KiRa (GreatKiRa) Virus 🔐 — How to Remove?

The Kira (greatkira) virus falls under the ransomware type of infection. Malware of such sort encrypts all the data on your computer (images, documents, excel sheets, music, videos, etc) and appends a random extension to every file, leaving the read it!!.txt files in each directory which contains the encrypted files.

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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What is known about the Kira (greatkira) virus?

Kira (greatkira) will append an extra to the end of every encrypted file. The extensions it picks are completely random and consist of 4 symbols. For example, a file entitled “photo.jpg” will be altered to “photo.jpg.szem”. In the same manner, the Excel table named “table.xlsx” will be renamed to “table.xlsx.bp1k”, and so on.

In each folder that contains the encrypted files, a read it!!.txt text document will appear. It is a ransom money memo. It contains information on the ways of paying the ransom and some other information. The ransom note most probably contains a description of how to buy the decryption tool from the Kira (greatkira) developers. You can obtain this decoding tool after contacting b_@mail2tor.com through email. That is how they do it.

Kira (greatkira) Summary:

The read it!!.txt file accompanying the Kira (greatkira) malware provides the following discouraging information:

I\'m from an international wanted u can call me : KiRa

I am an undercover hacker

My name is: GreatKiRa

I will use your computer as collateral for collection

i just want：2000$ LoL

Payment address: b_@mail2tor.com

contact details : b_@mail2tor.com

IG: @DD00

Hehh .. i think u are in big trouble $:
sO Contact me after payment and I will unlock it for you
If you do not pay, your computer and files will be automatically destroyed,

In the screenshot below, you can see what a folder with files encrypted by the Kira (greatkira) looks like. Each filename has the random extension appended to it.

Files encrypted by KiRa ransomware. Each one has a unique 4-symbol extension

How did my machine catch Kira (greatkira) ransomware?

There are many possible ways of ransomware injection.

Nowadays, there are three most popular ways for tamperers to have ransomware acting in your digital environment. These are email spam, Trojan injection and peer file transfer.

If you open your mailbox and see letters that look like familiar notifications from utility services companies, postal agencies like FedEx, Internet providers, and whatnot, but whose sender is strange to you, be wary of opening those emails. They are most likely to have a viral item enclosed in them. Therefore, it is even riskier to download any attachments that come with emails like these.

Another option for ransom hunters is a Trojan file scheme. A Trojan is an object that gets into your machine disguised as something different. For example, you download an installer for some program you need or an update for some program. However, what is unpacked reveals itself a harmful program that encodes your data. Since the installation package 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 thing is to trust the software developers’ official websites.

As for the peer networks like torrents or eMule, the danger is that they are even more trust-based than the rest of the Internet. You can never know what you download until you get it. Our suggestion is that you use trustworthy websites. Also, it is a good idea to scan the directory containing the downloaded files with the antivirus as soon as the downloading is done.

How do I get rid of ransomware?

It is important to note that besides encrypting your data, the Kira (greatkira) virus will most likely install Vidar Stealer on your machine to get access to credentials to different accounts (including cryptocurrency wallets). That program can derive your credentials from your browser’s auto-filling data.

Remove Kira (greatkira) with Gridinsoft Anti-Malware

We have also been using this software on our systems ever since, and it has always been successful in detecting viruses. It has blocked the most common Ransomware as shown from our tests with the software, and we assure you that it can remove Kira (greatkira) as well as other malware hiding on your computer.

To use Gridinsoft for remove malicious threats, follow the steps below:

1. Begin by downloading Gridinsoft Anti-Malware, accessible via the blue button below or directly from the official website gridinsoft.com.

2.Once the Gridinsoft setup file (setup-gridinsoft-fix.exe) is downloaded, execute it by clicking on the file.

3.Follow the installation setup wizard's instructions diligently.

4. Access the "Scan Tab" on the application's start screen and launch a comprehensive "Full Scan" to examine your entire computer. This inclusive scan encompasses the memory, startup items, the registry, services, drivers, and all files, ensuring that it detects malware hidden in all possible locations.

Be patient, as the scan duration depends on the number of files and your computer's hardware capabilities. Use this time to relax or attend to other tasks.

5. Upon completion, Anti-Malware will present a detailed report containing all the detected malicious items and threats on your PC.

6. Select all the identified items from the report and confidently click the "Clean Now" button. This action will safely remove the malicious files from your computer, transferring them to the secure quarantine zone of the anti-malware program to prevent any further harmful actions.

8. If prompted, restart your computer to finalize the full system scan procedure. This step is crucial to ensure thorough removal of any remaining threats. After the restart, Gridinsoft Anti-Malware will open and display a message confirming the completion of the scan.

Remember Gridinsoft offers a 6-day free trial. This means you can take advantage of the trial period at no cost to experience the full benefits of the software and prevent any future malware infections on your system. Embrace this opportunity to fortify your computer's security without any financial commitment.

Trojan Killer for “Kira (greatkira)” removal on locked PC

In situations where it becomes impossible to download antivirus applications directly onto the infected computer due to malware blocking access to websites, an alternative solution is to utilize the Trojan Killer application.

There is a really little number of security tools that are able to be set up on the USB drives, and antiviruses that can do so in most cases require to obtain quite an expensive license. For this instance, I can recommend you to use another solution of GridinSoft - Trojan Killer Portable. It has a 14-days cost-free trial mode that offers the entire features of the paid version. This term will definitely be 100% enough to wipe malware out.

Trojan Killer is a valuable tool in your cybersecurity arsenal, helping you to effectively remove malware from infected computers. Now, we will walk you through the process of using Trojan Killer from a USB flash drive to scan and remove malware on an infected PC. Remember, always obtain permission to scan and remove malware from a computer that you do not own.

Step 1: Download & Install Trojan Killer on a Clean Computer:

1. Go to the official GridinSoft website (gridinsoft.com) and download Trojan Killer to a computer that is not infected.

2. Insert a USB flash drive into this computer.

3. Install Trojan Killer to the "removable drive" following the on-screen instructions.

4. Once the installation is complete, launch Trojan Killer.

Step 2: Update Signature Databases:

5. After launching Trojan Killer, ensure that your computer is connected to the Internet.

6. Click "Update" icon to download the latest signature databases, which will ensure the tool can detect the most recent threats.

Step 3: Scan the Infected PC:

7. Safely eject the USB flash drive from the clean computer.

8. Boot the infected computer to the Safe Mode.

9. Insert the USB flash drive.

10. Run tk.exe

11. Once the program is open, click on "Full Scan" to begin the malware scanning process.

Step 4: Remove Found Threats:

12. After the scan is complete, Trojan Killer will display a list of detected threats.

13. Click on "Cure PC!" to remove the identified malware from the infected PC.

14. Follow any additional on-screen prompts to complete the removal process.

Step 5: Restart Your Computer:

15. Once the threats are removed, click on "Restart PC" to reboot your computer.

16. Remove the USB flash drive from the infected computer.

Congratulations on effectively removing Kira (greatkira) and the concealed threats from your computer! You can now have peace of mind, knowing that they won't resurface again. Thanks to Gridinsoft's capabilities and commitment to cybersecurity, your system is now protected.

Often racketeers would decrypt few of your files to prove that they really have the decryption program. As Kira (greatkira) virus is a relatively new ransomware, safety measures designers have not yet found a method to undo its work. However, the decryption instruments are constantly updated, so the effective countermeasure may soon arrive.

Sure thing, if the malefactors succeed in encrypting victim’s essential files, the hopeless person will most likely fulfill their demands. However, paying a ransom does not necessarily mean that you’re getting your blocked information back. It is still risky. After getting the money, the racketeers may deliver a wrong decryption code to the victim. There were reports of racketeers just vanishing after getting the ransom without even bothering to reply.

The best 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. Of course, that might be insufficient. The most important thing could be that one you were working upon when it all went down. Nevertheless, it is something. It is also reasonable to scan your PC for viruses with the anti-malware utility after the OS is rolled back.

Kira (greatkira) 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 Gaqq, Wayn, Agvv, and some others. The two main differences between them and the Kira (greatkira) are the ransom amount and the method of encryption. The rest is the same: files become blocked, their extensions changed, ransom notes are created in each directory containing encrypted files.

Some lucky users were able to decode the blocked files with the help of the free tools provided by anti-malware specialists. Sometimes the criminals mistakenly send the decryption key to the wronged in the ransom readme. Such an epic fail allows the injured part to restore the files. But obviously, one should never rely on such a chance. Remember, ransomware is a tamperers’ technology to lay their hands on the money of their victims.

How do I avert ransomware infection?

Kira (greatkira) ransomware has no endless power, so as any similar malware.

You can armour your PC from its infiltration within three easy steps:

• Ignore any letters from unknown mailers with unknown addresses, or with content that has likely no connection to something you are waiting for (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 email with caution. A hoax letter will surely contain a mistake.
• Do not use cracked or untrusted software. Trojans are often distributed as a part of cracked software, possibly as a “patch” to prevent the license check. But untrusted programs are difficult to tell from trustworthy ones, because trojans sometimes have the functionality you need. You can try to find information about this software product on the anti-malware message boards, but the best way is not to use such software.
• And finally, to be sure about the safety of the objects you downloaded, use GridinSoft Anti-Malware. This software will be a perfect shield for your PC.

Frequently Asked Questions

🤔 How can I open encrypted files? Can I somehow access them?

There’s no way to do it, unless the files are decrypted.

🤔 The encrypted files are very important to me. How can I decrypt them quickly?

It’s good if you have fаr-sightedly saved copies of these important files elsewhere. Otherwise, you might try to employ System Restore. The only question is whether you have saved any Restore Points that would be helpful now. The rest of the methods require patience.

🤔 Will GridinSoft Anti-Malware remove all the encrypted files alongside the Kira (greatkira) virus?

Absolutely not! The encrypted files are not harmful, so they won’t be deleted.

GridinSoft Anti-Malware only deals with actual threats. The malware that has infected your system is most likely still active and running scans every so often to encode any new files you might create on your PC after the attack. As it has been mentioned above, the Kira (greatkira) malware does not come alone. It installs backdoors and keyloggers that can steal your account credentials and provide malefactors with easy access to your PC after some time.

🤔 What to do if the Kira (greatkira) ransomware has blocked my PC and I can’t get the activation code.

If that happened, you need to have a flash memory card with a previously installed Trojan Killer. Use Safe Mode to execute the procedure. You see, the ransomware starts automatically as the system launches and encodes any new files created or brought into your computer. To suppress this process – use Safe Mode, which allows only the essential programs to run upon system boot. Consider reading our manual on running Windows in Safe Mode.

🤔 What can I do right now?

Some of the encrypted files can be located elsewhere.

• If you sent or received your critical files through 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 give those pictures back to you.
• If you have initially downloaded any of your files from the Web, you can try doing it again.
• Your messengers, social media pages, and cloud drives might have all those files too.
• Maybe you still have the needed files on your old PC, a laptop, cellphone, flash memory, etc.

HINT: You can employ data recovery utilities¹ to retrieve your lost information since ransomware encodes the copies of your files, deleting the original ones. In the video below, you can learn how to use PhotoRec for such a recovery, but be advised: you won’t be able to do it before you remove the virus with an anti-malware program.

1. Here’s the list of Best Data Recovery Software Of 2023.