Styx Ransomware

What is Styx Ransomware?

Styx Ransomware is a malicious file-encrypting application you could receive after opening an infected email attachment. Unfortunately, such a mistake might cost the user a lot since the infection can encipher almost all data found on the affected device. The problem is the files that get enciphered become unusable and cannot be deciphered without a unique decryption key and a program. No doubt, the cyber criminals behind this malicious application may claim they have such tools and are willing to provide the user with them if he pays a specific amount of Bitcoins. It is your choice if you want to deal with hackers, but we strongly advise against it because there are no guarantees they will help you. If you think it would be too risky as well, we encourage you to erase Styx Ransomware with the instructions available below or a legitimate antimalware tool you trust. As for users who wish to know more details before deciding what to do, we would recommend reading our full report.

Where does Styx Ransomware come from?

Like many other ransomware applications, Styx Ransomware could be traveling with Spam emails. What might make it difficult to avoid such threats is that their launchers could be made to look harmless, for example, the attachment may have the appearance of simple pictures or text documents, and so on. For this reason, we always recommend being careful with all data that comes from unknown senders. What’s more, besides email attachments the malware might travel with malicious software installers or fake updates. Therefore, if you do not want to come across such threats again you should watch out not just for suspicious Spam emails, but also stay away from installers available on torrent or other P2P file-sharing networks. To protect the device even more, it is advisable to install a legitimate antimalware tool that could defend it against various malicious applications.

How does Styx Ransomware work?

Soon after Styx Ransomware is launched it should attempt to make a connection with its C&C server (e.g., mfbhwqtjkcis.ru). The next step of this malware is to encrypt all data it can find in directories that do not belong to the computer’s operating system or other programs. In other words, the threat could ruin all private files, for instance, your photographs, various documents, archives, videos, music files, and more. All encrypted data can be easily recognized without trying to open it since the malware should append .styx extension at the end of each file's title. Just as we said earlier, you cannot decrypt any data without specific decryption tools as all of it should be encrypted with a secure cryptosystem known as AES-256.

Furthermore, the last task of Styx Ransomware is to create two files containing a message or, to be more precise, a ransom note written by its creators. According to our researchers at Anti-spyware-101.com, these files should be called 0_HELP_DECRYPT_FILES: one of them is a text document while the other one is an HTML file. They should be added to the %APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup location to launch them automatically with each system restart. Also, some copies might be scattered in the %USERPROFILE% and %APPDATA% folders. The message they bring should explain what happened to the files and what can be done to get the needed decryption tools. Apparently, the cyber criminals wish to receive 300 US dollars paid in Bitcoins. The sum may not look significant, but do not forget you might lose it for nothing if the hackers decide not to bother to help you.

How to erase Styx Ransomware?

If you decide you do not want to gamble with your money for tools you might never get, we can help you get rid of Styx Ransomware. One way to remove it is to delete its installer and other files associated with it manually, and if you check the instructions available below the article, you can learn how to do this as well. However, if this process looks a bit too complicated, users could employ a legitimate antimalware tool and then scan their devices with it. During the scan, it should detect the infection and later on you could eliminate it at once just by clicking the provided deletion button.

Remove Styx Ransomware

1. Tap Ctrl+Alt+Delete.
2. Launch Task Manager and go to Processes.
3. Search for a process related to the malware.
4. Mark the suspicious process and click End Task.
5. Press Windows key+E.
6. Check the following paths:
   %USERPROFILE%Desktop
   %USERPROFILE%Downloads
   %TEMP%
7. Locate the file responsible for infecting the system.
8. Right-click the suspicious file and press Delete.
9. Go to %APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs
10. Right-click files called 0_HELP_DECRYPT_FILES.txt and 0_HELP_DECRYPT_FILES2.html separately and press Delete.
11. Locate other copies of the malware’s ransom notes and erase them as well.
12. Exit the File Explorer.
13. Empty your Recycle bin.
14. Reboot the device. Download Removal Tool100% FREE spyware scan and
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Stop these Styx Ransomware Processes: