Do you know what Hand of God Ransomware is?
FBI is a reputable organization, and that is why cyber criminals have exploited its name many many times. The Hand of God Ransomware is the latest infection that uses the credentials of this law enforcer. This threat locks the screen with a full-screen notification that has the FBI seal with the “FBI ANTI-PIRACY WARNING” slogan attached to it. Just above the seal, you are introduced to three words, “hand of God,” and that is a literal translation from “La Main de Dieu.” This saying is included in the message that, allegedly, was issued by the FBI. Of course, the reality is that cyber criminals are behind it all, and they are acting deceptively just so that you would pay attention to the bogus claims and, eventually, pay a huge sum of money for something you have not even done. You can learn how to delete Hand of God Ransomware/La Main de Dieu Ransomware by looking at the removal guide below, but we suggest that you read this report first to learn how the infection works.
The executable of the malicious Hand of God Ransomware could be introduced to you as a useful program or a harmless file, and you could download it yourself without suspecting a problem. You could also let this malware in without realizing it when downloading a software bundle. It is important that you know where the launcher file is because if you do not, it is unlikely that you will be able to delete the infection manually. Once executed, Hand of God Ransomware also creates a file named “AngelFile.exe”, and it is placed in the %APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\ folder. This malware can disable the Task Manager to ensure that you do not terminate the process responsible for the representation of the screen-locker, and that can prevent you from finding and removing malicious components yourself. The good news is that you can reboot your system into Safe Mode to regain full access of your operating system. If you successfully eliminate the malicious files in Safe Mode, the screen-locker is disabled. Unfortunately, not all users will realize that this is what they can do.
Hand of God Ransomware screenshot
Scroll down for full removal instructions
Although the message introduced to Windows users by Hand of God Ransomware is not convincing, more gullible users could be tricked. According to this message – which, by the way, is represented in French – you have committed a fraud, and now your files are locked. The message warns that your files will be removed if you do not pay a “fine” within 2 days. Have you committed the crime that is discussed in the ransom note? If you have not, why would you even consider paying the ransom? When it comes to that, cyber criminals behind Hand of God Ransomware want you to transfer a sum that equals 0.06 Bitcoins (~850 Canadian Dollars) to 1Emhk1iJhcVTxPEWu4vqwPyUjXqz33So3F. At the time of research, no money was found in this Bitcoin Address, but it is possible that payments were made and taken out already. Of course, you do not want to pay any money to cyber criminals, but ignoring the message is not a good idea either. Instead, you need to delete the infection as soon as possible.
Have you ever rebooted your operating system into Safe Mode? If you have, you know that it is not the most complicated task. If you have not, you might have hesitations. Well, whether you want to remove Hand of God Ransomware manually or you want to install anti-malware software, you will have to reboot your PC. In the latter case, of course, you will need to reboot into Safe Mode with Networking because you need Internet access. It is easier to download anti-malware software because it can help you clean your operating system from all existing threats. If you decide to delete malware manually, you need to be extremely careful, and experience is needed because this threat might be hard to detect.
Removal Step I: Reboot Windows
Windows 10/Windows 8
- Tap keys Ctrl+Alt+Delete to open a menu and then expand the Shut down options menu (next to the Power button).
- Click Restart while pressing down the Shift key.
- In the Troubleshoot menu click Advanced options and then move to Startup Settings.
- Click Restart and then select Safe Mode (F4) or Safe Mode with Networking (F5).
- When the system reboots, move to the second step.
Windows 7/Windows Vista/Windows XP
- Press the power button on the computer to restart it.
- As soon as the BIOS screen loads start tapping F8 for the boot options menu to show up.
- Using arrow keys select Safe Mode or Safe Mode with Networking and then tap Enter.
- When the system reboots, move to the second step.
Removal Step II: Delete Hand of God Ransomware
- Find and Delete the {random launcher file name}.exe.
- Simultaneously tap Win+E keys to launch Explorer.
- Type %APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\ into the bar at the top and tap Enter.
- Delete the file named AngelFile.exe.
- Empty Recycle Bin and then reboot your PC into normal mode.
- Install a legitimate malware scanner and examine your operating system for malicious leftovers.
In non-techie terms:
Hand of God Ransomware is a terrible infection that threatens to delete all of the files on your computer if you do not follow the instructions and pay a huge ransom. Although it is concealed as a fine issued by the FBI, it is a ransom, and cyber criminals behind the ransomware are willing to say anything and do anything to get it. The infection locks the screen and displays a bogus notification representing a falsified crime. If you pay the ransom, your PC might be unlocked, but that is not a given. Furthermore, there is a way to unlock the system for free. All you have to do is reboot your PC into Safe Mode and remove Hand of God Ransomware components. If you cannot do it manually, you can reboot into Safe Mode with Networking to install an anti-malware program that will delete the infection automatically.