CrySiS ransomware decryptor

This article provides assistance to those looking for the CrySiS ransomware decryptor and highlights the essential characteristics of the virus in question.

The crooks who masterminded the CrySiS ransomware campaign are proficient in what they are doing. The cryptographic hallmarks of the infection are immaculately thought-out so that the threat actors can dictate their terms to the victims from a position of strength. This lineage of blackmail viruses, also referred to as Dharma, is one of the oldies in its niche and has spawned a bevy of variants since 2016. The latest ones include the .arrow, .java and .arena file editions. The former is the mod in active circulation at the time of this writing. Having infiltrated a computer, it renders the victim’s valuable files inaccessible and affixes the .id-<victim ID>.[<attacker’s email>].arrow extension to each one.

The most commonly reported email addresses that are enclosed in brackets constituting the file extension include marat20@cock.li, bitcoin888@cock.li, and guardbtc@cock.li. By providing contact details in this fashion, the adversaries give glues regarding the steps that the victim is supposed to start the troubleshooting with. In order to sort things out, the infected user is instructed to reach the black hats via the appropriate email address and wait for further recommendations from them. Yet another way to get recovery how-to’s is through the ransom note. It comes in the form of a file named Info.hta or Files Encrypted.txt. The typical path where this manual is dropped is the desktop, so the plagued user isn’t likely to overlook it.

Rather than make the rounds by dint of malicious spam, the CrySiS ransomware reaches computers via remote desktop protocol. This payload entry point is gaining traction in cybercriminal circles as it has proven to be highly effective. What happens is, the attackers scan the Internet for active RDP connections and try to get in by picking the password. Unfortunately, a lot of users neglect password strength or use default credentials for this type of connection, which explains how come the felons behind the CrySiS virus have been so successful for months on end.

The subsequent compromise is a matter of deploying the ransomware on vulnerable machines manually. The infection then traverses all hard disk partitions and removable media for data in specific formats. Next, it encrypts everything found during this scan. The cipher being leveraged is a mix of RSA and AES. Since the cryptographic workflow is implemented professionally, the RSA private key for decryption is stored securely on the perpetrators’ server and cannot be retrieved. It seems this incursion is perfectly orchestrated no matter how you slice it. That’s true for the most part, but the recovery of hostage data can be performed in ways that don’t involve the crypto. It’s the best practices of modern forensics that might do the trick, so give them a shot.

CrySiS ransomware automated removal and data recovery

When faced with ransomware like CrySiS, 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 CrySiS 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.

CrySiS 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 CrySiS 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 CrySiS-encrypted .arrow files

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 CrySiS 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 CrySiS removal tool