Cryptexplorer.us is reported as a browser locker that encrypts random files on the compromised machine and demands ransom in exchange for the private key needed for their decryption. The payment is processed through the Tor anonymity network. Experts warn that paying the ransom in no way guarantees that your files will be restored and suggest backing up your important data on a regular basis.
How Does Cryptexplorer.us End Up in Your System?
Ransomware is usually distributed via:
- Trojans
- Corrupted websites
- Malicious attachments to spam emails
- Freeware bundles
Select your download sources carefully and never open email attachments from unknown senders.
How Does Cryptexplorer.us Affect Your Computer?
Once installed, the browser locker will modify various files on the targeted machine and create registry entries in order for the threat to be loaded at every system start-up.
As soon as the victim opens the preferred browser he will be presented with detailed information on the ransom payment. If the user tries to navigate to a different web page, he will be redirected back to the Cryptexplorer.us site.
The required fee is to be paid via the Tor network.
In some cases, users report the Cryptexplorer.us as a browser hijacker that has the ability to change the browser settings and continually redirect the victim to the Cryptexplorer.us website. When describing this capability of Cryptexplorer.us no user mentions anything about a file-encryption process, yet the ransom message is still present.
How to Remove the Cryptexplorer.us from Your Computer?
Competent anti-malware solutions can eliminate the threat from your computer, but the tricky part is restoring the encrypted files. Due to the raised number of ransomware infections in the past year, experts stress on the necessity of performing regular back-ups of your important data. This way you do not have to worry about paying a ransom and not having your files decrypted.
The manual below will help you remove Cryptexplorer.us from your computer. Below there is also a manual on how to restore your files, which has proven to be successful with other ransomware infections.
If you are one of the lucky ones, whose files have not been encrypted, the only thing you need to do is remove the detected threat and back up your files.
Remove Cryptexplorer.us and Restore the Encrypted Files
Stage One: Remove Cryptexplorer.us
1. First and most important – download and install a legitimate and trustworthy anti-malware scanner, which will help you run a full system scan and eliminate all threats.
Spy Hunter scanner will only detect the threat. If you want the threat to be automatically removed, you need to purchase the full version of the malware tool. Find Out More About SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
2. Run a second scan to make sure that there are no malicious software programs running on your PC. For that purpose, it’s recommended to download ESET Online Scanner.
Your PC should be clean now.
Stage Two: Restore the Encrypted Files
Option 1: Best case scenario – You have backed up your data on a regular basis, and now you can use the most recent backup to restore your files.
Option 2: Try to decrypt your files with the help of Kaspersky’s RectorDecryptor.exe and RakhniDecryptor.exe. They might help you in the process but keep in mind that they were not specially designed to encrypt information that was decrypted by this particular ransomware.
Option 3: Shadow Volume Copies
1. Install the Shadow Explorer, which is available with Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows XP Service Pack 2.
2. From Shadow Explorer’s drop down menu choose a drive and the latest date you would like to restore information from.
3. Right-click on a random encrypted file or folder then select “Export”. Select a location to restore the content of the selected file or folder.
Remove Cryptexplorer.us Automatically with Spy Hunter Malware – Removal Tool.
To clean your computer with the award-winning software Spy Hunter – 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: The usually targeted registries of Windows machines are the following: You can access them by opening the Windows registry editor and deleting any values, created by Cryptexplorer.us there. This can happen by following the steps underneath: Method 1: Use STOP Decrypter by Emsisoft. Not all variants of this ransomware can be decrypted for free, but we have added the decryptor used by researchers that is often updated with the variants which become eventually decrypted. You can try and decrypt your files using the instructions below, but if they do not work, then unfortunately your variant of the ransomware virus is not decryptable. Follow the instructions below to use the Emsisoft decrypter and decrypt your files for free. You can download the Emsisoft decryption tool linked here and then follow the steps provided below: 1 Right-click on the decrypter and click on Run as Administrator as shown below: 2. Agree with the license terms: 3. Click on "Add Folder" and then add the folders where you want files decrypted as shown underneath: 4. Click on "Decrypt" and wait for your files to be decoded. Note: Credit for the decryptor goes to Emsisoft researchers who have made the breakthrough with this virus. Method 2: Use data recovery software Ransomware infections and Cryptexplorer.us 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. 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.
Cryptexplorer.us 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 algorithms 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.
Ransomware in general is a malicious software that is designed to block access to your computer or files until a ransom is paid. Ransomware viruses can also damage your system, corrupt data and delete files, resulting in the permanent loss of important files.
Via several ways.Cryptexplorer.us Ransomware infects computers by being sent via phishing emails, 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. Another way you may become a victim of Cryptexplorer.us 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.
You can't without a decryptor. At this point, the .Cryptexplorer.us files are encrypted. You can only open them once they are decrypted using a specific decryption key for the particular algorithm.
Do not panic, and backup the files. If a decryptor did not decrypt your .Cryptexplorer.us files successfully, then do not despair, because this virus is still new.
Yes, sometimes files can be restored. We have suggested several file recovery methods that could work if you want to restore .Cryptexplorer.us files. These methods are in no way 100% guaranteed that you will be able to get your files back. But if you have a backup, your chances of success are much greater.
The safest way and the most efficient one for the removal of this ransomware infection is the use a professional anti-malware program. It will scan for and locate Cryptexplorer.us ransomware and then remove it without causing any additional harm to your important .Cryptexplorer.us files.
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.
Yes, you can prevent ransomware. The best way to do this is to ensure your computer system is updated with the latest security patches, use a reputable anti-malware program and firewall, backup your important files frequently, and avoid clicking on malicious links or downloading unknown files.
Yes, in most cases ransomware will steal your information. It is a form of malware that steals data from a user's computer, encrypts it, and then demands a ransom in order to decrypt it. In many cases, the malware authors or attackers will threaten to delete the data or publish it online unless the ransom is paid.
Yes, ransomware can infect WiFi networks, as malicious actors can use it to gain control of the network, steal confidential data, and lock out users. If a ransomware attack is successful, it could lead to a loss of service and/or data, and in some cases, financial losses.
No, you should not pay ransomware extortionists. Paying them only encourages criminals and does not guarantee that the files or data will be restored. The better approach is to have a secure backup of important data and be vigilant about security in the first place.
If you don't pay the ransom, the hackers may still have access to your computer, data, or files and may continue to threaten to expose or delete them, or even use them to commit cybercrimes. In some cases, they may even continue to demand additional ransom payments.
Yes, ransomware can be detected. Anti-malware software and other advanced security tools can detect ransomware and alert the user when it is present on a machine. It is important to stay up-to-date on the latest security measures and to keep security software updated to ensure ransomware can be detected and prevented.
Yes, ransomware criminals do get caught. Law enforcement agencies, such as the FBI, Interpol and others have been successful in tracking down and prosecuting ransomware criminals in the US and other countries. As ransomware threats continue to increase, so does the enforcement activity. The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this Cryptexplorer.us 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. 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 Cryptexplorer.us 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. 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:
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 1: Scan for Cryptexplorer.us with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
Ransomware Automatic Removal - Video Guide
Step 2: Uninstall Cryptexplorer.us and related malware from Windows
Step 3: Clean any registries, created by Cryptexplorer.us on your computer.
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: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove Cryptexplorer.us
Step 5: Try to Restore Files Encrypted by Cryptexplorer.us.
Cryptexplorer.us-FAQ
What is Cryptexplorer.us Ransomware?
What Does Cryptexplorer.us Ransomware Do?
How Does Cryptexplorer.us Infect?
How to Open .Cryptexplorer.us files?
What to Do If a Decryptor Does Not Work?
Can I Restore ".Cryptexplorer.us" Files?
How To Get Rid of Cryptexplorer.us Virus?
Can I Report Ransomware to Authorities?
Can You Stop Ransomware from Encrypting Your Files?
Can Cryptexplorer.us Ransomware Steal Your Data?
Can Ransomware Infect WiFi?
Should I Pay Ransomware?
What Happens If I Don't Pay Ransom?
Can a Ransomware Attack Be Detected?
Do Ransomware Criminals Get Caught?
About the Cryptexplorer.us Research
How did we conduct the research on this ransomware?