Do you not run Symantec or some other virus program and subscribe to the latest virus definitions ? Do you not also have backup HD that automatically backs up all your photos, files, music etc? If you're using a Windows machine, these are absolutely a necessity.

Or you can buy a Mac next time - no more viruses etc but you still need a backup HD as hardware fails sometimes.

That is very unfortunate! Hopefully the Landzdown team will have positive results. It's definitely where I would suggest going to for assistance and direction. I wish you the best of luck with this. I will be following on lzd.

Some information about the ransomware and how it happens for those who are interested. Be sure to keep all aspects of your computer fully patched and updated. Especially Adobe, flash, Java etc that get very frequent security updates and of course your browser.

How .Osiris Virus gets in your system

You may or may not recall the exact instance when you contracted this ransomware. There are several common ways that cyber criminals use to distribute their malicious payload the most effective of which has proven to be malvertising. This is the practice of injecting an existing online advertisement with a virus or creating a new one from scratch that has been embedded with the harmful program from the start. If you happen to click on one such ad, be it a popup, banner or box message, you end up automatically downloading the ransomware onto your machine. The process is a notoriously ‘silent’ one and you will see no indication of the contamination. Another very likely way you may have gotten infected could have been through a malicious attachment in a spam email. Hackers often employ the help of a Trojan horse virus to help ‘transport’ the ransomware into the victim’s system. The Trojan is downloaded the moment you open the attached file (can be as innocent-looking as a Word or PDF document) and it in turn automatically downloads .Osiris the second after. This, too, happens without any sign or indication, so you won’t be aware of what’s going on. This is also one of the key reasons for the success of .Osiris Virus– its stealth.

How to prevent future infections

Well, you already have the knowledge of the main pathways ransomware like .Osiris File Virus uses to get to its targets, so you should work your way from there. If spam messages are a likely source – treat incoming emails with extra caution. Don’t open any emails you’re unsure of and definitely do not open or download attachments that look suspicious. As for the malvertisements, the only logical way to make sure you’re safe from them is to simply avoid them. Avoid any and all forms of online advertising, as there is no way of telling the difference between a legitimate ad and a malicious one. Other possible sources are usual harmful, shady-looking websites and potential downloadable content from untrustworthy pages like that. Use your common sense and if you see that a page doesn’t look reputable – close it. Another important tip we can give you is to take care of your system and the software installed on it. Viruses like ransomware exploit weaknesses in them in order to infiltrate your computer, so make sure that you install updates, whenever those are available. Also, it’s vital that you have a functional antivirus program, which you should use to perform scans of your system on a regular basis. Investing in a reliable antimalware tool would also greatly contribute to an overall healthy PC and safe browsing experience.

More information about this ransomware. At bleeping computer. Apparently the hackers have been sending out fake invoices to email and that is the route to the infection.

https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/locky-ransomware-switches-to-egyptian-mythology-with-the-osiris-extension/

I agree with the preceding, including the comments about use habits. Whatever antivirus software you're using may have failed you. I'd give another product a try when your problem has been cleared.

The link below shows reviews from a very reputable source and includes ratings and recommendations from testing of both free and not free products. The difference is that the not-free products will offer more features. If you use one of the top rated ones and follow careful internet use habits, you will have no need for any other products.

The best way to not have problems like this to deal with is to prevent them from happening. Any of the top rated products will did so MOST of the time. The remaining percentage pieces of risk are mitigated by the user.

PC Mag reviews of security software

There is a lot that can be done to save your fIles and eliminate osiris ransomware. I hope you have good backups ( as we all should) of documents and photos.

Every Friday, I update all of my computer safety programs, then run first Spyware, then Malwarebytes, then CrapCleaner. Also, Windows defender is always on alert, to answer your questions, Anglophilia. However, during the hectic activity of the past few weeks, I have not hooked up my external drive and completed a backup.

Plus, I had already decided if I ever need a new desktop computer, I would seriously consider a Mac. I have two iPads which I really like and an iPhone. But I love Windows, too. Both Mac and Windows have pros and cons.

I do believe I may have gotten the virus from a fake invoice. The strange thing is I was expecting an invoice for multiple purchases I made from an eBay vendor who offers combined shipping. I thought the invoice was from him, but saw it wasn't as soon as I opened it. I then immediately ran the above mentioned programs on the chance that it might have been malware, but none of them turned up anything. Now, because of Raven's helpful message above, I realize that running those programs meant nothing for this particular "ransomware."

Thank you so much, Raven. It seems this is a particularly nasty infection.

It is and unfortunately many of the main stream Anti virus programs are not equipped to prevent certain ransomware infections. There are some anti ransomware products available for an additional layer of protection. That might be something that everyone should consider with the influx of the ransomware infections. Malwarebytes has one, win patrol has one I think just be sure before installing any program you check that it is a good legitimate program and landzdown is a good place to ask.

Unfortunately stuff happens, even with a backup hard drive accidents happen. One of my backup hard drives fell off of my desk during the flood, water was pushing furniture around, and it went under water. I had other backups but I did have some stuff on that one that I might not have had on another backup. I have not been through everything yet. We do the best we can and try to cover our bases but the bad guys are out there always working on the next way to attack

I back up my important stuff to the cloud.

"Every Friday, I update all of my computer safety programs, then run
first Spyware, then Malwarebytes, then CrapCleaner. Also, Windows
defender is always on alert"

Unfortunately, what you're using and doing seem to not be effective. The most capable security software blocks dangerous items before installation. With that preventive defense, there's no need for a user to concern themself with scans or problem removal

If it matters to you, Windows Defender is such a poor performer that its use is not recommended by many experts. Malwarebytes is a well regarded product but its use should rarely if ever be necessary. I have it on my PCs just as a matter of caution but I don't think it's been run even once in the last 5 years.

My computer has been infected twice in the past with a virus. I have used McAfee Virus Removal Service both times. After you contact them, a McAfee tech takes control of the computer remotely (I believe they are in India). You sit back and watch what they are doing. The second time it was a really bad virus that got down into the drivers. They actually had two techs work on it. One tech started working on it and then said that a drivers expert would get back to me at a specified time. Between the two of them, I think it took them about 8 hours. They really saved my computer.

McAfee Virus Removal Service

Thank you to all of you. I did read last night that ransomeware viruses can affect Macs; I had always been told that Macs never got infections. When I was studying my computer and everything I could find indicating the .OSIRIS File, everyone of those also had a Google Chrome icon. Don't know if there is a connection, but none of them had an IE icon. Evidently the extortionist responsible for this are charging several thousand dollars to buy the encryption "key." And mostly are targeting business owners. Just don't understand why this computer was targeted. Still trying to decide what to do.

Yes, I know about Macs and the possibilities of virus - been a Mac user since 1990. However, there are very few Mac viruses in the wild, and I quit using Symantec when is had conflicts - think it was OS10. Much depends on web sites one visits- porn sites are notorious for viruses. I've never had a problem in all these years. And my backup is automatic so never "too busy to do it". Yep, I'm a "fanboy".

In the case of the ransomware if you have your backup drive or device connected to the computer then the backup gets infected also. That has been the case for many. I suggest that you disconnect from the computer or network your backup device when not actively doing a backup. It is not just porn sites these days that was true years ago, the hackers and malware writers have progressed much beyond that. It's never a good idea to think it can never happen to me. Zero day exploits happen all the time on all kinds of places and before our protection software has been able to add definitions to the program to protect us. It happens every day to people who do have knowledge and protection. Spend some time on the help sites and you quickly realize that it can and does happen to anyone. Including Apple products. And also but rarely some versions of Linux.

I have always disconnected my external backup drive when a backup is completed. The only websites I ever visit are this one, eBay, MyFICO, my banks, department stores, all sites in that vein. I have been seeking help from Lanzdown and there are many having problems with this particular ransomeware and other virus issues.

All of you, please pay heed to Raven's message immediately above and don't think it can't happen to you because it never has in the past.

When a few Mac's were attacked by ransomeware, Apple was able to stop this almost immediately. I don't doubt that there are people out there trying to find ways to infect Mac's as well as Window's machines, but so far, Mac's are FAR less vulnerable than Windows. To each his own...

We've had good luck with Webroot SecureAnywhere. It offers a Realtime Shield, Web Shield and Firewall as well as a Phishing Shield and Identity Shield (hahaha lots of shields). It even protects my hubby who wanders into websites with abandon. I think we pay $159 a year and that covers 5 devices, so both computers, a tablet and both phones. It most certainly throws up alarms when it's is threatened. It's a Geek Squad/Best Buy sponsored app.

I've got no dog in the Mac vs PC fight :-) Everything is vulnerable, be cautious no matter which you prefer.