Ventsislav has been covering the latest malware, software and newest tech developments at SensorsTechForum for 3 years now. He started out as a network administrator. Having graduated Marketing as well, Ventsislav also has passion for discovery of new shifts and innovations in cybersecurity that become game changers. After studying Value Chain Management and then Network Administration, he found his passion within cybersecrurity and is a strong believer in basic education of every user towards online safety.
Ventsislav has been covering the latest malware, software and newest tech developments at SensorsTechForum for 3 years now. He started out as a network administrator. Having graduated Marketing as well, Ventsislav also has passion for discovery of new shifts and innovations in cybersecurity that become game changers. After studying Value Chain Management and then Network Administration, he found his passion within cybersecrurity and is a strong believer in basic education of every user towards online safety.
Ventsislav has been covering the latest malware, software and newest tech developments at SensorsTechForum for 3 years now. He started out as a network administrator. Having graduated Marketing as well, Ventsislav also has passion for discovery of new shifts and innovations in cybersecurity that become game changers. After studying Value Chain Management and then Network Administration, he found his passion within cybersecrurity and is a strong believer in basic education of every user towards online safety.
Note! Your computer might be affected by Strictor and other threats.
Threats such as Strictor 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
Ventsislav has been covering the latest malware, software and newest tech developments at SensorsTechForum for 3 years now. He started out as a network administrator. Having graduated Marketing as well, Ventsislav also has passion for discovery of new shifts and innovations in cybersecurity that become game changers. After studying Value Chain Management and then Network Administration, he found his passion within cybersecrurity and is a strong believer in basic education of every user towards online safety.
The “hidden tear” project has brought yet another ransomware. It is named Strictor and it is also known as BankAccountSummary ransomware which wants 500$ from infected users to get the files encrypted by it back at their disposal. The ransomware locks the data using a very strong AES-256 cipher which would take years and years to crack unless a flaw in its code has been found. Experts advise infected users to not pay the 500$ ransom amount in most circumstances because their files may not be decrypted and they help the cyber-criminals develop and spread the virus. Instead, it is recommended to remove the ransomware and try and restore the data using alternative methods such as the ones below while waiting for a decryption method to be released.
Threat Summary
Name
Strictor
Type
Remote Access Trojan with file encryption capability.
Short Description
The ransomware encrypts files with a strong AES-256 cipher asking 500$ for decryption.
Symptoms
Files are encrypted with the.locked file extension and become inaccessible. A ransom note with instructions for paying the ransom may show as a wallpaper.
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.
Strictor Ransomware – Distribution
To be successfully deployed across computers, the creators of Strictor may have used spam messages that could feature either malicious e-mail attachments or malicious URLs such as the example below:
But, they have also though out this bottleneck very well, realizing it is the most important part of the infection process. This is why they may have used file obfuscators to hide the malicious payload carrying file from Anti-Virus and Anti-Malware programs.
Researchers have also reported that a malicious executable file pretending to be a .PDF document has been reported to be widespread via spam messages carrying Strictor. The file has the following name:
Bank_Account_Summary.pdf.exe
Strictor Ransomware In Detail
After being activated on your computer, Strictor may create malicious files in the following Windows folders:
After creating the files, researchers at http://id-ransomware.blogspot.bg have reported that the ransomware creates the following registry entries:
→ In the key: HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Tracing\Bank_Account_Summary_RASAPI32\ The following subkeys: ConsoleTracingMask EnableConsoleTracing EnableFileTracing FileDirectory FileTracingMask MaxFileSize In the key: HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Tracing\Bank_Account_Summary_RASMANCS\ The following subkeys: ConsoleTracingMask EnableConsoleTracing EnableFileTracing FileDirectory FileTracingMask MaxFileSize
After changing the settings of the user, the ransomware may also connect to its command and control server:
→ 202.181.194.227
After connecting to the server, the ransomware may send different information from the infected computer:
Decryption Key.
System Information.
Anti-Virus Information.
The ransomware also uses an AES-256 cypher to encrypt most usable files without damaging Windows:
The encrypted files by Strictor contain the .locked file extension, for example:
→ Picture.jpg.locked
After encryption, the ransomware virus is reported to create the following file:
→ C:\Users\Name\Documents\WindowsUpdate.locked
The ransomware virus may also delete the shadow volume copies of the infected users by
In addition to that, Strictor Ransomware has preventive measures, when the user stops the connection to the internet. The ransomware displays the following message if there is no active connection:
→ “Are you trying to fool me? Connect me to the Internet ;)”
In addition to that, it leaves a ransom note, by changing the wallpaper of the infected computer to the following picture:
The ransomware may also add a text file, containing the following ransom message:
→ “All your precious Files on your computer I have successfully encrypted! Your files are encrypted To get the key to decrypt flies you have to pay 500 USD. If payment is not made before {Deadline date here} the cost of decrypting files will increase 2 times and will be 1000 USD Click below to pay us the bitcoins!!!”
Strictor – Conclusion, Removal, and File Restoration
The corollary for Strictor ransomware is that it has been created to induce fear in users and drive them into paying the ransom money of 500 USD in time. The creators of this virus do not fool around, and they may have a lot of experience with ransomware infections because the malicious website connected to the ransomware contains the name “CryptoWall” in it. CryptoWall is one of the most notorious ransomware infections ever to be created, generating damages of over 180 million dollars globally for 2015.
To remove Strictor, we advise you to follow our instructions. They are organized in a methodological order to help you remove the ransomware. We advise you to also use an anti-malware tool to help you remove the malicious files because they may be different files in different locations under different names.
To decrypt your files. Unfortunately there is no current method released. However, we have prepared alternative file restoration methods which will help you restore at least some of your files. In the meantime, we will keep you posted in this article with updates if a decryptor has been released.
Note! Your computer system may be affected by Strictor 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 Strictor. 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 Strictor follow these steps:
1. Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove Strictor 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 Strictor on your PC
Find files created by Strictor
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 Strictor with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool and back up your data
1. Install SpyHunter to scan for Strictor and remove them.2. Scan with SpyHunter, Detect and Remove Strictor. 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 Strictor
Try to Restore Files Encrypted by Strictor
Ransomware infections and Strictor 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:
Ventsislav has been covering the latest malware, software and newest tech developments at SensorsTechForum for 3 years now. He started out as a network administrator. Having graduated Marketing as well, Ventsislav also has passion for discovery of new shifts and innovations in cybersecurity that become game changers. After studying Value Chain Management and then Network Administration, he found his passion within cybersecrurity and is a strong believer in basic education of every user towards online safety.
Ventsislav has been covering the latest malware, software and newest tech developments at SensorsTechForum for 3 years now. He started out as a network administrator. Having graduated Marketing as well, Ventsislav also has passion for discovery of new shifts and innovations in cybersecurity that become game changers. After studying Value Chain Management and then Network Administration, he found his passion within cybersecrurity and is a strong believer in basic education of every user towards online safety.
The “hidden tear” project has brought yet another ransomware. It is named Strictor and it is also known as BankAccountSummary ransomware which wants 500$ from infected users to get the files encrypted by it back at their disposal. The ransomware locks the data using a very strong AES-256 cipher which would take years and years to crack unless a flaw in its code has been found. Experts advise infected users to not pay the 500$ ransom amount in most circumstances because their files may not be decrypted and they help the cyber-criminals develop and spread the virus. Instead, it is recommended to remove the ransomware and try and restore the data using alternative methods such as the ones below while waiting for a decryption method to be released.
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 Strictor and remove them.
Back up your data to secure it from malware in the future.
