Technological advancements have shaped the way we live nowadays. Without a computer, one can hardly enjoy the numerous opportunities the system offers. Unfortunately, with great power comes even greater responsibility, so every user should be aware that their data should be protected in order not to be turned against them. Computer viruses exist almost as long as computers, and their number gets larger with each passing day. Even though virus protection should protect the user from potential threats, undesirable outcomes still happen. For that reason, we recommend you go through the following lines and figure out how to recover virus-infected files from your PC.
Better Safe than Sorry
The best way not to get a virus is not to interact or pick up the malware in the first place. If you are reading this article, the chances that you have already caught the malicious thing are grand. Even though you might be using protective software, you should be aware that the number of new malware variants expands daily. Thus, if you do not update or if the developers of the antivirus fail to do their job in time, the protection you rely on will not be sufficient.
However, browsing the web and using external hard drives backed up with some type of protection is better than not safeguarding your data at all. In case your safeguarding software fails, you will have to find means to recover the infected data.
Anamnesis
Before we continue, we should clarify that the number of computer viruses grows as we speak. It is highly unlikely that the trend will ever change, especially if we consider the growing number of everyday computer users and the never more obvious dependence of the system on computer technologies.
Nevertheless, there are more than just a few types of viruses. Some of them are seemingly harmless, while others appear as if they originated from the deepest parts of hell, considering the consequences they might set in motion. The aforementioned brings us to the part where you must determine which type of virus grinds your gears, and what should you do to cover up for the damage done.
Virus Variety
If we would analyze every single virus variant, the process would last eternally. Therefore, we shall bring you closer to the most common examples of threats that intend to harm your computer’s well-being.
Yes, You Can
Web scripting, macro, file-infecting, and boot sector viruses all together belong to a group you can easily recover.
Without the internet, you can rest assured that the web scripting malware will not be a threat to you, but unfortunately, the chances you are going to use your PC only in offline mode are equal to zero. In case you accidentally download the malicious thing, try to act calmly and disconnect from the network as soon as possible and let the data recovery software, such as Soouya, do the hard work for you.
In a nutshell, data recovery software is a must-have if you want to regain control over your files, so we shall not mention it again in order not to waste your precious time.
The macro-ones are bound to various documents and can be transferred to your PC upon opening the files. Not only can they easily be recovered, but you can also put a stop to further complications by disabling the visual basic support feature.
File-infecting viruses do precisely what their name suggests, and the consequences the user would experience in case of interaction with them would imply slowing down the PC and preventing regular usage by initiating irritant pop-ups and similar distractions.
Boot sector variety starts up every time the user turns their machine on, as their name suggests. They tend to interfere with the operating system and prevent the user from making necessary adjustments, so they appear to be a trickier adversary than the rest we mentioned. Still, valid software could help you deal with the nuisance.
Hopefully, You Can
Sub-types known as encrypt and resident malware is not something you want to mess with. Still, the situation is not as hopeless as it would be with more dangerous virus types.
Encrypt viruses encrypt the data, so in order to access the desired content, one must reverse the process. Even though encryption implies complexity, some are less complicated than others. Cybercriminals prefer using this type of malware since it allows them to blackmail their victims. Fortunately, reliable software for decryption should do the trick and get you back in the driving seat. The bad side implies carefully designed malware that cannot be reversed without the help of a professional.
Not only do the resident viruses become hosts of your PC, but they spread across all the data you interact with upon catching them. The sooner you react, the better, so make sure you have your data recovery software at hand at all times. Unfortunately, some of these nuisances spread fast, and will most likely infect peculiar data to the point of no return.
Bad News
Overwrite and space-filler kinds are the ones that you do not want to mess with, especially if you want to prevent losing data. Unfortunately, the aforementioned are designed to act directly. Basically, if a file gets overwritten, there is nothing you can do to recover the lost piece of data since their position on the hard drive would be taken by an alternative file.
The space-fillers eat the space of your hard drive, and will not stop until you physically remove the infection by formatting. Unfortunately, the process would cost you the files you would not be fond of losing.
To conclude the whole story, we suggest you do your best to protect your PC before it is too late to do something about the aftermath of infecting your files with malware. The alternative solution lies in using dedicated data recovery software, which is designed to easily guide you through the recovery process if the process is feasible. Unfortunately, the success rate depends on which type of virus got a hold of your files, so we underline, once again, that the initial data protection and regular backups represent the safest way of preservation.
