GRT Ransomware (.GRT Files) — Removal Guide

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].[[email protected]].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 [email protected] via email. That is basically the scheme of the felony.

Grt outline:

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: [email protected].
If we don't answer in 24h., send e-mail to this address: [email protected] 

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.

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.

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.

Reasons why I would recommend GridinSoft⁴

Download Removal Tool.

Run the setup file.

Press “Install” button.

Once installed, Anti-Malware will automatically run.

Wait for the Anti-Malware scan to complete.

Click on “Clean Now”.

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.

🤔 What to do if the Grt virus has blocked my computer and I can’t get the activation code.

🤔 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.

1. My files are encrypted by ransomware, what should I do now?
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