What is Crystalcrypt Ransomware?
Crystalcrypt Ransomware is a malicious infection that can leave you with encrypted data without the decryption key. The main reason this program enters your computer is money. However, you should never pay anything to the people behind this infection because that would only encourage them to continue to malicious practices. Please remove Crystalcrypt Ransomware from your computer following the removal instructions you will find right below this description. If you find the manual removal too challenging, you can always leave us a comment, and our research team will guide you through the process step by step.
Where does Crystalcrypt Ransomware come from?
Our research suggests that this ransomware infection is similar to LightningCrypt Ransomware. The message that appears on your screen looks similar for both programs. However, that does not allow us to find the main distribution source, responsible for spreading Crystalcrypt Ransomware around. The point with ransomware programs is that they are far more complicated than hijackers of rogue antispyware, so we can only point out the main possible routes this program could have taken to access your system.
It has been long established that the most frequently used ransomware distribution method is spam emails. Not all spam email message distribute ransomware, but there are quite a few that manage to get into the main inbox even if you do happen to have a sophisticated email service that can filter most of the spam messages into the junk mail box.
The reason those spam emails enter your inbox is that they are quite sophisticated, too. The messages that carry ransomware installers may look like invoices from online shops or even bank reports. Of course, if you receive a message from a bank when you do not even have an account there; it should be enough to convince you that the message is fake. However, more often than not, users tend to open email attachments without any second thought, and that is how they get infected with the likes of Crystalcrypt Ransomware.
What does Crystalcrypt Ransomware do?
Since the program is quite a basic ransomware infection, the first thing it will do when it is run is scan your PC. It needs to locate all the files it can encrypt. The program mostly targets your personal files, so the data that is in the %UserProfile% directory will most probably be encrypted.
Also, Crystalcrypt Ransomware can encrypt most of the executable files, to prevent you from running various programs, including antispyware applications. Please note that the ransomware infection does not affect your browsers. After all, the program needs you to be able to access the Internet because it needs you to send the ransom payment to its developers.
When the encryption is complete, you will definitely see which files have been affected by it. Like most of the ransomware programs, this one adds a new extension to all the encrypted files. For example, a file flower.jpeg will be titled flower.jpeg.BLOCKED once the encryption is complete. With the file information scrambled by the encryption algorithm, it will be impossible to open your files without the decryption key. And the ransomware makes it pretty obvious by displaying the following ransom note:
YOU BECAME A VICTIM OF THE CRYSTALCRYPT RANSOMWARE!
ALL YOUR FILES HAVE BEEN ENCRYPTED
FOR EACH TRY TO DO ANYTHING I WILL DELETE FILES
PAY 0.17 BITCOINS TO THIS ADDRESS : <…>
YOU CAN BUY BITCOINS ON “BLOCKCHAIN.INFO”
SEND YOUR UNIQE ID IN THE DESCRIPTION OF THE BITCOIN PAYMENT
Now, you might think that paying the ransomware might help you deal with this infection, but the truth is that the connection between the program and its command and control center might have gone down some time ago, and you would only throw your money away by paying the ransom.
How do I remove Crystalcrypt Ransomware?
The most important thing right now is to remove Crystalcrypt Ransomware from your computer. If you follow the manual removal instructions, you should get rid of all the files associated with this program. After that, be sure to scan your PC with a licensed antispyware tool that will locate all the remaining unwanted files. Finally, when you delete the encrypted copies of your data, you should transfer healthy copies back into your hard drive from your backup storage. That is, by far, the fastest and most efficient way to get your files back.
Manual Crystalcrypt Ransomware Removal
- Open the Downloads folder.
- Remove the most recently downloaded files.
- Press Win+R and type %TEMP%. Click OK.
- Delete the most recent files.
- Run a full system scan.
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