-step guidelines in order to remove Paymen45 ransomware and decrypt .g8R4rqWIp9 files.

Once the encryption procedure is done, you won’t be able to open files with .g8R4rqWIp9 extension unless they are decrypted. For example, myfamily.jpg file will turn into myfamily.jpg.g8R4rqWIp9. You can find demands and instructions on how to pay the ransom for the decryption key in readme.txt file virus drops at the desktop. Cybercriminals urge users to contact them via email to know the ransom amount and method of payment. As usual, cybercriminals offer free decryption of several files to prove that they can really decrypt the victim’s files.

The content of the readme.txt ransom note:

Dear user! Your computer is encrypted! We demand a ransom!
Decryption service is paid !!!! PAYMENT FOR BITCOIN !!!
To decrypt your computer, you need to download the TOR browser at hxxps://www.torproject.org/download/
Install it and visit our website for further action hxxp://paymen45oxzpnouz.onion/b241d8d739
Backup communication method:
repairhost1@protonmail.com
Also from your servers files, documents, databases SQL, PDF were uploaded to our cloud storage
After we agree, you will receive a decryption program, valuable advice in order not to fall into this situation in the future, as well as all your files on our server will be deleted.
Otherwise, they will fall into the open access of the Internet!
Use any third party software for restoring your data or antivirus solutions will result in a loose of data.
Please be sure that we will find common languge. We will restore all the data and give you recommedations how to configure the protection of your server.

The ransomware onion-site acts as a ransom payment instruction:

The ransomware site content::

Your local network has been hacked
Your documents, photos, databases and other important files are encrypted
To decrypt your files you need to contact us via chat. We demand a ransom!
You can do it right now. Use chat bellow. But remember that you do not have much time
Contact with support
–
Enter your ID code to start
Your ID ***
[Next]
—
Contact with support
–
We have received your details.
If you are serious about decrypting your data, then pay via BTC (bitcoin) for activation CHAT with our support
The amount: $10 (summ in bitcoin 0.00115) to address:
1payWS2MDcUTpYEV8aw3jYKUHaWAs3mcY

At the last stage of the infection stage, this ransomware may delete all shadow volumes on your computer. After that, you will not be able to carry out the standard procedure for recovering your encrypted data using these shadow volumes. There are two solutions to remove Paymen45 Ransomware and decrypt your files. The first is to use an automated removal tool. This method is suitable even for inexperienced users since the removal tool can delete all instances of the virus in just a few clicks. The second is to use the Manual Removal Guide. This is a more complex way that requires special computer skills.

Screenshot of Paymen45 files:

How Paymen45 ransomware gets on my computer?

Cybercriminals use various techniques to deliver the virus to the target computer. Ransomware viruses can infiltrate victims’ computers more than in one or two ways, in most cases, cryptoviral extortion attack is carried out with the help of the following methods:

• Spam

  This is the most used distribution method. Cybercriminals use fraudulent emails to pose as official organizations or business companies (receipts, winning notifications, confirmation of order; bank messages, and so on) to lure unsuspecting users into clicking on a malicious attachment – just one click to make your files inaccessible. To mislead the user and make it look like an official email, cybercriminals add an extra symbol to the email address, for example, instead of service@paypal.com, you may see service[.]@payppal.com or service[_]@paypal.com. That’s why you should always pay attention to received emails and identify the sender to make sure that this is from a trusted source. Also, the presence of grammatical and typographical errors in the text of the message indicates that this is a fake. If nothing’s wrong, scan attachment with antivirus software first and then you can open it. Compliance with all these rules will help you save a lot of nerve, time, and money.
• Software

  Hackers use the special toolkit to exploit known vulnerabilities in systems or applications. That’s why you should always make Windows updates on time and keep them up to date. Remember that these updates close the security holes in the system through which the virus can enter your computer. Make sure that your operating system itself is not outdated and is officially supported, for example, Windows XP, Vista, 7 are no longer supported.
• Malicious

  Various dubious web-sources can contain malicious scripts or hyperlinks that can infect your system. Our advice – avoid visiting P2P sites and websites with illegal content (pirated software, movies, music). Use only legitimate services and remember – there’s no free lunch in this world.
• RDP

  Cybercriminals often abuse the built-in Windows feature – Remote Desktop Protocol to infect the computer with ransomware. That way, they access target computer remotely and install virus manually. To avoid infection via RDP, you should set a different from 3389 TCP port and use a more strong password.

How to remove Paymen45 ransomware?

Before proceeding with the removal of the virus, you will need to reboot the system in Safe Mode with Networking and then download antivirus software that can remove Paymen45 ransomware and all related files.

For Windows XP/Vista/7 users:

Restart your computer before your system starts hit F8 several times. This will prevent system from loading and will show Advanced boot options screen. Choose Safe mode with networking option from the options list using up and down arrows on your keyboard and hit Enter.

For Windows 8/10 users:

1. Click the Start button, then select Settings
2. Click Update & Security, then select Recovery and click Restart now.
3. After your device reboots, go to Troubleshoot > Advanced options >Startup Settings > Restart



4. After your PC restarts, you should press F5 key to Enable Safe Mode with Networking.

After the system is loaded in Safe Mode with Networking, launch your Internet browser and download a reliable anti-malware program and start a full system scan. Once the scan is complete, review scan results and remove all entries detected.

Recommended Solution:

• Removal Tool
• Recovery Tool
• Prevention Tool

Try SpyHunter

SpyHunter is a powerful tool that is able to keep your Windows clean. It would automatically search out and delete all elements related to malware. It is not only the easiest way to eliminate malware but also the safest and most assuring one. The full version of SpyHunter costs $42 (you get 6 months of subscription). By clicking the button, you agree to EULA and Privacy Policy. Downloading will start automatically.

Download SpyHunter

Try Stellar Data Recovery

Stellar Data Recovery is one of the most effective tools that can recover lost and corrupted files — documents, emails, pictures, videos, audio files, and more — on any Windows device. The powerful scan engine can detect compromised files and finally save them to specified destination. Despite its advancedness, it’s very concise and simple so that even the most inexperienced user can figure it out.

Download Stellar Data Recovery

Try MailWasher

Email security is the first line of defense against ransomware viruses. To do this, we recommend that you use MailWasher. MailWasher blocks ransomware viruses coming through spam and phishing, and automatically detects malicious attachments and URLs. In addition, malicious messages can be blocked even before the recipient opens them. Since the main source of the spread of ransomware viruses are infected emails, antispam significantly reduces the risk of a virus appearing on your computer.

Download MailWasher

After the virus is completely removed from your system, you can begin the process of restoring your files.

How to decrypt files infected by Paymen45 Ransomware?

Most regrettably, there is no free decryption tool that will be able to decrypt files encrypted Paymen45 Ransomware. All of the methods listed below do not guarantee full file recovery. Nevertheless, due to the lack of other ways than to pay the ransom, we advise you to perform them, maybe they will help at least partially restore your data.

Method 1. Restore your files with the help of Recovery Tool

In case your PC has been attacked by ransomware, you may restore your files by using file recovery software. Stellar Data Recovery is one of the most effective tools that can recover lost and corrupted files — documents, emails, pictures, videos, audio files, and more — on any Windows device. The powerful scan engine can detect compromised files and finally save them to specified destination. Despite its advancedness, it’s very concise and simple so that even the most inexperienced user can figure it out.

1. Run Stellar Data Recovery.
2. Select type of files you want to restore and click Next.



3. Select the drive and folder where your files are located and date that you want to restore them from and press Scan.



4. Once the scanning process is done, click Recover to restore your files.



5. After this, select a destination and click Start Saving to save restored data.

Since new ransomware-type viruses appear almost every day, there is no technical possibility to issue a decryptor for each virus. In this case, the recovery tool comes to the rescue. Despite the fact that this is one of the most effective methods in the absence of a decryptor, this is not 100 percent and not the only way.

Method 2. Restore the system using System Restore

Although the latest versions of Paymen45 Ransomware can remove system restore files, this method may help you partially restore your files. Give it a try and use standard System Restore to revive your data. The entire process is preferably carried out in Safe Mode with Command Prompt:

For Windows XP/Vista/7 users:

Restart your computer and before your system starts – hit F8 several times. This will prevent system from loading and will show Advanced boot options screen. Choose Safe mode with Command Prompt option from the options list using up and down arrows on your keyboard and hit Enter.

For Windows 8/10 users:

1. Click the Start button, then select Settings
2. Click Update & Security, then select Recovery and click Restart now.
3. After your device reboots, go to Troubleshoot > Advanced options >Startup Settings > Restart



4. After your PC restarts, you should press F5 key to Enable Safe Mode with Command Prompt.

After the system is loaded in Safe Mode with Command Prompt, do following:

1. In the Command Prompt window, type cd restore and hit Enter.



2. Then type rstrui.exe and hit Enter again.



3. Once a new window shows up, click Next.



4. Choose the date before the infection appearance and click Next again



5. In the opened pop-up window, click Yes to start system restore.

Method 4. Roll the files back to the previous version

Previous versions can be copies of files and folders created by Windows Backup (if it is active) or copies of files and folders created by System Restore. You can use this feature to restore files and folders that you accidentally modified or deleted, or that were damaged. This feature is available in Windows 7 and later versions.

1. Click the encrypted file and choose Properties
2. Open the Previous Version tab
3. Select the latest version and click Copy
4. Click Restore

How to prevent your system from Ransomware?

No one is safe from infection with a virus that secretly encrypts your data. But in order to minimize this risk, you need to follow the rules:

1. Always make Windows updates on time and keep them up to date. Remember that these updates close the security holes in the system through which the virus can enter your computer.

2. The most efficient way to avoid data loss is of course to make a backup of all important data from your computer. It is enough just to synchronize the necessary folders with one of the cloud services, so as not to be afraid to see the text requiring the payment of bitcoins in exchange for a decryption key. It can be a cloud or a remote hard drive on the network. If you store all your files on the Internet, the likelihood of virus infection will be lower. Do not make copies to external hard drives, as this could damage them.

3. Since spam email is the most popular form of spreading ransomware-type viruses, the user should never open email attachments without first having scanned them with antivirus. Just clicking on the link or opening the attachment can damage the operating system (Windows) in a few minutes, damage important data and infect other machines with the virus.

3. Ransomware-type viruses often crawl into a system using the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP). RDP is a legitimate and useful feature that allows a user to take control of a remote computer or virtual machine over a network connection. But, at the same time, this is its Achilles’ heel as it’s poorly secured and has many vulnerabilities that can give hackers easy entry into the victim’s computer. In this case, we advise you to set a different from 3389 TCP port and use a more strong password. You can additionally prevent yourself from virus penetration through an RDP connection with the help of a reliable firewall such as GlassWire’s Firewall

5. All previous methods do not matter if you do not have a reliable antivirus. The presence of anti-virus on your computer can prevent all these unpleasant surprises. Anti-virus software will protect you from malware, money loss, time loss, invasion of your personal life. Now the antivirus market is so huge that it is difficult to make a choice in favor of one of them. If you have not decided who to give preference to, we suggest you familiarize yourself with our Top 5 Antivirus Software for Windows

Written by Ilyas J