This article will aid you to remove .RYK File virus. Follow the ransomware removal instructions provided at the end of the article.
RYK (Ryuk) Ransomware Virus
Ryuk Ransomware, also known as .RYK File Virus will encrypt your data and demands money as a ransom to get it restored. Files will receive the .RYK extension as a secondary one, without any changes made to the original name of an encrypted file. The .RYK File Virus will leave ransomware instructions inside a text file. Keep on reading the article and see how you could try to potentially recover some of your locked files and data.
Threat Summary
| Name | Ryuk Ransomware |
| Type | Ransomware, Cryptovirus |
| Short Description | The ransomware encrypts files by placing the .RYK extension on your computer system and demands a ransom to be paid to allegedly recover them. |
| Symptoms | The ransomware will encrypt your files and leave a ransom note with payment instructions. |
| Distribution Method | Spam Emails, Email Attachments |
| 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 Ryuk Ransomware. |
| 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. |
Ryuk Ransomware March 2021 Update
A new malicious capability in the ransomware was unearthed by ANSSI. “A Ryuk sample with worm-like capabilities allowing it to spread automatically within networks it infects, was discovered during an incident response handled by the ANSSI in early 2021,” the researchers share.
The report also warns that the ransomware remains active, targeting hospitals during the pandemic.
Ryuk Ransomware September 2020 Update
The RYUK ransomware with .RYK extension has been found in a new attack campaign which is overseen by an advanced hacking group. The campaign uses the familiar tactics of spreading the virus. The security reports indicate that the attacks continue with this ransomware due to the fact that the virus is seen as a very effective tool in compromising target computers. At this moment the identify of this hacking group is not known however it is suspected that many computer networks have been compromise by them.
They use the gaetwelsenba1983@protonmail.com email to identify themselves.
Ryuk Ransomware Targets Hospitals During the COVID-19 Crisis
The greedy and heartless criminals behind Ryuk Ransomware keep targetting hospitals even when such organizations are extremely busy since the Coronavirus pandemic emerged. Interestingly enough, DoppelPaymer and Maze ransomware creators have halted attacks toward healthcare institutions during these troubling times.
If you are an individual, do NOT pay the criminals any sort of ransom. If you are seeking help as an institution, contact a local IT professional to deal with this attack faster. Unfortunately, there is still no decryption available for Ryuk ransomware.
March 2020 Ryuk Ransomware EMCOR Group Attack
A new contact email has been reported to be put in the new sample versions of the Ryuk ransomware. That new contact email address is the following: otostehos1970@protonmail.com. Do not contact cybercriminals as they only want your money.
A large-scale intrusion attack has been reported to have happened against the industry giant EMCOR Group which is an American company which is listed on the Fortune 500 list. According to the released reports the incident took place on February 15 and not a lot of information has been released to the public. The company has released a public message however it did not contain a lot of details.
The company disclosed that that not all of their internal network has been impacted — only certain computers. The impact of the incident has made financial damage — in their latest report of the last quarter of 2019 they have adjusted the figures.
EMCOR Group has more than 80 smaller companies which operate across 170+ countries and its last year revenue is reported as $9 billion revenue. These figures show that Ryuk has become one of the most damaging viruses of the last few months along with other advanced malware such as Maze and Nemty.
February 2020 Details About The New Ryuk Ransomware Attacks
A new major campaign with the Ryuk ransomware is currently being spread against victims. A new hacker contact email address is specified kirsninmaino1977@protonmail.com. The new version contains a number of the advanced modules which we wrote about. This particular threat will not start immediately, bur sleep for a set period before launching step-by-step the various malware actions in the prescribed sequence.
This is done in order to bypass the functionality of security software and services — firewalls, anti-virus programs, sandbox environments, virtual machine hosts and etc. If a running engine associated with them is found then the virus will stop and delete itself in order not to raise awareness.
As soon as the Ryuk ransomware starts it will immediately start to spawn multiple processes — this is intended in order to access the system in multiple ways and make it very hard to stop running infections using manual methods. This new version is designed to infect in a stealth manner, possibly in order to be used against corporate networks. One of the distinct new additions that have been integrated in the Ryuk virus is to analyze the network environment and possibly to interact with other devices on the network.
There is the possibility that due to the fact that the Ryuk virus contains so many stealth-related modules that it can be used to drop additional threats such as Trojans, file wipers and cryptocurrency miners.
February 2020 Ryuk Ransomware New Findings
As more and more information becomes available about the infections, new findings indicate how one of the latest campaigns is set against the target users. Multiple criminal groups organize specially victim-centric campaigns tht in the end have resulted in a total revenue of about 3.7 million dollars. A very large part of the infections are set against enterprise networks — the businesses are far more likely to hold valuable data and pay the ransomware decryption fee. During the initial infection in some of the campaigns the analysts have uncovered that other malware have been used as well. Ryuk ransomware attacks have also used TrickBot and Emotet to send email spam campaigns to prospective victims.
Some of the specific vulnerabilities which are targeted by the Ryuk ransomware include the following:
- CVE-2013-2618 — This is a cross-site-scripting bug (XSS vulnerability) in Network Weathermap versions before 0.97b. The problem lies within editor.php which allows hackers to inject web scripts or HTML code.
- CVE-2017-6884 — This is an issue in Zyxel EMG2926 with firmware version V1.00(AAQT.4)b8 which is categorized as a command injection vulnerability. The problem lies in the nslookup diagnostic tool which can be exploited by the hackers.
- CVE-2018-8389 — This is a remote code execution in Internet Explorer.
- CVE-2018-12808 — A remote code vulnerability was discovered in Adobe Acrobat and Reader applications. The hackers are primarily using SPAM email messages which include scripts that exploit the applications.
February 2020 Ryuk Ransomware New Samples
February 2020 started with another development around the Ryuk ransomware. This time its a new sample that provides a new contact email address — hemulnina1974@protonmail.com. An analysis of the file shows that the active campaign may be launched by a different hacking group than the previous samples. What’s interesting is that the new Ryuk virus has been able to stop some of the automated analysis tools during the initial checks. This means that it can allow the remote attackers to carry out Trojan operations — the overtaking of control over the machines, data theft and the installation of other viruses. What’s particularly noteworthy about the new release is that it can drop multiple virus files which makes recovery much more difficult.
January 2020 Ryuk Ransomware Update
In the end of January 2020 a new update to the Ryuk ransomware has been released which includes a signed certificate which will make it harder to differentiate it from malware as the system will trust it as a safe file. The certificate authority that has issued it has provided a long expiration date and all required parameters.
The virus engine contains many features that are also part of the previous samples. Some of the major components of the new releases include the following:
- Active Cryptocurrency Module — The security analysis shows that the new virus releases include a cryptocurrency module. It will take advantage of the available hardware resources by running a sequence of intensive and complex mathematical tasks. For each completed job the hackers will receive cryptocurrency directly to their wallets.
- Advanced Security Bypass — This particular update includes an extensive list of security bypass techniques that are called in order to hide the presence of the virus from both the operating system and anti-virus products.
- Trojan Functions — Not only will the Ryuk ransomware report back to the hackers through a secured connection, but will also exhibit banking Trojan functionality. This means that the engine will actively scan if the users are using any online banking services and attempt to steal the credentials or manipulate them. The reason why this is done is to conduct financial abuse crimes.
- Code Execution — The Ryuk ransomware is capable of executing dangerous scripts and codes on the infected machines. This is especially dangerous as the virus can obtain administrative privileges.
The information gathering process is rated as extremely in-depth and detailed. Contaminated hosts will usually have a lot of information hijacked and sent to the users.
One of the latest updates to the Ryuk ransomware adds in a Wake-on-Lan feature which is found only among the most dangerous computer threats. The security researchers have uncovered that the code has been placed among some of the latest versions of the virus. In live attacks the ransomware will turn on shut down devices as soon as a network has been impacted. This is mostly effective in business and enterprise scenarios where this functionality is used on a daily basis. Administrators typically rely on it to push updates or run scheduled tasks when the computers are not in use.
The mechanism is done by launching a virus-controlled sub process with a special argument called “8 LAN”. If the Wake-on-Lan action is successful then the Ryuk will attempt to mount the main drive (C:) over a network share. This will allow the main engine to encrypt files remotely and thus spread onto other machines. By following this mechanism in a matter of minutes the Ryuk ransomware can potentially infect hundreds of machines.
.RYK File Virus (Ryuk) – Distribution Techniques
The .RYK File ransomware might distribute itself via different tactics. A payload dropper which initiates the malicious script for this ransomware is being spread around the World Wide Web, and researchers have gotten their hands on a malware sample. If that file lands on your computer system and you somehow execute it – your computer device will become infected. Below, you can see the payload file of the cryptovirus being detected by the VirusTotal service:
Freeware which is found on the Web can be presented as helpful also be hiding the malicious script for the cryptovirus. Refrain from opening files right after you have downloaded them. You should first scan them with a security tool, while also checking their size and signatures for anything that seems out of the ordinary. You should read the tips for preventing ransomware located at the corresponding forum thread.
.RYK File Virus (Ryuk) – Technical Details
.RYK FilesVirus is actually ransomware, so it encrypts your files and opens a ransom note, with instructions inside it, about the compromised computer machine. The extortionists want you to pay a ransom fee for the alleged restoration of your data. The ransomware is a variant of an older [wplinkpreview url=”https://sensorstechforum.com/remove-ryuk-virus-delete-active-infections-restore-data/”] Ryuk Virus which had a similar ransom note.
.RYK File Virus might make entries in the Windows Registry to achieve persistence, and could launch or repress processes in a Windows environment. Such entries are typically designed in a way to start the virus automatically with each boot of the Windows Operating System.
After encryption the .RYK File virus creates a ransom note inside a text file. The note is named RyukReadMe.txt as you can see from the below screenshot:
The note reads the following:
Your network has been penetrated.
All files on each host in the network have been encrypted with a strong algorithm.
Backups were either encrypted
Shadow copies also removed, so F8 or any other methods may damage encrypted data but not recover.We exclusively have decryption software for your situation
More than a year ago, world experts recognized the impossibility of deciphering by any means except the oridinal decoder.
No decryption software is available in the public.
Antiviruse companies, researchers, IT specialists, and no other persons cant help you encrypt the data.DO NOT RESET OR SHUTDOWN – files may be damaged.
DO NOT DELETE readme files.To confirm our honest intentions.Send 2 different random files and you will get it decrypted.
It can be from different computers on your network to be sure that one key decrypts everything.
2 files we unlock for free.To get info (decrypt your files) contact us at
ibfosontsing@protonmail.com
or
ibfosontsing@tutanota.comBTC wallet:
12vsQry1XrPjPCaH8gWzDJeYT7dhTmpcjLRyuk
No system is safe
Even if a note is shown, you should NOT under any circumstances pay any ransom sum. Your files may not get recovered, and nobody could give you a guarantee for that. Adding to that, giving money to cybercriminals will most likely motivate them to create more ransomware viruses or commit different criminal activities. That may even result to you getting your files encrypted all over again after payment.
.RYK File Virus (Ryuk) – Encryption Process
The encryption process of the .RYK File ransomware rather simple – every file that gets encrypted will become simply unusable. Files will get the .RYK extension after being locked. The extension is placed as a secondary one, without any changes made to the original name of an encrypted file.
A list with the known, targeted extensions of files which are sought to get encrypted is currently very small. Files which get encrypted have the following extensions:
→ .doc, .docx, .jpg, .jpeg, .xls, .xlsx, .pdf
The files used most by users and which are probably encrypted are from the following categories:
- Audio files
- Video files
- Document files
- Image files
- Backup files
- Banking credentials, etc
The .RYK File cryptovirus could be set to erase all the Shadow Volume Copies from the Windows operating system with the help of the following command:
→vssadmin.exe delete shadows /all /Quiet
In case the above-stated command is executed that will make the effects of the encryption process more efficient. That is due to the fact that the command eliminates one of the prominent ways to restore your data. If a computer device was infected with this ransomware and your files are locked, read on through to find out how you could potentially restore some files back to their normal state.
.RYK File (Ryuk) Virus – Update September 2019
September 2019 brings another update for the RYK ransomware virus. In the picture below you can see the current detections for the new variant on the VirusTotal platform:
The new e-mail addresses that the cybercriminals are using in the ransom notes are the following:
- papinsdasun1982@protonmail.com
- cestidemet1983@protonmail.com
The ransomware seems to be booming and not faded as people would have hoped. Be wary when browsing the Internet and do backups to avoid being a victim of RYK ransomware virus.
.RYK File (Ryuk) Virus – Update August 2019
Throughout July and the beginning of August 2019 a new attack campaign with the Ryuk ransomware has been detected. It does not differ significantly from previous samples as it uses the same distribution tactics. Depending on the actual local conditions and hacking instructions various malicious actions can be made. As this is a modification of the base engine we anticipate that the hackng group behind it may have ordered the customization on the underground markets. An alternative is for them to have created the threat by themselves. This is done by taking the original source code and making the necessary changes.
When the malicious actions have all completed running the file encryption module will start. Once again using a built-in list of target file type extensions the Ryuk files virus will target the most common user data:
- Documents
- Databases
- Multimedia Files
- Archives
- Backups
- Restore Points & System Data
Again the .RYK extension will be applied to the files and the victims will be blackmailed to pay a decryption fee to the hackers.
.RYK File (Ryuk) Virus – Update June 2019
The Ryuk Ransomware has been updated to check the output of the “arp –a” parameter for specific IP address strings. In case these strings are found, the ransomware will not encrypt the files on that computer. Here are some of the partial IP address strings in question: 10.30.4, 10.30.5, 10.30.6, or 10.31.32.
Another update of Ryuk includes the ransomware comparing the computer name to the strings “SPB”, “Spb”, “spb”, “MSK”, “Msk”, and “msk”, and if those are found, the computer won’t be encrypted. It is most likely that all this is done so that the ransomware operators don’t target computers in Russia for encryption. As for the rest of its activities, they appear to be the same as in the previous version.
.RYK File (Ryuk) Virus – Update December 2019
According to the latest information from December 2019 released by EmsiSoft researchers:
The decryptor provided by the Ryuk authors will truncate files, cutting off one too many bytes in the process of decrypting the file. Depending on the exact file type, this may or may not cause major issues. In the best case scenario, the byte that was cut off by the buggy decryptor was unused and just some slack space at the end created by aligning the file towards certain file size boundaries. However, a lot of virtual disk type files like VHD/VHDX as well as a lot of database files like Oracle database files will store important information in that last byte and files damaged this way will fail to load properly after they are decrypted.
In simple words, this means that paying the ransom to cybercriminals will likely not result in the successful decrypton of enciphered data.
Remove .RYK File Virus (Ryuk)
If your computer system got infected with the .RYK File ransomware virus, you should have a bit of experience in removing malware. You should get rid of this ransomware as quickly as possible before it can have the chance to spread further and infect other computers. You should remove the ransomware and follow the step-by-step instructions guide provided below.
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Tsetso Mihailov is a tech-geek and loves everything that is tech-related, while observing the latest news surrounding technologies. He has worked in IT before, as a system administrator and a computer repair technician. Dealing with malware since his teens, he is determined to spread word about the latest threats revolving around computer security.
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Step 1: Scan for Ryuk Ransomware with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
Ransomware Automatic Removal - Video Guide
Step 2: Uninstall Ryuk Ransomware and related malware 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:
Follow the instructions above and you will successfully delete most unwanted and malicious programs.
Step 3: Clean any registries, created by Ryuk Ransomware 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 Ryuk Ransomware 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.
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 Ryuk Ransomware
Step 5: Try to Restore Files Encrypted by Ryuk Ransomware.
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 Ryuk Ransomware 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.
Ryuk Ransomware-FAQ
What is Ryuk Ransomware Ransomware?
Ryuk Ransomware 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.
What Does Ryuk Ransomware Ransomware Do?
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.
How Does Ryuk Ransomware Infect?
Via several ways.Ryuk Ransomware 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 Ryuk Ransomware 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 .Ryuk Ransomware files?
You can't without a decryptor. At this point, the .Ryuk Ransomware files are encrypted. You can only open them once they are decrypted using a specific decryption key for the particular algorithm.
What to Do If a Decryptor Does Not Work?
Do not panic, and backup the files. If a decryptor did not decrypt your .Ryuk Ransomware files successfully, then do not despair, because this virus is still new.
Can I Restore ".Ryuk Ransomware" Files?
Yes, sometimes files can be restored. We have suggested several file recovery methods that could work if you want to restore .Ryuk Ransomware 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.
How To Get Rid of Ryuk Ransomware Virus?
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 Ryuk Ransomware ransomware and then remove it without causing any additional harm to your important .Ryuk Ransomware files.
Can I 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.
Can You Stop Ransomware from Encrypting Your Files?
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.
Can Ryuk Ransomware Ransomware Steal Your Data?
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.
Can Ransomware Infect WiFi?
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.
Should I Pay Ransomware?
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.
What Happens If I Don't Pay Ransom?
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.
Can a Ransomware Attack Be Detected?
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.
Do Ransomware Criminals Get Caught?
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.
About the Ryuk Ransomware Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this Ryuk Ransomware 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 Ryuk Ransomware 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:
- 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.
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