The Cy3 virus belongs under the Dharma ransomware family. Harmful software of this type encrypts all the data on your computer (images, text files, excel tables, audio files, videos, etc) and appends its own extension to every file, creating the info.txt text files in every directory with the encrypted files.
Cy3 virus: what is known so far?
βοΈ A scientifically accurate denomination for the Cy3 is “a Dharma family ransomware-type infection”.
The scheme of renaming is this: id-xxxxx.[contact_email].CY3. During the encryption, a file entitled, for example, “report.docx” will be altered to “report.docx.id-9ECFA84E.[cybercrypt@tutanota.com].CY3”.
In every folder with the encrypted files, a info.txt text file will be created. It is a ransom money note. Therein you can find information on the ways of contacting the racketeers and some other remarks. The ransom note usually contains instructions on how to buy the decryption tool from the racketeers. You can obtain this decrypting software after contacting cybercrypt@tutanota.com by email. That is how they do it.
Cy3 overview:
| Name | Cy3 Virus |
| Ransomware family1 | Dharma ransomware |
| Extension | .CY3 |
| Ransomware note | info.txt |
| Contact | cybercrypt@tutanota.com |
| Detection | Crytex.Virus.FileInfector.DDS, Win32/Filecoder.OLC, Malware-Cryptor.InstallCore.5 |
| Symptoms | Your files (photos, videos, documents) have a .CY3 extension and you can’t open them. |
| Fix Tool | See If Your System Has Been Affected by Cy3 virus |
The info.txt document accompanying the Cy3 ransomware states the following:
All your files have been encrypted! Don\'t worry, you can return all your files! If you want to restore them, write to the mail: ronrivest@airmail.cc YOUR ID - If you have not answered by mail within 12 hours, write to us by another mail:ronrivest@tuta.io Free decryption as guarantee Before paying you can send us up to 3 files for free decryption. The total size of files must be less than 3Mb (non archived), and files should not contain valuable information. (databases,backups, large excel sheets, etc.) How to obtain Bitcoins The easiest way to buy bitcoins is LocalBitcoins site. You have to register, click \'Buy bitcoins\', and select the seller by payment method and price. hxxps://localbitcoins.com/buy_bitcoins Also you can find other places to buy Bitcoins and beginners guide here: hxxp://www.coindesk.com/information/how-can-i-buy-bitcoins/ Attention! Do not rename encrypted files. Do not try to decrypt your data using third party software, it may cause permanent data loss. Decryption of your files with the help of third parties may cause increased price (they add their fee to our) or you can become a victim of a scam.
In the screenshot below, you can see what a folder with files encrypted by the Cy3 looks like. Each filename has the “.CY3” extension added to it.
An example of encrypted .CY3 files.
How did my computer get infected with Cy3 ransomware?
There are many possible ways of ransomware infiltration.
Nowadays, there are three most exploited ways for malefactors to have the Cy3 virus working in your system. These are email spam, Trojan introduction and peer file transfer.
If you access your mailbox and see emails that look just like notifications from utility services companies, delivery agencies like FedEx, web-access providers, and whatnot, but whose mailer is strange to you, beware of opening those letters. They are most likely to have a malware file attached to them. Therefore, it is even more dangerous to download any attachments that come with letters like these.
Another option for ransom hunters is a Trojan horse scheme2. A Trojan is a program that gets into your PC disguised as something different. Imagine, you download an installer for some program you want or an update for some program. But what is unboxed reveals itself a harmful program that encrypts your data. As the update file can have any title and any icon, you have to make sure that you can trust the resource of the files you’re downloading. The best way is to trust the software companies’ official websites.
As for the peer-to-peer file transfer protocols like BitTorrent or eMule, the threat is that they are even more trust-based than the rest of the Internet. 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 items with the antivirus as soon as the downloading is done.
How do I get rid of the Cy3 virus?
It is crucial to inform you that besides encrypting your files, the Cy3 virus will probably install the Azorult Spyware on your computer to get access to credentials to different accounts (including cryptocurrency wallets). That program can derive your credentials from your browser’s auto-filling data.
Sometimes criminals would unblock several of your files so you know that they really have the decryption tool. As Cy3 virus is a relatively new ransomware, anti-malware engineers have not yet found a way to undo its work. However, the decoding instruments are frequently updated, so the solution may soon arrive.
Of course, if the tamperers do the job of encrypting someone’s essential files, the desperate person will most likely fulfill their demands. However, paying to criminals does not necessarily mean that you’re getting your files back. It is still risky. After getting the ransom, the racketeers may deliver a wrong decryption code to the injured party. There were reports of ransomware developers simply vanishing after getting the ransom without even writing back.
The optimal countermeasure to ransomware is to have a system restore point or the copies of your critical files in the cloud storage or at least on an external disk. Of course, that might be insufficient. The most important thing could be that one you were working on when it all went down. But at least it is something. It is also advisable to scan your PC for viruses with the anti-malware utility after the OS is rolled back.
There are other ransomware products, besides Cy3, that work similarly. Examples of those are Mppn, Maos, Isal, and some others. The two major differences between them and the Cy3 are the ransom amount and the method of encryption. The rest is the same: documents become inaccessible, their extensions altered, ransom notes are found in each directory containing encrypted files.
Some fortunate people were able to decrypt the arrested files with the help of the free software provided by anti-malware experts. Sometimes the racketeers accidentally send the decoding 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 pull the money out of their victims.
How to avoid ransomware infiltration?
Cy3 ransomware has no superpower, neither does any similar malware.
You can armour your computer from ransomware injection in several easy steps:
- Never open any letters from unknown mailers with unknown addresses, or with content that has nothing to do with something you are waiting for (can you win in a lottery without participating in it?). If the email subject is likely something you are waiting for, check all elements of the dubious letter carefully. A hoax email will always contain mistakes.
- Never use cracked or untrusted software. Trojans are often distributed as an element of cracked products, possibly as a βpatchβ which prevents the license check. But dubious programs are difficult to distinguish from trustworthy ones, because trojans may also have the functionality you seek. Try searching for information on this software product on the anti-malware forums, but the best solution is not to use such software.
- And to be sure about the safety of the objects you downloaded, scan them with GridinSoft Anti-Malware. This program will be a perfect defense for your system.
Reasons why I would recommend GridinSoft3
There is no better way to recognize, remove and prevent ransomware than to use an anti-malware software from GridinSoft4.
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 PC.
An User Account Control asking you about to allow GridinSoft Anti-Malware to make changes to your device. So, you should click βYesβ 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 Cy3 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 βClean Nowβ button in right corner.
FAQ
π€ Is it possible to open β.CY3β files?
Unfortunately, no. You need to decipher the “.CY3” files first. Then you will be able to open them.
π€ The encrypted files are very important to me. How can I decrypt them quickly?
It’s good if you have fΠ°r-sightedly saved copies of these important files elsewhere. In case you haven’t, there is still a chance that you do have a Restore Point from some time ago to roll back the whole system to the moment when it had no virus yet, but already had your files. There are other ways to beat ransomware, but they take time.
π€ If GridinSoft deletes the Cy3 malware, will it also delete my files that were encrypted?
Absolutely not! The encrypted files are not harmful, so they won’t be deleted.
GridinSoft Anti-Malware only deals with real viruses. The malware that has infiltrated your device is probably still active and it scans your system from time to time to encode any new files you might create on your computer after the attack. As it has been said above, the Cy3 malware does not come alone. It installs backdoors and keyloggers that can steal your account credentials and provide malefactors with easy access to your computer in the future.
π€ What actions should I take if the Cy3 virus has blocked my computer and I can’t get the activation code.
In such an unfortunate situation, you need to have a memory stick with a previously installed Trojan Killer. Use Safe Mode to perform the cleaning. You see, the ransomware starts automatically as the system boots and encrypts any new files created or brought into your machine. To suppress this function – use Safe Mode, which allows only the vital programs to run automatically. Consider reading our manual on running Windows in Safe Mode.
π€ What can I do right now?
Some of the blocked files can be located elsewhere.
- If you exchanged your critical files via email, you could still download them from your online mailbox.
- You may have shared photographs or videos with your friends or relatives. Just ask them to give those pictures 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 networks pages, and cloud drives might have all those files too.
- Maybe you still have the needed files on your old PC, a laptop, mobile, memory stick, etc.
USEFUL TIP: You can use data recovery utilities5 to get your lost data back since ransomware arrests the copies of your files, deleting the authentic ones. In the video below, you can learn how to use PhotoRec for such a recovery, but remember: you won’t be able to do it before you remove the virus with an anti-malware program.
Also, you can contact the following official 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 sΓ©curitΓ© des systΓ¨mes d’information;
- In Germany: Bundesamt fΓΌr Sicherheit in der Informationstechnik;
- In Ireland: An Garda SΓochΓ‘na;
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 guide to help users like you. You can use the buttons below to share this on your favorite social media Facebook, Twitter, or Reddit.
Brendan SmithHow to Remove CY3 Ransomware & Recover PC
Name: CY3 Virus
Description: CY3 Virus is a ransomware-type infections. This virus encrypts important personal files (video, photos, documents). The encrypted files can be tracked by a specific .CY3 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.
- GridinSoft Anti-Malware Review from HowToFix site: https://howtofix.guide/gridinsoft-anti-malware/
- More information about GridinSoft products: https://gridinsoft.com/comparison
- Here are Best Data Recovery Software Of 2023.
