CRYPBITS256 Ransomware 🔐 (.CRYPBITS256PT2 File) — Removal Guide

The Crypbits256 virus falls under the Xorist ransomware family. A harmful program of such sort encrypts all the data on your PC (images, text files, excel tables, music, videos, etc) and appends its specific extension to every file, creating the HOW TO DECRYPT FILES.txt text files in each directory with the encrypted files.

Crypbits256 virus: what is known so far?

☝ A scientifically correct denomination for the Crypbits256 would be “a Xorist family ransomware-type infection”.

Crypbits256 will add its own .CrypBits256PT2 extension to the title of every encrypted file. For example, a file entitled “photo.jpg” will be renamed to “photo.jpg.CrypBits256PT2”. Likewise, the Excel file named “table.xlsx” will end up as “table.xlsx.CrypBits256PT2”, and so forth.

In every folder with the encrypted files, a HOW TO DECRYPT FILES.txt file will be found. It is a ransom money note. Therein you can find information about the ways of paying the ransom and some other information. The ransom note usually contains a description of how to purchase the decryption tool from the racketeers. You can obtain this decoding tool after contacting [email protected] by email. That is it.

Crypbits256 abstract:
Name Crypbits256 Virus
Ransomware family1 Xorist ransomware
Extension .CrypBits256PT2
Ransomware note HOW TO DECRYPT FILES.txt
Contact [email protected]
Detection Trojan.Win32.Maxpow, Trojan:Win32/SmokeLoader.CU!MTB, Trojan:Win32/Nabucur
Symptoms Your files (photos, videos, documents) get a .CrypBits256PT2 extension and you can’t open them.
Fix Tool See If Your System Has Been Affected by Crypbits256 virus

The HOW TO DECRYPT FILES.txt document coming in package with the Crypbits256 malware provides the following dispiriting information:

Todos Dados/Backups foram criptografados
a unica forma de obter os dados em seu perfeito estado Ă©
entrar em contato no Email:  [email protected]
e obter o decryptor+chave unica por um pequeno valor.
Dados em perfeito estado em até 1 hora
prazo para o contato 09/11/2022 12:00  ID-0004
(N = NÂO)
- N delete arquivos trancados
- N nĂŁo renomeie os arquivos trancados
- N  nĂŁo altere a extensao dos arquivos trancados .CrypBits256
- N  nĂŁo poste esta mensagem em nenhum site
  nem denuncie pois podem bloquear este email.

In the picture below, you can see what a folder with files encrypted by the Crypbits256 looks like. Each filename has the “.CrypBits256PT2” extension added to it.

Crypbits256 Virus - encrypted .CrypBits256PT2 files

That is how encrypted “.CrypBits256PT2” files look.

How did my machine catch Crypbits256 ransomware?

There are plenty of possible ways of ransomware infiltration.

There are currently three most popular methods for hackers to have the Crypbits256 virus settled in your digital environment. These are email spam, Trojan introduction and peer-to-peer networks.

If you open your mailbox and see emails that look like familiar notifications from utility services companies, postal agencies like FedEx, Internet providers, and whatnot, but whose addresser is strange to you, beware of opening those letters. They are very likely to have a malware file attached to them. Thus it is even riskier to download any attachments that come with letters like these.

Another thing the hackers might try is a Trojan file scheme. A Trojan is an object that infiltrates into your PC disguised as something else. For instance, you download an installer for some program you want or an update for some service. However, what is unpacked reveals itself a harmful agent that compromises your data. As the update file can have any name and any icon, you have to make sure that you can trust the source of the files you’re downloading. The best thing is to use the software companies’ official websites.

As for the peer file transfer protocols like BitTorrent or eMule, the danger 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 folder containing the downloaded objects with the anti-malware utility as soon as the downloading is finished.

How do I get rid of the Crypbits256 virus?

It is crucial to inform you that besides encrypting your files, the Crypbits256 virus will probably deploy Vidar Stealer on your PC to seize your credentials to different accounts (including cryptocurrency wallets). The mentioned program can derive your logins and passwords from your browser’s auto-filling cardfile.

Often racketeers would unblock few of your files so you know that they do have the decryption program. As Crypbits256 virus is a relatively recent ransomware, safety measures developers have not yet found a way to reverse its work. However, the anti-ransomware tools are frequently updated, so the effective countermeasure may soon be available.

Of course, if the criminals succeed in encrypting victim’s critical data, the desperate person will most likely fulfill their demands. Nevertheless, paying to racketeers gives no guarantee that you’re getting your files back. It is still risky. After receiving the money, the racketeers may deliver a wrong decryption code to the injured party. There were reports about malefactors simply vanishing 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 essential files in the cloud drive or at least on an external drive. Surely, that might be not enough. Your most important thing could be that one you were working on when it all happened. Nevertheless, it is something. It is also wise to scan your PC for viruses with the antivirus program after the OS is rolled back.

Crypbits256 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 Coty, Foza, Coza, and some others. The two main differences between them and the Crypbits256 are the ransom amount and the encoding method. The rest is almost identical: files become blocked, their extensions altered, ransom notes are found in each folder containing encoded files.

Some lucky users were able to decode the blocked files with the aid of the free software provided by anti-malware specialists. Sometimes the racketeers mistakenly send the decryption key to the victims in the ransom note. Such an extraordinary fail allows the user to restore the files. But obviously, one should never expect such a chance. Make no mistake, ransomware is a bandits’ tool to lay their hands on the money of their victims.

How to avert ransomware attack?

Crypbits256 ransomware doesn’t have a superpower, neither does any similar malware.

You can protect your PC from ransomware attack taking three easy steps:

  • Ignore any letters from unknown mailboxes with unknown addresses, or with content that has likely no connection to something you are expecting (how can you win in a lottery without even taking part in it?). If the email subject is likely something you are waiting for, check all elements of the questionable email with caution. A fake letter will always contain a mistake.
  • Never use cracked or unknown programs. Trojan viruses are often spreaded as a part of cracked products, possibly under the guise of “patch” to prevent the license check. But potentially dangerous programs are very hard to tell from trustworthy ones, as trojans sometimes have the functionality you seek. Try to find information about this program on the anti-malware forums, but the best solution is not to use such programs at all.
Reasons why I would recommend GridinSoft2

Download Removal Tool.

Run the setup file.

Run Setup.exe
GridinSoft Anti-Malware Setup

Press “Install” button.

GridinSoft Anti-Malware Install

Once installed, Anti-Malware will automatically run.

GridinSoft Anti-Malware Splash-Screen

Wait for the Anti-Malware scan to complete.

GridinSoft Anti-Malware Scanning

Click on “Clean Now”.

GridinSoft Anti-Malware Scan Result

FAQ

đŸ€” How can I open “.CrypBits256PT2” files?Is it possible to open“.CrypBits256PT2” files?

There’s no way to do it, unless the files “.CrypBits256PT2” files are decrypted.

đŸ€” What should I do to make my files accessible as fast as possible?

It’s good if you have fаr-sightedly saved copies of these important files elsewhere. If not, there is still a function of System Restore but it needs a Restore Point to be previously saved. The rest of the methods require patience.

đŸ€” What to do if the Crypbits256 malware has blocked my computer and I can’t get the activation key.

đŸ€” What can I do right now?

Many of the encoded files might still be at your disposal

  • If you exchanged your critical files via email, you could still download them from your online mailbox.
  • You might 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 Internet, you can try to do it again.
  • Your messengers, social media pages, and cloud storage might have all those files as well.
  • Maybe you still have the needed files on your old computer, a laptop, mobile, flash memory, etc.

USEFUL TIP: You can employ file recovery utilities4 to get your lost data back since ransomware blocks the copies of your files, removing the authentic ones. In the video below, you can see how to use PhotoRec for such a restoration, but be advised: you won’t be able to do it before you kill the virus with an anti-malware program.

Also, you can contact the following official fraud and scam sites to report this attack:

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.

I need your help to share this article.

It is your turn to help other people. I have written this article to help users like you. You can use the buttons below to share this on your favorite social media Facebook, Twitter, or Reddit.
Brendan Smith

References

  1. My files are encrypted by ransomware, what should I do now?
  2. Here are Top 10 Data Recovery Software Of 2023.

About the author

Brendan Smith

Cybersecurity analyst covering malware families, suspicious files, and detection alerts. Brendan focuses on clear explanations of what a warning means, when it may be a false positive, and which cleanup steps are appropriate.

Leave a Comment