How to Recover Files After Ransomware Attack? 6 Quick and Easy Methods

Ransomware has evolved from simple screen-lockers to sophisticated cyber-extortion that encrypts your valuable files, documents, photos, databases, and more with unbreakable AES-256 encryption. 

This article explains how exactly ransomware works, how to isolate the infection and crucial steps to recover files after ransomware attack on Windows and MacBook, covering both free tools and professional-grade solutions.

Quick Answer: To recover files after ransomware attack, firstly, disconnect the internet to stop the ransomware from spreading. Next, identify the ransomware strain. Finally, download and use Notchox – the best data recovery software for ransomware attacks immediately. It safely restores your locked files, bypassing the encryption.

How to Recover Files After Ransomware Attack?

As of 2025, nearly 63% of businesses worldwide were affected by ransomware attacks, highlighting the urgent need for robust security measures. Ransomware finds its way into a system through simple mistakes, such as clicking a suspicious link in an email, downloading an unverified attachment, using outdated software, etc. These Entry points allow attackers to lock your files and demand payment, spreading infection to every device connected to the network.

Because this threat moves quickly, taking immediate action is the only way to minimize the damage and stop the encryption process. To help you go through this situation, we have listed the essential steps below that will help you isolate the threat, assess the impact and begin to recover data files after a ransomware attack carefully.

Method 1. Isolate the Infected System Immediately

If you suspect or detect a ransomware attack, you must act within a few minutes to stop the encryption from spreading to your entire network. Disconnect and isolate any device showing signs og infection from the network.

• Physically unplug the Ethernet cables and disable the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
• Do not rely on software alone; physical disconnection is the most secure step.

ChipSoft urged Dutch hospitals to disconnect its system during ransomware attack – highlighting that isolation is the first step in containment.

Method 2. Eradication: Removing the Ransomware

Before you can safely use your computer again, you must ensure the malware is completely gone. Use reputable antimalware programs (such as Malwarebytes and Bitdefender) to find and delete every trace of the ransomware.

For maximum security, experts often recommend wiping infected drives and reinstalling the operating system from scratch because reusing a potentially tampered system can lead to a second attack later.

Method 3. Do Ransomware Damage Assessment

Once ransomware is removed, damage assessment is important to assess the impact of the security breach, which includes data loss and exfiltration (theft). Damage assessment is done to analyse:

• Which system and data were affected?
• Are backups intact and accessible?
• What operations are not working?
• To what extent did encryption take place?
• Are there any signs of data exfiltration?
• What data were involved?

For damage assessments, many organizations offer Ransomware Risk Assessments to conduct the assessment after a ransomware attack.

Method 4. Backup Recovery and Restoration

If feasible, use decryption tools provided by law enforcement agencies or security researchers to recover without paying ransom. Analyze and scan your backup file and ensure they are free of ransomware or any other malware.

Verify the Backup Integrity

Before initiating the restoration from backup, ensure that they are not themselves tampered with malware. 

Safe Restoration

Never restore data directly to the production environment. Create a separate environment to validate data before introducing it to the network.

Method 5. Report the Malware to the Authorities

Reporting malware or malicious websites is an immediate action needed to prevent further victimization.

• Report malware by filing a complaint with the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at ic3.gov.
• For immediate threats, report to tips.fbi.gov.
• Report phishing or malware websites to Google Safe Browsing and scams to the FTC.

Method 6. Secure Your Network Post Recovery 

Once you have recovered, continuously monitor your systems for any suspicion of possible reinfection. Things you must keep monitoring:

• Log analysis
• Staging environment verification
• Dark web monitoring
• Review and patch
• Data exfiltration monitoring

Attack Vector: The attack began after an employee’s account was compromised through an AI platform called Context.ai, which the employee was using, Vercel founder and CEO Guillermo Rauch said.

How to Recover Ransomware-Encrypted Files?

When malicious software locks your data, the goal is to restore access without paying the extortionists, as payment doesn’t guarantee data recovery. The most reliable method is restoring from offline or immutable backups. If backups are unavailable, you must identify the specific ransomware variant to check for a decryption tool. While the process is difficult, a systematic approach (as discussed above): isolating the system, identifying threats, reporting, and applying recovery methods, gives the best chances of rescuing digital assets.

Here are the primary ways on how to recover ransomware encrypted files:

Method 1: Restore Data from Backup

Restoring from a secure backup is the most effective method for recovering data after ransomware attack, prioritizing the replacement of encrypted files over decryption. Key steps include:

• Isolating the infected systems
• Making sure backup is uninfected
• Restoring from local drives or cloud services like OneDrive

Restoring Backup on Windows

If you used the built-in Windows Backups (connected to OneDrive) or have an external drive backup, use these steps.

Restore via Windows Backup (OneDrive):

1. Log in to your Windows device using the same Microsoft account for the backup.
2. During setup (or after reinstalling Windows), the system will detect existing backups and ask if you want to restore them.
3. You can also log in to the OneDrive website to find the original unencrypted versions in the Version History.

Restore from External Drive:

1. Plug in your external hard drive or USB containing the backup.
2. Go to Control Panel> System and Security > Backup and Restore.

   

3. Select Restore my files and follow the wizard to browse for the specific folders or files you need.

   

Restoring Backup on MacBook

Mac users primarily use Time Machine for both full-time and individual file recovery.

Restore Your Entire Mac (Full System):

1. Connect your Time Machine backup disk to your MacBook.
2. For Apple Silicon, Shut down, then hold the Power button until the startup option appears. For Intel Mac, immediately hold Command + R.
3. Select Restore from Time Machine Backup from the macOS Utilities window and click Continue.

   

4. Restore From Time Machine Screen appears, click the Continue arrow (→).

   

5. Select a Resource Source and hit the Continue (→).

   

6. From the available backups, select the backup you want to restore (before the date and time of the ransomware attack). Click Continue.

   

7. Select the destination for your restored backup and click Restore.

   

8. You will be prompted for confirmation to erase the disk. Click the Erase Disk button to proceed.

   

9. The restoration process will begin.

   

Restore Specific Files Using Time Machine:

1. Open a Finder window for the location where your files were encrypted.
2. Click the Time Machine icon in the menu bar.

   

3. Select Browse Time Machine Backups.

   

4. Use the timeline or arrows on the right to find a version of your files from before the encryption.

   

5. Select the clean files and click Restore to return them to their original location.

   

Using Migration Assistant:

1. Open Migration Assistant from the Utilities folder.

   

2. Select the option to transfer information From a Mac, Time Machine backup, or startup disk and follow the steps to select your backup.

   

Method 2: Using Windows System Restore

To recover files after ransomware attack, search for “Create a restore point” in the taskbar, open it, click System Restore, and search for a date before the infection. This restores system files encrypted by ransomware but may not decrypt personal data. It is best paired with external backups.

Here is a detailed step-by-step process to recover files encrypted by ransomware using Windows System Restore after a Ransomware attack.

1. Immediately disconnect from the internet and unplug external drives to prevent further encryption.
2. Type “Restore” in the Windows taskbar search bar and select Create a Restore Point.

   

3. In our system protection tab, click the System Restore… button.

   

4. Click Next, then select a restore point dated before the ransomware infection occurred.

   

5. Choose the recovery point (before the attack) and click Next.

   

6. If you are sure you want to do this, press Finish.

   

   Note: This will reinstall programs removed and uninstall programs added after this date.

7. After restarting, immediately run a full scan with updated anti-malware software (e.g., Malwarebytes) to make sure ransomware is gone.

Note: Modern ransomware often deletes Windows System Restore points. If the restore fails, you should restore from external or offline backups.

Method 3: Recovering Data via Windows File Versions

Windows File Versions act as an automatic “Time Machine” for your data. Rather than replacing a file entirely, Windows can be configured to keep older copies of files as they evolve over time.

If you accidentally saved your document or deleted a folder, File History creates a snapshot of the original file. You can roll back to the last good state anytime to get back your data.

Once the system is clean, follow these steps to use these automated snapshots to recover files after ransomware attack:

1. Open File Explorer.
2. Go to the folder that contained your encrypted file.

   

3. Windows 11:  Right-click the folder and select Show more options. Click Restore previous versions.

   Windows 10:  Right-click the folder and select Restore previous versions directly.

   

4. A list of available snapshots will appear. Look for a version with a date and time form before the ransomware attack occurred.
5. Highlight a version and click Open to check if the files in the snapshot are unencrypted.

   

6. Click Restore to overwrite the current (encrypted) files with the clean versions.

   

7. You can also click on the arrow next to Restore and select Restore to… to save the clean files in a different location to avoid conflicts.

   

Note: This method only works if File History or System Protection was turned on before the infection.

VPS Deletion:  Some advanced ransomware strains specifically target and delete Volume Shadow Copies (the technology behind Previous Versions) to prevent this type of recovery.

Method 4: Using Notchox Data Recovery Software

If no backup exists or no decryptor is available, protect your files encrypted by ransomware and wait for future developments, as new decryption tools are released over time. Notchox Data Recovery Software, the best tool for ransomware attacks, can help you.

Notchox helps in these scenarios by scanning storage devices for unencrypted remnants of your data or identifying uncorrupted file versions that the ransomware failed to erase completely.

Here is how Notchox data recovery software can help:

• Recovering “Deleted” Original Files:

  Ransomware often makes a copy of a file, encrypts it, and then deletes the original. Data recovery tools can retrieve these original files before they are overwritten.

• Restoring from Hidden Shadow Copies:

  Ransomware may fail to delete Windows Volume Shadow Copies. Data recovery tools can scan for and restore these uninfected versions.

• Handling Partial Encryption:

  In cases where ransomware fails to encrypt an entire file due to system interruption or timeout, recovery software can sometimes reconstruct the unencrypted segments of the file.

• Deep Scan for Fragmented Data:

  Advanced software, such as Notchox and R-Studio, can perform a deep scan to reconstruct file structures that have been damaged or fragmented during the encryption process.

Steps to recover data using Notchox Recovery Software:

1. Download and Install: Visit Notchox’s official website, download the software for your device, and install it on a separate healthy drive.

   

2. Select Storage Drive: Select the target drive that has your files to be recovered. Notchox will bypass any system error and enter the drive to access the files.

   

3. Scan for Lost Files: Notchox provides both a deep scan and a quick scan. You can choose the scan type and click the Start Scan button to begin the recovery process.

   

4. Preview and Recover: With Notchox’s preview feature, get an overview of the file and check its integrity before deciding to restore. Select the files to restore and click the Save to Vault button.

   

Note: Data recovery software is not a replacement for secure backups and may not succeed against advanced full-stack encryption.

Method 5: Using Data Decryption Tool

Decryption tools are specialised programs designed to reverse the specific mathematical algorithm used by hackers to lock your files. Unlike general recovery software that hunts for the deleted leftovers, these tools use the known “keys” or vulnerabilities in the ransomware’s code to unlock the encrypted data directly to its original state without paying ransom.

Since every ransomware strain uses a unique signature, you must first identify the specific malware before trying to use a decryptor. Using the wrong one could permanently corrupt your files.

How Does a Ransomware Attack Work?

A ransomware attack is a type of malicious software that locks or encrypts your files. Hackers using ransomware make the files unusable and demand payment to restore them. Attackers often enter systems via phishing emails, infected links, software vulnerabilities, etc. 

Let’s understand how a ransomware attack works:

1. Infection: Ransomware enters your computer through phishing emails, fake software downloads, etc.
2. Execution and Spreading: The malware activates and searches your computer and network for files, photos, documents, databases, and more.
3. Encryption: It encrypts your files, and as a result, they become unreadable to the system. The file extensions change (.encrypted, .locked).
4. Ransom Note: A message appears telling your files are encrypted and demanding payment. Demands are typically in cryptocurrency for the decryption key.
5. Data Theft: Many attackers also steal sensitive data before encrypting it, threatening to release it if you do not pay (double extortion).

Ransomware locks your personal files, and attackers demand payment to give them back. Because hackers rarely guarantee recovery even if paid, the best defence is to always have a backup in a separate, secure place. 

Conclusion

While prevention is your first line of defence, recover files after ransomware attack is a challenging process. Whether you are restoring from a backup or utilizing system versions, acting quickly and methodically is important. 

By combining robust backups with the right restoration tools, you can restore files after ransomware attack. Stay vigilant, stay backed up, and keep your data within reach with Notchox, the best data recovery software for ransomware attacks.

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