Remove .Raldug Virus (Ransomware Removal + File Recovery)

This page aims to help you remove .Raldug for free. Our instructions also cover how any .Raldug file can be recovered.

.Raldug Virus in details

.Raldug Virus Ransomware is very very similar to other recent examples of ransomware outbreaks like .Refols,.Grovat and [email protected] . It could be really, really unpleasant if your files become inaccessible after a Ransomware like .Raldug has attacked your machine and has placed its complex encryption on the data located on your computer’s hard-drives. If that is what has recently happened to your PC and to your files, the first thing we need to warn you about is that you MUST NOT connect any external devices to your computer or else the files inside those devices may also become victims of the nasty Ransomware. For added safety, we also advise you to not open any of your cloud storages in an attempt to restore some of the inaccessible files from backup copies. Now, that we have gotten this out of the way, we need to tell you that, unfortunately, the options you have right now are not very many. Of course, .Raldug has surely already offered you to pay a ransom to the hackers behind it and get a decryption key in exchange or your money. Most security experts in the field of Ransomware, however, are unanimous about the idea that agreeing to pay the ransom demanded by the hackers behind a Ransomware virus like .Raldug is not a good or desirable course of action in a situation like this. The reason for that should be obvious – the users simply have no guarantee about whether or not the anonymous cyber crooks would really grant them the decryption key for the files that the insidious cryptovirus has rendered inaccessible. After all, the crooks could simply get the money and disappear with it, not sending anything to their victims. Because of this, it is generally a good idea to see if there aren’t any other options available to you – search your external devices, look in your cloud storages and try some alternative decryption methods and you may just be able to bring some of your data back. However, before you do any of that, make sure that .Raldug is removed and can no longer encrypt stuff in your computer.

Removing .Raldug Ransomware manually

Here, we must point out that the actual removal of the virus isn’t the most difficult part about handling a Ransomware infection. If you make use of the guide posted here and/or of the tool for removing malware programs we’ve included in it, you should be capable of cleaning your computer from the nefarious cryptovirus. However, to recover your files, you will likely need to take additional action. As we already mentioned, backups would be invaluable in such situations. However, most users do not have all of their important data backed up which is where the real problem is.

Sadly, in such cases, there may be no way of retrieving your data. Some potential alternative recovery options are available in the second section of your guide on removing .Raldug but they may not always be as effective as we’d want them to be. Still, trying the at least doesn’t involve giving up a serious amount of your money for e decryption key you may never receive which is why we still believe that our suggestions are still worth the shot.

SUMMARY:

Remove .Raldug Virus Ransomware Guide

1: Preparations

Note: Before you go any further, we advise you to bookmark this page or have it open on a separate device such as your smartphone or another PC. Some of the steps might require you to exit your browser on this PC.

2: Task Manager

Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to enter the Task Manager. Go to the Tab labeled Processes (Details for Win 8/10). Carefully look through the list of processes that are currently active on you PC.

If any of them seems shady, consumes too much RAM/CPU or has some strange description or no description at all, right-click on it, select Open File Location and delete everything there.

Also, even if you do not delete the files, be sure to stop the process by right-clicking on it and selecting End Process.

3: IP related to .Raldug

Go to c:\windows\system32\drivers\etc\hosts. Open the hosts file with notepad.

Find where it says Localhost and take a look below that. 

If you see any IP addresses there (below Localhost) send them to us here, in the comments since they might be coming from the .Raldug.

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4: Disable Startup programs

Re-open the Start Menu and type msconfig.

Click on the first search result. In the next window, go to the Startup tab. If you are on Win 10,  it will send you to the Startup part of the task manager instead, as in the picture:

If you see any sketchy/shady looking entries in the list with an unknown manufacturer or a manufacturer name that looks suspicious as there could be a link between them and .Raldug , disable those programs and select OK.

5: Registry Editor

Press Windows key + R and in the resulting window type regedit.

Now, press Ctrl + F and type the name of the virus.

Delete everything that gets found. If you are not sure about whether to delete something, do not hesitate to ask us in the comments. Keep in mind that if you delete the wrong thing, you might cause all sorts of issues to your PC.

6: Deleting potentially malicious data – .Raldug

Type each of the following locations in the Windows search box and hit enter to open the locations:

%AppData%

%LocalAppData%

%ProgramData%

%WinDir%

%Temp%

Delete everything you see in Temp linked to .Raldug Ransomware. About the other folders, sort their contents by date and delete only the most recent entries. As always, if you are not sure about something, write to us in the comment section.

7: .Raldug Decryption

The previous steps were all aimed at removing the .Raldug Ransomware from your PC. However, in order to regain access to your files, you will also need to decrypt them or restore them. For that, we have a separate article with detailed instructions on what you have to do in order to unlock your data. Here is a link to that guide.