In this article, you will find more information about Crown ransomware as well as a step-by-step guide on how to remove malicious files from the infected system and how to potentially recover encrypted .crown files.
Crown Ransomware Virus
In the unfortunate event, that you find all your valuable files locked and renamed with the malicious extension .crown then we have some bad news for you. Your PC has been infected with Dharma ransomware. The name of the threat – Crown ransomware comes from the associated extension. As a typical data locker ransomware, it interferes with essential computer system settings in order to encrypt personal files and extort a ransom fee from its victims. The threat is lurking across the web in active spread campaigns. Its malicious payload file may appear in the form of a software update, software package, email attachment, advertisement, or link on social media posts.
When started on a target computer operating system, Crown ransomware initiates a complex attack that seriously damages system security. One of the main goals of the ransomware is to reach personal files so that it can encrypt them. By doing this Crown limits users’ access to their valuable data. Another purpose of Crown virus is to request a ransom fee for the recovery of .crown files. That’s why it drops a ransom message and alters certain registry entries that load the message on the screen.
Threat Summary
| Name | Crown |
| Type | Ransomware, Cryptovirus |
| Short Description | A data locker ransomware designed to damage computer systems and encrypt valuable personal fles. |
| Symptoms | Important files are locked and renamed with a string of a few extensions. The last extension is .crown Ransom message insists on ransom payment. |
| Distribution Method | Spam Emails, Email Attachments |
| Detection Tool | See If Your System Has Been Affected by malware Download Malware Removal Tool | User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss Crown. |
| 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. |
Crown Ransomware – Distribution and Impact
The Crown ransomware is a newly discovered cryptovirus based on the code of Dharma ransomware. Similar to its predecessors, the threat has been released in the wild with the help of shady techniques like malspam, malvertising, freeware installers, fake software update notifications, and corrupted web pages. The most preferred spread method is malspam. It is realized via massive email spam campaigns that attempt to deliver malicious code on targeted PCs.
You should look for specific traits that will help you catch a malicious spam email before it gets too late. Trait number one – attachment. Trait number two – URL address, in-text link or another clickable form that will open a tab in your browser. Trait number three – strange email address accompanied by the name of a representative of a well-known company. If any of the email elements seem unusual or suspicious, you should refrain from any interactions. A quick security check of the attached files and presented links in online services like VirusTotal can help you prevent your PC from being infected with nasty malware like Crown.
What happens when the activation file of Crown virus starts on the computer operating system is a long sequence of malicious processes. The completion of these processes enable the ransomware to evade detection, misuse main system functionalities and eventually encode valuable personal files.
As a part of Dharma ransomware family, Crown virus encrypts target files by utilizing the strong cipher algorithm AES. The encryption process is done via a built-in cipher module that scans all drives for certain types of target files.
Due to the complexity of applied changes, encrypted files remain inaccessible until their code is reverted back to its original state. Unfortunately, you may not be able to view the information stored by the following files of yours:
- Audio files
- Video files
- Document files
- Image files
- Backup files
- Banking credentials, etc
Each encrypted file receives the extension .crown appended to its original name. Additionally, you could see the email address crown_desh@aol.com as an extension. This email address is associated with cybercriminals who stand behind Crown ransomware attacks. It could be also noticed in the ransom message that appears at the end of the infection process:
YOUR FILES ARE ENCRYPTED
Don’t worry,you can return all your files!
If you want to restore them, follow this link:email crown_desh@aol.com YOUR ID 1E857D00
If you have not been answered via the link within 12 hours, write to us by e-mail:crown_desh@aol.com
Attention!
Do not rename encrypted files.
Do not try to decrypt your data using third party software, it may cause permanent data loss.
Decryption of your files with the help of third parties may cause increased price (they add their fee to our) or you can become a victim of a scam.
Another text file named FILES ENCRYPTED.txt is dropped on the system as well. Its content reads:
all your data has been locked us
You want to return?
write email crown_desh@aol.com
We know that you need to restore .crown files but we recommend that you refrain from transferring money to cybercriminals. Otherwise, you risk losing both your valuable files and money.
For the sake of your security, it is advisable to clean your infected computer from present malicious files and consider the help of alternative data recovery methods.
Remove Crown Virus (Dharma Ransomware)
The so-called Crown ransomware virus is a threat with highly complex code that heavily damages both essential system settings and valuable data. So the only way to use your infected system securely again is to remove all malicious files and objects created by the ransomware. For the purpose, you could follow our step-by-step removal guide.
In the event that you want to attempt to restore .crown files with the help of alternative data recovery methods, do check step four – Try to Restore files encrypted by Crown. We remind you to back up all encrypted files to an external drive before the recovery process.
Gergana Ivanova
Gergana has a bachelor's degree in Marketing. She has been with the STF team for five years, researching malware, reporting on the latest computer infections, and following digital marketing trends.
Follow Me:
- Guide 1: How to Remove Crown from Windows.
- Guide 2: Get rid of Crown from Mac OS X.
- Guide 3: Remove Crown from Google Chrome.
- Guide 4: Erase Crown from Mozilla Firefox.
- Guide 5: Uninstall Crown from Microsoft Edge.
- Guide 6: Remove Crown from Safari.
- Guide 7: Eliminate Crown from Internet Explorer.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
How to Remove Crown from Windows.
Step 1: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove Crown
Step 2: Uninstall Crown and related software 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:
Follow the instructions above and you will successfully uninstall most programs.Step 3: Clean any registries, created by Crown 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 Crown there. This can happen by following the steps underneath:
Tip: To find a virus-created value, you can right-click on it and click "Modify" to see which file it is set to run. If this is the virus file location, remove the value.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.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Get rid of Crown from Mac OS X.
Step 1: Uninstall Crown and remove related files and objects
1. Hit the ⇧+⌘+U keys to open Utilities. Another way is to click on “Go” and then click “Utilities”, like the image below shows:
- Go to Finder.
- In the search bar type the name of the app that you want to remove.
- Above the search bar change the two drop down menus to “System Files” and “Are Included” so that you can see all of the files associated with the application you want to remove. Bear in mind that some of the files may not be related to the app so be very careful which files you delete.
- If all of the files are related, hold the ⌘+A buttons to select them and then drive them to “Trash”.
In case you cannot remove Crown via Step 1 above:
In case you cannot find the virus files and objects in your Applications or other places we have shown above, you can manually look for them in the Libraries of your Mac. But before doing this, please read the disclaimer below:
You can repeat the same procedure with the following other Library directories:
→ ~/Library/LaunchAgents
/Library/LaunchDaemons
Tip: ~ is there on purpose, because it leads to more LaunchAgents.
Step 2: Scan for and remove malware from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts, programs and malware, the recommended way of eliminating the threat is by using an anti-malware program. Combo Cleaner offers advanced security features along with other modules that will improve your Mac’s security and protect it in the future.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Remove Crown from Google Chrome.
Step 1: Start Google Chrome and open the drop menu
Step 2: Move the cursor over "Tools" and then from the extended menu choose "Extensions"
Step 3: From the opened "Extensions" menu locate the unwanted extension and click on its "Remove" button.
Step 4: After the extension is removed, restart Google Chrome by closing it from the red "X" button at the top right corner and start it again.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Erase Crown from Mozilla Firefox.
Step 1: Start Mozilla Firefox. Open the menu window
Step 2: Select the "Add-ons" icon from the menu.
Step 3: Select the unwanted extension and click "Remove"
Step 4: After the extension is removed, restart Mozilla Firefox by closing it from the red "X" button at the top right corner and start it again.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Uninstall Crown from Microsoft Edge.
Step 1: Start Edge browser.
Step 2: Open the drop menu by clicking on the icon at the top right corner.
Step 3: From the drop menu select "Extensions".
Step 4: Choose the suspected malicious extension you want to remove and then click on the gear icon.
Step 5: Remove the malicious extension by scrolling down and then clicking on Uninstall.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Remove Crown from Safari.
Step 1: Start the Safari app.
Step 2: After hovering your mouse cursor to the top of the screen, click on the Safari text to open its drop down menu.
Step 3: From the menu, click on "Preferences".
Step 4: After that, select the 'Extensions' Tab.
Step 5: Click once on the extension you want to remove.
Step 6: Click 'Uninstall'.
A pop-up window will appear asking for confirmation to uninstall the extension. Select 'Uninstall' again, and the Crown will be removed.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Eliminate Crown from Internet Explorer.
Step 1: Start Internet Explorer.
Step 2: Click on the gear icon labeled 'Tools' to open the drop menu and select 'Manage Add-ons'
Step 3: In the 'Manage Add-ons' window.
Step 4: Select the extension you want to remove and then click 'Disable'. A pop-up window will appear to inform you that you are about to disable the selected extension, and some more add-ons might be disabled as well. Leave all the boxes checked, and click 'Disable'.
Step 5: After the unwanted extension has been removed, restart Internet Explorer by closing it from the red 'X' button located at the top right corner and start it again.
