REDCRYPTOAPP Ransomware πŸ” (.REDCRYPTOAPP File) β€” Removal Guide

Written by Brendan Smith

The Redcryptoapp virus falls within the ransomware type of malicious agent. Harmful software of such sort encrypts all the data on your PC (images, documents, excel sheets, music, videos, etc) and appends its specific extension to every file, leaving the HOW_TO_RESTORE_FILES.REDCryptoApp.txt files in each folder with the encrypted files.

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Redcryptoapp virus: what is known so far?

Redcryptoapp adds its extra .REDCryptoApp extension to every file’s name. For instance, a file entitled “photo.jpg” will be altered to “photo.jpg.REDCryptoApp”. Likewise, the Excel file with the name “table.xlsx” will end up as “table.xlsx.REDCryptoApp”, and so forth.

In every folder with the encrypted files, a HOW_TO_RESTORE_FILES.REDCryptoApp.txt file will be created. It is a ransom money memo. It contains information on the ways of paying the ransom and some other remarks. The ransom note usually contains instructions on how to buy the decryption tool from the racketeers. You can get this decrypting software after contacting Tor website via email. That is how they do it.

Redcryptoapp Overview:

Name Redcryptoapp Virus
Extension .REDCryptoApp
Ransomware note HOW_TO_RESTORE_FILES.REDCryptoApp.txt
Contact Tor website
Detection Trojan:Win32/Startpage Virus Removal, Trojan:Win32/Alureon.BJ Virus Removal, Backdoor:Win32/Zonebac!F Virus Removal
Symptoms Your files (photos, videos, documents) have a .REDCryptoApp extension and you can’t open them.
Fix Tool See If Your System Has Been Affected by Redcryptoapp virus

In the screenshot below, you can see what a directory with files encrypted by the Redcryptoapp looks like. Each filename has the “.REDCryptoApp” extension added to it.

Redcryptoapp Virus - encrypted .REDCryptoApp files

An example of encrypted .REDCryptoApp files.

How did Redcryptoapp ransomware end up on my PC?

There is a huge number of possible ways of ransomware infiltration.

Nowadays, there are three most exploited ways for hackers to have ransomware settled in your system. These are email spam, Trojan introduction and peer-to-peer networks.

  • If you access your inbox and see emails that look like familiar notifications from utility services companies, delivery agencies like FedEx, web-access providers, and whatnot, but whose mailer is unknown to you, beware of opening those emails. They are most likely to have a malware file enclosed in 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 virus model. A Trojan is an object that gets into your computer disguised as something else. For example, you download an installer for some program you want or an update for some service. However, what is unpacked reveals itself a harmful program that encrypts your data. As the installation file 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 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 Web. You can never know what you download until you get it. So you’d better be using 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 finished.

How do I get rid of ransomware?

It is crucial to inform you that besides encrypting your files, the Redcryptoapp virus will most likely install Vidar Stealer on your machine to get access to credentials to different accounts (including cryptocurrency wallets). That program can extract your credentials from your browser’s auto-filling cardfile.

Remove Redcryptoapp 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 Redcryptoapp as well as other malware hiding on your computer.

Gridinsoft Anti-Malware - Main Screen

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.

setup-gridinsoft-fix.exe

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

Gridinsoft Setup Wizard

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.

Scan for Redcryptoapp Ransomware

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.

The Redcryptoapp was Found

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.

The Redcryptoapp has been removed

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 “Redcryptoapp” 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.

Trojan Killer - Main View

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.

Download Trojan Killer

2. Insert a USB flash drive into this computer.

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

Install Trojan Killer to Removable Drive

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.

Click Update Button

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.

Searching Redcryptoapp Virus

Step 4: Remove Found Threats:

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

Searching Redcryptoapp Finished

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.

Restart needed

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 Redcryptoapp 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.

Sometimes criminals would decode some of your files so you know that they do have the decryption tool. Since Redcryptoapp virus is a relatively recent ransomware, anti-malware designers have not yet found a method to reverse its work. However, the decoding instruments are constantly upgraded, so the solution may soon be available.

Sure thing, if the malefactors do the job of encrypting victim’s critical data, the desperate person will probably fulfill their demands. However, paying to racketeers does not necessarily mean that you’re getting your data back. It is still risky. After getting the money, the racketeers may send a wrong decryption code to the victim. There were reports about ransomware developers simply vanishing after getting the money without even writing back.

The best solution 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 drive. Of course, that might be not enough. The most important thing could be that file 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 system is rolled back.

There are other ransomware products, besides Redcryptoapp, that work similarly. For instance, Dzen, Napoli, Elitte87, and some others. The two main differences between them and the Redcryptoapp are the ransom amount and the encoding method. The rest is almost identical: documents become encoded, their extensions changed, ransom notes emerge in each folder containing encoded files.

Some lucky victims were able to decrypt the blocked files with the help of the free tools provided by anti-malware developers. Sometimes the racketeers mistakenly send the decryption code to the wronged in the ransom note. Such an extraordinary fail allows the victim to restore the files. But naturally, one should never expect such a chance. Make no mistake, ransomware is a criminals’ tool to lay their hands on the money of their victims.

How do I avert ransomware infection?

Redcryptoapp ransomware has no superpower, neither does any similar malware.

You can defend your computer from its attack 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 (how can you win in a lottery without participating in it?). If the email subject is likely something you are expecting, scrutinize all elements of the dubious letter with caution. A hoax letter will surely have a mistake.
  • Do not use cracked or unknown software. Trojans are often distributed as an element of cracked software, possibly under the guise of β€œpatch” to prevent the license check. But potentially dangerous programs are very hard to tell from trustworthy software, because trojans may also have the functionality you need. You can try searching for information about this software product on the anti-malware message boards, but the best solution is not to use such software.
  • And to be sure about the safety of the files you downloaded, scan them with GridinSoft Anti-Malware. This software will be a perfect shield for your PC.

FAQ

πŸ€” How can I open “.REDCryptoApp” files?Can I somehow access “.REDCryptoApp” files?

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

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

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

πŸ€” Will GridinSoft Anti-Malware remove all the encrypted files alongside the Redcryptoapp virus?

Absolutely not! Your encrypted files are no threat to your PC.

GridinSoft Anti-Malware will delete actual viruses from your system. The virus that has attacked your device is must be still functional and launching checks from time to time to arrest any new files you might create on your computer after the initial attack. As it has been said above, the Redcryptoapp malware comes with the company. It installs backdoors and keyloggers that can steal your account credentials and provide hackers with easy access to your PC in the future.

πŸ€” What actions should I take if the Redcryptoapp virus has blocked my PC and I can’t get the activation key.

In such an unfortunate situation, you need to prepare a flash memory card with a previously installed Trojan Killer. Use Safe Mode to perform the cleaning. You see, the ransomware starts automatically as the system boots and encrypts any new files created or imported into your PC. To stop this function – use Safe Mode, which allows only the essential applications to run upon system boot. Consider reading our manual on booting Windows in Safe Mode.

πŸ€” And what should I do now?

Many of the encrypted files might still be at your disposal

  • If you exchanged your critical files via email, you could still download them from your online mailbox.
  • You may 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 Internet, you can try doing 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 computer, a notebook, mobile, external storage, etc.

HINT: You can employ data recovery programs1 to retrieve your lost information since ransomware blocks the copies of your files, removing the original ones. In the video below, you can see how to recover your files with PhotoRec, but remember: you can do it only after you eradicate the virus with an antivirus program.

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References

  1. Here are Best Data Recovery Software Of 2024.

About the author

Brendan Smith

I'm Brendan Smith, a passionate journalist, researcher, and web content developer. With a keen interest in computer technology and security, I specialize in delivering high-quality content that educates and empowers readers in navigating the digital landscape.

With a focus on computer technology and security, I am committed to sharing my knowledge and insights to help individuals and organizations protect themselves in the digital age. My expertise in cybersecurity principles, data privacy, and best practices allows me to provide practical tips and advice that readers can implement to enhance their online security.

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