Decrypt .cry files virus and remove CryLocker ransomware

The CryLocker ransomware, which appends .cry extension to encrypted files, impersonates an inexistent government organization and demands $625 for recovery.

The scourge of crypto malware is one of the few computer plagues that AV labs and the community of security experts have virtually no viable response for, although these infections have been around for years. The kernel component that’s nearly impossible to get around is encryption with symmetric or asymmetric cryptographic algorithms, where one’s files become locked and the only mechanism to unlock them is through obtaining a criminals-owned secret key. CryLocker, a new sample on the loose, appears to be flawless in terms of cipher implementation. At first sight, it looks like one of many suchlike extortion products, but some deeper insight reveals quite a few offbeat properties under its hood. First of all, some of the warning notifications are allegedly displayed on behalf of a mythical law enforcement entity called the “Central Security Treatment Organization”, in particular the department of pre-trial settlement.

The idea behind this deceit is to make the attack look like an attempt to help the victim evade prosecution for some framed-up cyber felony. Furthermore, the name and fancy logo displayed in the infected person’s User Cabinet are supposed to make such a deal more trustworthy. This, however, is nothing but a lame try to leverage social engineering and manipulate people into coughing up some money. If CryLocker is on board a Windows PC, it most likely got there through the use of the Sundown exploit kit, which means that the victim had surfed malicious or compromised websites prior to the breach. The exploit kit covertly harnesses vulnerabilities in unpatched software installed on the machine. Having made its way inside, the ransomware scans the hard drive for data, comparing every stored object against a predefined list of hundreds of popular file extensions. Every match is then subject to modification with the RSA cipher.

A conspicuous byproduct of this routine is the concatenation of the .cry extension at the end of filenames. Of course, it’s impossible to open these items as per the unbreakable RSA encryption. To instruct the victim what to do next, the Trojan creates the following files on the desktop: !Recovery_[6 random chars].txt and !Recovery_[6 random chars].html. It also replaces the desktop wallpaper with its own, which says, “Attention! All your files were encrypted by CryLocker!” The above-mentioned ransom notes contain the user’s unique ID and explain how to visit the Tor payment site.

Once the victim logs into their User Cabinet, they see a bunch of alerts, the size of the ransom, a digital clock counting down the time before the 4-day deadline expires. The commission for decryption is originally 1.13 Bitcoins, or 625 USD. In four days, this amount goes up to 2.27 Bitcoins. The Tor page also provides the test decryption option, but it appears to be unstable at this point. Since the encryption standard is too strong to brute force in this case, the only workarounds involve forensic techniques covered below.

CryLocker ransomware automated removal and data recovery

Owing to an up-to-date database of malware signatures and intelligent behavioral detection, the recommended software can quickly locate the infection, eradicate it and remediate all harmful changes. So go ahead and do the following:

1. Download and install the antimalware tool. Open the solution and have it check your PC for PUPs and other types of malicious software by clicking the Start Computer Scan button

Download CryLocker virus remover

2. Rest assured the scan report will list all items that may harm your operating system. Select the detected entries and click Fix Threats to get the troubleshooting completed.

Data recovery toolkit to the rescue

Some strains of ransomware are known to delete the original files after the encryption routine has been completed. As hostile as this activity appears, it can play into your hands. There are applications designed to revive the information that was obliterated because of malfunctioning hardware or due to accidental removal. The tool called Stellar Data Recovery features this type of a capability and therefore it can be applied in ransom attack scenarios to at least get the most important files back. So use the app to get an idea of what data can be restored and let it do the recovery job. Here is a step-by-step walkthrough:

1. Download and install Stellar Data Recovery.

Download Stellar Data Recovery

2. Open the application, select the types of recoverable files to look for, and click Next.

3. Choose the areas you want the tool to recover from and click the Scan button.

4. Having scanned the specified locations, the program will display a notification about the total amount of recoverable data. Close the dialog and click the Recover button. This will hopefully help you get some of your valuable files back.

Ransomware Prevention Tips

To avoid CryLocker ransomware and other file-encrypting infections in the future, follow several simple recommendations:

These techniques are certainly not a cure-all, but they will add an extra layer of ransomware protection to your security setup.

Revise your security status

Post-factum assessment of the accuracy component in malware removal scenarios is a great habit that prevents the comeback of harmful code or replication of its unattended fractions. Make sure you are good to go by running an additional safety checkup. Another benefit of using the antimalware tool is that it will keep ransomware threats from intruding on your computer further on.

Download CryLocker ransomware removal tool