How to remove Pay Ransomware and decrypt .Pay files

What is Pay Ransomware

Pay Ransomware is, in other words, a file-encryptor that prevents users from accessing their own data. A recent investigation confirmed that this virus belongs to a group of ransomware developers known as Xorist. Similar to other infections of this type, the virus changes all encrypted files using the .Pay extension. To illustrate, a file named 1.pdf will change to 1.pdf.Pay and reset its original icon as well. After getting things done with encryption, Pay Ransomware displays a pop-up window and creates a text file titled HOW TO DECRYPT FILES.txt. Both of them contain identical information on how to return access to files.

It is said that victims can restore access to files by paying 50$ to the Bitcoin address of cybercriminals. After completion, victims will have to contact extortionists via the qTox client and receive their decryption code. There is also a warning that 5 unsuccessful attempts to enter the right code will result in irreversible destruction of data. Following this, swindlers encourage victims to be more careful while doing the above-mentioned. Additionally, it is also said that no third-party software like antivirus will help, but only prevent further decryption of data. Unfortunately, what they outline in their messages can be true – some cybercriminals set up protection against manual attempts to decrypt blocked data. In such a case, the only option, if you are in burning need of restoring your files, is either to pay the required ransom or use your own backup copies from external storage to compensate for the loss. There are also reliable decryption tools available in our article, however, they are less likely to manage the decryption of Pay Ransomware files. You can give them a try, but we are unable to guarantee they will actually work. Note that before trying any manual recovery methods, it is important to delete the virus first. You can follow our instructions below to do it without traces and also get extra advice on how to protect your system against such threats in the future.

How Pay Ransomware infected your computer

Ransomware and other types of infections distribute themselves via a number of channels. Phishing techniques are first in the queue of successful infections. It is common to see cybercriminals spread malicious files or links via e-mail spam letters. Such letters are often disguised as something legitimate or important and trick users into opening different kinds of content. Files like Word, Excel, PDF, JavaScript, Archives, and so forth can be attached to these messages. Although these files have nothing to do with malware on the initial basis, cybercriminals abuse their technical properties to integrate malware. Thus, if you received an unknown message with such files inside, ignore or even delete it immediately. Various malware is also actively spread via open-access pages where you can download pirated, cracked, or simply free software (e.g., Torrent clients, eMule, Gnutella, etc.). We advise you to beware of any unofficial and doubtful content you face on the web. Opt only for trusted and official resources. You can also equip yourself with additional browsing tools such as Adblock, which will hide most of the ads including potentially dangerous ones.

1. Download Pay Ransomware Removal Tool
2. Get decryption tool for .Pay files
3. Recover encrypted files with Stellar Data Recovery Professional
4. Restore encrypted files with Windows Previous Versions
5. Restore files with Shadow Explorer
6. How to protect from threats like Pay Ransomware

Pay Ransomware files:


HOW TO DECRYPT FILES.txt
{randomname}.exe


Pay Ransomware registry keys:

no information

How to decrypt and restore .Pay files

Use automated decryptors

Download Kaspersky RakhniDecryptor

Use following tool from Kaspersky called Rakhni Decryptor, that can decrypt .Pay files. Download it here:

Download RakhniDecryptor

There is no purpose to pay the ransom because there is no guarantee you will receive the key, but you will put your bank credentials at risk.

Dr.Web Rescue Pack

Famous antivirus vendor Dr. Web provides free decryption service for the owners of its products: Dr.Web Security Space or Dr.Web Enterprise Security Suite. Other users can ask for help in the decryption of .Pay files by uploading samples to Dr. Web Ransomware Decryption Service. Analyzing files will be performed free of charge and if files are decryptable, all you need to do is purchase a 2-year license of Dr.Web Security Space worth $120 or less. Otherwise, you don’t have to pay.

If you are infected with Pay Ransomware and removed from your computer you can try to decrypt your files. Antivirus vendors and individuals create free decryptors for some crypto-lockers. To attempt to decrypt them manually you can do the following:

Use Stellar Data Recovery Professional to restore .Pay files

1. Download Stellar Data Recovery Professional.
2. Click Recover Data button.
3. Select type of files you want to restore and click Next button.
4. Choose location where you would like to restore files from and click Scan button.
5. Preview found files, choose ones you will restore and click Recover.

Download Stellar Data Recovery Professional

Using Windows Previous Versions option:

1. Right-click on infected file and choose Properties.
2. Select Previous Versions tab.
3. Choose particular version of the file and click Copy.
4. To restore the selected file and replace the existing one, click on the Restore button.
5. In case there is no items in the list choose alternative method.

Using Shadow Explorer:

1. Download Shadow Explorer program.
2. Run it and you will see screen listing of all the drives and the dates that shadow copy was created.
3. Select the drive and date that you want to restore from.
4. Right-click on a folder name and select Export.
5. In case there are no other dates in the list, choose alternative method.

If you are using Dropbox:

1. Login to the DropBox website and go to the folder that contains encrypted files.
2. Right-click on the encrypted file and select Previous Versions.
3. Select the version of the file you wish to restore and click on the Restore button.

How to protect computer from viruses, like Pay Ransomware, in future

1. Get special anti-ransomware software

Use ZoneAlarm Anti-Ransomware

Famous antivirus brand ZoneAlarm by Check Point released a comprehensive tool, that will help you with active anti-ransomware protection, as an additional shield to your current protection. The tool provides Zero-Day protection against ransomware and allows you to recover files. ZoneAlarm Anti-Ransomware is compatible with all other antiviruses, firewalls, and security software except ZoneAlarm Extreme (already shipped with ZoneAlarm Anti-Ransomware) or Check Point Endpoint products. The killer features of this application are: automatic file recovery, overwrite protection that instantly and automatically recovers any encrypted files, file protection that detects and blocks even unknown encryptors.

Download ZoneAlarm Anti-Ransomware

2. Back up your files

As an additional way to save your files, we recommend online backup. Local storage, such as hard drives, SSDs, flash drives, or remote network storage can be instantly infected by the virus once plugged in or connected to. Pay Ransomware uses some techniques to exploit this. One of the best services and programs for easy automatic online backup is iDrive. It has the most profitable terms and a simple interface. You can read more about iDrive cloud backup and storage here.

3. Do not open spam e-mails and protect your mailbox

Malicious attachments to spam or phishing e-mails are the most popular method of ransomware distribution. Using spam filters and creating anti-spam rules is good practice. One of the world leaders in anti-spam protection is MailWasher Pro. It works with various desktop applications and provides a very high level of anti-spam protection.

Download MailWasher Pro