What is Crptxxx Ransomware?
A new ransomware-type infection Crptxxx Ransomware has been discovered by experts working in the cyber-security field. It has turned out that it is quite an old infection, which might even be an old version of Btcware Ransomware. Although its infection rate is no longer high, theoretically, users might still find it on their computers. The main symptom showing that this computer infection has successfully entered the system is a bunch of encrypted files on the computer. It scans the system and finds pictures, documents, media files, and other valuable files first before locking them. Luckily, it does not enter computers with the intention of ruining the Windows OS, so, as a consequence, the %WINDIR% folder will be left intact. The same can be said about the folder of Internet Explorer. Ransomware infections perform the encryption of personal files not without reason. We can assure you that they do not seek to make you angry either. Instead, it is all about money. Even though the victims of Crptxxx Ransomware do not find any information about a ransom in a ransom note left by this infection, it does not mean that they will get their files unlocked for free. Of course, we do not try to say here that users should immediately go to pay money to bad people when they discover ransomware on their PCs.
What does Crptxxx Ransomware do?
Specialists have carried out research with the intention of finding out how Crptxxx Ransomware acts on users’ computers, but they have made a disturbing finding first – it has turned out that there are two versions of this ransomware infection. They share the same name, and both encrypt users’ files, but they drop slightly different ransom notes. The first version drops a HOW_TO_DECRYPT.txt file after the encryption of files, whereas the second one creates HOW_TO_FIX_!.txt on Desktop. Both these ransom notes inform users that their files have been encrypted with the AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) algorithm and tell users what to do to restore the encrypted data. Without a doubt, users will be offered to purchase the decryption key after following all the steps indicated in the ransom note. Of course, it might seem that purchasing the special key is the only way to remove the .crptxxx extension appended to files and thus unlock them, but what users do not know is that there are no guarantees that they will receive this decryption key after paying money to cyber criminals too. Because of this, specialists do not encourage users to send the required money.
Sadly, it might be impossible to decrypt personal files without the decryption key because Crptxxx Ransomware deletes Shadow Volume Copies of files which can make it possible to recover files for free. Luckily, it does not mean that there is no hope to decrypt files left. Specialists say that users do not even need the key cyber criminals claim to have if they have a backup of files. It must be stored on an external device. If copies of files are located on the computer with Crptxxx Ransomware, there is basically no doubt that they have been encrypted too, and there is nothing else that can be done about that.
Where does Crptxxx Ransomware come from?
Crptxxx Ransomware is distributed exactly like other ransomware-type threats are, e.g. AngryKite Ransomware, Rijndael Ransomware, and Sadstory Ransomware. This is, it is spread through spam emails. It does not show up on systems the second users open such emails. It successfully slithers onto computers only when attachments from these emails are opened. As has been mentioned, it is not the only one that can enter systems when malicious attachments are opened, so you should stay away from spam emails in the future. In some cases, spam emails are not filtered to the Spam folder, so be careful with all the emails you receive and open.
How to remove Crptxxx Ransomware
We do not promise that it will be a piece of cake to erase this ransomware infection, but there is no doubt that it is a must to get rid of it as soon as possible. The deletion of Crptxxx Ransomware will, most probably, be a complicated thing for you, especially if it is the first time you are going to erase a ransomware infection from your PC manually. To help you, specialists working at anti-spyware-101.com have prepared the manual removal guide. Use it or let an automatic scanner, such as SpyHunter, delete ransomware for you automatically.
Remove Crptxxx Ransomware manually
- Tap Win+R.
- Enter regedit.exe and click OK.
- Open HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run and HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run.
- Delete the crptxxx Value (right-click on it and select Delete).
- Close the Registry Editor and open the Windows Explorer (press Win+E).
- Enter %APPDATA% in the URL bar and press Enter.
- Delete mtrea.exe.
- Remove a ransom note from Desktop (%USERPROFILE%\Desktop): HOW_TO_FIX_!.txt or HOW_TO_DECRYPT.txt.
- Check the following directories and delete HOW_TO_FIX_!.txt or HOW_TO_DECRYPT.txt from them:
- %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
- %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
- %USERPROFILE%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
- %APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
- %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
tested removal of Crptxxx Ransomware*
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