This article is created to help users infected by LazagneCrypt ransomware through the removal and the recovery process of .encr files.
LazagneCrypt ransomware aims to locate predefined types of files stored on the compromised machine and then encrypts them. For the purpose, it uses strong cipher algorithm. Corrupted files have the extension .encr and are completely unusable until a ransom for their decryption is paid to hackers. On top of that LazagneCrypt ransomware can steal all credentials stored on the infected machine. Thus, the ransomware has to be removed instantly.
Threat Summary
| Name | LazagneCrypt |
| Type | Ransomware, Cryptovirus |
| Short Description | Aims to encrypt particular files that store imortant information and demands a ransom for their decryption. |
| Symptoms | The ransomware appends the .locked file extension to the corrupted files. |
| 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 LazagneCrypt. |
| 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. |
LazagneCrypt Ransomware – Ways of Distribution
The analyses of LazagneCrypt ransomware samples reveal that an executable file called brc.exe triggers the infection. That malicious file may be distributed via different methods. Among the most preferred are email spam attachments, compromised links and software bundles.
There are several known traits of the emails that are trying to deliver a ransomware infection. First, they need to look legitimate so they often use the names of popular services, websites, stores and governmental institutions. The senders pretend to be representatives of these companies and the message is trying to provoke your emotional triggers. Such emails aim to convince you that the information of an attached file is extremely important and you should view it as soon as possible. However, once you open the file on your PC, it causes an infection with LazagneCrypt ransomware.
In an attempt to deliver the ransomware payload hackers may create colognes of particular web pages and inject the malicious script into their source code. What lefts is the spread of the corrupted links across the net. This may happen via emails, instant messages, social media channels and malvertising campaigns.
What is typical for the software bundles is that the installers of supposedly useful apps contain additional components that may remain hidden in the Advanced or Custom options. As these parts are usually set for installation by default you may unknowingly infect your system with LazagneCrypt ransomware.
LazagneCrypt Ransomware – In-Depth Analysis
Once the malicious executable brc.exe is running on the system it starts the infection process of LazagneCrypt ransomware. A sequence of harmful actions leads to the total corruption of the computer system and all the important files of yours.
In case that the ransomware needs additional malicious components it can connect to its command and control server to download them. There are several folder locations where LazagneCrypt crypto virus might drop its files. Below you can see them:
Among the observed impacts are believed to be modifications of some important registry keys. Commonly ransomware infections like LazagneCrypt target the Run and RunOnce registry keys as they contain information which programs should run each time a user logs on the system. By adding specific entries under these keys the ransomware can start each time you turn log on your system profile. The exact location of these keys is:
→ 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
The analysis conducted by the security researcher Karsten Han has discovered a devastating fact about LazagneCrypt ransomware. As explained the threat can steal passwords from the compromised machine and then send them to hackers.
For the purpose, LazagneCrypt employs the LaZagne password recovery tool. The tool can retrieve passwords stored by commonly-used software apps that are installed on the compromised computer. The password dumps are then uploaded to hackers’ controlled account via the service SwissDisk.
A specific trait of LazagneCrypt crypto virus is a file that contains a ransom message. The file is likely to be dropped on the Desktop. It aims to inform you that your data is encrypted with strong cipher and you need to pay a ransom probably in Bitcoin. The amount may vary from a few dollars to a few thousand dollars.
LazagneCrypt Ransomware – Encryption Process
The primary aim of LazagneCrypt ransomware is to find particular files stored on the compromised device and modify their original code with the help of strong cipher algorithm. As a result the corrupted files recieve the extenson .encr and connot display the data they store.
Being based on the code of the HiddenTear project the LazagneCrypt ransomware is likely to target the following types of files for encryption:
→.txt, .doc, .docx, .xls, .xlsx, .ppt, .pptx, .odt, .jpg, .png, .csv, .sql, .mdb, .hwp, .pdf, .php, .asp, .aspx, .html, .xml, and .psd
In addition, the crypto virus might delete the Shadow Volume Copies stored on the system as they may be used for the recovery of .encr files. This happens after the following command is entered in the CommandPrompt:
→vssadmin.exe delete shadows /all /Quiet
Remove LazagneCrypt Ransomware and Restore .encr Files
To remove LazagneCrypt ransomware you can follow the step-by-step removal guide provided below. It provides help for the removal of all malicious files and objects associated with LazagneCrypt ransomware. Due to the complexity of ransomware code, security specialists always recommended the help of an anti-malware tool. Such a tool will easily locate all malicious files so you can then delete them with a few mouse clicks.
Before you continue with the data recovery process be sure to have copies of all corrupted .encr files stored on an external drive.
Gergana Ivanova
Highly motivated writer with 5+ years of experience writing for ransomware, malware, adware, PUPs, and other cybersecurity-related issues. As a writer, I strive to create content that is based on thorough technical research. I find joy in the process of creating articles that are easy to understand, informative, and useful. Follow me on Twitter (@IRGergana) for the latest in the field of computer, mobile, and online 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 LazagneCrypt Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this LazagneCrypt 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 LazagneCrypt 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 LazagneCrypt from Windows.
Step 1: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove LazagneCrypt
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 LazagneCrypt 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 LazagneCrypt 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 LazagneCrypt 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 LazagneCrypt 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 LazagneCrypt.
Ransomware infections and LazagneCrypt 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 LazagneCrypt from Mac OS X.
Step 1: Uninstall LazagneCrypt 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 LazagneCrypt:
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 LazagneCrypt. 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 LazagneCrypt. 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 LazagneCrypt 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 LazagneCrypt. 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 LazagneCrypt.
Ransomware infections and LazagneCrypt 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.
LazagneCrypt FAQ
What is LazagneCrypt ransomware and how does it work?
LazagneCrypt 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 LazagneCrypt ransomware infect my computer?
Via several ways.LazagneCrypt 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 LazagneCrypt 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 .LazagneCrypt files?
You can't. At this point the .LazagneCrypt 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 .LazagneCrypt files successfully, then do not despair, because this virus is still new.
One way to restore files, encrypted by LazagneCrypt 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 ".LazagneCrypt" files (Other Methods)?
Yes, sometimes files can be restored. We have suggested several file recovery methods that could work if you want to restore .LazagneCrypt 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 LazagneCrypt 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 LazagneCrypt ransomware and then remove it without causing any additional harm to your important .LazagneCrypt files.
Also, keep in mind that viruses like LazagneCrypt 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.
