Ransomware detection and recovering your files (2024)

Ransomware detection and recovering your files

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Ransomware detection notifies you when your OneDrive files have been attacked and guides you through the process of restoring your files. Ransomware is a type of malicious software (malware) designed to block access to your files until you pay money.

When Microsoft 365 detects a ransomware attack, you'll get a notification on your device and receive an email from Microsoft 365. If you're not a subscriber, your first notification and recovery is free. See available plans.

  1. Click the link in the notification or in the email, or go to the OneDrive website, and we'll walk you through the recovery process, which includes:

  2. Confirm your files are infected.

  3. Clean all your devices.

  4. Restore your OneDrive.

Ransomware detection and recovering your files (1)

Steps to the ransomware detection and recovery process on the OneDrive website

If Microsoft 365 detected a ransomware attack, you see the Signs of ransonware detected screen when you go to the OneDrive website (you might need to sign in first). Select the Get started button to begin.

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Step 1: Confirm your files are infected

On the Do these files look right? screen, we'll show you some suspicious files. If they have the wrong name or suffix, or don't look right when you open them from the list, they're likely compromised by ransomware.

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  1. Select a file to open it in the online viewer. (This won't download the file to your device.)

  2. If you don't see the file, you'll have the option to download it to your device so can open it.

  3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 for as many files as you want to see.

  4. If your files are infected, select My files are infected to move to the next step in the ransomware recovery process. Otherwise, if your files look fine and you're confident they aren't infected with ransomware, select My files are ok.

    If you choose My files are ok, you'll exit the ransomware recovery process and you'll go back to using OneDrive as usual.

Step 2: Clean all your devices

On the Clean all your devices screen, you'll see instructions for cleaning all your devices where you use OneDrive. Before you restore your files, it's important to use anivirus software to clean all your devices. Otherwise, your files could get encrypted again when you restore them.

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  1. Select the link for the version of Windows that you're using and follow the instructions in the article.

  2. Repeat step 1 for all the other devices where you use OneDrive.

  3. After completing the steps in the articles, return to the Clean all your devices page on the OneDrive website and choose one of these buttons:

    • All my devices are clean. Select this button when you've finished cleaning all your devices, and you're ready to move to the last step in the recovery process, which is to restore your files from OneDrive.

    • Antivirus can't clean all my devices. Select this button after you're tried to clean your devices and discovered that you can't clean all your devices for whatever reason. You'll now be on the Reset devices page, which lists information about how to reset your devices.

      Ransomware detection and recovering your files (5)

      Follow the links based on your operating system. When you've cleaned or reset all your devices, go back to the OneDrive website to return to the Reset devices page, select the My devices are all clean or reset box, and then select OK.

Step 3: Restore your files from OneDrive

The final step after all your devices are clean is to restore your OneDrive.

When you reach this step, the time and date that ransomware was detected will automatically be selected for you.

Learn more

Find lost or missing files in OneDrive

View previous versions of Office files

How malware can infect your PC

Learn more about Microsoft 365 advanced protection

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Ransomware detection and recovering your files (6)

Contact Support
For help with your Microsoft account andsubscriptions, visitAccount & Billing Help.

For technical support, go to Contact Microsoft Support, enter your problem and select Get Help. If you still need help, selectContact Supportto be routed to the best support option.

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Ransomware detection and recovering your files (2024)

FAQs

Ransomware detection and recovering your files? ›

If you need to recover ransomware files, you can use dedicated ransomware backup solutions. You can use data recovery software to: Extract corrupted or deleted data from storage devices. Repair hard drive partitions or de-format drives.

Is it possible to recover files from ransomware? ›

If you need to recover ransomware files, you can use dedicated ransomware backup solutions. You can use data recovery software to: Extract corrupted or deleted data from storage devices. Repair hard drive partitions or de-format drives.

What is the best thing to do when a ransomware attack is detected? ›

I've Been Hit By Ransomware!
  • Determine which systems were impacted, and immediately isolate them. ...
  • Power down devices if you are unable to disconnect them from the network to avoid further spread of the ransomware infection. ...
  • Triage impacted systems for restoration and recovery.

How long does it take to recover data from a ransomware attack? ›

According to a Statista survey, the average recovery time after a ransomware attack is 22 days. However, this time can vary from only a few days to several months. The timeframe for ransomware recovery depends on several variables such as type of encryption, forensic investigation process, and system building.

Should I enable ransomware remediation? ›

Turning on or off Ransomware Remediation

The Ransomware Remediation module is located on the Protection screen. We recommend keeping the feature enabled to ensure that your files are protected against ransomware, but if you wish to turn it off simply click on the switch located in the module.

Does ransomware steal personal data? ›

If a multiple-extortion ransomware attack is executed (which can never be known for certain) sensitive data is also exfiltrated. Even if no exfiltration occurs, encryption causes loss of data availability. Some ransomware variants could cause unauthorized alteration of personal information.

What percent of ransomware victims recover their data? ›

"four percent of ransomware victims recover all their data... Only 61 percent recover data at all. And victims typically experience 25 days of disruption to their businesses."

What not to do during ransomware attack? ›

Don't: Pay the Ransom

Many new victims of ransomware attacks are interested in paying the ransom. They want to get the attack over with and move on with their business. However, this is a bad idea. First, there's no guarantee a hacker will let your systems go after you pay the ransom.

Should you pay ransomware? ›

The realities of ransomware

Law enforcement agencies recommend not paying, because doing so encourages continued criminal activity. In some cases, paying the ransom could even be illegal, because it provides funding for criminal activity.

Can ransomware be decrypted? ›

This can be done using antivirus software or following the instructions provided by other tools like the No More Ransom Project. In conclusion, decrypting and recovering files encrypted by ransomware can be very technical, and there is no guarantee of success.

Do nearly 40% of ransomware victims never regain their data after an attack? ›

The infections block access to your data until you make a ransom payment, at which point you're supposed to regain access. In reality, nearly 40% of the victims who pay the ransom never get their data back and 73% of those that pay are targeted again later – which is why everyone must protect against ransomware.

Does wiping a computer remove ransomware? ›

The surest way to confirm ransomware has been removed from a system is by doing a complete wipe of all storage devices and reinstalling everything from scratch.

How do I recover files after a virus attack? ›

Recover Virus Infected Files FAQs
  1. Go to the Start menu and type cmd in a search box and press Enter.
  2. Click cmd. exe and then you will be directed to the Windows command line.
  3. Type attrib -h -r -s /s /d G:\*. * (Replace G with your drive letter) to recover virus infected files.

Should you never pay ransomware? ›

In a ransomware attack, paying the ransom does not guarantee that attackers will provide the decryption key. Even with the key, most organizations are unable to recover all their data with decryption alone.

Is ransomware difficult to remove? ›

Once ransomware has infected a system, it can be difficult -- if not impossible -- to remove. However, ransomware is often detected only after it is announced by an attacker, for example, via a pop-up on the screen.

Should you restart your computer after ransomware? ›

According to research conducted by a team of security researchers from Symantec in association with Stanford and New York Universities, it is better not to restart a computer after it suffered a ransomware infection as it can propel the malware infection further.

Does ransomware go away after formatting? ›

The surest way to confirm ransomware has been removed from a system is by doing a complete wipe of all storage devices and reinstalling everything from scratch. Formatting the hard disks in your system will ensure that no remnants of the ransomware remain.

Can hackers recover permanently deleted files? ›

You can only retrieve the data from Google Drive if you factory reset the Android. Hence, a hacker intending to access your deleted photos backed up on Google Drive can factory reset the Android. After factory resetting the phone, he can easily access and misuse your deleted photos.

Is ransomware permanent? ›

Ransomware is a type of malware from cryptovirology that threatens to publish the victim's personal data or permanently block access to it unless a ransom is paid off.

What is the average recovery cost of ransomware? ›

According to the Sophos data, it cost companies on average $1.82 million to recover from a ransomware attack in 2023 — and that doesn't even include paying a ransom.

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