This article aims to help you remove JUSTCRY.EXE ransomware virus from your computer and show you how to restore files that have been encrypted by this virus.
JUSTCRY.EXE ransomware is a virus that locks your computer, making it possible to recover them only if you pay a hefty ransom fee to the cyber-criminals who are behind this virus. The malware leaves behind a ransom note as a locked screen message and even if you boot the infected computer back in safe mode, JUSTCRY.EXE still manages to lock your screen. So, in order to remove this virus from your computer without paying a ransom, we advise you to read the following article.
Threat Summary
| Name | JUSTCRY.EXE |
| Type | Ransomware, Lockscreen |
| Short Description | Aims to lock you out of your computer, restricting access to it, even if you boot it in Safe Mode. |
| Symptoms | Your screen is dimmed down and a lockscreen, named JUSTCRY.EXE appears with instructions on how to pay ransom to unlock your PC. |
| Distribution Method | Spam Emails, Email Attachments, Executable files |
| Detection Tool |
See If Your System Has Been Affected by malware
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Malware Removal Tool
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User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss JUSTCRY.EXE. |
JUSTCRY.EXE – How Does It Infect
The infection process of JUSTCRY.EXE ransomware is very similar to other malware like it. The virus aims to slither onto your computer via malicious e-mail attachments which are obfuscated, in other words, cannot be detected by updated antivirus programs.
The e-mails which may be sent spreading the JUSTCRY.EXE ransomware may contain different types of files, most of which pretend to be legitimate types of files, such as:
- Invoices.
- Fake receipts.
- Fraudulent banking statements.
- Account activity reports.
The messages attached to the e-mails may have deceptive content within them that aims to convince victims into opening the e-mails themselves.
JUSTCRY.EXE Ransomware – More Information
The JUSTCRY.EXE virus is associated with multiple malicious files which are it’s payload. They are dropped in multiple different Windows folders, such as:
- %AppData%
- %Temp%
- %Local%
- %Roaming%
- %LocalLow%
In addition to this, the JUSTCRY.EXE virus also heavily modifies the Windows Registry Editor, by adding registry entries in the following Registry sub-keys:
→ 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
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\ScreenSaveActive
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\
As soon as they are modified, the JUSTCRY.EXE ransomware locks the screen on your computer, displaying the following ransom note message:
In addition to this activity, the JUSTCRY.EXE ransomware may also obtain information regarding your computer’s IP address, your online accounts, information from your web browser (accounts you are registered in) and other data.
How to Remove JUSTCRY.EXE Ransomware
Since JUSTCRY.EXE ransomware is very difficult to remove manually, because it is still active, even after you boot your computer into Safe Mode, you can remove it using another trick up your sleeve. Here is how to remove JUSTCRY.EXE and unlock your PC.
1. Download a live operating system a safe computer which boots automaticallyfrom a flash drive. Make sure the live OS is Windows and has what is known as AntiWinLocker which unlocks folders of Windows if you boot from a live OS and bypasses user accounts. One of those live Windows OS’s is called Windows 7 LiveCD [Xemom1]. You can find it on many torrent sites.
2. Install the live OS on a flash drive via software, such as Rufus. If you are having difficulty using Rufus, you can follow the instructions on our forum. Use a safe PC, not the one you just turned off.
3.As soon as this is done, make sure to scan your hard drive from the Live OS you have previously installed with an advanced anti-malware software, to remove the malicious files of JUSTCRY.EXE ransomware virus. Below is one such tool which can help removing JUSTCRY.EXE automatically, without having to look for the files and registry objects created by this virus.
Automatically remove JUSTCRY.EXE by downloading an advanced anti-malware program
Remove JUSTCRY.EXE with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
1. Install SpyHunter to scan for and remove JUSTCRY.EXE.2. Scan with SpyHunter to Detect and Remove JUSTCRY.EXE.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 JUSTCRY.EXE 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.
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.
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Attention! SensorsTechForum strongly recommends that all malware victims should look for assistance only by reputable sources. Many guides out there claim to offer free recovery and decryption for files encrypted by ransomware viruses. Be advised that some of them may only be after your money.
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.
About the JUSTCRY.EXE Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this JUSTCRY.EXE 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 JUSTCRY.EXE 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.
References
1. How to Recognize Spam Emails with Ransomware
2. How Does Ransomware Encryption Work?
3. How to Decrypt Ransomware Files
4. Ransomware Getting Greedier and Bigger, Attacks Increase by 40%
5. 1 in 5 Americans Victim of Ransomware
How to Remove JUSTCRY.EXE from Windows.
Step 1: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove JUSTCRY.EXE
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".
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 JUSTCRY.EXE 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 JUSTCRY.EXE 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 JUSTCRY.EXE 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.
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 JUSTCRY.EXE with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
1. Click on the "Download" button to proceed to SpyHunter's download page.
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.
Video Guide for Automatic and Fast Removal
Step 5 (Optional): Try to Restore Files Encrypted by JUSTCRY.EXE.
Ransomware infections and JUSTCRY.EXE 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 recommended Data Recovery software by clicking on the link underneath:
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.
Step 6: How to Restore Files Encrypted by Ransomware (Video Guide)
Get rid of JUSTCRY.EXE from Mac OS X.
Step 1: Uninstall JUSTCRY.EXE 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:
2. Find Activity Monitor and double-click it:
3. In the Activity Monitor look for any suspicious processes, belonging or related to JUSTCRY.EXE:
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 JUSTCRY.EXE. 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 JUSTCRY.EXE. 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 JUSTCRY.EXE 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:
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 JUSTCRY.EXE. 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.
Step 3 (Optional): Try to Restore Files Encrypted by JUSTCRY.EXE.
Ransomware infections and JUSTCRY.EXE 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 recommended Data Recovery software by clicking on the link underneath:
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.
JUSTCRY.EXE FAQ
What is JUSTCRY.EXE ransomware and how does it work?
JUSTCRY.EXE 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 JUSTCRY.EXE ransomware infect my computer?
Via several ways.JUSTCRY.EXE 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 JUSTCRY.EXE 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 .JUSTCRY.EXE files?
You can't. At this point the .JUSTCRY.EXE 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 .JUSTCRY.EXE files successfully, then do not despair, because this virus is still new.
One way to restore files, encrypted by JUSTCRY.EXE 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 ".JUSTCRY.EXE" files (Other Methods)?
Yes, sometimes files can be restored. We have suggested several file recovery methods that could work if you want to restore .JUSTCRY.EXE 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 JUSTCRY.EXE 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 JUSTCRY.EXE ransomware and then remove it without causing any additional harm to your important .JUSTCRY.EXE files.
Also, keep in mind that viruses like JUSTCRY.EXE 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.