How to Remove Ransomware

[Brian12]

Hi guys,

I wrote a new guide: http://www.selectrealsecurity.com/remove-ransomware

I would appreciate any feedback.

[PaulRome]

You could tell them how to restore their desktop and start menu.

[FoolishTech]

I don't understand your target audience for all these How-to's you write, you need to make that clear when you're asking for feedback! I don't recall looking at the other articles, but this one I have a few comments on depending on your target audience.

If your target audience is "end users" then:

• Dumb down some of your language a bit. e.g. Don't even use words like "reformat" people don't know what the heck that means.
• Don't mention "boot cds" at all. Too many variables. Forget what to do with them, how many end users do you think you can walk through various BIOSes just to change the boot order if needed, much less to burn the CD itself. Yes I see you have a page about changing the boot order - it isn't specific enough and needs to be taylored to a TON of different BIOSes/revisions.
• Some pictures with little arrows pointing to which buttons to hit in Hitman Pro would be nice and helpful to some. Even people who can read and follow directions feel better about having a visual guide, not just saying "run a scan with this program that you've never used before" ...
• I noticed this statement: "If all else fails, you must reformat your hard drive and reinstall Windows." You should probably change that to "If all else fails, you should contact a computer repair technician."

If your target audience is "pizza techs" and/or power users who are trying to learn a little bit, or those just getting started with computer repair in general, then:

• You are on the right track, but...
• Perhaps mentioning a few other apps other than HMP wouldn't hurt either; unless you don't really care about the point of your article - to help people remove infections (I assume) and following with this logic:
• I feel that you've done a great job with your descriptions/pictures on how to use the various boot CDs but IMHO it is wasted energy that could be better put to use actually explaining some manual removal techniques so they can start actually learning how to deal with infections instead of relying on software that doesn't do but half the job most of the time.

If your target audience is "us" then, well, I'd rather not go there at this point in time or I fear another "strike" on my account until I learn how to word things better.

[Brian12]

Hi Foolishtech,

Thank you for your suggestions and input. I added a link to instructions for HitmanPro. My target audience is end users.

Also, please keep in mind that ransomware is not easy to remove. There are only a couple ways to remove it.

Brian

[TenYardFight]

Originally Posted by Brian12

Hi Foolishtech,

Thank you for your suggestions and input. I added a link to instructions for HitmanPro. My target audience is end users.

Also, please keep in mind that ransomware is not easy to remove. There are only a couple ways to remove it.

Brian

Yeah Nick, keep that in mind (;

['putertutor]

I think that FoolishTech's point was that if you target audience is end users, something you have clarified as so, then the tutorial (? not sure what to call it) is probably not well designed. I would agree with that and even say that perhaps it is not a good idea to suggest end users attempt this sort of repair, for numerous reasons.

-Editing bios, no matter how straight forward it may seem to you and I, is a daunting just by virtue of its interface. I don't ever suggest that an end user access the bios on their machine.

-ISO disks may also not seem like a huge hurdle, but again, to an end user it will likely be a foreign, unfamiliar, scary, and unsuccessful venture.

-Lastly, "If all else fails you must reformat your hard drive and reformat windows." Really?? Not "Seek professional help," or "Find a reputable technician," or anything like that. Straight from a few briefly described and likely unsuccessful steps straight to "Destroy all your data!! There is no other option!!" And the information you give to perform this last action is nothing more than a link to Microsoft?

Honestly I started this post out with the good intentions of giving you the benefit of the doubt, but as I wrote it I realized what a poorly conceived idea this is. Can you imagine a mechanic posting on his website how to rebuild a transmission, and intending it to be used by the average vehicle owner? Oh, and I'm certain that Foolish is grateful for your admonishing him that removing ransom ware is "not easy."

[Brian12]

Originally Posted by 'putertutor

-Lastly, "If all else fails you must reformat your hard drive and reformat windows." Really?? Not "Seek professional help," or "Find a reputable technician," or anything like that. Straight from a few briefly described and likely unsuccessful steps straight to "Destroy all your data!! There is no other option!!" And the information you give to perform this last action is nothing more than a link to Microsoft?

Hi putertutor,

You make an excellent point. I changed it. Thanks for your input.

Brian

[Brian12]

By the way, you can see HitmanPro in action here: http://hitmanpro.wordpress.com/2012/...ed-ransomware/

[FoolishTech]

Originally Posted by Brian12

Hi Foolishtech,

Thank you for your suggestions and input. I added a link to instructions for HitmanPro. My target audience is end users.

Also, please keep in mind that ransomware is not easy to remove. There are only a couple ways to remove it.

Brian

Brian, originally I wasn't going to respond at all, but your HMP link put made me do it

I simply MUST inform you that 'ransomware' is painfully easy to remove. I would suggest you study the forums here, maybe hit up Youtube (I seem to recall putting a demonstration on there myself a while back) and there is always Britec's vids (very basic, and if you've seen one you've seen them all) and last but not least you could practice a little in a VM... You'll pick it up eventually.

Originally Posted by Brian12

By the way, you can see HitmanPro in action here: http://hitmanpro.wordpress.com/2012/...ed-ransomware/

I don't think anyone here needs to see HMP in action ... it's the person reading your webpage that needs to see that. Have you been paying attention at all? Do you realize what forum you are in...?

[PCX]

Originally Posted by FoolishTech

Brian, originally I wasn't going to respond at all, but your HMP link put made me do it

I simply MUST inform you that 'ransomware' is painfully easy to remove. I would suggest you study the forums here, maybe hit up Youtube (I seem to recall putting a demonstration on there myself a while back) and there is always Britec's vids (very basic, and if you've seen one you've seen them all) and last but not least you could practice a little in a VM... You'll pick it up eventually.



I don't think anyone here needs to see HMP in action ... it's the person reading your webpage that needs to see that. Have you been paying attention at all? Do you realize what forum you are in...?

And I was just about to suggest that he make a tutorial for D7