The Key group virus belongs under the ransomware type of infection. A harmful program of such sort encrypts all the data on your computer (images, documents, excel tables, music, videos, etc) and adds its own extension to every file, creating the HOW TO DECRYPT FILES.txt files in every directory with the encrypted files.
What is known about the Key groupvirus?
☝️ A scientifically correct denomination for the Key group is “a ransomware infection”.
Key group adds its specific .keygroup extension to every file’s title. For example, a file entitled “photo.jpg” will be altered to “photo.jpg.keygroup”. In the same manner, the Excel sheet with the name “table.xlsx” will become “table.xlsx.keygroup”, and so forth.
In each directory containing the encoded files, a HOW TO DECRYPT FILES.txt text document will be found. It is a ransom money note. It contains information on the ways of contacting the racketeers and some other remarks. The ransom note most probably contains a description of how to purchase the decryption tool from the racketeers. That is it.
Key group outline:
| Name | Key group Virus |
| Extension | .keygroup |
| Ransomware note | HOW TO DECRYPT FILES.txt |
| Detection | Trojan:MSIL/Redline.RA!MTB, Win32/AutoRun.Agent.YD, Spyware.Zbot.ES |
| Symptoms | Your files (photos, videos, documents) get a .keygroup extension and you can’t open them. |
| Fix Tool | See If Your System Has Been Affected by Key group virus |
In the image below, you can see what a folder with files encrypted by the Key group looks like. Each filename has the “.keygroup” extension added to it.
That is how encrypted “.keygroup” files look.
How did my computer get infected with Key group ransomware?
There are many possible ways of ransomware injection.
Nowadays, there are three most exploited ways for evil-doers to have ransomware acting in your system. These are email spam, Trojan injection and peer-to-peer networks.
If you access your inbox and see emails that look like familiar notifications from utility services companies, postal agencies like FedEx, Internet providers, and whatnot, but whose mailer is strange to you, be wary of opening those emails. They are most likely to have a malicious item enclosed in them. So it is even riskier to download any attachments that come with emails like these.
Another option for ransom hunters is a Trojan virus scheme1. A Trojan is a program that gets into your PC disguised as something different. For instance, you download an installer for some program you want or an update for some software. But what is unboxed turns out to be a harmful program that corrupts your data. Since the installation package can have any name and any icon, you’d better be sure that you can trust the source of the stuff you’re downloading. The best thing 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 Web. You can never know what you download until you get it. Our suggestion is that you use trustworthy resources. Also, it is a good idea to scan the folder containing the downloaded objects with the anti-malware utility as soon as the downloading is complete.
How to remove the Key group virus?
It is crucial to inform you that besides encrypting your data, the Key group virus will probably install the Azorult Spyware on your PC to seize your credentials to various accounts (including cryptocurrency wallets). That program can derive your logins and passwords from your browser’s auto-filling data.
Sometimes racketeers would unblock some of your files to prove that they really have the decryption program. As Key group virus is a relatively new ransomware, anti-malware developers have not yet found a method to undo its work. However, the anti-ransomware instruments are constantly updated, so the effective countermeasure may soon be available.
Sure thing, if the tamperers do the job of encoding someone’s essential files, the hopeless person will most likely comply with their demands. Despite that, paying to criminals gives no guarantee that you’re getting your files back. It is still dangerous. After obtaining the money, the racketeers may send a wrong decryption code to the injured party. There were reports of malefactors simply disappearing after getting the money without even bothering to reply.
The optimal countermeasure to 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 drive. Of course, that might be not enough. The most crucial thing could be that one you were working on when it all went down. Nevertheless, it is something. It is also advisable to scan your drives with the anti-malware utility after the system is rolled back.
Key group 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 Ccew, Qqkk, Qqmt, and some others. The two main differences between them and the Key group are the ransom amount and the method of encryption. The rest is almost identical: files become blocked, their extensions changed, ransom notes emerge in each folder containing encrypted files.
Some fortunate users were able to decrypt the blocked files with the help of the free software provided by anti-malware specialists. Sometimes the hackers accidentally send the decryption code to the wronged in the ransom note. Such an epic fail allows the injured part to restore the files. But of course, one should never rely on such a chance. Remember, ransomware is a criminals’ technology to pull the money out of their victims.
How do I avoid ransomware infiltration?
Key group ransomware has no superpower, neither does any similar malware.
You can defend your system from its attack taking three easy steps:
- Never open any emails from unknown mailboxes with unknown 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?). If the email subject is more or less something you are waiting for, check all elements of the suspicious letter with caution. A hoax letter will always have mistakes.
- Avoid using cracked or untrusted programs. Trojans are often shared as an element of cracked software, most likely under the guise of “patch” preventing the license check. But dubious programs are very hard to tell from reliable ones, as trojans may also have the functionality you seek. You can try searching for information on this software product on the anti-malware forums, but the best way is not to use such software.
- And finally, to be sure about the safety of the files you downloaded, use GridinSoft Anti-Malware. This software will be a powerful defense for your PC.
Reasons why I would recommend GridinSoft2
There is no better way to recognize, remove and prevent ransomware than to use an anti-malware software from GridinSoft3.
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 computer for Key group 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
🤔 How can I open “.keygroup” files?Is it possible to open“.keygroup” files?
Negative. That is why ransomware is so frustrating. Until you decode the “.keygroup” files you will not be able to access them.
🤔 I really need to decrypt those “.keygroup” files ASAP. How can I do that?
It’s good if you have fаr-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.
🤔 Will GridinSoft Anti-Malware remove all the encrypted files alongside the Key group virus?
Of course not. Your encrypted files are no threat to your PC.
GridinSoft Anti-Malware will delete active threats from your PC. The ransomware that has attacked your computer is most likely still functional and launching checks every so often to encrypt any new files you might create on your computer after the infection. As it has been said above, the Key group ransomware does not come alone. It installs backdoors and keyloggers that can take your account passwords by trespass and provide criminals with easy access to your system after some time.
🤔 What actions should I take if the Key group virus has blocked my computer and I can’t get the activation code.
In such a case, you need to prepare a flash memory card with a pre-installed Trojan Killer. Use Safe Mode to perform the cleaning. You see, the ransomware runs 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 essential applications to run automatically. Consider reading our manual on booting Windows in Safe Mode.
🤔 What could help the situation right now?
Some of the encrypted data can be located elsewhere.
- If you sent or received your important files via email, you could still download them from your online mailbox.
- You might have shared images or videos with your friends or family members. Simply ask them to post those pictures back to you.
- If you have initially got 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 PC, a portable device, cellphone, flash memory, etc.
HINT: You can use data recovery programs4 to get your lost data back since ransomware blocks the copies of your files, removing the original ones. In the video below, you can see how to use PhotoRec for such a restoration, but remember: you won’t be able to do it before you kill the ransomware itself 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 KEY GROUP Ransomware & Recover PC
Name: KEY GROUP Virus
Description: KEY GROUP Virus is a ransomware-type infections. This virus encrypts important personal files (video, photos, documents). The encrypted files can be tracked by a specific .keygroup extension. So, you can't use them at all.
Operating System: Windows
Application Category: Virus
User Review
( votes)References
- 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’s the list of Best Data Recovery Software Of 2023.
