Berta is a dedicated malware researcher, dreaming for a more secure cyber space. Her fascination with IT security began a few years ago when a malware locked her out of her own computer.
Berta is a dedicated malware researcher, dreaming for a more secure cyber space. Her fascination with IT security began a few years ago when a malware locked her out of her own computer.
Berta is a dedicated malware researcher, dreaming for a more secure cyber space. Her fascination with IT security began a few years ago when a malware locked her out of her own computer.
Note! Your computer might be affected by CryptXXX 3.0 and other threats.
Threats such as CryptXXX 3.0 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
Berta is a dedicated malware researcher, dreaming for a more secure cyber space. Her fascination with IT security began a few years ago when a malware locked her out of her own computer.
New Update! Malware researchers from Kaspersky have updated their Rannoh Decryptor utility with decryption for the CryptXXX 3.0 ransomware family. Files should be fully decrypted with the help of that software. You can find its download page and instructions at: Kaspersky’s Rannoh Decryptor page.
Update! It appears that TrendMicro have a decryptor software for the CryptXXX 3.0 variant. It might work with Cryp1 (UltraCrypter) as well. Unfortunately, for now, it decrypts files only partially. You can read about it on TrendMicro’s support site.
The CryptXXX ransomware creators have now released CryptXXX 3.0. The latest variant stops Kaspersky’s decryptor of unlocking files. A side effect of the new release is that the creators’ own decryptor doesn’t work as well. The ransomware again uses the Angler Exploit Kit. To see if you can restore your files now and how to remove this ransomware, you should read the whole article.
Threat Summary
Name
CryptXXX 3.0
Type
Ransomware
Short Description
The ransomware encrypts your files with .crypt extension and asks a ransom of 500 US dollars for decryption.
Symptoms
All of your files get encrypted. Files containing messages with instructions are created.
Distribution Method
Spam Emails, Exploit Kits
Detection Tool
See If Your System Has Been Affected by CryptXXX 3.0
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.
CryptXXX 3.0 Ransomware – Spread
CryptXXX 3.0 ransomware is spread in a number of ways. One of the ways is through spam e-mails. The e-mails have attached files with the malware inside. If you open the attachment, the malware enters your PC, and the damage is done. Social networks or file sharing services might also have such dangerous files helping deliver the ransomware.
The CryptXXX 3.0 ransomware spreads mainly with the Angler Exploit Kit as previous variants. The Bedep Trojan is not excluded to be involved again. By visiting websites or from clicking on suspicious links you can get the exploit kit to inject the malware in your computer machine.
CryptXXX 3.0 Ransomware – More Information
The CryptXXX 3.0 is the newest variant of the crypto-virus. The previous ones CryptXXX ransomware and CryptXXX 2.0 ransomware have been beaten by Kaspersky, who provided a free decryptor. To stop this, the ransomware creators made this third variant and prevented the Kaspersky decrypting tool from working. Doing that resulted in a side-effect and now even if you pay the ransom, the very own decryptor of the malware makers will not work.
You can see in the picture below, the error the decryptor gives:
The goal of these files is for the CryptXXX 3.0 ransomware to be persistent and load with each start of the Operating System.
Registry entries are probably also created to support the evasive actions of the ransomware.
Afterward, CryptXXX 3.0 will lock your files, no matter on what storage device they are found or what current extension they have. The ransomware searches to encrypt files with the following extensions:
The file extension that is set on every file is still .crypt.
Above you can see a picture example of the instructions for ransom payment of CryptXXX 3.0. Below the files that load them are listed:
de_crypt_readme.bmp
de_crypt_readme.txt
de_crypt_readme.html
You are asked to pay the sum of 1.2 Bitcoins or the equivalent of 500 US dollars within five days’ time. The amount keeps increasing with every day passed.
Contacting the ransomware makers of the CryptXXX 3.0 ransomware is no good. Paying the ransom is strongly NOT advised. For the moment, the cyber-criminals have broken their own decryptor, and the decryption of your files is not possible. Even if they have it fixed, paying the ransom will only aid the crooks. They could also get motivated in making a stronger variant of the virus. Do not worry, as there are other ways you can try to get your files back and Kaspersky should eventually find a solution to decrypting files for free with one of their tools.
If you notice a weird activity on your PC, shut it down – you might stop a raving ransomware from encrypting your files. In the ransomware prevention thread in our forum you will find lots of useful tips on the matter.
Remove CryptXXX 3.0 Ransomware and Restore .crypt Encrypted Files
If CryptXXX 3.0 ransomware has infected your computer, you should remove it as it will try to encrypt files found on each storage device on your computer. If you are infected with the ransomware, you should have at least a bit of experience in removing viruses. See the instructions given below to remove it and if you can restore some files. Kaspersky might beat the ransomware code again and update their decryptor, but you should remove the virus regardless.
Note! Your computer system may be affected by CryptXXX 3.0 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 CryptXXX 3.0. 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 CryptXXX 3.0 follow these steps:
1. Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove CryptXXX 3.0 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 CryptXXX 3.0 on your PC
Find files created by CryptXXX 3.0
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.
IMPORTANT! Before starting the Automatic Removal below, 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.
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 CryptXXX 3.0 with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool and back up your data
1. Install SpyHunter to scan for CryptXXX 3.0 and remove them.2. Scan with SpyHunter, Detect and Remove CryptXXX 3.0. 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 CryptXXX 3.0
Try to Restore Files Encrypted by CryptXXX 3.0
Ransomware infections and CryptXXX 3.0 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:
Berta is a dedicated malware researcher, dreaming for a more secure cyber space. Her fascination with IT security began a few years ago when a malware locked her out of her own computer.
Berta is a dedicated malware researcher, dreaming for a more secure cyber space. Her fascination with IT security began a few years ago when a malware locked her out of her own computer.
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 CryptXXX 3.0 and remove them.
Back up your data to secure it from malware in the future.
