by Ventsislav Krastev | September 29, 2017 | 0 Comments file-encryption, ransomware

Threat Summary How Can CypherPy Ransomware be Spread CypherPy – More Information About It CypherPy Ransomware – Encryption Process

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.
Distribution Method	Spam Emails, Email Attachments, Executable files
Detection Tool	See If Your System Has Been Affected by malware Download Malware Removal Tool
User Experience	Join Our Forum to Discuss CypherPy.
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.

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:

→ process call create “cmd.exe /c
vssadmin.exe delete shadows /all /quiet
bcdedit.exe /set {default} recoveryenabled no
bcdedit.exe /set {default} bootstatuspolicy ignoreallfailures

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:

→ 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

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:

.3g2, .3gp, .7z, .asf, .asx, .avi, .bak, .bundle, .c, .cpp, .deb, .docx, .exe, .flv, .gif, .h, .html, .jar, .jpeg, .jpg, .log, .m2ts, .mkv, .mov, .mp3, .mp4, .mpeg, .mpg, .pdf, .php, .png, .py, .pyc, .rar, .rm, .sh, .sq1, .sqlite3, .swf, .tar, .tar.gz, .tiff, .txt, .vob, .wmv, .zip

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.

Ventsislav Krastev

Ventsislav is a cybersecurity expert at SensorsTechForum since 2015. He has been researching, covering, helping victims with the latest malware infections plus testing and reviewing software and the newest tech developments. Having graduated Marketing as well, Ventsislav also has passion for learning new shifts and innovations in cybersecurity that become game changers. After studying Value Chain Management, Network Administration and Computer Administration of System Applications, he found his true calling within the cybersecrurity industry and is a strong believer in the education of every user towards online safety and security.

How to Remove CypherPy from Windows.

Step 1: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove CypherPy

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

1. Hold Windows key() + R

2. The "Run" Window will appear. In it, type "msconfig" and click OK.

3. Go to the "Boot" tab. There select "Safe Boot" and then click "Apply" and "OK".

Tip: Make sure to reverse those changes by unticking Safe Boot after that, because your system will always boot in Safe Boot from now on.

4. When prompted, click on "Restart" to go into Safe Mode.

5. You can recognise Safe Mode by the words written on the corners of your screen.

Step 2: Uninstall CypherPy 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:

1. Hold the Windows Logo Button and "R" on your keyboard. A Pop-up window will appear.

2. In the field type in "appwiz.cpl" and press ENTER.

3. This will open a window with all the programs installed on the PC. Select the program that you want to remove, and press "Uninstall"

Follow the instructions above and you will successfully uninstall most programs.

Step 3: Clean any registries, created by CypherPy 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 CypherPy there. This can happen by following the steps underneath:

1. Open the Run Window again, type "regedit" and click OK.

2. When you open it, you can freely navigate to the Run and RunOnce keys, whose locations are shown above.

3. You can remove the value of the virus by right-clicking on it and removing it.

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.

IMPORTANT!
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: Scan for CypherPy with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool

1. Click on the "Download" button to proceed to SpyHunter's download page.

Download

Malware Removal Tool

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.

2. After you have installed SpyHunter, wait for it to update automatically.

3. After the update process has finished, click on the 'Malware/PC Scan' tab. A new window will appear. Click on 'Start Scan'.

4. 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.

If any threats have been removed, it is highly recommended to restart your PC.

Step 5 (Optional): 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 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.

1. Download the reccomended Data Recovery software by clicking on the link underneath:

EaseUS Data Recovery Software

Simply click on the link and on the website menus on top, choose Data Recovery - Data Recovery Wizard for Windows or Mac (depending on your OS), and then download and run the tool.

Windows Mac OS X

Get rid of CypherPy from Mac OS X.

Step 1: Uninstall CypherPy and remove related files and objects

OFFER

Manual Removal Usually Takes Time and You Risk Damaging Your Files If Not Careful!

We Recommend To Scan Your Mac with SpyHunter for Mac

Keep in mind, that SpyHunter for Mac needs to purchased to remove the malware threats. Click on the corresponding links to check SpyHunter’s EULA and Privacy Policy

1. Hit the ⇧+⌘+U keys to open Utilities. Another way is to click on “Go” and then click “Utilities”, like the image below shows:

2. Find Activity Monitor and double-click it:

3. In the Activity Monitor look for any suspicious processes, belonging or related to CypherPy:

Tip: To quit a process completely, choose the “Force Quit” option.

4. Click on the "Go" button again, but this time select Applications. Another way is with the ⇧+⌘+A buttons.

5. In the Applications menu, look for any suspicious app or an app with a name, similar or identical to CypherPy. If you find it, right-click on the app and select “Move to Trash”.

6: Select Accounts, after which click on the Login Items preference. Your Mac will then show you a list of items that start automatically when you log in. Look for any suspicious apps identical or similar to CypherPy. Check the app you want to stop from running automatically and then select on the Minus (“-“) icon to hide it.

7: Remove any left-over files that might be related to this threat manually by following the sub-steps below:

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 CypherPy 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:

Disclaimer! If you are about to tamper with Library files on Mac, be sure to know the name of the virus file, because if you delete the wrong file, it may cause irreversible damage to your MacOS. Continue on your own responsibility!

1: Click on "Go" and Then "Go to Folder" as shown underneath:

2: Type in "/Library/LauchAgents/" and click Ok:

3: Delete all of the virus files that have similar or the same name as CypherPy. If you believe there is no such file, do not delete anything.

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.

Click the button below below to download SpyHunter for Mac and scan for CypherPy:

Download

SpyHunter for Mac

Step 3 (Optional): Try to Restore Files Encrypted by CypherPy.

1. Download the reccomended Data Recovery software by clicking on the link underneath:

EaseUS Data Recovery Software

Simply click on the link and on the website menus on top, choose Data Recovery - Data Recovery Wizard for Windows or Mac (depending on your OS), and then download and run the tool.

CypherPy FAQ

What is CypherPy ransomware and how does it work?

CypherPy 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 algorithm how 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.

How does CypherPy ransomware infect my computer?

Via several ways.CypherPy Ransomware infects computers by being sent via phishing e-mails, 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.

After you download and execute this attachment, a drive-by download occurs and your computer is infected with the ransomware virus.

Another way, you may become a victim of CypherPy 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 .CypherPy files?

You can't. At this point the .CypherPy files are encrypted. You can only open them once they are decrypted.

Decryptor did not decrypt my data. What now?

Do not panic and backup the files. If a decryptor did not decrypt your .CypherPy files successfully, then do not despair, because this virus is still new.

One way to restore files, encrypted by CypherPy ransomware is to use a decryptor for it. But since it's a new virus, advised that the decryption keys for it may not be out yet and available to the public. We will update this article and keep you posted as soon as this decryptor is released.

How Do I restore ".CypherPy" files (Other Methods)?

Yes, sometimes files can be restored. We have suggested several file recovery methods that could work if you want to restore .CypherPy files.

These methods are in no way 100% guarantee that you will be able to get your files back. But if you have a backup, your chances of success are much greater.

How do I get rid of CypherPy ransomware virus?

The safest way and the most efficient one for the removal of this ransomware infection is the use a professional anti malware software. It will scan for and locate CypherPy ransomware and then remove it without causing any additional harm to your important .CypherPy files.

Also, keep in mind that viruses like CypherPy ransomware also install Trojans and keyloggers that can steal your passwords and accounts. Scanning your computer with an anti-malware software will make sure that all of these virus components are removed and your computer is protected in the future.

What to Do If nothing works?

There is still a lot you can do. If none of the above methods seem to work for you, then try these methods:

Try to find a safe computer from where you can can login on your own line accounts like One Drive, iDrive, Google Drive and so on.
Try to contact your friends, relatives and other people so that they can check if they have some of your important photos or documents just in case you sent them.
Also, check if some of the files that were encrypted it can be re-downloaded from the web.
Another clever way to get back some of your files is to find another old computer, a flash drive or even a CD or a DVD where you may have saved your older documents. You might be surprised what will turn up.
You can also go to your email account to check if you can send any attachments to other people. Usually what is sent the email is saved on your account and you can re-download it. But most importantly, make sure that this is done from a safe computer and make sure to remove the virus first.

More tips you can find on our forums, where you can also asks any questions about your ransomware problem.

How to 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.

CypherPy Ransomware – Remove and Restore .crypt Files