Cyberghost, the makers of the CyberGhost VPN software, has released a tool called CyberGhost Petya Immunizer that promises to keep your Windows computer protected from Petya ransomware.
CyberGhost Immunizer
To immunize your Windows computer, you need to download the zipped file. Once you have downloaded this file, extract its contents and click on the PetyaImmunizer.exe file. Within a few seconds, you will see a window displayed indicating that your system has been immunized.
If your Windows SmartScreen throws up a warning, I think you could safely ignore it and allow the tool to run.
There is not much information on their blog about how CyberGhost Petya Immunizer works to prevent the Petya Ransomware from infecting your computer. It would have been nice if they had mentioned what precisely the tool did. I also did not find any way to remove or uninstall it.
CyberGhost Immunizer works on Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7/Vista. It requires .NET Framework 4 to be installed, however.
Ransomware has become a serious threat to the online world these days. Many software firms, universities, companies, and organizations worldwide are trying to take precautionary measures to save themselves from ransomware attacks. Using ransomware protection software like this one will go a long way in securing your computer systems.
UPDATE: I asked CyberGhost, and here is what they say.
- To uninstall the tool, simply delete the executable file.
- To reverse the changes, you have to open the Windows directory and delete files named – perfc, perfc.dll & perfc.dat.
The NotPetya Ransomware vaccine is another tool that will stop the latest ransomware in its tracks.
How Does Ransomware Work?
The ransomware attack begins after a device is exposed to the malicious code. Once a device is most vulnerable, ransomware can remain dormant until then, when it is at its most vulnerable, it will attack.
Can you recover from ransomware?
The fastest way to recover from ransomware is to simply restore your systems from backups. In order for this method to work, your data and applications must be recent versions that are free of the ransomware you currently have. Before restoration, make sure to eliminate the ransomware first.
