What is Atom?

Atom Ransomware is an extremely dangerous ransomware type of malware that can do serious damage to a user’s computer and removal of Atom can be quite tricky. It can affect different versions of Windows (Windows 8, Windows Vista & Windows 7 and Windows XP), therefore Atom prevention and deletion is very important. In simple terms, the malware takes your data hostage, asks for money in order to restore them and usually then proceeds to take your money without helping you with file restoration. Atom Virus is nothing new and is quite similar to other ransomware, such as CryptoWall, CryptoFortress, and Buyunlockcode and the Spyhunter malware removal software is usually used in order to delete Atom from the computer.

Atom Ransomware

Atom spread

Atom uses the usual ransomware spread methods and can be obtained via spam email, free software or advertisements. If the user gets an email with a suspicious attachment, proceeds to download and open it, the computer gets infected with a Trojan virus. In order to prevent Atom, users are advised to not open unknown emails. When a Trojan is present on a computer, there are usually warning signs, even if your anti-virus does not pick up on it. The computer usually works slow and sluggish, some applications might stop working. If the user does not notice the Trojan in time and does not erase Atom before it can achieve its purpose, it encrypts personal files and then locks the computer, demanding money.
Infection can be possible through ads and banners as well. “You are our 1,000,000th visitor” or “You have one unread message”, these types of banners appear on many sites and most internet users have encountered one at some point in their browsing sessions. Atom prevention depends on how careful the user is when browsing and by not clicking on the banners, you are being smart. Pressing on one those banners could trigger an automatic download, infecting your computer with a virus, potentially the Trojan that locks your computer.

How does it work?

Once the Trojan is on the computer, it encrypts files with the .xls, .doc, .pdf, .rtf, .psd, .dwg, .cdr, .cd, .mdb, .1cd, .dbf, .sqlite, .jpg, and .zip file extensions and makes them impossible to be opened.
The way ransomware works is when the files are encrypted, a message appears on the screen saying exactly that. Most ransomware disguise themselves as government agencies such as the FBI, saying that the user has committed a crime and their computer has been locked. Atom just asks you to pay without the whole government agency charade. Usually, ransomware asks you to pay from around 100 dollars/euros to 500 euros/dollars and you have to use the bitcon payment system which makes it harder to track the criminals. Instructions on how to do that are provided in the message. Then the user is given the decryption key which would be used in restoring the files. The user is also given a time limit after which the decryption key is destroyed or the ransom becomes bigger.
The reason Atom is so high on the danger scale is because restoring encrypted files is impossible without the decryption key. But even if the victim pays the money to the criminals, there is little chance that the files would be restored.

Atom prevention

If the user encounters the message about file encryption, it is already too late do anything but delete Atom. The computer lock is done by the Trojan, which means that the infection has been present prior to the lock down. The only thing the user can do if this happens is to erase Atom and take measures to avoid getting the Trojan again.
When trying to prevent Atom, it is important that the user has an up-to-date anti-malware software and performs regular scans in order to find the Trojan if the computer gets infected.
Because data loss is unavoidable if infected, users are strongly advised to have backup of all files stored in the computer. Not having data backup could have disastrous consequences, therefore users are advised to take this warning seriously.

How to remove Atom

While it is understandable that the user would want to pay the money in order to get the files back, it is important to remember that restoring the encrypted files is impossible without the decryption key and the criminals have no intentions of giving it to you, even if you payed. The user should, instead, expel Atom from the computer.
This site will provide step by step instructions on how to eliminate Atom using the malware removal software Spyhunter.

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Quick Menu

Step 1. Delete Atom Ransomware using Safe Mode with Networking.

Remove Atom Ransomware from Windows 7/Windows Vista/Windows XP
  1. Click on Start and select Shutdown.
  2. Choose Restart and click OK. Windows 7 - restart
  3. Start tapping F8 when your PC starts loading.
  4. Under Advanced Boot Options, choose Safe Mode with Networking. Remove Atom Ransomware - boot options
  5. Open your browser and download the anti-malware utility.
  6. Use the utility to remove Atom Ransomware
Remove Atom Ransomware from Windows 8/Windows 10
  1. On the Windows login screen, press the Power button.
  2. Tap and hold Shift and select Restart. Windows 10 - restart
  3. Go to Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Start Settings.
  4. Choose Enable Safe Mode or Safe Mode with Networking under Startup Settings. Win 10 Boot Options
  5. Click Restart.
  6. Open your web browser and download the malware remover.
  7. Use the software to delete Atom Ransomware

Step 2. Restore Your Files using System Restore

Delete Atom Ransomware from Windows 7/Windows Vista/Windows XP
  1. Click Start and choose Shutdown.
  2. Select Restart and OK Windows 7 - restart
  3. When your PC starts loading, press F8 repeatedly to open Advanced Boot Options
  4. Choose Command Prompt from the list. Windows boot menu - command prompt
  5. Type in cd restore and tap Enter. Uninstall Atom Ransomware - command prompt restore
  6. Type in rstrui.exe and press Enter. Delete Atom Ransomware - command prompt restore execute
  7. Click Next in the new window and select the restore point prior to the infection. Atom Ransomware - restore point
  8. Click Next again and click Yes to begin the system restore. Atom Ransomware removal - restore message
Delete Atom Ransomware from Windows 8/Windows 10
  1. Click the Power button on the Windows login screen.
  2. Press and hold Shift and click Restart. Windows 10 - restart
  3. Choose Troubleshoot and go to Advanced options.
  4. Select Command Prompt and click Restart. Win 10 command prompt
  5. In Command Prompt, input cd restore and tap Enter. Uninstall Atom Ransomware - command prompt restore
  6. Type in rstrui.exe and tap Enter again. Delete Atom Ransomware - command prompt restore execute
  7. Click Next in the new System Restore window. Get rid of Atom Ransomware - restore init
  8. Choose the restore point prior to the infection. Atom Ransomware - restore point
  9. Click Next and then click Yes to restore your system. Atom Ransomware removal - restore message

Site Disclaimer

2-remove-virus.com is not sponsored, owned, affiliated, or linked to malware developers or distributors that are referenced in this article. The article does not promote or endorse any type of malware. We aim at providing useful information that will help computer users to detect and eliminate the unwanted malicious programs from their computers. This can be done manually by following the instructions presented in the article or automatically by implementing the suggested anti-malware tools.

The article is only meant to be used for educational purposes. If you follow the instructions given in the article, you agree to be contracted by the disclaimer. We do not guarantee that the artcile will present you with a solution that removes the malign threats completely. Malware changes constantly, which is why, in some cases, it may be difficult to clean the computer fully by using only the manual removal instructions.

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