Name | Trojan.Ransomcrypt |
Type | Ransomware |
Short Description | Encrypts important user data and demands ransom in return. |
Symptoms | The user may have his files encrypted without his consent and may see a ransom note with instructions on how to pay for them. |
Distribution Method | Malicious Links Spam Mail |
Detection Tool | Download Malware Removal Tool, to See If Your System Has Been Affected by malware |
User Experience | Join our forum to follow the discussion about Trojan.Ransomcrypt. |
Data Recovery Tool | Windows Data Recovery by Stellar Phoenix Notice! This product scans your drive sectors to recover lost files and it may not recover 100% of the encrypted files, but only few of them, depending on the situation and whether or not you have reformatted your drive. |
Trojan.Ransomcrypt is a Trojan horse that creates several different files in an infected computer and once it has control over the victim PC, scans for and encrypts imprortant data from the user. It has several different variants – T, S, R and the primary Trojan.Ransomcrypt version. The specific strength of this trojan is that it can scan for a wider range of file formats than other ransomware viruses. Experts advise affected users to immediately follow the instructions provided on the bottom of this page. It is highly recommended to remove any files that this trojan has created on the computer as fast as possible and try to decrypt their files using some of the methods linked at the end of this article.
Trojan.Ransomcrypt – How Did I Get Infected
The Trojan.Ransomcrypt variants are primarily distributed via spam mail campaigns. A spam email may contain several different files and resemble different reputable services that may fool users to think they are perfectly safe by resembling a reputable company or a person as a sender. One good example was the Windows 10 Fake Upgrade email spam. Users are strongly advised to beware and use external mail software that has spam filters. Microsoft Outlook and Mozilla Thunderbird are one of the most preferred email address managing software out there and some users prefer them.
Trojan.Ransomcrypt – More about It
Symantec researchers have identified several different variants, besides the main variant of this trojan. Once executed on the computer, the main variant of this infection creates this file and sets it as a wallpaper:
→SystemDrive\vsworkdir\shantazh.jpg
After this is done, the trojan horse begins to scan the computer for the most opened and important files in the user PC:
→.doc .jpg .rar .zip .txt .rtf .jpeg .html .htm .php .eml .3gp .7z
.3gp .7z
After establishing which files are important for users, the malicious program then encrypts all of the detected files on scan and copies them with an added .vscrypt extension to them. After doing so, the trojan then deletes the original files. What is good news about the original variant is that it uses one decryption key for all of the encrypted files, similar to the .bitcrypt extension ransomware.
After it has finished with the encryption of the targeted files, the cyber threat then changes the wallpaper to a message in Russian and restarts the infected PC. The message states the following:
→“Hello, I am a Trojan encoder, more specifically one of its variants ::) my author is a person whose nickname is KOPPEKTOP and he will gladly sell you a decypher for the files that I succeeded to encrypt on your computer for the small sum of 10 dollars it is around 350 rubles here are the details to connect to my account
Mail: otrazhenie_zla@mail.ru icq 481095
oh yes i almost forgot – do not clean the files with vscrypt extensions because taking them back will become impossible
Good luck yours trully Trojan encoder and KOPPEKTOP”
Removing Trojan.Ransomcrypt from Your PC and Restoring Your Files
In order to remove this ransomware from your computer you need to isolate it. The best method to do this is if you scan your computer via a live operation system, but it may also work in Safe Mode with a special Anti-Malware tool. In order to remove the trojan, please follow the step-by-step tutorial below to help you cope with it.
For a tutorial on how to scan your computer via a live OS, please check this forum post:
In order to try different methods to decrypt your files, please try the following posts:
https://sensorstechforum.com/restore-files-encrypted-via-rsa-encryption-remove-cryptowall-and-other-ransomware-manually/
https://sensorstechforum.com/remove-rsa-2048-encryption-key-from-cryptowall-3-0/
How To Boot Into Safe Mode
1. Start Your PC in Safe Mode to Remove Trojan.Ransomcrypt.
For Windows XP, Vista, 7 systems:
1. Remove all CDs and DVDs, and then Restart your PC from the “Start” menu.
2. Select one of the two options provided below:
– For PCs with a single operating system: Press “F8” repeatedly after the first boot screen shows up during the restart of your computer. In case the Windows logo appears on the screen, you have to repeat the same task again.
– For PCs with multiple operating systems: Тhe arrow keys will help you select the operating system you prefer to start in Safe Mode. Press “F8” just as described for a single operating system.
3. As the “Advanced Boot Options” screen appears, select the Safe Mode option you want using the arrow keys. As you make your selection, press “Enter“.
4. Log on to your computer using your administrator account
While your computer is in Safe Mode, the words “Safe Mode” will appear in all four corners of your screen.
For Windows 8, 8.1 and 10 systems:
Step 1: Open the Start Menu
Step 2: Whilst holding down Shift button, click on Power and then click on Restart.
Step 3: After reboot, the aftermentioned menu will appear. From there you should choose Troubleshoot.
Step 4: You will see the Troubleshoot menu. From this menu you can choose Advanced Options.
Step 5: After the Advanced Options menu appears, click on Startup Settings.
Step 6: Click on Restart.
Step 7: A menu will appear upon reboot. You should choose Safe Mode by pressing its corresponding number and the machine will restart.
2. Remove Trojan.Ransomcrypt automatically by downloading an advanced anti-malware program.
To clean your computer you should download an updated anti-malware program on a safe PC and then install it on the affected computer in offline mode. After that you should boot into safe mode and scan your computer to remove all Trojan.Ransomcrypt associated objects.
- Step 1
- Step 2
- Step 3
- Step 4
- Step 5
Step 1: Scan for Trojan.Ransomcrypt with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
Ransomware Automatic Removal - Video Guide
Step 2: Uninstall Trojan.Ransomcrypt and related malware from Windows
Here is a method in few easy steps that should be able to uninstall most programs. No matter if you are using Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista or XP, those steps will get the job done. Dragging the program or its folder to the recycle bin can be a very bad decision. If you do that, bits and pieces of the program are left behind, and that can lead to unstable work of your PC, errors with the file type associations and other unpleasant activities. The proper way to get a program off your computer is to Uninstall it. To do that:
Step 3: Clean any registries, created by Trojan.Ransomcrypt on your computer.
The usually targeted registries of Windows machines are the following:
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
You can access them by opening the Windows registry editor and deleting any values, created by Trojan.Ransomcrypt there. This can happen by following the steps underneath:
Before starting "Step 4", please boot back into Normal mode, in case you are currently in Safe Mode.
This will enable you to install and use SpyHunter 5 successfully.
Step 4: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove Trojan.Ransomcrypt
Step 5: Try to Restore Files Encrypted by Trojan.Ransomcrypt.
Method 1: Use STOP Decrypter by Emsisoft.
Not all variants of this ransomware can be decrypted for free, but we have added the decryptor used by researchers that is often updated with the variants which become eventually decrypted. You can try and decrypt your files using the instructions below, but if they do not work, then unfortunately your variant of the ransomware virus is not decryptable.
Follow the instructions below to use the Emsisoft decrypter and decrypt your files for free. You can download the Emsisoft decryption tool linked here and then follow the steps provided below:
1 Right-click on the decrypter and click on Run as Administrator as shown below:
2. Agree with the license terms:
3. Click on "Add Folder" and then add the folders where you want files decrypted as shown underneath:
4. Click on "Decrypt" and wait for your files to be decoded.
Note: Credit for the decryptor goes to Emsisoft researchers who have made the breakthrough with this virus.
Method 2: Use data recovery software
Ransomware infections and Trojan.Ransomcrypt aim to encrypt your files using an encryption algorithm which may be very difficult to decrypt. This is why we have suggested a data recovery method that may help you go around direct decryption and try to restore your files. Bear in mind that this method may not be 100% effective but may also help you a little or a lot in different situations.
Simply click on the link and on the website menus on the top, choose Data Recovery - Data Recovery Wizard for Windows or Mac (depending on your OS), and then download and run the tool.
Trojan.Ransomcrypt-FAQ
What is Trojan.Ransomcrypt Ransomware?
Trojan.Ransomcrypt is a ransomware infection - the malicious software that enters your computer silently and blocks either access to the computer itself or encrypt your files.
Many ransomware viruses use sophisticated encryption algorithms to make your files inaccessible. The goal of ransomware infections is to demand that you pay a ransom payment to get access to your files back.
What Does Trojan.Ransomcrypt Ransomware Do?
Ransomware in general is a malicious software that is designed to block access to your computer or files until a ransom is paid.
Ransomware viruses can also damage your system, corrupt data and delete files, resulting in the permanent loss of important files.
How Does Trojan.Ransomcrypt Infect?
Via several ways.Trojan.Ransomcrypt Ransomware infects computers by being sent via phishing emails, containing virus attachment. This attachment is usually masked as an important document, like an invoice, bank document or even a plane ticket and it looks very convincing to users.
Another way you may become a victim of Trojan.Ransomcrypt is if you download a fake installer, crack or patch from a low reputation website or if you click on a virus link. Many users report getting a ransomware infection by downloading torrents.
How to Open .Trojan.Ransomcrypt files?
You can't without a decryptor. At this point, the .Trojan.Ransomcrypt files are encrypted. You can only open them once they are decrypted using a specific decryption key for the particular algorithm.
What to Do If a Decryptor Does Not Work?
Do not panic, and backup the files. If a decryptor did not decrypt your .Trojan.Ransomcrypt files successfully, then do not despair, because this virus is still new.
Can I Restore ".Trojan.Ransomcrypt" Files?
Yes, sometimes files can be restored. We have suggested several file recovery methods that could work if you want to restore .Trojan.Ransomcrypt files.
These methods are in no way 100% guaranteed that you will be able to get your files back. But if you have a backup, your chances of success are much greater.
How To Get Rid of Trojan.Ransomcrypt Virus?
The safest way and the most efficient one for the removal of this ransomware infection is the use a professional anti-malware program.
It will scan for and locate Trojan.Ransomcrypt ransomware and then remove it without causing any additional harm to your important .Trojan.Ransomcrypt files.
Can I Report Ransomware to Authorities?
In case your computer got infected with a ransomware infection, you can report it to the local Police departments. It can help authorities worldwide track and determine the perpetrators behind the virus that has infected your computer.
Below, we have prepared a list with government websites, where you can file a report in case you are a victim of a cybercrime:
Cyber-security authorities, responsible for handling ransomware attack reports in different regions all over the world:
Germany - Offizielles Portal der deutschen Polizei
United States - IC3 Internet Crime Complaint Centre
United Kingdom - Action Fraud Police
France - Ministère de l'Intérieur
Italy - Polizia Di Stato
Spain - Policía Nacional
Netherlands - Politie
Poland - Policja
Portugal - Polícia Judiciária
Greece - Cyber Crime Unit (Hellenic Police)
India - Mumbai Police - CyberCrime Investigation Cell
Australia - Australian High Tech Crime Center
Reports may be responded to in different timeframes, depending on your local authorities.
Can You Stop Ransomware from Encrypting Your Files?
Yes, you can prevent ransomware. The best way to do this is to ensure your computer system is updated with the latest security patches, use a reputable anti-malware program and firewall, backup your important files frequently, and avoid clicking on malicious links or downloading unknown files.
Can Trojan.Ransomcrypt Ransomware Steal Your Data?
Yes, in most cases ransomware will steal your information. It is a form of malware that steals data from a user's computer, encrypts it, and then demands a ransom in order to decrypt it.
In many cases, the malware authors or attackers will threaten to delete the data or publish it online unless the ransom is paid.
Can Ransomware Infect WiFi?
Yes, ransomware can infect WiFi networks, as malicious actors can use it to gain control of the network, steal confidential data, and lock out users. If a ransomware attack is successful, it could lead to a loss of service and/or data, and in some cases, financial losses.
Should I Pay Ransomware?
No, you should not pay ransomware extortionists. Paying them only encourages criminals and does not guarantee that the files or data will be restored. The better approach is to have a secure backup of important data and be vigilant about security in the first place.
What Happens If I Don't Pay Ransom?
If you don't pay the ransom, the hackers may still have access to your computer, data, or files and may continue to threaten to expose or delete them, or even use them to commit cybercrimes. In some cases, they may even continue to demand additional ransom payments.
Can a Ransomware Attack Be Detected?
Yes, ransomware can be detected. Anti-malware software and other advanced security tools can detect ransomware and alert the user when it is present on a machine.
It is important to stay up-to-date on the latest security measures and to keep security software updated to ensure ransomware can be detected and prevented.
Do Ransomware Criminals Get Caught?
Yes, ransomware criminals do get caught. Law enforcement agencies, such as the FBI, Interpol and others have been successful in tracking down and prosecuting ransomware criminals in the US and other countries. As ransomware threats continue to increase, so does the enforcement activity.
About the Trojan.Ransomcrypt Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this Trojan.Ransomcrypt how-to removal guide included, is the outcome of extensive research, hard work and our team’s devotion to help you remove the specific malware and restore your encrypted files.
How did we conduct the research on this ransomware?
Our research is based on an independent investigation. We are in contact with independent security researchers, and as such, we receive daily updates on the latest malware and ransomware definitions.
Furthermore, the research behind the Trojan.Ransomcrypt ransomware threat is backed with VirusTotal and the NoMoreRansom project.
To better understand the ransomware threat, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.
As a site that has been dedicated to providing free removal instructions for ransomware and malware since 2014, SensorsTechForum’s recommendation is to only pay attention to trustworthy sources.
How to recognize trustworthy sources:
- Always check "About Us" web page.
- Profile of the content creator.
- Make sure that real people are behind the site and not fake names and profiles.
- Verify Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter personal profiles.