DARKKUR Virus Ransomware (TimeCrystal@zohomail.eu)

The Darkkur virus belongs with the ransomware type of infection. Malware of this type encrypts all user’s data on the computer (photos, text files, excel sheets, audio files, videos, etc) and appends its extra extension to every file, creating the ReadMe.txt text files in every folder containing encrypted files.

Ransomware DARKKUR appends unique IDs assigned to victims, cyber criminals’ email addresses, and extensions to encrypted file names.

Depending on the variant of the ransomware, observed extensions include “.timecrystal1“, “.DARKKUR1“, and “.DarkCrypt“. For instance, on our test machine, the “.timecrystal1” variant renamed a file titled “1.jpg” as “1.jpg.[XXXXXXXX[TimeCrystal@zohomail.eu].timecrystal1”.

Once the encryption process is complete, DARKKUR creates and displays ransom notes through a pop-up window (“info.hta”) and a text file (“ReadMe.txt”).

It is better to prevent, than repair and repent!

When we talk about the intrusion of unfamiliar programs into your computer’s work, the proverb “Forewarned is forearmed” describes the situation as accurately as possible. Gridinsoft Anti-Malware is exactly the tool that is always useful to have in your armory: fast, efficient, up-to-date. It is appropriate to use it as an emergency help at the slightest suspicion of infection.

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Darkkur virus: what is known so far?

☝️ A strictly accurate description for the Darkkur would be “a ransomware malicious agent”.

The scheme of renaming is this: .timecrystal1. As a part of encryption, a file named, for instance, “report.docx” will be renamed to “report.docx.[EE1A1980[TimeCrystal@zohomail.eu].timecrystal1”.

In every directory that contains the encoded files, a ReadMe.txt text 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 get this tool after contacting @TimeCrystal (Telegram), TimeCrystal@zohomail.eu, TimeCrystal@skiff.com, Cyblade@zohomail.eu, recoverydata02@protonmail.com through email. That is it.

Darkkur outline:

The ReadMe.txt document coming in package with the Darkkur malware states the following:

[+] ALL OF YOUR VALUABLE DATA HAS BEEN ENCRYPTED.timecrystal[+]
[-] Please ensure that your files are not corrupted and that you are able to restore them today.
[+]If you use any software or method or individual for recovering your files, and your files get damaged, WE WILL NOT ACCEPT ANY RESPONSIBILITY! Your files are ENCRYPTED with a very strong and private ALGORITHM, and only our team can provide you with the DECRYPTION key!
[-] We have exclusive decryption software for your situation. Over a year ago, world experts recognized that it was impossible to decipher the data by any means other than the original decoder. There is no decryption software available to the public. Antivirus companies, researchers, IT specialists, and no other individuals can help you decrypt the data.
[-] To confirm our honest intentions, please send us two unimportant, random files, and we will decrypt them for you. These files can be from different computers on your network to ensure that one key decrypts everything. We will unlock these two unimportant files for free.
[+] Unique-ID : -
[-] Please put your Unique ID as the title of the email or as the starting title of the conversation.
[-] To get info (decrypt your files) contact us at


[+] Write Us To The ID-Telegram : @TimeCrystal
[+] Email 1 : TimeCrystal@zohomail.eu
[+] Email 2 : TimeCrystal@skiff.com
 
[-] You will receive btc address for payment in the reply letter


Important!
Plеаsе nоte that we are professionals and just doing our job!
Please dо nоt wаstе thе timе аnd dо nоt trу to dесеive us - it will rеsult оnly priсе incrеаsе!
Wе аrе alwауs оpеnеd fоr diаlоg аnd rеаdy tо hеlp уоu.


No system is safe

In the image below, you can see what a folder with files encrypted by the Darkkur looks like. Each filename has the “.timecrystal1” extension added to it.

An example of encrypted .timecrystal1 files.

How did my computer get infected with Darkkur ransomware?

There are plenty of possible ways of ransomware infiltration.

There are currently three most exploited ways for evil-doers to have ransomware working in your system. These are email spam, Trojan injection and peer-to-peer networks.

If you access your inbox and see emails that look just like notifications from utility services companies, delivery agencies like FedEx, web-access providers, and whatnot, but whose sender is unknown to you, beware of opening those letters. They are very likely to have a harmful file attached to them. So it is even more dangerous to download any attachments that come with emails like these.

Another option for ransom hunters is a Trojan file model. A Trojan is an object that gets into your machine pretending to be something legal. For example, you download an installer for some program you need or an update for some service. However, what is unpacked reveals itself a harmful agent that compromises your data. As the installation package can have any name and any icon, you have to make sure that you can trust the resource of the stuff you’re downloading. The optimal thing is to trust 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. Our suggestion is that you use trustworthy websites. Also, it is a good idea to scan the folder containing the downloaded items with the antivirus as soon as the downloading is finished.

How do I get rid of the Darkkur virus?

It is important to note that besides encrypting your data, the Darkkur virus will most likely deploy Vidar Stealer on your computer 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 data.

Often criminals would unblock several of your files to prove that they do have the decryption tool. Since Darkkur virus is a relatively recent ransomware, anti-malware engineers have not yet found a method to reverse its work. However, the decryption tools are frequently upgraded, so the solution may soon be available.

Of course, if the tamperers do the job of encrypting someone’s critical files, the desperate person will most likely fulfill their demands. Despite that, paying a ransom gives no guarantee that you’re getting your blocked information back. It is still dangerous. After receiving the money, the racketeers may deliver a wrong decryption key to the injured party. There were reports about criminals simply disappearing after getting the ransom without even writing back.

The optimal safety measure against ransomware is to have a system restore point or the copies of your critical files in the cloud drive or at least on an external storage. Surely, that might be not enough. Your most important thing could be that file you were working upon when it all started. Nevertheless, it is something. It is also wise to scan your PC for viruses with the anti-malware utility after the system restoration.

Darkkur 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 Ahgr, Ahtw, Bhui, and some others. The two main differences between them and the Darkkur are the ransom amount and the encoding method. The rest is the same: documents become encrypted, their extensions altered, ransom notes appear in each directory containing encrypted files.

Some fortunate people were able to decode the arrested files with the help of the free software provided by anti-ransomware developers. Sometimes the racketeers accidentally send the decryption key to the wronged in the ransom note. Such an epic fail allows the user to restore the files. But naturally, one should never expect such a chance. Remember, ransomware is a criminals’ technology to lay their hands on the money of their victims.

How do I avoid ransomware infiltration?

Darkkur ransomware doesn’t have a endless power, so as any similar malware.

You can protect your system from its attack in several easy steps:

• Ignore any emails from unknown mailboxes with strange addresses, or with content that has likely no connection to something you are waiting for (how can you win in a money prize draw without even taking part in it?). In case the email subject is more or less something you are waiting for, scrutinize all elements of the questionable letter carefully. A hoax letter will always have a mistake.
• Avoid using cracked or untrusted software. Trojan viruses are often spreaded as a part of cracked software, possibly as a “patch” which prevents the license check. But potentially dangerous programs are difficult to distinguish from trustworthy ones, because trojans may also have the functionality you seek. Try searching for information about this program on the anti-malware message boards, but the best way 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 armor for your PC.

Reasons why I would recommend GridinSoft¹

There is no better way to recognize, remove and prevent ransomware than to use an anti-malware software from GridinSoft².

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 “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 PC for Darkkur 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.

FAQ

🤔 Are the “.timecrystal1” files accessible?

Unfortunately, no. You need to decipher the “.timecrystal1” files first. Then you will be able to open them.

🤔 I really need to decrypt those “.timecrystal1” files ASAP. How can I do that?

Hopefully, you have made a copy of those important files. 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.

🤔 Will GridinSoft Anti-Malware remove all the encrypted files alongside the Darkkur virus?

Of course not. Your encrypted files are no threat to your PC.

With the help of GridinSoft Anti-Malware, you can clean your computer off the actual viruses. The ransomware that has attacked your PC is probably still active and launching checks periodically to arrest any new files you might create on your PC after the attack. As it has already been said, the Darkkur malware comes with the company. It installs backdoors and keyloggers that can take your account passwords by trespass and provide malefactors with easy access to your system after some time.

🤔 What actions should I take if the Darkkur virus has blocked my PC and I can’t get the activation code.

In such an unfortunate situation, you need to prepare a flash memory card with a pre-installed Trojan Killer. Use Safe Mode to perform the cleaning. The point is that the ransomware runs automatically as the system launches and encodes any new files created or imported into your system. To block this process – use Safe Mode, which allows only the vital programs to run upon system boot. Consider reading our manual on running Windows in Safe Mode.

🤔 What can I do right now?

Many of the encoded files might still be at your disposal

• If you exchanged your important files through email, you could still download them from your online mail server.
• You might have shared images or videos with your friends or family members. Simply ask them to send those images back to you.
• If you have initially got any of your files from the Web, you can try downloading them again.
• Your messengers, social networks pages, and cloud disks might have all those files too.
• Maybe you still have the needed files on your old computer, a notebook, phone, flash memory, etc.

HINT: You can employ file recovery utilities³ to retrieve your lost information since ransomware encodes the copies of your files, removing the original ones. In the tutorial 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 remove the ransomware itself with an antivirus 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 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.

1. GridinSoft Anti-Malware Review from HowToFix site: https://howtofix.guide/gridinsoft-anti-malware/
2. More information about GridinSoft products: https://gridinsoft.com/comparison
3. Here’s the list of Top 10 Data Recovery Software Of 2023.