Cry Ransomware

What is Cry?

Cry (CryLocker) is a new ransomware-type virus that stealthily infiltrates the system and encrypts various data types. During encryption, Cry ransomware appends the names of encrypted files with the ".cry" extension (for example, "sample.jpg" is renamed to "sample.jpg.cry"). Thus, it is relatively easy to determine which files are encrypted.

Furthermore, Cry creates a folder named "old_shortcuts", places it on the desktop and moves all encrypted files (that were previously placed on the desktop) to this folder.

Following successful encryption, Cry creates two files (.txt and .html, named "!Recovery_[6 random characters]") that contain identical ransom-demand messages. These files are also placed on victim's desktop.

Ransom-demand message informs victims of the encryption and states that the files can only be restored using a Cry ransomware decryption kit, however, it is also stated that the decryptor can only be used after paying a ransom of $150. If the ransom is not paid within the given time frame (~100 hours), the size will double to $300.

As usual, victims must pay the ransom in Bitcoins. The ransom-demand message contains a link to Cry's website, which provides step-by-step payment and decryption instructions. It also allows victims to decrypt a selected file free of charge, supposedly to prove that decryption is possible.

Note that Cry's website contains references and a logo of "Central Security Treatment Organization (Department of pre-trial settlement)", however, there is no such organization. Cyber criminals claim to be authorities and attempt to trick victims into believing that they have violated cyber laws.

This is a very effective way to scam unsuspecting users, since a few hundreds dollars is seemingly a small price to avoid punishment and having your files decrypted. In fact, developers of ransomware-type viruses often ignore victims, despite payments made.

Therefore, we strongly advise you to ignore all requests to pay the ransom or contact these people. There is a high probability that paying will not deliver any positive result - you will waste your money and receive nothing in return.

Unfortunately, there are currently no tools capable of restoring files encrypted by Cry ransomware. Thus, the only solution is to restore your system from a backup.

Screenshot of a message encouraging users to contact the developers of Cry ransomware to decrypt their compromised data:

There are dozens of ransomware-type viruses that are virtually identical to Cry including CTB-Locker, Cerber3, Locky, and Chimera - these are just some examples from many. All encrypt files and demand hundreds of dollars in exchange for decryption software and a password.

Ransomware-type viruses often use asymmetric encryption algorithms and, thus, the only noticeable difference between them is the size of ransom. In addition, ransomware is commonly distributed using spam emails (malicious attachments), P2P (peer-to-peer) networks (such as Torrent), trojans, and fake software update tools.

Therefore, be cautious when opening files received from unrecognized/suspicious email addresses, and when downloading files from third party sources. Furthermore, use a legitimate anti-virus/anti-spyware suite and keep your installed applications up-to-date.

Poor knowledge of these threats and careless actions are mostly the reason for system infection. The key to computer safety is caution.

Text presented on Cry website homepage:

Central Security Treatment Organization Department of pre-trial settlement Warning! Your files are encrypted! Your documents, databases, project files, audio and video content and other critical files have been encrypted with a persistent military-grade crypto algorithm!!! To restore the access to your files you need to pay commission for the decryption in amount of $150 (˜0.2727272727272727). Only after the commission is paid in full you will be provided with the special software for the encrypted data recovery. Important In the case of non-payment of the full commission within 4d 4h , the amount of commission will be raised to $300 (˜0.5454545454545454) Attention required Do not take any actions to decrypt your files on your own! This is absolutely impossible and can lead to the encrypted data corruption and, therefore, it can not be recovered in the future! In case of the repeated non-payment of the increased commission during the 4d 4h period, the unique decryption code for your files will be blocked and its recovery will be absolutely impossible!

CryLocker ransomware changes victim's desktop wallpaper with an image containing a ransom demanding message:

Screenshot of Cry website "Payment" page:

Text presented within this page:

Payment procedure How to pay? Payment can only be made using the BitCoin system. BitCoin is the new generation of the decentralized cyber currency that has been created on the Internet and is operating on the Internet only. Emission of the BitCoin currency (BTC) is performed by the work of millions of computers around the world using a program for calculation of mathematical algorithms. Due to this fact, all the payments within the system are open payments but at the same time are completely anonymous for the whole world. So you can be sure that in the case of full payment of the commission, all your files will be decrypted. Please note that BTC currency rate as any other currency rate in the world is not fixed. It tends to increase, therefore we advise you not to delay the BTC currency purchase and payment. How to pay within the BitCoin system? Don't worry, the payment process in the BitCoin system is not difficult and requires few simple steps. BTC wallet you need to transfer the payment to has been set up specially for you and the amount paid can not be lost! You will be able to check all the information about the payments made. Your BTC wallet: 16NSZ676WBVw4t8Gkq5f8hcc3gbk68j3c9 Around the world there is a wide variety of services (see the full list below) allowing to buy BTC currency with cash, classic bank cards (Visa/Mastercard), PayPal, bank transfers and other payment methods. Below you can find the list of trusted BitCoin purchase services. We would like to draw your attention to the fact that these services are not affiliated with us! Most of them are designed for beginners and have prompt support services. Some of these services will set up a personal BTC wallet for you, while others can make a direct transfer to the wallet that has been set up for you on our system. It should be noted that some of the services mentioned can require you to confirm your identity before the BitCoins purchase. IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW WHILE MAKING PAYMENTS WITHIN THE BITCOIN SYSTEM! If you need to save, copy, etc your BTC wallet number do not try to write it down by hand! If while making a transaction you type the wrong BTC wallet number, the money will be lost. Therefore, if necessary, print out the BTC wallet number you need or use the QR-code scanner on your smartphone. If you are not confident that you are able to do everything correctly the first time, you can split the full amount of payment in several BTC transactions. As was mentioned above, the BTC wallet you need to make payment to has been set up specially for you. That is why at any time you may see the current balance and the reminder to be paid. Keep in mind that some BTC purchase services have a delay in payment processing. The delay may last from 24 to 36 hours. We therefore recommend you not to put aside the decision of payment until the last moment. Failure to pay on time may result in the increase of the commission amount!!! THE FULL LIST OF SERVICES WHERE YOU MAY BUY BitCoin Currency (BTC)

Screenshot of Cry website "Test decryption" page:

Screenshot of Cry website "Instructions" page:

Text presented within this page:

Instructions What to do after the payment is made? How to decrypt all your data? After payment you can download the decryption software from the home page. We guarantee that all your files will be decrypted. Just follow these simple steps: Login to your personal page Copy the decryption key from field on the home page Click "Download decryption software" button and save decriptor_2.0.20.143.exe to your hard disk Run decriptor_2.0.20.143.exe Paste the decryption key into field in the decryption software window Click "Run decryption" and wait for successfull completion of the decryption process IMPORTANT: Don't turn off or reboot your PC before the process is completed! Congratulations! Now all your files are restored!

Screenshot of Cry website "Support" page:

Screenshot of Cry ransomware text file (!Recovery_[6 random characters].txt):

Screenshot of Cry ransomware html file (!Recovery_[6 random characters].html):

Ransom-demand message presented in .txt and .html files:

............................ Not your language? Use hxxps://translate.google.com .............................
===== WARNING! YOUR DOCUMENTS, DATABASES, PROJECT FILES, AUDIO AND VIDEO CONTENT AND OTHER CRITICAL FILES HAVE BEEN ENCRYPTED WITH A PERSISTENT MILITARY-GRADE CRYPTO ALGORITHM =====
............................................ How did this happen? ............................................
=== Specially for your PC was generated personal 4096 bit RSA key, both public and private. All your files have been encrypted with the public key. Decrypting of your files is only possible with the help of the private key and de-crypt program.
................................................ What do I do? ...............................................
=== Don't wait for a miracle and the price doubled! Start obtaining Bitcoin now and restore your data easy way! If you HAVE REALLY VALUABLE DATA, you better NOT WASTE YOUR TIME, because there is NO OTHER WAY to get your files, EXCEPT MAKE A PAYMENT =====
.................................. What should you do with these addresses? ..................................
1. Take a look at the first address (in this case it is hxxp://neutx2ll7kh7h7zt.onion.to); 2. Select it with the mouse cursor holding the left mouse button and moving the cursor to the right; 3. Release the left mouse button and press the right one; 4. Select "Copy" in the appeared menu; 5. Run your Internet browser (if you do not know what it is run the Internet Explorer); 6. Move the mouse cursor to the address bar of the browser (this is the place where the site address is written); 7. Click the right mouse button in the field where the site address is written; 8. Select the button "Insert" in the appeared menu; 9. Then you will see the address hxxp://neutx2ll7kh7h7zt.onion.to appeared there; 10. Press ENTER; 11. The site should be loaded; if it is not loaded repeat the same instructions with the second address and continue until the last address if falling. If for some reason the site cannot be opened check the connection to the Internet. Unfortunately these sites are short-term since the antivirus companies are interested in you do not have a chance to restore your files but continue to buy their products. Unlike them we are ready to help you always. If you need our help but the temporary sites are not available: 1. Run your Internet browser (if you do not know what it is run the Internet Explorer); 2. Enter or copy the address hxxps://www.torproject.org/download/download-easy.html.en into the address bar of your browser and press ENTER; 3. Wait for the site loading; 4. On the site you will be offered to download Tor Browser; download and run it, follow the installation instructions, wait until the installation is completed; 5. Run Tor Browser; 6. Connect with the button "Connect" (if you use the English version); 7. A normal Internet browser window will be opened after the initialization; 8. type or copy the address hxxp://neutx2ll7kh7h7zt.onion in this browser address bar; 9. Press ENTER; 10. The site should be loaded; if for some reason the site is not loading wait for a moment and try again
===== !!! IMPORTANT !!! Be sure to copy your personal ID and the instruction link to your notepad not to lose them. =====

Screenshot of files encrypted by Cry ransomware (.cry extension):

Cry ransomware removal:

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Video suggesting what steps should be taken in case of a ransomware infection:

Quick menu:

• What is Cry virus?
• STEP 1. Reporting ransomware to authorities.
• STEP 2. Isolating the infected device.
• STEP 3. Identifying the ransomware infection.
• STEP 4. Searching for ransomware decryption tools.
• STEP 5. Restoring files with data recovery tools.
• STEP 6. Creating data backups.

Reporting ransomware to authorities:

If you are a victim of a ransomware attack we recommend reporting this incident to authorities. By providing information to law enforcement agencies you will help track cybercrime and potentially assist in the prosecution of the attackers. Here's a list of authorities where you should report a ransomware attack. For the complete list of local cybersecurity centers and information on why you should report ransomware attacks, read this article.

List of local authorities where ransomware attacks should be reported (choose one depending on your residence address):

•  USA - Internet Crime Complaint Centre IC3
•  United Kingdom - Action Fraud
•  Spain - Policía Nacional
•  France - Ministère de l'Intérieur
•  Germany - Polizei
•  Italy - Polizia di Stato
•  The Netherlands - Politie
•  Poland - Policja
•  Portugal - Polícia Judiciária

Isolating the infected device:

Some ransomware-type infections are designed to encrypt files within external storage devices, infect them, and even spread throughout the entire local network. For this reason, it is very important to isolate the infected device (computer) as soon as possible.

Step 1: Disconnect from the internet.

The easiest way to disconnect a computer from the internet is to unplug the Ethernet cable from the motherboard, however, some devices are connected via a wireless network and for some users (especially those who are not particularly tech-savvy), disconnecting cables may seem troublesome. Therefore, you can also disconnect the system manually via Control Panel:

Navigate to the "Control Panel", click the search bar in the upper-right corner of the screen, enter "Network and Sharing Center" and select search result:

Click the "Change adapter settings" option in the upper-left corner of the window:

Right-click on each connection point and select "Disable". Once disabled, the system will no longer be connected to the internet. To re-enable the connection points, simply right-click again and select "Enable".

Step 2: Unplug all storage devices.

As mentioned above, ransomware might encrypt data and infiltrate all storage devices that are connected to the computer. For this reason, all external storage devices (flash drives, portable hard drives, etc.) should be disconnected immediately, however, we strongly advise you to eject each device before disconnecting to prevent data corruption:

Navigate to "My Computer", right-click on each connected device, and select "Eject":

Step 3: Log-out of cloud storage accounts.

Some ransomware-type might be able to hijack software that handles data stored within "the Cloud". Therefore, the data could be corrupted/encrypted. For this reason, you should log-out of all cloud storage accounts within browsers and other related software. You should also consider temporarily uninstalling the cloud-management software until the infection is completely removed.

Identify the ransomware infection:

To properly handle an infection, one must first identify it. Some ransomware infections use ransom-demand messages as an introduction (see the WALDO ransomware text file below).

This, however, is rare. In most cases, ransomware infections deliver more direct messages simply stating that data is encrypted and that victims must pay some sort of ransom. Note that ransomware-type infections typically generate messages with different file names (for example, "_readme.txt", "READ-ME.txt", "DECRYPTION_INSTRUCTIONS.txt", "DECRYPT_FILES.html", etc.). Therefore, using the name of a ransom message may seem like a good way to identify the infection. The problem is that most of these names are generic and some infections use the same names, even though the delivered messages are different and the infections themselves are unrelated. Therefore, using the message filename alone can be ineffective and even lead to permanent data loss (for example, by attempting to decrypt data using tools designed for different ransomware infections, users are likely to end up permanently damaging files and decryption will no longer be possible even with the correct tool).

Another way to identify a ransomware infection is to check the file extension, which is appended to each encrypted file. Ransomware infections are often named by the extensions they append (see files encrypted by Qewe ransomware below).

This method is only effective, however, when the appended extension is unique - many ransomware infections append a generic extension (for example, ".encrypted", ".enc", ".crypted", ".locked", etc.). In these cases, identifying ransomware by its appended extension becomes impossible.

One of the easiest and quickest ways to identify a ransomware infection is to use the ID Ransomware website. This service supports most existing ransomware infections. Victims simply upload a ransom message and/or one encrypted file (we advise you to upload both if possible).

The ransomware will be identified within seconds and you will be provided with various details, such as the name of the malware family to which the infection belongs, whether it is decryptable, and so on.

Example 1 (Qewe [Stop/Djvu] ransomware):

Example 2 (.iso [Phobos] ransomware):

If your data happens to be encrypted by ransomware that is not supported by ID Ransomware, you can always try searching the internet by using certain keywords (for example, a ransom message title, file extension, provided contact emails, crypto wallet addresses, etc.).

Search for ransomware decryption tools:

Encryption algorithms used by most ransomware-type infections are extremely sophisticated and, if the encryption is performed properly, only the developer is capable of restoring data. This is because decryption requires a specific key, which is generated during the encryption. Restoring data without the key is impossible. In most cases, cybercriminals store keys on a remote server, rather than using the infected machine as a host. Dharma (CrySis), Phobos, and other families of high-end ransomware infections are virtually flawless, and thus restoring data encrypted without the developers' involvement is simply impossible. Despite this, there are dozens of ransomware-type infections that are poorly developed and contain a number of flaws (for example, the use of identical encryption/decryption keys for each victim, keys stored locally, etc.). Therefore, always check for available decryption tools for any ransomware that infiltrates your computer.

Finding the correct decryption tool on the internet can be very frustrating. For this reason, we recommend that you use the No More Ransom Project and this is where identifying the ransomware infection is useful. The No More Ransom Project website contains a "Decryption Tools" section with a search bar. Enter the name of the identified ransomware, and all available decryptors (if there are any) will be listed.

Restore files with data recovery tools:

Depending on the situation (quality of ransomware infection, type of encryption algorithm used, etc.), restoring data with certain third-party tools might be possible. Therefore, we advise you to use the Recuva tool developed by CCleaner. This tool supports over a thousand data types (graphics, video, audio, documents, etc.) and it is very intuitive (little knowledge is necessary to recover data). In addition, the recovery feature is completely free.

Step 1: Perform a scan.

Run the Recuva application and follow the wizard. You will be prompted with several windows allowing you to choose what file types to look for, which locations should be scanned, etc. All you need to do is select the options you're looking for and start the scan. We advise you to enable the "Deep Scan" before starting, otherwise, the application's scanning capabilities will be restricted.

Wait for Recuva to complete the scan. The scanning duration depends on the volume of files (both in quantity and size) that you are scanning (for example, several hundred gigabytes could take over an hour to scan). Therefore, be patient during the scanning process. We also advise against modifying or deleting existing files, since this might interfere with the scan. If you add additional data (for example, downloading files/content) while scanning, this will prolong the process:

Step 2: Recover data.

Once the process is complete, select the folders/files you wish to restore and simply click "Recover". Note that some free space on your storage drive is necessary to restore data:

Create data backups:

Proper file management and creating backups is essential for data security. Therefore, always be very careful and think ahead.

Partition management: We recommend that you store your data in multiple partitions and avoid storing important files within the partition that contains the entire operating system. If you fall into a situation whereby you cannot boot the system and are forced to format the disk on which the operating system is installed (in most cases, this is where malware infections hide), you will lose all data stored within that drive. This is the advantage of having multiple partitions: if you have the entire storage device assigned to a single partition, you will be forced to delete everything, however, creating multiple partitions and allocating the data properly allows you to prevent such problems. You can easily format a single partition without affecting the others - therefore, one will be cleaned and the others will remain untouched, and your data will be saved. Managing partitions is quite simple and you can find all the necessary information on Microsoft's documentation web page.

Data backups: One of the most reliable backup methods is to use an external storage device and keep it unplugged. Copy your data to an external hard drive, flash (thumb) drive, SSD, HDD, or any other storage device, unplug it and store it in a dry place away from the sun and extreme temperatures. This method is, however, quite inefficient, since data backups and updates need to be made regularly. You can also use a cloud service or remote server. Here, an internet connection is required and there is always the chance of a security breach, although it's a really rare occasion.

We recommend using Microsoft OneDrive for backing up your files. OneDrive lets you store your personal files and data in the cloud, sync files across computers and mobile devices, allowing you to access and edit your files from all of your Windows devices. OneDrive lets you save, share and preview files, access download history, move, delete, and rename files, as well as create new folders, and much more.

You can back up your most important folders and files on your PC (your Desktop, Documents, and Pictures folders). Some of OneDrive’s more notable features include file versioning, which keeps older versions of files for up to 30 days. OneDrive features a recycling bin in which all of your deleted files are stored for a limited time. Deleted files are not counted as part of the user’s allocation.

The service is built using HTML5 technologies and allows you to upload files up to 300 MB via drag and drop into the web browser or up to 10 GB via the OneDrive desktop application. With OneDrive, you can download entire folders as a single ZIP file with up to 10,000 files, although it can’t exceed 15 GB per single download.

OneDrive comes with 5 GB of free storage out of the box, with an additional 100 GB, 1 TB, and 6 TB storage options available for a subscription-based fee. You can get one of these storage plans by either purchasing additional storage separately or with Office 365 subscription.

Creating a data backup:

The backup process is the same for all file types and folders. Here’s how you can back up your files using Microsoft OneDrive

Step 1: Choose the files/folders you want to backup.

Click the OneDrive cloud icon to open the OneDrive menu. While in this menu, you can customize your file backup settings.

Click Help & Settings and then select Settings from the drop-down menu.

Go to the Backup tab and click Manage backup.

In this menu, you can choose to backup the Desktop and all of the files on it, and Documents and Pictures folders, again, with all of the files in them. Click Start backup.

Now, when you add a file or folder in the Desktop and Documents and Pictures folders, they will be automatically backed up on OneDrive.

To add folders and files, not in the locations shown above, you have to add them manually.

Open File Explorer and navigate to the location of the folder/file you want to backup. Select the item, right-click it, and click Copy.

Then, navigate to OneDrive, right-click anywhere in the window and click Paste. Alternatively, you can just drag and drop a file into OneDrive. OneDrive will automatically create a backup of the folder/file.

All of the files added to the OneDrive folder are backed up in the cloud automatically. The green circle with the checkmark in it indicates that the file is available both locally and on OneDrive and that the file version is the same on both. The blue cloud icon indicates that the file has not been synced and is available only on OneDrive. The sync icon indicates that the file is currently syncing.

To access files only located on OneDrive online, go to the Help & Settings drop-down menu and select View online.

Step 2: Restore corrupted files.

OneDrive makes sure that the files stay in sync, so the version of the file on the computer is the same version on the cloud. However, if ransomware has encrypted your files, you can take advantage of OneDrive’s Version history feature that will allow you to restore the file versions prior to encryption.

Microsoft 365 has a ransomware detection feature that notifies you when your OneDrive files have been attacked and guide you through the process of restoring your files. It must be noted, however, that if you don’t have a paid Microsoft 365 subscription, you only get one detection and file recovery for free.

If your OneDrive files get deleted, corrupted, or infected by malware, you can restore your entire OneDrive to a previous state. Here’s how you can restore your entire OneDrive:

1. If you're signed in with a personal account, click the Settings cog at the top of the page. Then, click Options and select Restore your OneDrive.

If you're signed in with a work or school account,  click the Settings cog at the top of the page. Then, click Restore your OneDrive.

2. On the Restore your OneDrive page, select a date from the drop-down list. Note that if you're restoring your files after automatic ransomware detection, a restore date will be selected for you.

3. After configuring all of the file restoration options, click Restore to undo all the activities you selected.

The best way to avoid damage from ransomware infections is to maintain regular up-to-date backups.

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