How to remove Cerber Ransomware?

Cerber is a ransom software that was first spotted in March 2016 and has developed several versions since. It is now at version 5.0. If your computer is infected with this virus, Cerber will lock your computer, tablet or Smartphone and charge you a ransom of between $200 and $800 to recover your files. Unfortunately, today there is still no way to decrypt files for free. When the virus is inside the victim’s system, it starts scanning the device and compiles a list of the most viewed files. Cerber is capable of attacking both the hard disk and removable disks.

The Cerber virus accounts for about a quarter of ransom software activities, and its estimated profits are in the order of $2.3 million per year. Thus, new methods are constantly being developed, and two novelties have emerged recently: Infected computers now have the ability to actually talk to victims, and now the virus works offline and can therefore encrypt your data even if your device is disconnected.




Especially do not pay the 500$ to these pirates because this money would allow them to develop their next version Cerber. So to avoid that, it’s better to take precautions not to get infected, and if that ever happens to you, there are always better solutions than paying these criminals.

Threat Summary

•  Name: Cerber
• Targeted Operating System: data bases
•  Category: Ransomware
•  Symptoms: Once the files are encrypted, Cerber will change your desktop background

How did Cerber Ransomware get installed on your PC?

The Virus enters your device via a Trojan horse. So avoid clicking on a bad link, downloading a bad file or browsing through websites that are themselves pirated by a Trojan horse. Also be aware of suspicious attachments you receive in some emails. Here is how it gets installed –

Software Bundling: Software bundling is the process in which a malicious program is distributed with other free software, to get an unnoticed entry into your computer system. When a user installs a free application, the malicious programs gains a front door entry with the free application, the user has downloaded. Thus, it is a good idea to keep an eye on the installation screens while installing these free applications.

Infected Storage Devices: Your system can also get infected by using removable media such as USB hard drives and jump drives without scanning them with an anti-virus.

Spam Emails – Spamming is the most economic and common method used for the distribution of such malware. The targeted users get genuine looking emails which contain .doc, .txt, and other similar attachments. These attachments can be named as anything which can grab the user’s attention and triggers him/her to open the attachment. As soon as the user opens this attachment, the malware infects the user’s computer system.

Malicious Websites or Malevolent Advertisements: The malicious websites are the ones which are created just for promoting the malware infections. Such websites include but are not limited to porn sites, torrent sites and other free downloading platforms. By visiting such websites, the adware infects the user’s computer without permission. Fake advertisements and updates like Flash player and windows updates which ask the user to update to the latest version are a few examples. When the users click on such links, their computer system gets infected. That is why, it is highly recommended to resist clicking on such links. Also avoid clicking on advertisements offering free stuff such as Win an iPhones, cars or free overseas trips etc.

Why is Cerber a dangerous Ransomware?

Cerber is one of the most dangerous form of ransomware because it knows how to infiltrate between each fault to attack your devices, it becomes more and more powerful, effective and difficult to detect.

How to remove Cerber  Ransomware from your computer?

What you have to do is remove all traces of the virus from your PC. But this removal is quite complex, because unlike a majority of ransomware, with Cerber you cannot remove the virus by performing a system recovery.

The most useful method to get rid of it is to use an anti ransomware removal tool that is competent and able to detect and remove malicious components. You can use SpyHunter which is a powerful program, and which will get rid of Cerber without any problem. You just have to follow the Cerber ransomware removal guide by respecting the virus removal steps.

Restore the encrypted data via Windows previous version.

If the system restore was enabled for both, system and user files, then you can recover your personal data through Windows Previous Version, provided the ransomware has not damaged the backup files. To restore your data follow the instructions given below –

Open My Computer and search for the folder you want to restore. As soon as you find it, right click on it and choose the restore previous version option from the new window.