Windows 10: Decryption of Document Files

Somehow my computer encrypted all of my document files. How can I decrypt them? Can they all be done at once or do they need to be done individually? I have about 1,000 documents.

:)

 

How to Decrypt *.cerber3 files?

AFAIK it's still not possible to decrypt your files for free...

In addition to what has been mentioned in the prior posts, you might want to read this:

https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/cerber-ransomware-switches-to-cerber3-extension-for-encrypted-files/

And I strongly suggest to read/do:

• How to remove ransomware the right way: A step-by-step guide
• The smartest way to stay unaffected by ransomware? Backup!

 

Document folder won't decrypt

I encrypted my documents folder in my windows 10 desktop and when I went to decrypt it... I select all folders and sub folders. Then I get this error: An error occurred applying attributes to the file: C:\users\Giveaway\Documents the specified file could
not be decrypted. ignore, ignore all, try again, cancel. Nothing works to decrypt folder. I have to decrypt files and sub folders individually but cannot decrypt the main folder. So when i create a new file in documents it is automatically encrypted and I
have to manually decrypt it.

 

Corrupted Win10 Profile, and Can't Decrypt Files

Hey there, Andre:

Thank you very much for your quick response. I finally got a chance to try troubleshooting per your suggestions. Here's what I came up with.

I apologize if I wasn't clearer in my issue originally. The files themselves were never actually ON the same drive as the OS. THE OS was on drive C. My files were on drive F. However, I had somehow encrypted those files with my profile... and now that
profile is corrupted.

I tried the suggestions on that you linked, and these are my results:

• Option 1: Change File Ownership to "Personal" in the context menu results in following error:
  
  • An unexpected error is keeping you from applying properties to the file. IF you continue to receive this error, you can use the error code to search for help with this problem.
  • Error 0x80071771: The specified file could not be decrypted.

• Options 2 and 3: Decrypt Folder or File, (respectively), in Advanced Attributes:
  • Trying to remove encryption by deselecting the "Encrypt contents to secure data" checkbox in the Advanced Attributes window yields the following error:
    • An error occurred applying attributes to the file: F:\EXAMPLEFOLDER\EXAMPLEFILENAME: The specified file could not be decrypted.
• Options 4 and 5: Decrypting Folders and Files in Command Prompt, respectively:
  • When running cmd prompt in Admin mode, and executing the cipher /d and cipher /d/s: commands, the following error is thrown:
  • F:\EXAMPLEFOLDER\EXAMPLEFILENAME\: the system cannot find the path specified.0 file(s) [or directorie(s) were decrypted.
  • This is problematic, because I can click on the folders and files themselves from the windows GUI.
    

I still have the corrupted profile on my computer... is there a way to reach into it to extract the cipher?

Thank you so much for your help! (Didn't expect to take a crash-course in Windows security, but there we are, LOL).

Best,

Chris