This article will aid you to remove the Cradle ransomware absolutely. Follow the ransomware removal instructions provided at the bottom of this article.

Cradle ransomware is a cryptovirus. The extension it puts to all files after encryption is .cradle. A ransom note named _HOW_TO_UNLOCK_FILES_.html points to a TOR-based Web page, which contains instructions about payment. The sum of 0.25 Bitcoins is demanded from the cybercriminals for paying the ransom. Read on through and find out what ways you could try to potentially recover some of your files and data.

Threat Summary

Name	Cradle
Type	Ransomware
Short Description	The sransomware encrypts files on your computer system and it shows a ransom note afterward.
Symptoms	This ransomware virus will encrypt your files and place the .cradle extension on each one of them.
Distribution Method	Spam Emails, Email Attachments, Executables
Detection Tool	See If Your System Has Been Affected by Cradle Download Malware Removal Tool
User Experience	Join Our Forum to Discuss Cradle.
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.

Cradle Ransomware – Delivery Tactics

The Cradle ransomware might be delivered by utilizing different tactics. The payload dropper file which initiates the malicious script for the ransomware is found to be circling the Internet. Malware researchers have not yet seen a live sample, so no specific analysis exists of that particular executable file that contains the payload script.

The Cradle ransomware might be using other ways to deliver the payload file, in question, such as social media sites or file-sharing services. Freeware applications found on the Web could be promoted as helpful but also could hide the malicious script for this virus. Before opening any files after you have downloaded them, you should instead scan them with a security program. Especially if they come from suspicious places, such as emails or links. Also, don’t forget to check the size and signatures of such files for anything that seems out of place. You should read the ransomware preventing tips given in the forum.

Cradle Ransomware – Technical Information

The Cradle ransomware is a cryptovirus, which is still sought by malware researchers for a deeper analysis. When the Cradle ransomware encrypts your files it will place the .cradle extension to every encrypted file.

The Cradle ransomware might make new registry entries in the Windows Registry to achieve a higher level of persistence. Those entries are usually designed in a way that will start the virus automatically with every launch of the Windows Operating System, like in the example provided below, such as the example given down here:

→“HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run”

A ransom message will be placed inside your computer system right after the encryption process is complete. The ransom note file is called _HOW_TO_UNLOCK_FILES_.html and it contains a link to a TOR Web page. Once you open that page, this is the message that will load on it:

That ransom message with instructions reads the following:

Unlock Your Files
You are here because your files are locked with military-grade encryption! To unlock your files you must purchase the decryption software. It is the only way to restore your files.
As soon as payment is received, a software download button will appear on this page. Only software from this site can unlock vour files! To bookmark this page press [Ctrl+D].
Payment ID: 5X9
Website: https://pn6fsoQSzhQlxz4n.onion.to/5X9
Price: 0.25 Bitcoins
Bitcoin Address: lKhk3pcJGYSnBmPF3D3JyblA5yh8ztHN7P
Time Left: 3 days, 11 hrs 28 mins 33 secs

Follow these instructions carefully:
1. Payment must be made in Bitcoin currency. No other form of payment is accepted.
2. Time is running out! The price will double when the time expires!
3. After 14 days of nonpayment, vour files will be locked forever!!!
4. DO NOT attempt to restore the files yourself! You WILL destory them if you try.
5. Purchase 0.25 Bitcoins and send to 1Khk3pcJGYSnBmPF3D3JyblA5yh8ztHN7P
6. Return to this page and download the software.
7. Confirmation of payment can take up to 1 hour. Be patient and check back often.

Where do I Buy Bitcoins?
The best resource for purchasing Bitcoin is the Buy Bitcoin World Wide website:
https://www.buybitcoinworldwide.com
Another website offering quick Bitcoin purchases is LocalBitcoins:
https://localbitcoins.com/buy_bitcoins
This is the official bitcoin website:
https://bitcoin.org

The makers of the Cradle cryptovirus demand that you pay a ransom sum of 0.25 Bitcoins, which is the equivalent of nearly 285 US dollars at the moment of writing this article. However, you should NOT meet their demands, nor contact these crooks under any circumstances. By proceeding with a payment you only will give money to the criminals, and nobody can guarantee that you will recover your data by doing so. To add to that, providing money to the cybercriminals is probably going to ignite their motivation to do more criminal acts, including the making of ransomware viruses.

Cradle Ransomware – Encryption Process

There is no official list with file extensions that the Cradle ransomware seeks to encrypt at this moment. However, this article will get duly updated if there anything new about this matter surfaces. All encrypted files will receive the .cradle extension, which will be appended to them.

→.7z, .bmp, .doc, .docm, .docx, .html, .jpeg, .jpg, .mp3, .mp4, .pdf, .php, .ppt, .pptx, .rar, .rtf, .sql, .tiff, .txt, .xls, .xlsx, .zip

The Cradle cryptovirus is quite possible to delete the Shadow Volume Copies from the Windows Operating System by using the following command:

→vssadmin.exe delete shadows /all /Quiet

If the command stated above is initiated, that will make the encryption process a bit more effective, as one of the ways for file recovery will get lost. Continue reading and find out what kinds of methods you can try out to potentially restore some of your data files.

Remove Cradle Ransomware and Restore .Cradle Files

If your computer got infected with the Cradle ransomware virus, you should have a bit of experience in removing malware. You should get rid of this ransomware as quickly as possible before it can have the chance to spread further and infect other computers. You should remove the ransomware and follow the step-by-step instructions guide provided below.

Manually delete Cradle from your computer

Note! Substantial notification about the Cradle threat: Manual removal of Cradle requires interference with system files and registries. Thus, it can cause damage to your PC. Even if your computer skills are not at a professional level, don’t worry. You can do the removal yourself just in 5 minutes, using a malware removal tool.

1. Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove Cradle files and objects

Boot Your PC Into Safe Mode

1. For Windows 7,XP and Vista. 2. For Windows 8, 8.1 and 10. Fix registry entries created by Cradle on your PC.

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.

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.

Some malicious scripts may modify the registry entries of your computer to change different settings. This is why manual clean up of your Windows Registry Database is strongly recommended. Since the tutorial on how to do this is a bit lenghty, we recommend following our instructive article about fixing registry entries.

2. Find malicious files created by Cradle on your PC

Find malicious files created by Cradle

1. For Windows 8, 8.1 and 10. 2. For Windows 7,XP and Vista.

For Newer Windows Operating Systems

Step 1:

On your keyboard press  + R and write explorer.exe in the Run text box and then click on the Ok button.

Step 2:

Click on your PC from the quick access bar. This is usually an icon with a monitor and its name is either “My Computer”, “My PC” or “This PC” or whatever you have named it.

Step 3:

Navigate to the search box in the top-right of your PC’s screen and type “fileextension:” and after which type the file extension. If you are looking for malicious executables, an example may be “fileextension:exe”. After doing that, leave a space and type the file name you believe the malware has created. Here is how it may appear if your file has been found:

N.B. We recommend to wait for the green loading bar in the navination box to fill up in case the PC is looking for the file and hasn’t found it yet.

For Older Windows Operating Systems

In older Windows OS’s the conventional approach should be the effective one:

Step 1:

Click on the Start Menu icon (usually on your bottom-left) and then choose the Search preference.

Step 2:

After the search window appears, choose More Advanced Options from the search assistant box. Another way is by clicking on All Files and Folders.

Step 3:

After that type the name of the file you are looking for and click on the Search button. This might take some time after which results will appear. If you have found the malicious file, you may copy or open its location by right-clicking on it.

Now you should be able to discover any file on Windows as long as it is on your hard drive and is not concealed via special software.

Automatically remove Cradle by downloading an advanced anti-malware program

1. Remove Cradle with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool and back up your data

Remove Cradle with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool

1. Install SpyHunter to scan for and remove Cradle.2. Scan with SpyHunter to Detect and Remove Cradle. Back up your data to secure it against infections and file encryption by Cradle in the future.

Step 1:Click on the “Download” button to proceed to SpyHunter’s download page.

Download

Malware Removal Tool

It is highly recommended to run a scan before purchasing the full version of the software to make sure that the current version of the malware can be detected by SpyHunter.

Step 2: Guide yourself by the download instructions provided for each browser.
Step 3: After you have installed SpyHunter, wait for it to automatically update.

Step1: After the update process has finished, click on the ‘Scan Computer Now’ button.

Step2: After SpyHunter has finished scanning your PC for any Cradle files, click on the ‘Fix Threats’ button to remove them automatically and permanently.

Step3: Once the intrusions on your PC have been removed, it is highly recommended to restart it.

Back up your data to secure it against attacks in the future

IMPORTANT! Before reading the Windows backup instructions, we highly recommend to back up your data automatically with cloud backup and insure it against any type of data loss on your device, even the most severe. We recommend reading more about and downloading SOS Online Backup .

SOS Online Backup

2. Restore files encrypted by Cradle

Restore Files Encrypted by Cradle

Ransomware infections like Cradle aim to encrypt your files using an encryption algorithm which may be very difficult to directly decrypt. This is why we have suggested several alternative methods that may help you go around direct decryption and try to restore your files. Bear in mind that they may not be 100% effective but they may help you little or a lot in some situations.

Method 1: Scanning your drive’s sectors by using Data Recovery software.
Another method of restoring your files is by trying to bring back your files via data recovery software. Here are some suggestions for preferred data recovery software solutions:

• Stellar Phoenix Data Recovery Technicians License(Pro version with more features)
• Stellar Phoenix Windows Data Recovery
• Stellar Phoenix Photo Recovery

Method 2: Trying Kaspersky and EmsiSoft’s decryptors.
If the first method does not work, we suggest trying to use decryptors for other ransomware viruses, in case your virus is a variant of them. The two primary developers of decryptors are Kaspersky and EmsiSoft, links to which we have provided below:

• Kaspersky Decryptors
• Emsisoft Decryptors

Urgent! It is strongly advisable to first remove the Cradle threat before attempting any decryption, since it may interfere with system files and registries. You can do the removal yourself just in 5 minutes, using an advanced malware removal tool.

Method 3: Using Shadow Explorer

To restore your data in case you have backup set up, it is important to check for shadow copies in Windows using this software if ransomware has not deleted them:

• Shadow Explorer

Method 4: Finding Cradle decryption key while it communicates it via a network sniffing software.

Another way to decrypt the files is by using a Network Sniffer to get the encryption key, while files are encrypted on your system. A Network Sniffer is a program and/or device monitoring data traveling over a network, such as its internet traffic and internet packets. If you have a sniffer set before the attack happened you might get information about the decryption key. See how-to instructions below:

Instructions on How to Find Decryption Key for Files Encrypted By Ransowmare

Optional: Using Alternative Anti-Malware Tools

Remove Cradle Using Other Alternative Tools

STOPZilla Anti Malware

1. Download and Install STOPZilla Anti-malware to Scan for And Remove Cradle.
Step 1: Download STOPZilla by clicking here.
Step 2: A pop-up window will appear. Click on the ‘Save File’ button. If it does not, click on the Download button and save it afterwards.

Step 3: After you have downloaded the setup, simply open it.
Step 4: The installer should appear. Click on the ‘Next’ button.

Step 5: Check the ‘I accept the agreement’ check circle if not checked if you accept it and click the ‘Next’ button once again.

Step 6: Review and click on the ‘Install’ button.

Step 7: After the installation process has completed click on the ‘Finish’ button.

2. Scan your PC with STOPZilla Anti Malware to remove all Cradle associated files completely.
Step 1: Launch STOPZilla if you haven’t launched it after install.
Step 2: Wait for the software to automatically scan and then click on the ‘Repair Now’ button. If it does not scan automatically, click on the ‘Scan Now’ button.

Step 3: After the removal of all threats and associated objects, you should Restart your PC.

Berta Bilbao

Berta is the Editor-in-Chief of SensorsTechForum. She is a dedicated malware researcher, dreaming for a more secure cyber space.

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