The Redkrypt virus belongs with the ransomware type of malicious agent. Ransomware of this type encrypts all the data on your computer (photos, text files, excel sheets, audio files, videos, etc) and appends its specific extension to every file, leaving the RedKrypt-Notes-README.txt text files in each directory containing encrypted files.
What is known about the Redkryptvirus?
☝️ A strictly accurate denomination for the Redkrypt is “a ransomware-type malicious agent”.
Redkrypt will append its extra .p.redkrypt extension to every file’s name. For example, an image named “photo.jpg” will be renamed to “photo.jpg..p.redkrypt”. Likewise, the Excel file named “table.xlsx” will become “table.xlsx.p.redkrypt”, and so on.
In each folder containing the encrypted files, a RedKrypt-Notes-README.txt file will be found. It is a ransom money note. It contains information about the ways of contacting the racketeers and some other information. The ransom note most probably contains instructions on how to buy the decryption tool from the Redkrypt developers. That is how they do it.
Redkrypt outline:
| Name | Redkrypt Virus |
| Extension | .p.redkrypt |
| Ransomware note | RedKrypt-Notes-README.txt |
| Detection | Win32:FileInfector-C [Heur], Trojan:Win32/Raccoon.RH!MTB, Trojan:Win32/Vundo.OD |
| Symptoms | Your files (photos, videos, documents) have a .p.redkrypt extension and you can’t open them. |
| Fix Tool | See If Your System Has Been Affected by Redkrypt virus |
In the picture below, you can see what a folder with files encrypted by the Redkrypt looks like. Each filename has the “.p.redkrypt” extension added to it.
That is how encrypted “.p.redkrypt” files look.
How did my computer get infected with Redkrypt ransomware?
There is a huge number of possible ways of ransomware injection.
There are currently three most exploited methods for tamperers to have ransomware acting in your system. These are email spam, Trojan injection and peer-to-peer file transfer.
If you open your mailbox and see emails that look just like notifications from utility services providers, delivery 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 ransomware item enclosed in them. So it is even riskier to open any attachments that come with emails like these.
Another thing the hackers might try is a Trojan horse scheme1. A Trojan is an object that infiltrates into your computer pretending to be something legal. For example, you download an installer of some program you need or an update for some service. However, what is unpacked reveals itself a harmful program that compromises your data. Since the update wizard can have any name and any icon, you have to make sure that you can trust the resource of the files you’re downloading. The best way is to use the software companies’ official websites.
As for the peer-to-peer file transfer protocols like torrents or eMule, the danger 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. So you’d better be using trustworthy resources. Also, it is reasonable to scan the directory containing the downloaded files with the anti-malware utility as soon as the downloading is finished.
How to remove the Redkrypt virus?
It is important to note that besides encrypting your files, the Redkrypt virus will most likely install the Azorult Spyware on your PC to get access to credentials to different accounts (including cryptocurrency wallets). The mentioned spyware2 can derive your logins and passwords from your browser’s auto-filling data.
Often racketeers would unblock several of your files to prove that they do have the decryption tool. Since Redkrypt virus is a relatively recent ransomware, safety measures developers have not yet found a method to undo its work. Nevertheless, the decryption instruments are constantly updated, so the effective countermeasure may soon be available.
Sure thing, if the hackers succeed in encoding someone’s essential data, the desperate person will probably comply with their demands. Nevertheless, paying a ransom gives no guarantee that you’re getting your blocked information back. It is still dangerous. After receiving the ransom, the racketeers may deliver a wrong decryption key to the victim. There were reports about hackers simply disappearing after getting the money without even writing back.
The best countermeasure to ransomware is to have aan OS restore point or the copies of your essential files in the cloud drive or at least on an external storage. Obviously, that might be insufficient. Your most important thing could be that file you were working upon when it all happened. But at least 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 Redkrypt, that work similarly. Examples of those are Mmvb, Eewt, Oflg, and some others. The two major differences between them and the Redkrypt are the ransom amount and the method of encryption. The rest is almost identical: documents become blocked, their extensions changed, ransom notes are created in each folder containing encrypted files.
Some lucky users were able to decode the arrested files with the aid of the free software provided by anti-ransomware specialists. Sometimes the criminals mistakenly send the decoding code to the victims in the ransom readme. Such an extraordinary fail allows the injured part to restore the files. But naturally, one should never expect such a chance. Make no mistake, ransomware is a bandits’ instrument to pull the money out of their victims.
How to avert ransomware infection?
Redkrypt ransomware has no endless power, so as any similar malware.
You can armour yourself from ransomware attack in several easy steps:
- Never open any emails from unknown mailers with strange addresses, or with content that has nothing to do with something you are expecting (how can you win in a money prize draw without even taking part in it?). If the email subject is likely something you are waiting for, scrutinize all elements of the questionable letter 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 under the guise of “patch” to prevent the license check. But dubious programs are difficult to tell from reliable software, because trojans sometimes have the functionality you need. Try to find information about this program on the anti-malware message boards, but the best way is not to use such programs at all.
- And finally, to be sure about the safety of the files you downloaded, check them with GridinSoft Anti-Malware. This program will be a powerful defense for your PC.
Reasons why I would recommend GridinSoft3
There is no better way to recognize, remove and prevent ransomware than to use an anti-malware software from GridinSoft4.
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 system.
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 Redkrypt 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 finished, 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 “.p.redkrypt” files?Can I somehow access “.p.redkrypt” files?
Negative. That is why ransomware is so frustrating. Until you decode the “.p.redkrypt” files you will not be able to access them.
🤔 I really need to decrypt those “.p.redkrypt” files ASAP. How can I do that?
If the “.p.redkrypt” files contain some really important information, then you probably have them backed up. 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. The rest of the methods require patience.
🤔 If GridinSoft deletes the Redkrypt malware, will it also delete my files that were encrypted?
Absolutely not! Your encrypted files are no threat to your PC.
GridinSoft Anti-Malware will delete the infections from your PC. The malware that has attacked your device is most likely still functional and launching checks every so often to encode any new files you might create on your PC after the infection. As it has been said above, the Redkrypt ransomware comes with the company. It installs backdoors and keyloggers that can take your account passwords by trespass and provide hackers with easy access to your PC after some time.
🤔 What actions should I take if the Redkrypt malware has blocked my computer 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 runs automatically as the system boots and encrypts any new files created or brought into your machine. To block this function – use Safe Mode, which allows only the vital programs to run automatically. Consider reading our manual on running Windows in Safe Mode.
🤔 And what should I do now?
Many of the encrypted files might still be within your reach
- If you exchanged your important files through email, you could still download them from your online mailbox.
- You may have shared photographs or videos with your friends or family members. 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 doing it again.
- Your messengers, social networks pages, and cloud disks might have all those files too.
- It might be that you still have the needed files on your old computer, a portable device, mobile, flash memory, etc.
HINT: You can employ data recovery utilities5 to get your lost data back since ransomware arrests the copies of your files, deleting the original ones. In the tutorial below, you can learn how to recover your files with PhotoRec, but be advised: you can do it only after you eradicate 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 REDKRYPT Ransomware & Recover PC
Name: REDKRYPT Virus
Description: REDKRYPT Virus is a ransomware-type infections. This virus encrypts important personal files (video, photos, documents). The encrypted files can be tracked by a specific ..p.redkrypt 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.
- 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 Best Data Recovery Software Of 2023.
