.better_call_saul is a file extension. If it gets appended to your files, there is a ransomware onboard.
Ransomware stands for any ransoming software. It designates a computer infection that forces its victims to pay so that the damages it has caused could be undone.
A computer infection is deemed to appear as such when a significant number of reports have mentioned it. That is a bit unclear definition, but it is the one to reflect the real state of affairs.
That is to say; .better_call_saul perhaps has been around much longer than supposed. However, it became a significant problem in February 2016. IT security thus considers that date a start of .better_call_saul ransomware distribution campaign.
They say the worldwide web has no limits. The statement exaggerates the reality. Anyway, each user on the web has a unique IP. Apart from being unique, IP indicates location of a computer. As the events happening on the Internet are associated with certain IP’s, they are attributed to particular locations.
The above consideration aims at understanding where the ransomware can and do propagate. Observations reveal the rogue is quite intensively disseminating in Russia. That is rather an intriguing fact as most of other instances of encrypting ransomware completely abandon that region. Some strains do not execute their payload if they detect the compromised machine has a Russian IP address.
.better_call_saul is not limited to any area. It propagates worldwide. Breaking news report its outbreak in Australia. Again, the virus does not restrict its propagation to any region or country. It is just that the rogue so far tends to surface at quite unusual parts of the word.
A common infection vector for the virus reported by EnigmaSoftware website employs a zip format attachment. A victim is supposed to open the archive. The opening triggers the virus installation. That may include a forced system reboot.
Once the system gets restarted, the rogue proceeds with executing its encryption payload. It detects and encodes all the files stored on your device adding .better_call_saul extension.
To address its victims, the malware generates a message and set it as a desktop wallpaper. The notification says that all your files have been encrypted. It specifies email for further negotiations.
A victim is supposed to send the letter indicating the reference code provided in the ransom note. The users who have engaged in follow-up communication reported the ransom amounted to USD 1000 and over.
Needless to say, none is advised to pay the sum claimed by the crooks. Kindly proceed with the elaborate data recovery guidance below and do not forget to remove .better_call_saul virus at once. Of course, the suggestion only applies to the users of machines compromised by the malware. Other readers are kindly advised to use extra precaution when exchanging data with remote users, especially when opening email attachments.
Automatic removal of .better_call_saul ransomware
The benefits of using the automatic security suite to get rid of this infection are obvious: it scans the entire system and detects all potential fragments of the virus, so you are a few mouse clicks away from a complete fix.
- Download and install recommended malware security suite
- Select Start Computer Scan feature and wait until the utility comes up with the scan report. Proceed by clicking on the Fix Threats button, which will trigger a thorough removal process to address all the malware issues compromising your computer and your privacy.
Unlock .better_call_saul files
.better_call_saul represents a unique category of malicious software whose attack surface reaches beyond the operating system and its components, which is why removing the virus itself is a part of the fix only. As it has been mentioned, it encrypts one’s personal information, so the next phase of the overall remediation presupposes reinstating the files that will otherwise remain inaccessible.
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Launch data recovery software
Similarly to the rest of its fellow-infections, .better_call_saul most likely follows an operational algorithm where it erases the original versions of the victim’s files and actually encrypts their copies. This peculiarity might make your day, because forensics-focused applications like Data Recovery Pro are capable of restoring the information that has been removed. As the virus further evolves, its modus operandi may be altered – in the meanwhile, go ahead and try this.
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Take advantage of Volume Shadow Copy Service
This technique is based on using the native backup functionality that’s shipped with Windows operating system. Also referred to as Volume Snapshot Service (VSS), this feature makes regular backups of the user’s files and keeps their most recent versions as long as System Restore is on. .better_call_saul virus hasn’t been found to affect these copies therefore the restoration vector in question is strongly recommended. The two sub-sections below highlight the automatic and manual workflow.
- a) Use Shadow Explorer
Shadow Explorer is an applet that provides an easy way of retrieving previous versions of files and folders. Its pro’s include an intuitive interface where the computer’s entire file hierarchy is displayed within one window. Just pick the hard disk volume, select the object or directory to be restored, right-click on it and choose Export. Follow the app’s prompts to get the job done.
- b) Use file properties
Essentially, what the above-mentioned Shadow Explorer tool does is it automates the process that can otherwise be performed manually via the Properties dialog for individual files. This particular approach is more cumbrous but just as effective as its software-based counterpart, so you can proceed by right-clicking on a specific file, which has been encrypted by .better_call_saul ransomware, and selecting Properties in the context menu. The tab named Previous Versions is the next thing to click – it displays available versions of the file by date of the snapshot creation. Pick the latest copy and complete the retrieval by following the prompts.
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Data backups work wonders
Ransomware like .better_call_saul isn’t nearly as almighty and destructive in case you run regular file backups to the cloud or external data media. The virus itself can be completely removed in a matter of minutes, and the distorted information can then be just as easily recovered from the backup. Luckily, this is a growing trend, so ransom Trojans are hopefully going to become less subversive in the near future.
Verify thoroughness of the removal
Having carried out the instructions above, add a finishing touch to the security procedure by running an additional computer scan to check for residual malware activity
