Ransomware prevention and recovery in Beckenham

Files suddenly locked, renamed or replaced by a ransom note? Home Computer Repairs helps home users in Beckenham and Kent remove ransomware, recover what can be recovered and protect the computer against the next attack.

Call 020 8658 4366 or email support@homecomputerrepairs.co.uk before you do anything else to the machine. What you do in the first hour makes a real difference to what can be saved.

What to do right now if you have been hit

1. Disconnect from the internet. Unplug the network cable and switch off Wi-Fi so the ransomware cannot spread to other devices and shared folders.
2. Unplug external drives. Remove USB sticks, external hard drives and backup drives so they are not encrypted too.
3. Do not pay the ransom. There is no guarantee you will get your files back, and paying funds the next attack.
4. Do not wipe the computer yet. Leave the encrypted files and the ransom note where they are. They are needed to identify the ransomware, and the files may be recoverable later.
5. Take a photo of the ransom message, then call us on 020 8658 4366.

Ransomware recovery

Every case is different, so we start by finding out exactly what you are dealing with. Our ransomware recovery work includes:

• Identifying the ransomware strain and checking whether a free decryption tool exists for it
• Removing the ransomware and any other viruses, spyware or malware that came with it
• Recovering files from backups, cloud storage, shadow copies and unaffected drives where they exist
• Data recovery from the hard drive or SSD when files have been deleted or damaged
• A clean reinstall of Windows or macOS when the system can no longer be trusted, with your recovered files put back
• Checking other computers, external drives and network storage in the home for the same infection

Some ransomware uses encryption that cannot be broken, and files with no backup may then be lost. We will tell you plainly what can and cannot be recovered before any work goes ahead.

Virus attack and malware removal

Ransomware rarely arrives alone. The same attack often leaves behind trojans, spyware, password stealers or a hijacked browser, and these can let the attacker straight back in. Warning signs include pop-ups you cannot close, a browser that redirects to sites you did not ask for, security software that has been switched off, and a computer that has become very slow or unstable.

We deep clean the whole system rather than just the visible infection. See our virus, spyware and malware removal service for desktop PCs, laptops and Apple Macs.

Ransomware prevention

Most ransomware gets in through an email attachment or link, a fake software download, or a program that has not been updated. Once the computer is clean, we can put the basics in place so it does not happen again:

• Automatic backups to an external drive and to the cloud, with one copy kept disconnected from the computer
• Windows, macOS, browser and application updates switched on and brought up to date
• Reputable anti-virus and anti-malware protection installed and set up properly
• Router and Wi-Fi security checked, with default passwords changed
• Strong, unique passwords and two-step verification on email and cloud accounts
• Plain advice on spotting phishing emails, fake invoices and scam support calls

A working backup is the best protection against ransomware. If your files exist somewhere the attacker cannot reach, an attack costs you an afternoon instead of your photos and documents.

What it costs

Removing ransomware and cleaning up the computer is priced as virus and malware removal, at £45 + VAT to £90 + VAT. Getting encrypted files back is specialist work: as a guide it costs £400 + VAT to £800 + VAT, depending on the type of ransomware and how much is affected, so please call 020 8658 4366 to confirm a price for your case.

At your home or at our Beckenham repair centre

If you are in Beckenham or the surrounding Kent area, one of our technicians can come to your home, or you can bring the computer to our repair centre at 21 Village Way by appointment. For help with ransomware recovery, a virus attack or malware removal, call 020 8658 4366 (Monday to Saturday, 9am to 6pm), email support@homecomputerrepairs.co.uk or request a free estimate.