RotorCrypt is the new name of the previously known Rotor cryptovirus. The virus is also ransomware as its past iteration. After the encryption of your files, the extension .c400 will be appended to them along with one of two emails. The emails are elizabeth7@protonmail.com and likbez77777@gmail.com. To see how to remove the virus and how you can try to restore your encrypted files, read the whole article.
Threat Summary
| Name | RotorCrypt |
| Type | Ransomware, Cryptovirus |
| Short Description | The virus will encrypt your files and demand a ransom as payment for their decryption. |
| Symptoms | The ransomware appends the .c400 extension to encrypted files. It asks for payment in Bitcoins to the elizabeth7@protonmail.com and likbez77777@gmail.com email addresses. |
| Distribution Method | Spam Emails, Email Attachments |
| Detection Tool |
See If Your System Has Been Affected by malware
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Malware Removal Tool
|
User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss RotorCrypt. |
| 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. |
RotorCrypt Ransomware – Update February 2018
RotorCrypt Ransomware – Delivery
The RotorCrypt ransomware could be delivered to your computer using different ways. Its payload file could be spread with spam email campaigns. With these emails, the file could be attached and made to look as important. The entirety of the email may look legitimate and try to trick you that you need to open the attachment because its full contents cannot be conveyed in the email body. However, if you open that file, your computer becomes infected. The file can be heavily obfuscated and is in most cases an executable.
From the analysis report shown above, you can view that on the VirusTotal site, the file is named Trojan-Ransom.Win32.Rotor.b as some of the detections. The developers of this ransomware could be delivering the file with targeted attacks or through sharing services and social media. Do not be opening executables from suspicious emails, especially if they are of unknown origins. Scan these files with a security tool and check their signatures and size, beforehand. You should take a look at the ransomware prevention tips in our forum topic.
RotorCrypt Ransomware – Description
RotorCrypt ransomware is discovered to be a new variant of the Rotor Virus (cocoslim98). Now, it uses new executables to spread its malicious files. You can view in the Payload Security platform, the detection of one such executable file is called GWWABPFL.exe:
When the payload file of the RotorCrypt virus is executed on a computer, it spawns lots of processes, according to the malware researchers of Payload Security. The virus is still mainly orientated around targeting servers, although many Windows machines have been infected, too.
When RotorCrypt is active, it could set up values in the Windows Registry, whereupon it gains persistence. The values are set inside entries of that registry and make the ransomware launch automatically with every boot of the Windows operating system. Afterward, files get encrypted, and a tiny note with the payment instructions is created. You can view that ransom note in the screenshot right here:
The ransom note reads the following:
Good day
Your files were encrypted/locked
As evidence can decrypt file 1 to 3 1-30MB
The price of the transcripts of all the files on the server: 7 BitcoinRecommend to solve the problem quickly and not to delay
Also give advice on how to protect Your server against threats from the network
(Files sql mdf backup decryption strictly after payment)!
The RotorCrypt ransomware does not give you any specific deadline for paying the criminals for the data decryption process. It also makes the offer of free decryption for a couple of files as a testing procedure. Nonetheless, its demands are high with the ransom amount which is demanded and that the decryption of some files will be only available after payment. The ransom price that is asked is 7 Bitcoins, and that amounts to over 4400 US dollars.
You shouldn’t think of paying these extortionists, as no one can guarantee that you will return your files to what they were after payment. The cybercriminals will probably use the money to make other ransomware or do more criminal acts. You should try to decrypt as many files as possible using the test decryption service that is provided and wait to see if there is a solution available.
A full list of extensions that are encrypted by this ransomware virus is not available yet, but the following file types are reported to be encrypted by RotorCrypt ransomware:
→.csv, .doc, .ppt, .xls, .avi, .bak, .bmp, .dbf, .djvu, .docx, .exe, .flv, .gif, .jpeg, .jpg, .mdb, .sql, .mdf, .odt, .pdf, .png, .pps, .pptm, .pptx, .psd, .rar, .raw, .tif, .txt, .vob, .xlsb, .xlsx, .zip
All of the encrypted files will have the extension !____elizabeth7@protonmail.com____.c400 or !____likbez77777@gmail.com____.c400 appended to them. That is the only place where the contact email is given and why the ransomware may be called with these names among users. The extension .c400 is used in this variant.
The RotorCrypt ransomware is very likely to delete the Shadow Volume Copies of the Windows Operating System with the following command:
→vssadmin.exe delete shadows /all /Quiet
Continue reading to check in what ways you could try to restore some of your data. Kaspersky may have a possible solution in the form of a decryptor tool.
Remove RotorCrypt and Restore .c400 Files
If your computer got infected with the Rotor ransomware virus, you should have some experience in removing malware. You should get rid of this ransomware as fast as possible before it can have the chance to spread further and infect more computers. You should remove the ransomware and follow the step-by-step instructions guide given below. To see ways that you can try to recover your data, see the step titled 2. Restore files encrypted by RotorCrypt.
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 RotorCrypt Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this RotorCrypt 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 RotorCrypt 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 RotorCrypt from Windows.
Step 1: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove RotorCrypt
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 RotorCrypt 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 RotorCrypt 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 RotorCrypt 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 RotorCrypt 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 RotorCrypt.
Ransomware infections and RotorCrypt 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 RotorCrypt from Mac OS X.
Step 1: Uninstall RotorCrypt 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 RotorCrypt:
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 RotorCrypt. 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 RotorCrypt. 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 RotorCrypt 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 RotorCrypt. 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 RotorCrypt.
Ransomware infections and RotorCrypt 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.
RotorCrypt FAQ
What is RotorCrypt ransomware and how does it work?
RotorCrypt 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 RotorCrypt ransomware infect my computer?
Via several ways.RotorCrypt 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 RotorCrypt 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 .RotorCrypt files?
You can't. At this point the .RotorCrypt 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 .RotorCrypt files successfully, then do not despair, because this virus is still new.
One way to restore files, encrypted by RotorCrypt 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 ".RotorCrypt" files (Other Methods)?
Yes, sometimes files can be restored. We have suggested several file recovery methods that could work if you want to restore .RotorCrypt 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 RotorCrypt 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 RotorCrypt ransomware and then remove it without causing any additional harm to your important .RotorCrypt files.
Also, keep in mind that viruses like RotorCrypt 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.