Dragon Ransomware

Ransomware programs often get updated, and so it is not surprising that Dragon Ransomware is an updated version of the previously released Aurora Ransomware. As such, it doesn’t offer us anything new, but at least we know what to expect from this intruder, and how to deal with it. The most important thing is to remove Dragon Ransomware from your system without paying for the decryption key. Paying is never an option because it only encourages criminals to continue creating and spreading these infections. So even if it might seem hard, you should put an end to it.

The good thing about Dragon Ransomware is that this program is decryptable. Therefore, you don’t even need to humor the idea of paying the ransom. Instead, you should focus on backing up your files, so that you wouldn’t have to worry about this type of infection. To back up your files, you need to copy your data onto an external hard drive or transfer it to a cloud drive. In fact, most of the recent versions of operating systems offer to create you cloud storage automatically. The never-ending onslaught of ransomware infections is one of the reasons vendors are so eager to convince users to use cloud storages.

Aside from backing up your files, you should also consider learning more about ransomware distribution methods. Most of the users know about it already, but we always emphasize that it is possible to avoid ransomware infection if you knew how to recognize the ransomware infection signs. Usually, ransomware programs get installed on the target system through spam email attachments. It means that users download and open malware installers willingly, but they definitely do not know what they bargain for when they open these files.

Why does that happen? Well, for one, spam email attachments that carry around ransomware infections often look like legitimate documents. They might look like financial reports or some online shopping invoices. Also, the message will urge you to open those attachments immediately, and if you do not recognize the sender, it is a very good sign that something is off. What’s more, if you think that the file might be important, but you do not know whether you should open it, you can definitely scan that file with a security tool. It should be part of your daily routine: If you encounter unfamiliar files – scan them before opening.

Now, what will happen if Dragon Ransomware enters your system? Just like Aurora Ransomware, this one encrypts your files. It comes with a new extension that is added to all the affected files. For example, if you have a file picture.jpeg, then after the encryption, the filename will look like file.png.locked. The extension doesn’t do much. It merely tells us which files were affected by the encryption. On the other hand, with all the file icons changed, you clearly do not need another sign that tells you your files have been messed with.

Needless to say, aside from the file extension, Dragon Ransomware drops a ransom note. Very few ransomware infections do not have a ransom note (if they don’t, the chances are that they are underdeveloped). The ransom note for this infection, says the following:

What happened to your files?
All your files has been encrypted by a strong encryption with RSA-2048.
<…>
What do I do?
Alas, if you do not take the necessary measures for the specified time then the conditions for obtaining the private key will be changed. If you really value your data, then we suggest you do not waste valuable time searching for the solutions because they do not exist.

Long story short, the infection requires you to contact them by the given email. Would that solve anything? Probably not. And we know already that Dragon Ransomware can be decrypted, so you have to ignore the ransom note and proceed straight to the malware removal.

Although it is possible to remove this infection manually, it is always recommended to rely on an automated malware removal that you perform with a powerful antispyware tool. Finally, do not forget what we have discussed above and back up your files so that you could mitigate most of the ransomware infection damage in the future.

How to Remove Dragon Ransomware

1. Delete unfamiliar files from Desktop.
2. Go to the Downloads folder.
3. Delete the most recently downloaded files.
4. Press Win+R and type %TEMP%. Click OK.
5. Remove the most recent files.
6. Scan your system with SpyHunter.