UltraCrypter ransomware: how to recover .cryp1 virus files

Rather than indicate the name of their ransomware directly, a cybercriminal gang mentions UltraCrypter as the file recovery tool they peddle to victims.

Online extortionists have rebranded their rapidly propagating CryptXXX ransomware. The recent changes have to do with the look and feel of the Trojan’s user interaction components, as well as the denomination of the decrypt solution. Compared to the commonplace offensive tactics, the perpetrators have come to adopt a reverse approach, where they promote something that appears benign instead of casting the whole malevolent stratagem in the victim’s face. When the attack takes place, the infected person will be told to buy UltraDecrypter, a program that supposedly reinstates all the locked files for 500 USD. The unnamed ransomware – perhaps it makes sense dubbing it ‘UltraCrypter’ – appends the .cryp1 extension to the user’s valuable files.

This malicious software expresses its ransom demands in several files that have the following name pattern: ![victim ID].html, ![victim ID].txt and ![victim ID].bmp. The image edition of ransom notes replaces the desktop wallpaper. The HTML and TXT counterparts will appear in all affected folders. As opposed to the previous variants of CryptXXX, the UltraCrypter spinoff is much more concise in terms of the recovery steps. What it says is the phrase “All your files are encrypted”, followed by a unique ID assigned to the victim, a couple of .onion URLs accessible via Tor Browser, and a recommendation to “write down the information to notebook (exercise book) and reboot the computer”. These are the essentials that suffice to explain how the infected user can navigate to the ransomware’s Decryption Service page.

This crypto parasite uses RSA, a hard-to-crack asymmetric cipher, to prevent the victim from opening the .cryp1 files. The above-mentioned Decryption Service site advises on the way to buy UltraDecrypter for 1.2 Bitcoin, which is about $500. The page also accommodates a deadline display feature that shows a digital clock counting down the time left from 96 hours, or 4 days. The ransom will become twice as big after the timer is zeroed out, in which case the victim will be billed $1000 for data recovery.

Some users bump into the UltraCrypter issue after downloading a phishing email attachment that facilitates a JavaScript loader in arriving at the machine. Others, however, simply visit a compromised website that triggers a series of obfuscated redirects and thus enable an exploit kit to inject the ransomware. The latter methodology can only succeed if there is a piece of unpatched software running on the computer, because the affiliated Angler exploit kit typically uses known application vulnerabilities to contaminate systems.

The best countermeasure for these types of threats is, of course, prevention through good security habits. Do not open and download fishy email attachments, keep the OS and programs up to date, and use a reliable antimalware suite. If the infection happens to be already in, the steps covered below should provide a great deal of recovery assistance.

UltraCrypter 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

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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 UltraCrypter 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 UltraCrypter ransomware removal tool