How to remove CTRM ransomware

CTRM ransomware – a file-locking virus that blackmails its victims into paying the ransom by stealing private data

CTRM ransomware is a type of malware that downloads important data from infected computers to secret hacker servers, then encrypts the victim files and tries to racketeer the victims into paying a ransom, or the stolen data contents would be published online. This is a common

Although CTRM ransomware virus is designed to attack companies, everyday people aren't safe from it. As soon as this virus accesses a computer system, it scans the most frequently used files and downloads them onto the cybercriminals' servers, so they could use the stolen data as leverage until the victims pay the ransom.

Then the cryptovirus encrypts all non-system files on the computer or possibly the whole network and renames them by replacing the original file names with criminals' contact email [Citrteam@yahoo.com], a sequence of 17 random characters, and .CTRM extension. Afterward, a ransom note CTRM_INFO.rtf is created with instruction to the victims.

CTRM ransomware virus derives from the Matrix ransomware family that's been first spotted in the 4th quarter of 2016. All cryptoviruses of this family, like SNTG, BNFD, BBGT, and others, use the same AES + RSA coding algorithms to encrypt the infected victim devices' files.

Within the ransom note (seen at the end of this chapter) of CTRM ransomware, the cybercriminals give extensive details about what happened and what to do next. Victims are urged to contact the assailants within 48 hours of the attack, or stolen data contents will be published online on the Darknet.

If negotiations aren't started within 96 hours, the hackers threaten to attack the victim's partners and clients and start selling the company's databases to any interested parties. Furthermore, the perpetrators threaten to launch DDoS attacks on the victim's website and the whole IT infrastructure. 

The developers of CTRM ransomware provide their victims with three emails addresses to establish contact and begin negotiations:

• Citrteam@yahoo.com
• Citrteam@tutanota.com
• Citrteam@gmail.com

No matter how threatening the ransom note sounds, the US government institutions announced^[1] that companies who pay the ransom might face steep fines due to the fact that ransom money might go to fund terrorist organizations. That's why we recommend victims to remove CTRM ransomware.

According to VirusTotal,^[2] 51 out of 69 anti-virus engines detected this article's culprit and prevented their systems from infection. That reiterates the need for a reliable anti-malware tool. We recommend entrusting CTRM ransomware removal to SpyHunterCombo Cleaner or MalwarebytesMalwarebytes or any other similar, trustworthy anti-malware software.

Afterward, a system tune-up is in order because cryptoviruses not only encrypt files but also mess up the device's system settings and files. That could cause various abnormal behavior. We suggest using the FortectIntego system repair tool to restore the devices back to the pre-contamination phase.

This message is displayed in the CTRM_INFO.rtf:

Our congratulations. You become a victim of ransomware attack.

First оf аll wе hаvе tо infоrm уоu thаt уоur dаtа is nоt соrruptеd аnd саn bе rеstоrеd quiсklу аnd sаfеlу. Dоn't wоrrу аbоut it. оur sоftwаrе wоrks pеrfесtlу.

Аs уоu саn sее аll уоur filеs wеrе еnсrуptеd аnd rеnаmеd. уоur dаtа is еnсrуptеd with а strоng сrуptо аlgоrithm АЕS+RSА. Уоu саn rеаd аbоut thеsе аlgоrithms in Gооglе. Уоur uniquе dесrуptiоn kеу is sесurеlу stоrеd оn оur sеrvеr аnd nо wау tо rеstоrе уоur dаtа withоut оur hеlp.

Аlsо аll intеrеsting vаluаblе аnd соnfidеntiаl dаtа wаs uplоаdеd tо оur sеrvеrs.
If уоu will nоt stаrt diаlоg with us in 48 hоurs wе will stаrt publishing уоur соnfidеntiаl dаtа in thе Dаrknеt. Аftеr 96 hоurs stоlеn pаrtnеrs аnd сliеnts соntасts will bе usеd fоr nеw rаnsоmwаrе аttасks. Аlsо, If pоssiblе, wе will sеll уоur dаtаbаsеs tо intеrеstеd pаrtiеs.

Plеаsе nоtе thаt уоu аrе nоt а rаndоm tаrgеt. Wе knоw thаt уоu аrе аblе tо pау аnd wе will dо оur bеst tо соmplеtе this аttасk with pауing а rаnsоm pауmеnt frоm уоur pаrt. If уоu dоn't gеt in tоuсh, wе will lаunсh а DDоs аttасk оn уоur sitе аnd IT infrаstruсturе.

If уоu rеаllу wаnt tо sоlvе this situаtiоn уоu hаvе tо writе tо оur 3 еmаil аdrеssеs:
Citrteam@yahoo.com
Citrteam@tutanota.com
Citrteam@gmail.com
In subjеct linе please writе уоur ID: –

Уоu саn аttасh up tо 3 smаll еnсrуptеd filеs fоr frее tеst dесrуptiоn. Wе will dесrуpt thеsе filеs fоr frее аnd sеnd thеm tо уоu. This will bе prооf fоr уоu thаt wе саn dесrуpt аll уоur dаtа. Plеаsе nоtе thаt filеs must nоt соntаin vаluаblе infоrmаtiоn.

Important!
* Wе аsking tо sеnd уоur mеssаgе tо аll оf оur 3 еmаil аdrеssеs bесаusе fоr vаriоus rеаsоns, уоur еmаil mау nоt bе dеlivеrеd.
* Оur mеssаgе mау bе rесоgnizеd аs spаm, sо bе surе tо сhесk thе spаm fоldеr.
* If wе dо nоt rеspоnd tо уоu within 24 hоurs, writе tо us frоm аnоthеr еmаil аddrеss. Usе Gmаil, уаhоо, Hоtmаil, оr аnу оthеr wеll-knоwn еmаil sеrviсе.

Important!
Plеаsе dоn't wаstе thе timе, it will rеsult оnlу аdditinаl dаmаgе tо уоur соmpаnу!
Dоn't trу tо fооl us, it will оnlу inсrеаsе thе priсе!
Wе аrе prоfеssiоnаls аnd just dоing оur jоb!
Wе аrе аlwауs оpеnеd fоr diаlоguе аnd rеаdу tо hеlp!

Preventing cyberattacks by increasing cybersecurity level

Cybercriminals are constantly working to outthink companies and everyday computer users. That's why everyone should be a step ahead of these violators. Investing in cybersecurity is much better than funding criminal organizations. We prepared some simple guidelines that, if implemented, would greatly increase cybersecurity and might help to evade dealings with cybercriminals:

• Backups of all essential data should be kept on at least two separate devices, one of which should be offline storage.
• Latest updates should be installed in all software, from web browsers to Operating Systems.
• Companies should hire cybersecurity specialists to teach their staff about phishing emails^[3] and other ransomware spreading techniques used by the cybercriminals.
• A reliable anti-malware tool should be purchased and used regularly to scan the whole system.
• System repair tools should be used to have a clean device registry and other key settings.

Directions for CTRM file virus removal and system health overhaul

Dealing with the cybercriminals might only bring more harm as the victims have no guarantee that the promised decryption tool will ever be given to them or that it will work. That's why our suggestion is to remove CTRM ransomware from all infected devices with the help of dependable anti-malware tools like SpyHunterCombo Cleaner or MalwarebytesMalwarebytes.

Since file-locking parasites have a tendency to modify system settings and files to help them with their purpose after CTRM ransomware removal, experts^[3] recommend performing a full system scan with the FortectIntego app to repair any damage that the system sustained.