Threat Database Ransomware CryptoKill Ransomware

CryptoKill Ransomware

By GoldSparrow in Ransomware

The CryptoKill Ransomware is a ransomware Trojan based on HiddenTear, an open source ransomware project that was released in 2016 for 'educational purposes' publicly. Since this ransomware Trojan was first released, countless variants of it have been used to carry out attacks on computer users. The CryptoKill Ransomware and numerous other ransomware threats have used this public accessible code to create numerous variants of the same hoax. New variants of ransomware, many of them using HiddenTear as their basis, are released every day. The CryptoKill Ransomware is integrated with the TOR network to carry out payments and communications with its Command and Control server, making it an effective ransomware Trojan capable of carrying out harmful attacks on its victims. The most common way of distributing the CryptoKill Ransomware is through corrupted email attachments that may appear to come from legitimate email accounts or companies. When victims open the corrupted file, which may take the form of an innocuous document or PDF file, the CryptoKill Ransomware will be installed on the victim's computer and carry out its attack.

How the CryptoKill Ransomware may be Installed on a Victims’ Computer

Although there are many ways to deliver the CryptoKill Ransomware and similar threats to computer users, the CryptoKill Ransomware may be delivered to the victim's computer by using corrupted macros. Text files or other Microsoft Office or PDF files used to distribute the CryptoKill Ransomware may include corrupted scripts that will be used to download and install the CryptoKill Ransomware on the infected computer if macros are set to execute by default. Once the CryptoKill Ransomware is installed on the victim's computer, it uses the AES and RSA encryption to make the victim's data completely inaccessible.

Some Details about the CryptoKill Ransomware Attack

The CryptoKill Ransomware creates an index of the victim's files to be encrypted, targeting the files matching a list of file extensions in the CryptoKill Ransomware's configuration files. The CryptoKill Ransomware will then use strong encryption to make the files completely inaccessible. The CryptoKill Ransomware communicates with its Command and Control server to ensure that the decryption key is not stored on the victim's computer. Other information about the infected computer also is sent to the people controlling the CryptoKill Ransomware, allowing them to keep a record of the infected computer. The CryptoKill Ransomware will append the extension '.crypto' to each file encrypted during the attack. The CryptoKill Ransomware delivers a ransom note demanding that the victim pays a large ransom in exchange for the decryption key that is necessary to recover the infected files.

Dealing with the CryptoKill Ransomware

PC security analysts strongly advise computer users to refrain from paying the CryptoKill Ransomware ransom. Paying the CryptoKill Ransomware ransom allows con artists to continue carrying out these attacks, and does not guarantee that these people will deliver the decryption key. The CryptoKill Ransomware delivers its ransom note as both a program window and a text file dropped on the victim's Desktop. The ransom note will lead the victim to a payment website. Instead of paying the ransom, PC security analysts advise computer users to take steps to safeguard their computers from this and other, similar attacks. Computer users should ensure that their computers are protected with a strong anti-malware program that is fully up-to-date. However, the best way to protect your data from attacks like the CryptoKill Ransomware is to ensure that you have backups of all your files. If the victim can recover the encrypted files by restoring them from a backup quickly, then the people carrying out the attack lose any leverage that they have to demand money from the victim. The use of file backups, coupled with a reliable security program, and good safety practices when browsing the Web or handling emails and email attachments, should be an effective method of protecting a computer from the CryptoKill Ransomware or other, similar ransomware attacks.

SpyHunter Detects & Remove CryptoKill Ransomware

File System Details

CryptoKill Ransomware may create the following file(s):
# File Name MD5 Detections
1. file.exe 63cc40d12e49ffb507d91af8f7a6f082 0

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