How to remove .crab virus

.crab virus is a dangerous cryptovirus from an infamous GandCrab ransomware family  

.crab virus — ransomware that has been locking files, dropping this file extension to their name and additionally demanding $800 ransom in exchange for the special key needed for data decryption. This ransomware is one of the numerous variants hailing from GandCrab family where other members are:

• GandCrab 2; 
• GandCrab 3,
• GandCrab 4.

The family of this malware^[1] showed up in January this year, and now, after a few months, there are already four different versions attacking unaware PC users. The .crab file virus can also drop .KRAB file extension to encrypted files to make them useless. To get into target computers, ransomware is using sophisticated techniques, including Rig ExploitKit, Grandsoft RigExpoit, and others. As usual, ransomware uses AES and RSA encryption algorithms. Immediately after that, data becomes useless.

Currently, it is known that .KRAB virus is using two types of ransom notes: CRAB-DECRYPT.txt and KRAB-DECRYPT.txt. These documents are typically saved on every folder on victim's PC and are used to note him or about the attack. As usual for the GandCrab ransomware, this provides different information, such as instructions on how to connect to TOR network, information about buying Bitcoin cryptocurrency, making the payment and testing the decryption service. However, we must warn you that the decryption key that virus developers have been promoting might not even exist. The only safe way to restore files is backups. However, you can also try data recovery methods that we provided at the end of this guide.

Typically, .crab virus or any other its version displays such ransom note: 

—= GANDCRAB V4 =—
Attention!
All your files, documents, photos, databases and other important files are encrypted and have the extension: .KRAB
The only method of recovering files is to purchase an unique private key. Only we can give you this key and only we can recover your files.
The server with your key is in a closed network TOR. You can get there by the following ways:
____________________________________________________________________
| 0. Download Tor browser – https://www.torproject.org/
| 1. Install Tor browser
| 2. Open Tor Browser
| 3. Open link 
| 4. Follow the instructions on this page

This ransomware is demanding an 800 dollar amount which must be paid in the form of Bitcoin or DASH. This amount of money should be enough to buy a unique decryption key which should be entered into the specific field to recover locked files. However, we do not recommend contacting these cybercriminals to pay the ransom. These people are scammers and paying the money might lead you to additional problems. 

According to malware's developers, this is the only way to recover files locked by .KRAB extension:

You should buy GandCrab Decryptor. This software will help you to decrypt all of your encrypted files and remove GandCrab Ransomware from your PC.
Current price: $800.00. As payment, you need cryptocurrency DASH or Bitcoin

Instead of the proposed process, you should remove .crab virus, and recover your computer to its previous state. Keep in mind that you cannot know what else could this malware initiate on your machine. The more time this threat will spend on your computer, the more damage it could cause. 

.crab virus removal requires professional help, so employ anti-malware tools like FortectIntego. Perform a full system scan to ensure that tool detects and deletes all ransomware-related threats. We highly recommend using only certified programs for this procedure to be sure that your computer is running smoothly as prior to the appearance of this malware. 

Ransomware attacks are initiated because of careless users' behavior

Not paying enough attention while browsing the Internet can lead you to various PC infections and malware attacks. While ransomware viruses are mostly spread via spam emails and their insecure attachments, you should also be very careful while downloading programs from p2p networks^[2] or other suspicious providers.

If you happen to get any suspicious email, make sure you double check it before opening. If you can find anything suspicious, delete it immediately!

Typically, fake email messages are claiming something like that: 

Dear Customer,

Please find the attachment regarding your delivery!
Kind regards

FedEx Support

 To make sure that the email message is safe, you need to look at these components:

• email address. It has to make sense when compared with the company's name and email's content;
• the name of the company. You have to be related to the company somehow (be the employee, user, customer, etc.);
• grammar and typo. Check the email for accuracy, it shouldn't contain any mistakes;
• Researchers^[3] also recommend looking closely at programs they are downloading to their computers from P2P networks. Please, stay away from illegal software, games and similar apps as they can also be filled with malicious installers.

Terminate .crab virus as soon as possible 

To remove .crab virus properly, you need to use anti-malware tools that could help you find malware and its components without wasting the precious time. Choosing these tools wisely will ensure the full elimination of the virus and further system's protection. Ransomware is one of the most dangerous cyber threats, so we highly recommend using programs like FortectIntego, SpyHunterCombo Cleaner or MalwarebytesMalwarebytes.

However, .crab virus removal won't recover your locked files. These two processes are not related, so you will need to forget about your encrypted files at first, no matter how hard it may seem. Files' recovery can be initiated only on the secure system. If you took care of Krab ransomware virus already, move to our Data Recovery section.