Ventsislav has been covering the latest malware, software and newest tech developments at SensorsTechForum for 3 years now. He started out as a network administrator. Having graduated Marketing as well, Ventsislav also has passion for discovery of new shifts and innovations in cybersecurity that become game changers. After studying Value Chain Management and then Network Administration, he found his passion within cybersecrurity and is a strong believer in basic education of every user towards online safety.
Ventsislav has been covering the latest malware, software and newest tech developments at SensorsTechForum for 3 years now. He started out as a network administrator. Having graduated Marketing as well, Ventsislav also has passion for discovery of new shifts and innovations in cybersecurity that become game changers. After studying Value Chain Management and then Network Administration, he found his passion within cybersecrurity and is a strong believer in basic education of every user towards online safety.
Ventsislav has been covering the latest malware, software and newest tech developments at SensorsTechForum for 3 years now. He started out as a network administrator. Having graduated Marketing as well, Ventsislav also has passion for discovery of new shifts and innovations in cybersecurity that become game changers. After studying Value Chain Management and then Network Administration, he found his passion within cybersecrurity and is a strong believer in basic education of every user towards online safety.
Note! Your computer might be affected by CypherPy and other threats.
Threats such as CypherPy may be persistent on your system. They tend to re-appear if not fully deleted. A malware removal tool like SpyHunter will help you to remove malicious programs, saving you the time and the struggle of tracking down numerous malicious files. SpyHunter’s scanner is free but the paid version is needed to remove the malware threats. Read SpyHunter’s EULA and Privacy Policy
Ventsislav has been covering the latest malware, software and newest tech developments at SensorsTechForum for 3 years now. He started out as a network administrator. Having graduated Marketing as well, Ventsislav also has passion for discovery of new shifts and innovations in cybersecurity that become game changers. After studying Value Chain Management and then Network Administration, he found his passion within cybersecrurity and is a strong believer in basic education of every user towards online safety.
This article aims to help you remove CypherPy ransomware from your computer and it also aims to show you how you can try and restore your files without having to pay a ransom.
New ransomware infection, called CypherPy has been detected by malware researchers. The virus is so far only a stub, but it can encrypt the files on infected computers via the AES encryption algorithm in CBC encryption mode. After encryption, the virus may append the .crypt file extension to the encrypted files and drops a file, named “README”, that aims to extort victims. At the moment the ransomware is in construction, but it may become active very soon. If you have already been infected by CypherPy ransomware, we strongly recommend that you read this article and learn how to remove CypherPy ransomware from your computer after which restore files with the .crypt file extension.
Threat Summary
Name
CypherPy
Type
Ransomware, Cryptovirus
Short Description
Currently in construction. Encrypts the files using AES cipher and then may demand a ransom payoff. Can encrypt on Windows and Linux as well.
Symptoms
A ransom note without an extension, named README and the .crypt file extension on the encoded files.
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.
How Can CypherPy Ransomware be Spread
In order to be spread, the CypherPy virus may come under different shapes. One of those may be a fake e-mail attachment, posing as Microsoft Word document. The document appears legitimate after you open it, however in it, there are instructions on how to enable macros to read it’s content (otherwise you can’t). When you click on the “Enable Content” button, the malicious macros are activated and your computer may become infected. The infection procedure via those document performs the following actions:
Besides infected Microsoft Office documents and .PDF files, other e-mail attachments may also be sent out, that directly infect your computer, once you open them. Such may be .wsf, .js, .exe and other files which can be concealed from your antivirus program when executed.
The e-mails that may be sent, containing CypherPy ransomware may are deceitful and very well thought out. They may pose as mails from big companies, such as:
eBay.
PayPal.
FedEx.
DHL.
The e-mails themselves may contain deceitful messages, like the example below displays:
Besides this, other methods of infection may also include using various different types of fake installers, downloaders and other methods that deceive you into downloading an infected file.
CypherPy – More Information About It
The CypherPy ransomware is a virus very similar to most ransomware threats out there. Upon infection, the malware drops multiple malicious files on the computer of it’s victims. They are usually located in the often targeted Windows folders, such as:
%AppData%
%Roaming%
%Local%
%LocalLow%
%Temp%
As soon as the malicious files, the main of which is called cyphermain.py, belonging to CypherPy ransomware are dropped, the virus may execute a script that runs commands in Windows command prompt. The commands may be as follows and aim to delete the shadow volume copies of an infected computer:
In addition to this, the virus may also create values In multiple different Windows Registry sub-keys. The most often targeted ones are the Windows Run and RunOnce sub-keys which are responsible for the malicious files of CypherPy to run every time Windows boots up. The keys are as follows:
Among the activities of the CypherPy ransomware is to also connect to a remote host and transfer information about the infected computer, such as:
Your IP address.
Your location.
Network configuration.
Antivirus software installed.
Furthermore, it drops it’s distinctive ransom note, named “README” and at the moment of writing this, it looks like the following:
Source: id-ransomware.blogspot.com
CypherPy Ransomware – Encryption Process
When it comes to encrypting files, CypherPy ransomware performs multiple different activities, the main of which is to firstly scan your computer for the following types of files:
If you have those files on your computer and it becomes infected with CypherPy ransomware, the virus encrypts them in CBC (Cipher Block Chain) mode using AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) encryption algorithm. This immediately results in the files no longer being able to be opened. And after this has been done, the virus at the time of writing this appends the .crypt file extension to the files. They may look like the following example image after their encryption:
The scariest part of it all is that the virus also works on Linux systems and can encrypt files there as well, suggesting that it may be slithered using an unknown Linux vulnerability(https://sensorstechforum.com/notorious-linux-bugs-vulnerabilities-exploits/) if someone decides to spread it.
Remove CypherPy Ransomware and Try Restoring .crypt Files
Even though this virus is still under construction, according to malware researcher Karsten Hahn (@struppigel), who unfolded it, it can be released any time and if you have been already infected by it, immediate removal actions are advisable. To remove CypherPy completely from your computer, our recommendations are to follow the instructions for Manual or Automatic removal below. They are specifically designed to help you remove the files and objects associated with this ransomware. For maximum effectiveness, it is also advisable to use an advanced anti-malware software that will help you automatically scan for and remove CypherPy from your PC, completely secure it and protect it against future intrusions as well.
Note! Your computer system may be affected by CypherPy and other threats. Scan Your PC with SpyHunter SpyHunter is a powerful malware removal tool designed to help users with in-depth system security analysis, detection and removal of threats such as CypherPy. Keep in mind, that SpyHunter’s scanner is only for malware detection. If SpyHunter detects malware on your PC, you will need to purchase SpyHunter’s malware removal tool to remove the malware threats. Read our SpyHunter 5 review. Click on the corresponding links to check SpyHunter’s EULA, Privacy Policy and Threat Assessment Criteria.
To remove CypherPy follow these steps:
1. Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove CypherPy files and objects
OFFER
Manual Removal Usually Takes Time and You Risk Damaging Your Files If Not Careful!
We Recommend To Scan Your PC with SpyHunter
Keep in mind, that SpyHunter’s scanner is only for malware detection. If SpyHunter detects malware on your PC, you will need to purchase SpyHunter’s malware removal tool to remove the malware threats. Read our SpyHunter 5 review. Click on the corresponding links to check SpyHunter’s EULA, Privacy Policy and Threat Assessment Criteria
Boot Your PC Into Safe Mode
1. For Windows XP, Vista and 7. 2. For Windows 8, 8.1 and 10. Fix registry entries created by malware and PUPs on your PC.
For Windows XP, Vista and 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 up the Start Menu.
Step 2: Click on the Power button (for Windows 8 it is the little arrow next to the “Shut Down” button) and whilst holding down “Shift” click on Restart.
Step 3: After reboot, a blue menu with options will appear. From them you should choose Troubleshoot.
Step 4: You will see the Troubleshoot menu. From this menu choose Advanced Options.
Step 5: After the Advanced Options menu appears, click on Startup Settings.
Step 6: From the Startup Settings menu, click on Restart.
Step 7: A menu will appear upon reboot. You can choose any of the three Safe Mode options by pressing its corresponding number and the machine will restart.
Some malicious scripts may modify the registry entries on your computer to change different settings. This is why cleaning your Windows Registry Database is recommended. Since the tutorial on how to do this is a bit long and tampering with registries could damage your computer if not done properly you should refer and follow our instructive article about fixing registry entries, especially if you are unexperienced in that area.
2. Find files created by CypherPy on your PC
Find files created by CypherPy
1. For Windows 8, 8.1 and 10. 2. For Windows XP, Vista, and 7.
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.
Use SpyHunter to scan for malware and unwanted programs
3. Scan for malware and unwanted programs with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
Scan your PC and Remove CypherPy with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool and back up your data
1. Install SpyHunter to scan for CypherPy and remove them.2. Scan with SpyHunter, Detect and Remove CypherPy. Back up your data to secure it from malware in the future.
Step 1: Click on the “Download” button to proceed to SpyHunter’s download page.
It is 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. Click on the corresponding links to check SpyHunter’s EULA, Privacy Policy and Threat Assessment Criteria.
Step 2: Guide yourself by the download instructions provided for each browser.
Step 3: After you have installed SpyHunter, wait for it to update automatically.
Step 1: After the update process has finished, click on the ‘Malware/PC Scan’ tab. A new window will appear. Click on ‘Start Scan’.
Step 2: After SpyHunter has finished scanning your PC for any files of the associated threat and found them, you can try to get them removed automatically and permanently by clicking on the ‘Next’ button.
Step 3: If any threats have been removed, it is highly recommended to restart your PC.
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 with a cloud backup solution and insure your files against any type of loss, even from the most severe threats. We recommend you to read more about it and to download SOS Online Backup.
4. Try to Restore files encrypted by CypherPy
Try to Restore Files Encrypted by CypherPy
Ransomware infections and CypherPy aim to encrypt your files using an encryption algorithm which may be very difficult to 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 these methods may not be 100% effective but may also help you a little or a lot in different situations.
Method 1: Scanning your drive’s sectors by using Data Recovery software. Another method for 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:
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:
To restore your data in case you have backup set up, it is important to check for Volume Shadow Copies, if ransomware has not deleted them, in Windows using the below software:
Method 4: Finding the decryption key while the cryptovirus sends it over a network via a sniffing tool.
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:
Ventsislav has been covering the latest malware, software and newest tech developments at SensorsTechForum for 3 years now. He started out as a network administrator. Having graduated Marketing as well, Ventsislav also has passion for discovery of new shifts and innovations in cybersecurity that become game changers. After studying Value Chain Management and then Network Administration, he found his passion within cybersecrurity and is a strong believer in basic education of every user towards online safety.
Ventsislav has been covering the latest malware, software and newest tech developments at SensorsTechForum for 3 years now. He started out as a network administrator. Having graduated Marketing as well, Ventsislav also has passion for discovery of new shifts and innovations in cybersecurity that become game changers. After studying Value Chain Management and then Network Administration, he found his passion within cybersecrurity and is a strong believer in basic education of every user towards online safety.
This article aims to help you remove CypherPy ransomware from your computer and it also aims to show you how you can try and restore your files without having to pay a ransom.
1. For Windows XP, Vista and 7.
2. For Windows 8, 8.1 and 10.
Fix registry entries created by malware and PUPs on your PC.
1. Install SpyHunter to scan for CypherPy and remove them.
Back up your data to secure it from malware in the future.
