CryptPKO Ransomware
Threat Scorecard
EnigmaSoft Threat Scorecard
EnigmaSoft Threat Scorecards are assessment reports for different malware threats which have been collected and analyzed by our research team. EnigmaSoft Threat Scorecards evaluate and rank threats using several metrics including real-world and potential risk factors, trends, frequency, prevalence, and persistence. EnigmaSoft Threat Scorecards are updated regularly based on our research data and metrics and are useful for a wide range of computer users, from end users seeking solutions to remove malware from their systems to security experts analyzing threats.
EnigmaSoft Threat Scorecards display a variety of useful information, including:
Ranking: The ranking of a particular threat in EnigmaSoft’s Threat Database.
Severity Level: The determined severity level of an object, represented numerically, based on our risk modeling process and research, as explained in our Threat Assessment Criteria.
Infected Computers: The number of confirmed and suspected cases of a particular threat detected on infected computers as reported by SpyHunter.
See also Threat Assessment Criteria.
| Threat Level: | 80 % (High) |
| Infected Computers: | 19 |
| First Seen: | July 30, 2015 |
| Last Seen: | May 6, 2023 |
| OS(es) Affected: | Windows |
Ransomware infections, particularly encryption threats, have grown in popularity in recent years, making them a significant threat to computer users attempting to browse the Web. There is plenty of money involved in online threat campaigns. Unfortunately, many people have taken to creating and distributing threats to profit from inexperienced or badly protected computer users. The CryptPKO Ransomware is no exception, carrying out attacks that take computers hostage and then demanding a ransom to return control to the affected computer user. The CryptPKO Ransomware can be easily recognized because of its appearance and the kind of ransom notes as text files that the CryptPKO Ransomware drops on the affected computer.
How the CryptPKO Ransomware and Similar Ransomware Attack a Computer User
Ransomware is considered particularly threatening, especially because it is not possible to decrypt files that have been encrypted without the decryption key. This means that computer users that have not backed up their files will lose access to the files encrypted by the CryptPKO Ransomware unless they pay the ransom, and even then, there is no way to know if the files will be decrypted making the payment. Essentially, the CryptPKO Ransomware and other ransomware take over the victim's computer. They hold the victim's files and software hostage by encrypting the contents of a computer. As people's reliance on computers becomes greater, these attacks have more reach and become even more devastating. From photos and correspondence to important business or school files, the CryptPKO Ransomware will encrypt everything. The CryptPKO Ransomware then drops text files named 'HOW TO DECRYPT FILES.txt' on any directory where the CryptPKO Ransomware has encrypted any files. The CryptPKO Ransomware's ransom note reads as follows:
Attention!!! Your broke the law!! All your files are encrypted!!
To restore your files visit http://plc.licter.com if the site is not working please write to email stoppiracy@email.su.
You have 5 attempts to enter the code. Above this limit, all the data irreversibly deteriorate.
Following a pattern established by other ransomware attacks, the CryptPKO Ransomware will claim that the computer user broke the law and that the files were encrypted as a punishment for this. This kind of approach, although nonsensical, may work to trick computer users that are inexperienced. The ransom note includes an email address with a 'su' ending, which corresponds to the Soviet Union, often used by modern day Russian hackers in these kinds of attacks.
Responding to a the CryptPKO Ransomware Attack
If your computer has been infected with the CryptPKO Ransomware, it is important to remain calm. Unless you have absolutely no choice, malware researchers urge computer users to avoid paying the CryptPKO Ransomware ransom, since the CryptPKO Ransomware will allow these people to continue their attacks without guaranteeing that you will receive the decryption key for your files. In some cases, it is possible to recover encrypted files from the Shadow Volume using specialized tools. However, this may not be effective because threats like the CryptPKO Ransomware will delete shadow copies of encrypted files. It is, of course, necessary to remove the CryptPKO Ransomware infection itself before attempting to restore any content on the infected computer. An up-to-date security program should be able to remove the CryptPKO Ransomware infection completely, although it will probably not be capable of restoring encrypted files.
In the case of threats like the CryptPKO Ransomware, the best way of dealing with these kinds of threats is prevention. Malware analysts strongly urge computer users to take steps to backup any important files on their computers, especially when it comes to material that cannot be replaced such as family photos or important work documents (which should be backed up anyway!) There are numerous backup solutions available on the market, both on the cloud or an external memory device or server. If properly protected, computer users can restore their files from a backup after removing the CryptPKO Ransomware completely.
