The Anoncrack virus falls under the HiddenTear ransomware family. This is open-source ransomware. Harmful software of such sort encrypts all the data on your computer (photos, text files, excel sheets, music, videos, etc) and adds its extra extension to every file, leaving the PAGO.txt files in every directory which contains the encrypted files.
Anoncrack virus: what is known so far?
☝️ A strictly correct description for the Anoncrack is “a HiddenTear family ransomware-type malicious agent”.
Anoncrack adds its own .crack extension to the title of every encrypted file. For example, a file named “photo.jpg” will be turned into “photo.jpg.crack”. In the same manner, the Excel file with the name “table.xlsx” will become “table.xlsx.crack”, and so on.
In each directory containing the encrypted files, a PAGO.txt text file will be created. It is a ransom money note. It contains information on the ways of contacting the racketeers and some other information. The ransom note usually contains a description of how to buy the decryption tool from the tamperers. You can obtain this decoding tool after contacting anoncrack@protonmail.com via email. That is it.
Anoncrack overview:
| Name | Anoncrack Virus |
| Ransomware family1 | HiddenTear ransomware |
| Extension | .crack |
| Ransomware note | PAGO.txt |
| Ransom | $30 |
| Contact | anoncrack@protonmail.com |
| Detection | Win32/Packed.BlackMoon.A suspicious, BScope.TrojanDownloader.Deyma, Mal/Kryptik-BX |
| Symptoms | Your files (photos, videos, documents) get a .crack extension and you can’t open them. |
| Fix Tool | See If Your System Has Been Affected by Anoncrack virus |
The PAGO.txt document coming in package with the Anoncrack malware provides the following dispiriting information:
Tu computador ha sido hackeado y encriptado by ANONCRACK ...! ¿COMO RECUPERAR TUS ARCHIVOS? 1. Realiza el pago de 30 USD ha esta direccion bitcoin : 1CvWhugm6QbHisVvhyRuKn81kQgVVs4ov8 2. Envia una captura del pago y nombre de tu PC ha este correo: anoncrack@protonmail.com 3. Una vez verificado tu pago, te enviaremos la KEY de DESENCRIPTACION 4. Disfruta de tus archivos personales Tus amigos ANONCRACK ;)
In the image below, you can see what a folder with files encrypted by the Anoncrack looks like. Each filename has the “.crack” extension appended to it.
That is how encrypted “.crack” files look.
How did my computer get infected with Anoncrack ransomware?
There are many possible ways of ransomware injection.
Nowadays, there are three most popular ways for malefactors to have ransomware planted in your digital environment. These are email spam, Trojan infiltration and peer-to-peer networks.
If you open your mailbox and see letters that look just like notifications from utility services providers, delivery agencies like FedEx, Internet providers, and whatnot, but whose sender is unknown to you, be wary of opening those emails. They are very likely to have a malware file enclosed in them. Therefore, it is even riskier to open any attachments that come with emails like these.
Another option for ransom hunters is a Trojan file scheme2. A Trojan is an object that infiltrates into your PC pretending to be something legal. For instance, you download an installer for some program you need or an update for some program. However, what is unboxed turns out to be a harmful agent that encrypts your data. As the installation wizard can have any name and any icon, you have to make sure that you can trust the source of the things you’re downloading. The optimal thing is to trust the software developers’ official websites.
As for the peer-to-peer file transfer protocols like torrents or eMule, the threat is that they are even more trust-based than the rest of the Web. You can never guess what you download until you get it. So you’d better be using trustworthy websites. Also, it is reasonable to scan the directory containing the downloaded items with the anti-malware utility as soon as the downloading is complete.
How to remove the Anoncrack virus?
It is important to inform you that besides encrypting your data, the Anoncrack virus will probably install the Azorult Spyware on your machine to seize your credentials to different accounts (including cryptocurrency wallets). The mentioned spyware3 can derive your logins and passwords from your browser’s auto-filling cardfile.
Sometimes racketeers would decrypt several of your files to prove that they really have the decryption program. As Anoncrack virus is a relatively new ransomware, anti-malware developers have not yet found a method to reverse its work. Nevertheless, the anti-ransomware tools are constantly upgraded, so the solution may soon arrive.
Of course, if the criminals succeed in encoding someone’s critical data, the desperate person will probably fulfill their demands. Nevertheless, paying a ransom gives no guarantee that you’re getting your files back. It is still dangerous. After getting the money, the racketeers may deliver a wrong decryption code to the victim. There were reports about criminals simply disappearing after getting the money without even bothering to reply.
The optimal solution against ransomware is to have aan OS restore point or the copies of your critical files in the cloud storage or at least on an external drive. Surely, that might be not enough. Your most important thing could be that file you were working on when it all went down. Nevertheless, it is something. It is also advisable to scan your drives with the antivirus program after the OS restoration.
Anoncrack is not the only ransomware of its kind, since there are other specimens of ransomware out there that act in the same manner. Examples of those are Oflg, Ofww, Towz, and some others. The two major differences between them and the Anoncrack are the ransom amount and the encoding method. The rest is almost identical: documents become encrypted, their extensions altered, ransom notes are created in each directory containing encoded files.
Some lucky people were able to decode the arrested files with the help of the free software provided by anti-ransomware specialists. Sometimes the criminals accidentally send the decoding code to the victims in the ransom readme. Such an extraordinary fail allows the user to restore the files. But naturally, one should never rely on such a chance. Make no mistake, ransomware is a bandits’ tool to pull the money out of their victims.
How to avoid ransomware infiltration?
Anoncrack ransomware has no endless power, so as any similar malware.
You can defend your PC from its injection within three easy steps:
- Never open any letters from unknown senders with unknown addresses, or with content that has likely no connection to something you are waiting for (how can you win in a lottery without participating in it?). In case the email subject is likely something you are expecting, check all elements of the dubious letter with caution. A fake email will always have a mistake.
- Never use cracked or unknown programs. Trojans are often distributed as an element of cracked products, most likely under the guise of “patch” which prevents the license check. Understandably, dubious programs are difficult to tell from reliable software, because trojans sometimes have the functionality you seek. You can try to find information on this software product on the anti-malware message boards, but the best solution is not to use such software.
- And finally, to be sure about the safety of the files you downloaded, scan them with GridinSoft Anti-Malware. This software will be a powerful armor for your PC.
Reasons why I would recommend GridinSoft4
There is no better way to recognize, remove and prevent ransomware than to use an anti-malware software from GridinSoft5.
Download Removal Tool.
You can download GridinSoft Anti-Malware by clicking the button below:
Run the setup file.
When setup file has finished downloading, double-click on the setup-antimalware-fix.exe file to install GridinSoft Anti-Malware on your system.
An User Account Control asking you about to allow GridinSoft Anti-Malware to make changes to your device. So, you should click “Yes” to continue with the installation.
Press “Install” button.
Once installed, Anti-Malware will automatically run.
Wait for the Anti-Malware scan to complete.
GridinSoft Anti-Malware will automatically start scanning your system for Anoncrack infections and other malicious programs. This process can take a 20-30 minutes, so I suggest you periodically check on the status of the scan process.
Click on “Clean Now”.
When the scan has completed, you will see the list of infections that GridinSoft Anti-Malware has detected. To remove them click on the “Clean Now” button in right corner.
Frequently Asked Questions
🤔 How can I open “.crack” files?Can I somehow access “.crack” files?
There’s no way to do it, unless the files “.crack” files are decrypted.
🤔 I really need to decrypt those “.crack” files ASAP. How can I do that?
If the “.crack” files contain some really important information, then you probably have them backed up. Otherwise, you might try to employ System Restore. The only question is whether you have saved any Restore Points that would be helpful now. There are other ways to beat ransomware, but they take time.
🤔 Will GridinSoft Anti-Malware remove all the encrypted files alongside the Anoncrack virus?
Of course not. The encrypted files are not harmful, so they won’t be deleted.
With the help of GridinSoft Anti-Malware, you can clean your PC off the actual threats. The virus that has infiltrated your PC is probably still active and running scans every so often to encrypt any new files you might create on your computer after the initial attack. As it has been said above, the Anoncrack virus comes with the company. It installs backdoors and keyloggers that can steal your account credentials and provide criminals with easy access to your system after some time.
🤔 What should I do if the Anoncrack virus has blocked my computer and I can’t get the activation code.
If that happened, you need to prepare a memory stick with a pre-installed Trojan Killer. Use Safe Mode to execute the procedure. The point is that the ransomware runs automatically as the system launches and encrypts any new files created or imported into your system. To stop this process – use Safe Mode, which allows only the essential programs to run automatically. Consider reading our manual on running Windows in Safe Mode.
🤔 And what should I do now?
Many of the encoded files might still be at your disposal
- If you exchanged your important files by email, you could still download them from your online mailbox.
- You may have shared images or videos with your friends or relatives. Simply ask them to post those images back to you.
- If you have initially downloaded any of your files from the Web, you can try to do it again.
- Your messengers, social media pages, and cloud disks might have all those files as well.
- Maybe you still have the needed files on your old computer, a portable device, phone, memory stick, etc.
HINT: You can employ data recovery programs6 to get your lost data back since ransomware encrypts the copies of your files, removing the original ones. In the video below, you can see how to recover your files with PhotoRec, but remember: you can do it only after you kill the virus with an antivirus program.
Also, you can contact the following governmental fraud and scam sites to report this attack:
- In the United States: On Guard Online;
- In Canada: Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre;
- In the United Kingdom: Action Fraud;
- In Australia: SCAMwatch;
- In New Zealand: Consumer Affairs Scams;
- In France: Agence nationale de la sécurité des systèmes d’information;
- In Germany: Bundesamt für Sicherheit in der Informationstechnik;
- In Ireland: An Garda Síochána;
To report the attack, you can contact local executive boards. For instance, if you live in USA, you can have a talk with FBI Local field office, IC3 or Secret Service.
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Brendan SmithHow to Remove ANONCRACK Ransomware & Recover PC
Name: ANONCRACK Virus
Description: ANONCRACK Virus is a ransomware-type infections. This virus encrypts important personal files (video, photos, documents). The encrypted files can be tracked by a specific .crack extension. So, you can't use them at all.
Operating System: Windows
Application Category: Virus
User Review
( votes)References
- My files are encrypted by ransomware, what should I do now?
- You can read more on Trojans, their use and types in the Trojan-dedicated section of GridinSoft official website.
- You can read more on spyware variants and nature in the respective section of GridinSoft official website.
- GridinSoft Anti-Malware Review from HowToFix site: https://howtofix.guide/gridinsoft-anti-malware/
- More information about GridinSoft products: https://gridinsoft.com/comparison
- Here are Top 10 Data Recovery Software Of 2023.
