usacode@aol.com .USA file extension ransomware (Restore .USA files)

If your documents, photos and music does not open normally, .[usacode@aol.com].USA file extension added at the end of their name then your PC is infected with the .USA ransomware virus from a family of file-encrypting malware. Once started, it have encrypted all documents, photos and music stored on your machine drives and attached network drives.

The .USA ransomware is a malware, which made to encrypt the personal files found on infected PC using a strong encryption algorithm with long key, appending the .USA extension to all encrypted files. It can encrypt almost types of files, including the following:

.xmind, .ws, .cr2, .vpk, .ztmp, .zip, .kf, .qdf, .t12, .fpk, .fos, .sidd, .odm, .wot, .mp4, .xlgc, .wbk, .bc7, .vtf, .rgss3a, .cfr, .wps, .erf, .jpeg, .bay, .wm, .raw, .pkpass, .odp, .sidn, .mpqge, .z3d, .dba, .xwp, .mdf, .zdc, .webp, .xf, .wp6, .wbm, .litemod, .wp4, .xyp, .xlsm, .wbc, .sis, .zip, .wpb, .bar, .rofl, .x3d, .x3f, .bik, .wire, .xmmap, .mddata, .wma, .mdb, .xll, .js, .nrw, .ltx, .dng, .3dm, .wp7, .svg, wallet, .rw2, .wpw, .dazip, .y, .mlx, .7z, .wmf, .wbz, .cas, .1st, .srw, .pdf, .pem, .ods, .wmv, .sid, .tor, .fsh, .ncf, .psd, .pef, .wmd, .big, .epk, .wsc, .cer, .srf, .sr2, .bc6, .xml, .png, .pptx, .snx, .slm, .wpt, .ibank, .wn, .xxx, .bsa, .p12, .ai, .rwl, .gdb, .xx, .x, .xbdoc, .sql, .wcf, .dmp, .iwd, .t13, .wps, .forge, .txt, .xpm, .wp, .mov, .2bp, .bkp, .3fr, .rb, .wpa, .vdf, .w3x, .icxs, .wbd, .vcf, .das, .wp5, .dwg, .gho, .zif, .xdl, .layout, .avi, .flv, .sum, .xls, .rtf, .ff, .syncdb, .hkx, .rar, .xlsb, .zdb, .wbmp, .hplg, .raf, .m2, .qic, .pfx, .wma, .p7c, .der, .css, .odt, .hvpl, .pak, .itdb, .3ds, .upk, .indd, .crt, .ysp, .yml, .0, .wpd, .xar, .r3d, .mef, .lrf, .odb, .dxg, .dcr, .yal, .xls, .kdc, .menu, .esm, .xy3, .docx, .sb, .hkdb, .db0, .wmo, .ptx, .mdbackup, .itl, .desc, .mrwref, .xbplate, .zw, .wgz, .zabw, .wdb, .re4, .wsd, .vpp_pc

Once a file is encrypted, its extension replaced to .id-USERID.[usacode@aol.com].USA. Next, the ransomware virus drops a file called ‘FILES ENCRYPTED.txt’. This file contain an information on how to decrypt all encrypted files. You can see an one of the variants of the ransom note below:

all your data has been locked us
You want to return?
write email usacode@aol.com

In the guidance below, I have outlined few methods that you can use to remove .USA ransomware from your computer and restore .USA files from a shadow volume copies or using file restore apps.

Table of contents

1. How to remove .USA ransomware virus
2. How to decrypt .USA files
3. How to restore .USA files
4. How to protect your computer from .USA ransomware

How to remove .USA ransomware virus

There are a few methods that can be used to remove .USA ransomware. But, not all ransomware can be completely removed using only manual solutions. Most commonly you’re not able to delete any computer virus using standard Windows options. In order to delete .USA ransomware you need use reliable removal tools. Most IT security researchers states that Zemana Anti-malware, Malwarebytes or KVRT utilities are a right choice. These free applications are able to detect and remove .USA ransomware virus from your computer for free.

How to remove .USA ransomware with Zemana Anti-malware

Zemana Anti-malware is a utility which can delete ransomware infections, ad supported software, potentially unwanted software, browser hijackers and other malicious software from your PC system easily and for free. Zemana Anti-malware is compatible with most antivirus software. It works under Windows (10 – XP, 32 and 64 bit) and uses minimum of PC system resources.

Download Zemana AntiMalware on your MS Windows Desktop by clicking on the following link.

When downloading is finished, close all windows on your system. Further, run the install file named Zemana.AntiMalware.Setup. If the “User Account Control” prompt pops up as shown below, click the “Yes” button.

It will show the “Setup wizard” which will assist you install Zemana Anti-Malware (ZAM) on the PC system. Follow the prompts and do not make any changes to default settings.

Once installation is done successfully, Zemana AntiMalware will automatically launch and you may see its main window as shown on the screen below.

Next, click the “Scan” button to perform a system scan for the .USA ransomware related files, folders and registry keys. A system scan can take anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes, depending on your personal computer.

Once the system scan is done, you can check all items found on your PC. Once you have selected what you wish to delete from your PC click “Next” button.

The Zemana Free will start to remove .USA ransomware and other malicious software. When that process is finished, you can be prompted to reboot your PC.

Automatically remove .USA ransomware with MalwareBytes Free

We suggest using the MalwareBytes AntiMalware which are completely clean your personal computer of ransomware. This free utility is an advanced malicious software removal program created by (c) Malwarebytes lab. This program uses the world’s most popular anti-malware technology. It’s able to help you delete ransomware, potentially unwanted software, malicious software, adware, toolbars, and other security threats from your PC system for free.

1. Visit the following page to download the latest version of MalwareBytes Anti Malware (MBAM) for Microsoft Windows. Save it on your Microsoft Windows desktop.
   
   

   Malwarebytes Anti-malware
   326379 downloads
   Author: Malwarebytes
   Category: Security tools
   Update: April 15, 2020
   
2. At the download page, click on the Download button. Your web-browser will open the “Save as” dialog box. Please save it onto your Windows desktop.
3. Once the downloading process is finished, please close all applications and open windows on your computer. Double-click on the icon that’s called mb3-setup.
4. This will open the “Setup wizard” of MalwareBytes onto your machine. Follow the prompts and don’t make any changes to default settings.
5. When the Setup wizard has finished installing, the MalwareBytes Free will start and display the main window.
6. Further, click the “Scan Now” button . MalwareBytes Free program will scan through the whole computer for the .USA ransomware virus and other malware. This task can take some time, so please be patient.
7. When MalwareBytes AntiMalware (MBAM) completes the scan, MalwareBytes AntiMalware will open a screen which contains a list of malware that has been detected.
8. Review the results once the tool has finished the system scan. If you think an entry should not be quarantined, then uncheck it. Otherwise, simply click the “Quarantine Selected” button. When the cleaning procedure is finished, you may be prompted to restart the computer.
9. Close the AntiMalware and continue with the next step.

Video instruction, which reveals in detail the steps above.

Remove .USA ransomware virus with KVRT

If MalwareBytes anti-malware or Zemana antimalware cannot remove .USA ransomware virus, then we recommends to run the KVRT. KVRT is a free removal tool for ransomware viruss, adware, PUPs and toolbars.

Download Kaspersky virus removal tool (KVRT) by clicking on the link below.

Once downloading is finished, double-click on the Kaspersky virus removal tool icon. Once initialization process is finished, you’ll see the KVRT screen like below.

Click Change Parameters and set a check near all your drives. Click OK to close the Parameters window. Next click Start scan button to detect .USA ransomware virus and other trojans and malicious software. When a threat is found, the number of the security threats will change accordingly.

After KVRT has completed scanning your personal computer, you can check all threats detected on your machine as displayed on the image below.

Once you have selected what you wish to delete from your computer click on Continue to start a cleaning task.

How to decrypt .USA files

The .USA ransomware virus encourages to make a payment in Bitcoins to get a key to decrypt files. Important to know, currently not possible to decrypt .USA files without the private key and decrypt tool. If you choose to pay the ransom, there is no 100% guarantee that you can decrypt all personal files! In addition, you must understand that paying money to the cyber criminals, you are encouraging them to create a new ransomware virus.

If you do not want to pay for a decryption key, then you have a chance to restore encrypted photos, documents and music.

How to restore .USA files

In some cases, you can restore files encrypted by the .USA ransomware virus. Try both methods. Important to understand that we cannot guarantee that you will be able to recover all encrypted documents, photos and music.

Use shadow copies to recover .USA files

In some cases, you have a chance to recover your photos, documents and music which were encrypted by the .USA ransomware. This is possible due to the use of the tool called ShadowExplorer. It is a free application which created to obtain ‘shadow copies’ of files.

Download ShadowExplorer from the following link.

Once the downloading process is complete, extract the saved file to a directory on your computer. This will create the necessary files as displayed in the following example.

Start the ShadowExplorerPortable program. Now select the date (2) that you want to recover from and the drive (1) you want to restore files (folders) from as displayed in the following example.

On right panel navigate to the file (folder) you want to restore. Right-click to the file or folder and click the Export button as on the image below.

And finally, specify a folder (your Desktop) to save the shadow copy of encrypted file and click ‘OK’ button.

Run PhotoRec to restore .USA files

Before a file is encrypted, the .USA ransomware makes a copy of this file, encrypts it, and then deletes the original file. This can allow you to restore your personal files using file restore applications like PhotoRec.

Download PhotoRec by clicking on the following link. Save it to your Desktop so that you can access the file easily.

Once the downloading process is finished, open a directory in which you saved it. Right click to testdisk-7.0.win and select Extract all. Follow the prompts. Next please open the testdisk-7.0 folder like below.

Double click on qphotorec_win to run PhotoRec for MS Windows. It’ll show a screen as displayed on the image below.

Select a drive to recover as shown on the screen below.

You will see a list of available partitions. Select a partition that holds encrypted files as displayed in the figure below.

Press File Formats button and specify file types to restore. You can to enable or disable the recovery of certain file types. When this is complete, click OK button.

Next, click Browse button to choose where restored documents, photos and music should be written, then click Search.

Count of recovered files is updated in real time. All recovered photos, documents and music are written in a folder that you have selected on the previous step. You can to access the files even if the recovery process is not finished.

When the restore is finished, click on Quit button. Next, open the directory where restored personal files are stored. You will see a contents as displayed in the following example.

All restored documents, photos and music are written in recup_dir.1, recup_dir.2 … sub-directories. If you are looking for a specific file, then you can to sort your recovered files by extension and/or date/time.

How to protect your computer from .USA ransomware

Most antivirus software already have built-in protection system against the ransomware. Therefore, if your personal computer does not have an antivirus program, make sure you install it. As an extra protection, run the CryptoPrevent.

Run CryptoPrevent to protect your computer from .USA ransomware

Download CryptoPrevent by clicking on the link below. Save it directly to your MS Windows Desktop.

www.foolishit.com/download/cryptoprevent/

Run it and follow the setup wizard. Once the installation is finished, you’ll be displayed a window where you can select a level of protection, as displayed on the screen below.

Now click the Apply button to activate the protection.

Finish words

Once you’ve complete the step-by-step guidance above, your personal computer should be clean from the .USA ransomware virus and other malicious software. Your PC system will no longer encrypt your photos, documents and music. Unfortunately, if the steps does not help you, then you have caught a new variant of ransomware virus, and then the best way – ask for help here.