What is Poliex Ransomware
Poliex is a ransomware-type virus discovered by a malware hunter from South Korea known as dnwls0719. Likewise other infections of such type, Poliex does encrypt personal data to blackmail users into paying the ransom. Along with encrypting files by military-grade algorithms, the virus also appends the .poliex extension to each of the compromised pieces. To illustrate, a file named 1.pdf will experience a change to 1.pdf.poliex and drops its original icon at the end of encryption. Once such changes have been successfully applied, users will lose access to their data. Instructions on how to return it are stated inside of the README.txt note, which is created after encryption is done.
Hello. All your files are encrypted. Do you want to decrypt your files?
price 500$. Our Telegram: hxxps://t.me/Poliex
There is not too much written by the developers, yet it is enough to understand what victims should do. As cybercriminals say, the decryption price is 500$. Right after this message extortionists attach their telegram address. To get involved in further conversations with swindlers, users should contact the frauds using the Telegram app. After establishing contact with them, victims will therefore get the necessary payment details to transfer the required amount of money. Unfortunately, there is little data on how cybercriminals behave themselves during private chat. They can offer to test free decryption of some files to elevate the trust of victims who hesitate on their trustworthiness. Despite this, it is advised against having any deal with cybercriminals. Statistics show that many of them tend to deceive victims and not send any decryption tools even after receiving the ransom. Note that there is yet no approved software that could guarantee free decryption of .poliex files. You can avoid paying the ransom in case you have backups copies of blocked data. It is important that they were created and saved on external devices prior to the infection. If you do not have such available, you can still try out some third-party tools to unlock the encrypted files, yet we cannot guarantee it will lead to success. Whatever the case, it is obligatory to remove Poliex Ransomware from your computer. Unless you do it in time, the virus may continue running further encryption and spread onto neighboring networks. To get rid of the virus and learn how to recover your data, follow our tutorial below.
How Poliex Ransomware infected your computer
Ransomware-type programs are often distributed via malicious spam letters. Cybercriminals usually disguise such messages as legitimate delivery companies. They oftentimes take DHL, DPD, or FedEx companies as they are most known to users. Therefore, extortionists fabricate message headlines and inner content to make people believe that they actually received a message from one of the previously-mentioned firms. The message usually states that one has either failed or succeeded to order something from the web. In order to track the parcel, cybercriminals attach fake links or files like .docx, .pdf, .exe, or.js to distribute the virus. They say it is necessary to click or open them in order to learn the state of your parcel. Unfortunately, even though most users know they have not ordered anything from the web in recent days, the curiosity factor allures them into taking the required actions. As a result, you will more likely become a victim infected with ransomware. Note that e-mail spam is not the only method used to distribute various types of malware. There are countless others like trojans, backdoors, keyloggers, unprotected RDP configuration, fake software updates, installers, and many more to be cautious of. Scroll down below to read our guide on removal as well as protection against such threats in the future.
- Download Poliex Ransomware Removal Tool
- Get decryption tool for .poliex files
- Recover encrypted files with Stellar Data Recovery Professional
- Restore encrypted files with Windows Previous Versions
- Restore files with Shadow Explorer
- How to protect from threats like Poliex Ransomware
Download Removal Tool
To remove Poliex Ransomware completely, we recommend you to use Norton Antivirus from Symantec. It detects and removes all files, folders, and registry keys of Poliex Ransomware and prevents future infections by similar viruses.
Alternative Removal Tool
To remove Poliex Ransomware completely, we recommend you to use SpyHunter 5 from EnigmaSoft Limited. It detects and removes all files, folders, and registry keys of Poliex Ransomware. The trial version of SpyHunter 5 offers virus scan and 1-time removal for FREE.
Poliex Ransomware files:
README.txt
{randomname}.exe
Poliex Ransomware registry keys:
no information
How to decrypt and restore .poliex files
Use automated decryptors
Download Kaspersky RakhniDecryptor
Use following tool from Kaspersky called Rakhni Decryptor, that can decrypt .poliex files. Download it here:
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 .poliex files by uploading samples to Dr. Web Ransomware Decryption Service. Analyzing of 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 Poliex Ransomware and removed it 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 .poliex files
- Download Stellar Data Recovery Professional.
- Click Recover Data button.
- Select type of files you want to restore and click Next button.
- Choose location where you would like to restore files from and click Scan button.
- Preview found files, choose ones you will restore and click Recover.
Using Windows Previous Versions option:
- Right-click on infected file and choose Properties.
- Select Previous Versions tab.
- Choose particular version of the file and click Copy.
- To restore the selected file and replace the existing one, click on the Restore button.
- In case there is no items in the list choose alternative method.
Using Shadow Explorer:
- Download Shadow Explorer program.
- Run it and you will see screen listing of all the drives and the dates that shadow copy was created.
- Select the drive and date that you want to restore from.
- Right-click on a folder name and select Export.
- In case there are no other dates in the list, choose alternative method.
If you are using Dropbox:
- Login to the DropBox website and go to the folder that contains encrypted files.
- Right-click on the encrypted file and select Previous Versions.
- Select the version of the file you wish to restore and click on the Restore button.
How to protect computer from viruses, like Poliex 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.
2. Back up your files
As an additional way to save your files, we recommend online backup. Local storages, such as hard drives, SSDs, flash drives, or remote network storages can be instantly infected by the virus once plugged in or connected to. Poliex 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.
