The NtCrypt Crypter is a dangerous weapon used against computer users worldwide. It infects mainly via phishing email messages. Our article gives an overview of its behavior according to the collected samples and available reports, also it may be helpful in attempting to remove the virus.
Threat Summary
| Name | NtCrypt Crypter |
| Type | Trojan |
| Short Description | The NtCrypt Crypter is a computer virus that is designed to silently infiltrate computer systems. |
| Symptoms | The victims may not experience any apparent symptoms of infection. |
| Distribution Method | Software Vulnerabilities, Freeware Installations, Bundled Packages, Scripts and others. |
| Detection Tool |
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| User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss NtCrypt Crypter. |
NtCrypt Crypter – Distribution Methods
The Ntcrypt Crypter is a recently discovered malware tool which is being offered on the hacker underground markets. The developers have outlined the main ways in which intrusions can be made however other techniques can also be employed. Usually the most popular way is to inject its code into other processes by payload delivery. The captured samples have been shown to borrow code from other famous threats.
It is likely that infections can be made by using the most popular methods:
- Email Phishing Messages — The criminals can attempt to send the virus files via email messages that pretend to be sent by legitimate and well-known companies. They are usually disguised using stolen multimedia content that may look the same as the official messages. The criminals can either attach the files directly or link them in the body contents.
- Infected Documents — The hackers can attach macros that will infect the users with the NtCrypt crypter. This is done via documents across all popular types: text documents, presentations, databases and spreadsheets. As soon as they are opened a notification prompt will appear asking the users to enable them. In most cases the reason quoted to the users is the correct display of the file contents.
- Modified Application Installers — Well-known program installers can be modified in order to lead to the NtCrypt infections. The hackers typically choose applications that are popular with most end users: system utilities, productivity and office apps, creativity suites and even computer games. They are made by taking the legitimate files from their official sources and modifying them with the relevant code.
- File Sharing Networks — Popular software solutions for spreading content like BitTorrent are widely used by computer hackers in order to distribute both pirate and legitimate files. They are a popular outlet for spreading the infected payload carriers.
- Malicious Web Sites — The hackers can generate scam sites that impersonate popular download portals, company landing pages, product sites and other places on the Internet where downloads are usually offered. To make them appear as safe places the criminals can host them on domains with similar sounding domain names to the spoofed ones, as well as self-signed security certificates.
- Browser Hijackers — The other mechanism which is used by the criminals is the embedding of dangerous code into plugins which are made compatible with the most popular web browsers. They are usually spread on the relevant repositories with fake user reviews and developer credentials. The posted descriptions will promise performance enhancement and the addition of new features. Instead as soon as they are installed on the victim systems the virus code wil be implanted. Other malicious actions that will follow include the modification of the default settings in order to redirect the users to a preset hacker-controlled page.
At any point the malware operators can choose to use any other attack method in order to infect their target victims.
NtCrypt Crypter – Detailed Description
When the NtCrypt crypter code has been launched it will start a series of actions that are programmed to infect the target machines without alerting any security services or virus countermeasures into discovering that a malware infection has happened.
The modular engine is decrypted in real-time using a strong cipher which makes it very hard to detect as its signatures cannot be read. The malware is equipped with an advanced security bypass module. The crypter can be programmed to obfuscate its memory strings. Additional behavior that can be triggered by it is to locate security software and disable it. This is done by scanning the memory and local hard drive contents for signs of anti-virus engines, firewalls, virtual machine hosts and debug environments. Advanced samples can be configured to interact with the Windows Volume Manager which allows the engine to interact with any available network shares and removable storage devices.
The NtCrypt crypter can be used as a weapon to deploy other malware samples and it can be further extended with other code. We anticipate that the buyers will add at least some of them in the future releases. Common actions include the following:
- Data Theft — The hackers can use the NtCrypt crypter in order to insert a module that will carry out an information harvesting procedure. It can both expose the identity of the victims by looking out for strings such as a person’s name, address, phone number, location, interests and any stored account credentials. By searching all contents used by web browsers it can also retrieve bookmarks, cookies, search history and site preferences.
- Machine Identification — The engine can harvest sensitive information about the compromised machines which can be used to generate an ID that can differentiate the victim computers. This is done via an algorithm that takes it input values from data sources such as the installed hardware components, user settings and certain operating system conditions.
- Persistent Installation — When configured so the NtCrypt crypter can be programmed to automatically start running as soon as the computer has started running. This is done by manipulating the boot options, configuration files and Windows services. In many cases the victims will not be able to use manual removal guides as access to the recovery options can be disabled.
- Data Removal — The virus engine can be configured to locate and remove important data such as backups, restore points and shadow volume copies. In this case the users will need to resort to a professional-grade data recovery tool in order to effectively restore their data.
As the NtCrypt crypter is primarily used to deliver other threats it can be used in a variety of scenarios. A popular payload that can be spread onto the victim systems is the Trojan module. It creates a persistent connection to a hacker-controlled server which allows the criminals to take over control of the infected computers. This effectively allows them to spy on the victims, steal their files and carry out various malicious actions. Common payloads that are delivered to users include ransomware as well — they will encrypt target user data with a strong cipher and blackmail the victims to pay a decryption fee. Depending on the exact hacker configuration other actions may also follow.
Remove NtCrypt Crypter Completely
To remove NtCrypt Crypter manually from your computer, follow the step-by-step removal tutorial written down below. In case this manual removal does not get rid of the miner malware completely, you should search for and remove any leftover items with an advanced anti-malware tool. Such software can keep your computer secure in the future.
Martin Beltov
Martin graduated with a degree in Publishing from Sofia University. As a cyber security enthusiast he enjoys writing about the latest threats and mechanisms of intrusion.
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Preparation before removing NtCrypt Crypter.
Before starting the actual removal process, we recommend that you do the following preparation steps.
- Make sure you have these instructions always open and in front of your eyes.
- Do a backup of all of your files, even if they could be damaged. You should back up your data with a cloud backup solution and insure your files against any type of loss, even from the most severe threats.
- Be patient as this could take a while.
- Scan for Malware
- Fix Registries
- Remove Virus Files
Step 1: Scan for NtCrypt Crypter with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
Step 2: Clean any registries, created by NtCrypt Crypter 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 NtCrypt Crypter there. This can happen by following the steps underneath:
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.Step 3: Find virus files created by NtCrypt Crypter on your PC.
1.For Windows 8, 8.1 and 10.
For Newer Windows Operating Systems
1: On your keyboard press + R and write explorer.exe in the Run text box and then click on the Ok button.
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.
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 navigation box to fill up in case the PC is looking for the file and hasn't found it yet.
2.For Windows XP, Vista, and 7.
For Older Windows Operating Systems
In older Windows OS's the conventional approach should be the effective one:
1: Click on the Start Menu icon (usually on your bottom-left) and then choose the Search preference.
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.
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.
NtCrypt Crypter FAQ
What Does NtCrypt Crypter Trojan Do?
The NtCrypt Crypter Trojan is a malicious computer program designed to disrupt, damage, or gain unauthorized access to a computer system. It can be used to steal sensitive data, gain control over a system, or launch other malicious activities.
Can Trojans Steal Passwords?
Yes, Trojans, like NtCrypt Crypter, can steal passwords. These malicious programs are designed to gain access to a user's computer, spy on victims and steal sensitive information such as banking details and passwords.
Can NtCrypt Crypter Trojan Hide Itself?
Yes, it can. A Trojan can use various techniques to mask itself, including rootkits, encryption, and obfuscation, to hide from security scanners and evade detection.
Can a Trojan be Removed by Factory Reset?
Yes, a Trojan can be removed by factory resetting your device. This is because it will restore the device to its original state, eliminating any malicious software that may have been installed. Bear in mind that there are more sophisticated Trojans that leave backdoors and reinfect even after a factory reset.
Can NtCrypt Crypter Trojan Infect WiFi?
Yes, it is possible for a Trojan to infect WiFi networks. When a user connects to the infected network, the Trojan can spread to other connected devices and can access sensitive information on the network.
Can Trojans Be Deleted?
Yes, Trojans can be deleted. This is typically done by running a powerful anti-virus or anti-malware program that is designed to detect and remove malicious files. In some cases, manual deletion of the Trojan may also be necessary.
Can Trojans Steal Files?
Yes, Trojans can steal files if they are installed on a computer. This is done by allowing the malware author or user to gain access to the computer and then steal the files stored on it.
Which Anti-Malware Can Remove Trojans?
Anti-malware programs such as SpyHunter are capable of scanning for and removing Trojans from your computer. It is important to keep your anti-malware up to date and regularly scan your system for any malicious software.
Can Trojans Infect USB?
Yes, Trojans can infect USB devices. USB Trojans typically spread through malicious files downloaded from the internet or shared via email, allowing the hacker to gain access to a user's confidential data.
About the NtCrypt Crypter Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this NtCrypt Crypter how-to removal guide included, is the outcome of extensive research, hard work and our team’s devotion to help you remove the specific trojan problem.
How did we conduct the research on NtCrypt Crypter?
Please note that our research is based on an independent investigation. We are in contact with independent security researchers, thanks to which we receive daily updates on the latest malware definitions, including the various types of trojans (backdoor, downloader, infostealer, ransom, etc.)
Furthermore, the research behind the NtCrypt Crypter threat is backed with VirusTotal.
To better understand the threat posed by trojans, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.