The Grt virus falls within the Phobos ransomware family. Ransomware of this type encrypts all user’s data on the computer (images, documents, excel sheets, music, videos, etc) and adds its specific extension to every file, creating the info.txt text files in each directory which contains the encrypted files.
Grt virus: what is known so far?
☝️ A scientifically accurate designation for the Grt is “a Phobos family ransomware-type malicious agent”.
The renaming will be executed by the following pattern: id[xxxxxx].[contact_email].grt. In the course of encryption, a file entitled, for instance, “report.docx” will be renamed to “report.docx.id[9ECFA84E-3268].[ghost@mm.st].grt”.
In each directory that contains the encoded files, a info.txt file will be created. It is a ransom money note. Therein you can find information about the ways of paying the ransom and some other remarks. The ransom note most probably contains instructions on how to purchase the decryption tool from the racketeers. You can get this decrypting software after contacting ghost@mm.st via email. That is basically the scheme of the felony.
Grt outline:
| Name | Grt Virus |
| Ransomware family1 | Phobos ransomware |
| Extension | .grt |
| Ransomware note | info.txt |
| Contact | ghost@mm.st |
| Detection | Win32/RiskWare.PEMalform.B, Ransom:Win32/StopCrypt.PBX!MTB, MSIL/Kryptik.AEXH |
| Symptoms | Your files (photos, videos, documents) have a .grt extension and you can’t open them. |
| Fix Tool | See If Your System Has Been Affected by Grt virus |
The info.txt file coming in package with the Grt ransomware states the following:
!!!All of your files are encrypted!!! To decrypt them send e-mail to this address: ghost@mm.st. If we don't answer in 24h., send e-mail to this address: ghost@2-mail.com
In the screenshot below, you can see what a directory with files encrypted by the Grt looks like. Each filename has the “.grt” extension appended to it.
An example of encrypted .grt files.
How did my computer get infected with Grt ransomware?
There is a huge number of possible ways of ransomware injection.
There are currently three most popular methods for tamperers to have ransomware working in your digital environment. These are email spam, Trojan infiltration and peer networks.
If you access your inbox and see letters that look like familiar notifications from utility services providers, postal agencies like FedEx, Internet providers, and whatnot, but whose mailer is unknown to you, be wary of opening those emails. They are very likely to have a ransomware file enclosed in them. Thus it is even riskier to open any attachments that come with emails like these.
Another option for ransom hunters is a Trojan horse model2. A Trojan is an object that infiltrates into your computer disguised as something else. For instance, you download an installer of some program you want or an update for some program. But what is unboxed turns out to be a harmful program that compromises your data. As the installation package can have any name and any icon, you’d better be sure that you can trust the source of the things you’re downloading. The best way is to use the software companies’ official websites.
As for the peer-to-peer networks like torrent trackers 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. Our suggestion is that you use trustworthy websites. Also, it is a good idea to scan the folder containing the downloaded files with the antivirus as soon as the downloading is done.
How to remove the Grt virus?
It is crucial to note that besides encrypting your files, the Grt virus will probably install the Azorult Spyware on your computer to seize your credentials to different accounts (including cryptocurrency wallets). The mentioned spyware3 can derive your credentials from your browser’s auto-filling data.
Often tamperers would unblock several of your files so you know that they really have the decryption program. As Grt virus is a relatively recent ransomware, safety measures developers have not yet found a method to reverse its work. However, the decoding instruments are constantly upgraded, so the effective countermeasure may soon be available.
Sure thing, if the criminals succeed in encoding victim’s critical data, the desperate person will most likely comply with their demands. Despite that, paying to criminals gives no guarantee that you’re getting your blocked information back. It is still dangerous. After obtaining the money, the racketeers may send a wrong decryption code to the injured party. There were reports about criminals just disappearing after getting the ransom 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 disk or at least on an external disk. Surely, that might be insufficient. Your most important thing could be that one you were working upon when it all happened. Nevertheless, it is something. It is also advisable to scan your PC for viruses with the antivirus program after the system is rolled back.
There are other ransomware products, besides Grt, that work similarly. For instance, Bbyy, Nnuz, Bbzz, and some others. The two major differences between them and the Grt are the ransom amount and the encoding method. The rest is the same: documents become encoded, their extensions altered, ransom notes are found in each folder containing encrypted files.
Some lucky users were able to decode the arrested files with the help of the free tools provided by anti-ransomware developers. Sometimes the criminals accidentally send the decryption key to the wronged in the ransom readme. Such an extraordinary fail allows the user to restore the files. But of course, 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 сan I avert ransomware infection?
Grt ransomware has no endless power, neither does any similar malware.
You can protect your PC from its attack taking several easy steps:
- Ignore any letters from unknown mailboxes with strange addresses, or with content that has nothing to do with something you are waiting for (how can you win in a money prize draw without participating in it?). If the email subject is more or less something you are expecting, check all elements of the questionable letter with caution. A hoax email will always have mistakes.
- Never use cracked or untrusted programs. Trojan viruses are often spreaded as an element of cracked products, most likely under the guise of “patch” which prevents the license check. But potentially dangerous programs are very hard to distinguish from trustworthy ones, 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 optimal way is not to use such programs at all.
- And finally, to be sure about the safety of the files you downloaded, scan them with GridinSoft Anti-Malware. This software will be a perfect 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 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 system for Grt 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
🤔 Are the “.grt” files accessible?
Negative. That is why ransomware is so frustrating. Until you decode the “.grt” files you will not be able to access them.
🤔 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. All other solutions require time.
🤔 You have advised using GridinSoft Anti-Malware to get rid of the Grt virus. Does it mean that all my files, currently encrypted, will be removed too?
No way! Unlike the ransomware program itself, the encrypted files do not jeopardize your system.
GridinSoft Anti-Malware will remove the malware from your PC. The virus that has infected your computer is must be still functional and launching checks every so often to arrest any new files you might create on your computer after the initial attack. As it has been said above, the Grt virus 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 to do if the Grt virus has blocked my computer and I can’t get the activation code.
In such an unfortunate situation, you need to have a flash memory drive with a pre-installed Trojan Killer. Use Safe Mode to perform the procedure. You see, the ransomware runs automatically as the system launches and encodes any new files created or brought into your system. To stop this function – use Safe Mode, which allows only the vital programs to run automatically. Consider reading our manual on running Windows in Safe Mode.
🤔 What could help the situation right now?
Many of the encrypted files might still be at your disposal
- If you sent or received your important files via email, you could still download them from your online mail server.
- You might have shared photographs 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 networks pages, and cloud storage might have all those files too.
- Maybe you still have the needed files on your old PC, a notebook, mobile, memory stick, etc.
USEFUL TIP: You can use data recovery programs6 to get your lost data back since ransomware blocks the copies of your files, deleting the authentic ones. In the tutorial below, you can see how to recover your files with PhotoRec, but be advised: you won’t be able to do it before you remove 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 GRT Ransomware & Recover PC
Name: GRT Virus
Description: GRT Virus is a ransomware-type infections. This virus encrypts important personal files (video, photos, documents). The encrypted files can be tracked by a specific .grt 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’s the list of Top 10 Data Recovery Software Of 2023.
