How to get rid of Azor on Windows 10?

Has your computer been behaving oddly lately? Or maybe you have noticed the extension ‘.azor’ added to some or all of your important files? If so, you might want to ask the following questions: “Is Azor a virus?” or “What is the .azor extension?”

If you notice the extension ‘.azor’ added to your files, then your computer has been infiltrated by the Azor ransomware. You may lose some of your files that have been encrypted, but no worries, I’ll teach you how to remove the Azor ransomware from your computer in this straightforward guide.

Azor was developed to get money from people by making them pay a ransom in exchange for a key that will help to decrypt the affected files. Further details provided to victims after writing the developers include the price of a decryption tool, a cryptocurrency wallet address, and, if needed, other payment methods.

A Brief Overview of the Azor Ransomware

How Does Azor Infiltrate a Computer?

Azor gets access to a computer system in many subtle ways. One of the most significant ways is through links, documents, images, and other files from spam emails. If you click a link or download a file in such emails, you may download the ransomware without knowing.

Another common way is through third-party activation tools (cracked software versions). You may be lucky to avoid malware once or twice, but it’s a lot better to buy a licensed app so that your computer won’t be at risk of being infected.

Other common ways through which Azor may gain access to your computer are as follows:

• insecure websites and web applications,
• Torrent clients,
• free download websites,
• Trojan horses,
• fake software updating tools, and so on.

How Does Azor Hurt a PC?

The ransomware encrypts files, changes their names, and automatically generates a note containing the contact details of its developers. For example, if you have an image file initially titled “Cute.jpg,” the Azor ransomware will change the name to “Cute.jpg.azor.” You will also be unable to access the file since it’s no longer in the correct format.

The ransom note it generates includes details about the developer, such as their email address, Jabber address, and ICQ address. The note also contains a warning that reads, “Any of your attempts to return files will result in complete loss of the database.”

I’m sure you’d like to know how to decrypt files encrypted by Azor without paying the ransom. However, it is quite difficult, and that’s because the developers have toughened their encryption algorithm, making it difficult to bypass their request for a ransom easily.

Another way to avoid the payment that the developers request is by restoring your files (I will discuss this extensively later), but that can be dangerous if you don’t have a backup of your files. If you lose your important files, then you’ll lose them permanently; that’s why you should always back up your important files.

Even if the files that have been encrypted by Azor are not important to you, you still have to get rid of the ransomware because it’s still active on your computer and it can even affect the unencrypted files on your machine.

Do I Have to Pay a Ransom to Remove the Azor Ransomware?

This is another challenge because the developers may scam you and not give you a valid key, or they may come up with one excuse or the other. That will count as a double loss, right? It’s quite impossible to predict their actions.

Another reason why I won’t advise you to pay the ransom fee is that the ransomware may have damaged your files beyond repair. If this happens, you will only succeed in removing the Azor ransomware but will lose your files permanently.

Right now, you probably want to know how to remove the Azor ransomware or how to decrypt Azor files without paying the ransom. In the following paragraphs, I will show you how to delete Azor from a Windows 10 PC. No worries if you use other versions of Windows; you are also covered.

How to Remove the Azor Ransomware

It is imperative to remove the Azor ransomware from your computer very quickly so that it won’t cause more harm than it has already done. You can get Azor removed from your computer by using an anti-malware tool, or you can delete it manually.

I recommend using anti-malware software unless you are willing to go through the stress involved in removing the ransomware manually. Moreover, the ransomware may render your built-in Windows security tools unusable, so it will be hard to eliminate.

1. Automatic Malware Removal

This is the best way to remove malware from your computer device, and it is undoubtedly effective against strong, defensive ransomware like Azor. Auslogics Anti-Malware is reliable, effective, and fast. It can help to remove the Azor ransomware and any other malware from your computer without paying a ransom.

Auslogics Anti-Malware offers unparalleled protection against malware and threats to your data. It is compatible with Windows 7, 8.1, and 10, and it allows you to run a free scan to detect security issues you may have on your computer.

Some of the critical features of Auslogics Anti-Malware include the following:

• Detects unsuspected malicious items
• Flexible scheduling of automatic scans (Quick scan, Deep scan, or Custom scan)
• Works without affecting the function of your main antivirus
• Easy to install and use
• Detects malware that your primary antivirus may overlook
• Ensures the safety of your computer

How Auslogics Anti-Malware Works

• Browses through system memory to detect malicious items that may be running
• Identifies cookies that track your activities and access your private data
• Scans temporary folders for security problems
• Detects auto-start programs and analyzes their level of harm
• Scans browser add-ons to avoid data leaks

2. The Manual Method of Removing Malware

If you think you have the required skills and knowledge to resolve the issue yourself manually, there are two ways of doing this: either remove the Azor ransomware using “Safe Mode with Networking” or remove the ransomware using “System Restore.”

Azor Removal Using Safe Mode with Networking

It is a lot better to remove malware in “Safe Mode with Networking,” and I’ll even recommend this method over the “System restore” method. Here’s how to remove Azor from your computer using Safe Mode with Networking:

For Windows 7 Users:

1. Click the Start button.
2. Right-click the arrow on the right-hand side of the “Shut down” option, and select Restart.
3. While the computer is restarting, keep pressing the F8 key until you see “Advanced Boot Menu.”
4. Scroll down to “Safe mode with networking” using your arrow keys.
5. Kaboom! Your Windows will now boot in safe mode.

For Windows 8.1 Users:

1. Move your cursor to the extreme right of your screen. A tray will appear.
2. Click the search icon on the tray that appears, then click Settings.
3. Under Settings, type “advanced” in the search box in the top right-hand corner, and select “Advanced startup options.”
4. Scroll down to the last option under “General” and select “Restart now.”
5. Select “Troubleshoot”, then select “Advanced options.”
6. Select “Startup Settings” and click “Restart.”
7. A window will appear; press F5 to choose “Enable Safe Mode with Networking.”
8. Congratulations! Your Windows will now boot in safe mode.

For Windows 10 Users:

1. Click the Start menu icon in the bottom left corner of the desktop screen.
2. Click the power icon and select Restart while holding down the “Shift” key.
3. Choose the “Troubleshoot” option in the window that appears; then select “Advanced options.”
4. Select “Startup Settings” in the window that appears, and click “Restart.”
5. A window will appear on your screen; press F5 on your keyboard to enable Safe Mode with Networking.

Azor Removal Using System Restore

If your computer does not start in “Safe Mode with Networking,” you should try using System Restore. I hope it will help you to deal with the Azor ransomware on your computer. Here’s how to remove the Azor ransomware from a Windows PC:

For Windows 7:

1. Click the Start button.
2. Right-click the arrow on the right-hand side of the “Shut down” option, and select Restart.
3. While the computer is restarting, keep pressing the F8 key until you see “Advanced Boot Menu.”
4. Scroll to “Safe Mode with Command Prompt” using your arrow keys.
5. Type “cd restore,” and press the “Enter” key.
6. Then type “rstrui.exe” and press “Enter.”
7. A window will appear; click “Next.” Select a restore point and then click “Next” again.
8. Click “Yes.”

For Windows 8 and 8.1:

1. Move your mouse to the top right corner of your screen. A tray will appear.
2. Click the search icon on the tray that appears, then click Settings.
3. Under settings, type “advanced” in the search box in the top right-hand corner, and select “Advanced startup options.”
4. Scroll down to the last option under “General” and select “Restart now.”
5. Select “Troubleshoot;” then select “Advanced options.”
6. Select “Startup Settings” and click “Restart.”
7. A window will appear; press F6 to choose “Enable Safe Mode with Command Prompt.”
8. Open Control Panel and click on the System icon.
9. Click System protection and then click the System Restore button.
10. Select Recommended Restore or Choose a different restore point.
11. Click Yes and Finish.

For Windows 10:

1. Click the Start menu icon in the bottom left corner of the desktop screen.
2. Click the power icon and select Restart while holding down the “Shift” key.
3. Choose the “Troubleshoot” option in the window that appears; then select “Advanced options.”
4. Select “Startup Settings” in the window that appears, and click “Restart.”
5. A window will appear on your screen; press F6 on your keyboard to enable Safe Mode with Command Prompt.
6. Type “recovery” in the Windows search bar and click on the Recovery option. Select Open System Restore.
7. Alternatively, open Command Prompt and type “rstrui.exe” and press Enter. This will open System Restore.
8. Click Next and select a restore point.
9. Click Next and Finish.

Conclusion

No one likes it when malware infiltrates their system, but it is impossible to protect your computer against those demons completely if you are on guard alone. That’s the reason why you need to get anti-malware software that can help you keep watch over your computer while you are busy making life better for you and your loved ones.