Remove and decrypt Cryakl ransomware virus

Being infected with the Cryakl ransomware is a serious predicament as most of its variants are uncrackable due to threat actors’ robust operations security.

Some ransomware strands can boast sleek design of GUIs and full automation of the extortion chain. Others look crude and even primitive. Although it may seem that pests representing the latter cluster are easy to get around, this impression doesn’t necessarily hold true for all such samples. The Cryakl family of malicious file-encrypting programs proves how delusive the look and feel of a ransomware specimen can be. All the numerous iterations of this lineage lack victim interaction components. The only clue on how to restore data is explicated in the desktop background that automatically replaces the one set by the user.

By the way, this particular attribute suggests that Cryakl mostly targets Russian-speaking audience as it contains Russian text. The English translation of the message is as follows,

Your files are encrypted, if you want to get them all back, send 1 encrypted file to the following email address: Seven_Legion2@aol.com. ATTENTION!!! You only have 1 week to email me, after this period expires the decryption will become impossible!!!!

The email address in this message varies depending on a specific campaign. Aside from the one above, some of the widely reported emails include drakoshka@yahoo.com, drakosha_new@aol.com, load180@aol.com, abu.khan@india.com, besdecrypt@qq.com, graf_demalfet@aol.com, mk-kitana@aol.com, mserbinov@aol.com, ninja.gaiver@aol.com, scasiva@aol.com, igor_svetlov2@aol.com, cryptolocker@aol.com, eric.decoder10@gmail.com, and ivanivanov34@aol.com. There are many more in fact.

Cryakl ransomware is distributed via exploit kits and spam. The former deployment method is sneaky as victims get infected without opening any malicious files. All it takes to get hit is visit a hacked website containing a script that detects and harnesses vulnerabilities in software installed on the computer. When inside, the Trojan runs in offline mode, which significantly tangles decryption beyond ransom. The hurdle is that the offensive program doesn’t exchange cryptographic RSA keys with any server, so it’s impossible to intercept any such details to further use for decryption.

While affecting the victim’s important data, Cryakl replaces filenames with long gibberish strings, making it unfeasible to work out which specific files they match. The file renaming format is as follows: email-[email_address].ver-[ransomware_version].id-[victim_ID]-[attack_timestamp].randomname-[random_chars].[random_extension]. The extension in the above pattern varies and tends to be a three-character string, for example .mcu, .fgg, .GHI, etc. The reason why the attackers instruct victims to send them one encrypted file is clear – the modified filenames hold the entirety of metadata that allow the criminals to tell one victim from another.

In addition to the desktop background warning, the infection also creates ransom notes named README.txt. This how-to isn’t very verbose, to put it mildly. All it says is, “To decrypt files write to this mail [email_address]”. At the end of the day, file recovery is a matter of choice: to pay the ransom and hope to get the decryption program and private RSA key in return, or first try every applicable option to get the data back without giving in to the felons’ demands. The rest of this post focuses on the latter approach.

Cryakl ransomware automated removal and data recovery

When faced with ransomware like Cryakl, one of the best shortcuts in terms of removal is to use Combo Cleaner, a lightweight and incredibly effective application with PC security and optimization features under the hood. It detects and thoroughly deletes threats while giving you insights into the overall health of your computer.

This program’s protection power spans modules that forestall all known types of malware, including ransomware and browser hijackers, and take your online security to the next level by blocking phishing sites and other suspicious web pages. Follow these simple steps to eliminate the infection for good:

1. Download Combo Cleaner installer.

Download Cryakl remover

^{Combo Cleaner scans your PC with no strings attached, but you’ll have to buy its fully functional version to remove the threats it detects. The disk optimization tools that find large files and duplicates are free to use.}

2. Open the CCSetup.exe file to get started. Several subsequent screens will allow you to make initial customizations so that the program works exactly as you need from the get-go.

3. The installation will be followed by an update of malware signatures. Once this process is through, click the Start Scan button in the left-hand sidebar.

4. Combo Cleaner will then check system locations that are most often polluted by Windows malware. The first scan can take a while to finish.

5. Combo Cleaner will display a system tray notification as soon as the scan is over. Click the Resolve found threats button to view the results.

6. The scan summary shows the names and types of the detected threats as well as their statuses and locations. Click the Remove all threats button and follow further on-screen prompts to get rid of these items.

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.

Cryakl ransomware manual removal and file recovery

Some ransomware strains terminate themselves after completing the encryption job on a computer, but some don’t. Furthermore, the Cryakl virus may prevent victims from using popular antimalware tools in order to stay on board for as long as possible. Under the circumstances, it may be necessary to utilize the Safe Mode with Networking or System Restore functionality.

Be advised that even after the ransomware is removed, files will still be encrypted and inaccessible. The malicious code cleanup part, however, is important because it keeps a relapse of the infection from occurring further on and eliminates all opportunistic malware.

Ways of non-ransom recovery of files encrypted by Cryakl

Cracking the crypto used by this ransom Trojan is more of a science fiction thing rather than an attainable prospect for the masses. This is why the troubleshooting in predicaments of this sort is a matter of two approaches: one is to pay the ransom, which isn’t an option for many victims; and the other is to apply instruments that take advantage of the ransomware’s possible weaknesses. If the latter is your pick, the advice below is a must-try.

Ransomware Prevention Tips

To avoid Cryakl 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 Cryakl removal tool