Do you know what Crash Ransomware is?
Crash Ransomware is a malicious infection that targets Russian-speaking users. We can tell that immediately because this infection displays its ransom note in Russian. The program also comes from a big family of similar intruders, and that is not anything surprising. Ransomware apps often get tweaked or modified to meet the owner’s requirements.
This program is known to delete itself once the encryption is complete, so there might be no need to remove Crash Ransomware. However, if there are still malware files present on your computer, you definitely need to take care of that at once.
Have you ever wondered how such infections reach their victims? Our research suggests that Crash Ransomware is another modification of the Scarab Ransomware infection. Therefore, it is very likely that it spreads just like its predecessor. Scarab Ransomware was first detected in 2017 and ever since then, we have seen multiple variants of this intruder. However, all of them tend to reach their victims through spam email attachments and unsafe RDP connections.
Here you might say that a spam email cannot do any harm unless the user interacts with it. And that’s the thing: users do interact with spam email. Cybersecurity experts have been trying to educated users about the dangers behind spam emails, but there still is a small fraction of internet users who manage to get duped by spam. And so, the likes of Crash Ransomware enter target systems, and encrypt the files.
We all want to avoid something like Crash Ransomware, so when you receive an email from an unknown sender, you need to first check its legitimacy. Do not hurry to open the attached file, even if the message in the email says you have to do it immediately. That’s what the crooks want! They want you to panic, they want you to leave logical thinking behind, they want you to fall into this trap. If you receive a message from someone you don’t know, and the message seems to be absolutely random, just delete the email no questions asked.
Crash Ransomware screenshot
Scroll down for full removal instructions
The same applies to files you receive through Remote Desktop Protocol connection. Were you waiting for this file? Do you know the sender? If you know the sender, do they usually send you documents? The most important thing is caution. Crash Ransomware might not leave that many files behind, but the infection brings along terrible consequences, and no one wants to start building their file library anew.
However, if Crash Ransomware manages to enter the target system, then it will definitely run the file encryption. The infection encrypts files in the %USERPROFILE% directory, so the chances are that most of your files will be affected. Also, programs from the Scarab Ransomware family often delete the Shadow Volume as well. So, it might not be possible to restore your data unless you have a system backup someplace else. Like, if you have a cloud drive where you back up your files, it’s about time you remember the password to it.
Needless to say, when the encryption is complete, Crash Ransomware displays a ransom note. The ransom note is entirely in the Russian language. If you do not speak it, it will be nothing but gibberish to you. However, the ransom note follows the general ransom note pattern. It says that your files were encrypted, and you need to contact these criminals through the given email addresses. It also says that if you contact them within the first 24 hours, you will have to pay less. Then, after 72 hours, the ransom sum remains fixed.
It goes without saying that you should never consider paying these criminals. Close the ransom note right now, and then scan your system with a licensed antispyware tool. If malicious files are detected, please remove them all automatically.
Manual malware removal is possible, but it is not recommended as ransomware is a tricky infection. Also, you should consider contacting a local professional for file recovery options. Most of the time, there is a way to retrieve at least some of your files. And don’t forget to set up a file backup because you can never know when a similar infection reaches your computer again.
How to Delete Crash Ransomware
- Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open Task Manager.
- Click the Processes tab and mark suspicious processes.
- Press the End Process button and exit Task Manager.
- Remove unfamiliar files from Desktop.
- Remove suspicious files from the Downloads folder.
- Press Win+R and enter %TEMP%. Click OK.
- Remove the most recent files from the directory.
- Use SpyHunter to perform a full system scan.
In non-techie terms:
Crash Ransomware is a dangerous computer infection. It reaches its victims through spam email. It means that we have to be really careful when we deal with emails received from unknown senders. If you got infected with Crash Ransomware, please remove it as soon as possible. Also, protect your system and your data from similar intruders. We have to remember that ransomware infections are terrible, and it is often that we have to say bye-bye to our files altogether.