Dataland
Dataland is a virus program designed to attack Windows computers and lock up the files stored on their hard drives. The method Dataland uses to make the user files inaccessible is known as file encryption and it can only be removed using a special decryption key.
Of course, that decryption key isn’t initially available to the users. Instead, they are supposed to pay a ransom in order to obtain it from the hacker behind the Ransomware. However, since those are, after all, cybercriminals who only care about receiving the ransom money, there can be no guarantee that you’d be sent a working decryption key even if you comply with the demands of the blackmailers. This makes Ransomware one of the most unpleasant kinds of malware to face on your computer because there are simply no surefire methods of recovering the locked data.
Our advice for the victims of threats like this one is to first carefully assess their situation. For example, if you have been hit by Dataland, you must first decide if the files that the virus has locked are really so important to you that you can’t afford to lose them.
If the data encrypted by the Ransomware isn’t all that essential and you can make do without it, then there’s no need to worry about paying or finding other ways to deal with the encryption. You’d simply need to find a way to remove the virus itself and we can help you with this task in our guide below.
If, however, the infection has “kidnapped” some really important pieces of data by making them unavailable to you, then it is advisable to try all alternative recovery methods that can be tried for free before you consider paying.
The Dataland virus
The Dataland virus is an advanced version of the Ransomware virus category that has the ability to prevent you from using or accessing your files. The Dataland virus has the goal of making you pay money to the hackers for access to your files.
Even if you can afford paying the ransom, however, it is inadvisable to do that right away. There are other things you can try that won’t require you to send your money to a group of cybercriminals and we will tell you about them in our guide below. However, it is crucial that you first make sure that your computer is cleaned from the Ransomware’s presence. Instructions on how to do that you will see in the first half of the guide.
The .Dataland file encryption
The Dataland file encryption is what is keeping the files on your computer unavailable and preventing your programs from opening them. The Dataland file encryption has a different decryption key for each computer so you can only use the one generated for your PC.
In other words, you cannot use the key that has been generated for the encryption on the files of another user. However, there might be some options that may allow you to bypass the need for acquiring a decryption key altogether. Unfortunately, there are no guarantees whether or not those options will work in your case, but they are still certainly worth the try.
SUMMARY:
| Name | Dataland |
| Type | Ransomware |
| Danger Level | High (Ransomware is by far the worst threat you can encounter) |
| Symptoms | Ransomware stays unnoticed and shows no symptoms until the files targeted by it are already encrypted. |
| Distribution Method | Misleading ads, pirated software, and spam are the most common distribution channels for Ransomware. |
| Data Recovery Tool | Not Available |
| Detection Tool | Some threats reinstall themselves if you don't delete their core files. We recommend downloading SpyHunter to remove harmful programs for you. This may save you hours and ensure you don't harm your system by deleting the wrong files. |
OFFERRemove Dataland Ransomware
Some of the steps will likely require you to exit the page. Bookmark it for later reference.
Reboot in Safe Mode (use this guide if you don’t know how to do it).
WARNING! READ CAREFULLY BEFORE PROCEEDING!
Press CTRL + SHIFT + ESC at the same time and go to the Processes Tab. Try to determine which processes are dangerous.
Right click on each of them and select Open File Location. Then scan the files with our free online virus scanner:
After you open their folder, end the processes that are infected, then delete their folders.
Note: If you are sure something is part of the infection – delete it, even if the scanner doesn’t flag it. No anti-virus program can detect all infections.
Hold the Start Key and R – copy + paste the following and click OK:
notepad %windir%/system32/Drivers/etc/hosts
A new file will open. If you are hacked, there will be a bunch of other IPs connected to you at the bottom. Look at the image below:
If there are suspicious IPs below “Localhost” – write to us in the comments.
Type msconfig in the search field and hit enter. A window will pop-up:
Go in Startup —> Uncheck entries that have “Unknown” as Manufacturer.
- Please note that ransomware may even include a fake Manufacturer name to its process. Make sure you check out every process here is legitimate.
Type Regedit in the windows search field and press Enter. Once inside, press CTRL and F together and type the virus’s Name.
Search for the ransomware in your registries and delete the entries. Be extremely careful – you can damage your system if you delete entries not related to the ransomware.
Type each of the following in the Windows Search Field:
- %AppData%
- %LocalAppData%
- %ProgramData%
- %WinDir%
- %Temp%
Delete everything in Temp. The rest just check out for anything recently added. Remember to leave us a comment if you run into any trouble!
How to Decrypt Dataland files
We have a comprehensive (and daily updated) guide on how to decrypt your files. Check it out here.
If the guide doesn’t help, download the anti-virus program we recommended or try our free online virus scanner. Also, you can always ask us in the comments for help!
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