Cyborg ransomware (Decryption Methods Included) - Free Guide
Cyborg virus Removal Guide
What is Cyborg ransomware?
Cyborg ransomware is the threat that gets loaded on the machine via fraudulent Windows update notification emails
Cyborg ransomware is the cryptovirus that gets delivered with help from a new campaign using the fake Windows 10 update message. Cyborg ransomware is the threat that marks encrypted files using .petra file appendix and gets installed on the PC from an email about needed updates. The email notification with “Install the latest Update now” tricks people into prompting the Critical Microsoft Windows Update install that triggers an executable file named bitcoingenerator.exe. Hidden behind the .jpg type of the file, this executable launches the ransomware payload on the system immediately.
The threat first was spotted at the beginning of November, but the particular Cyborg ransomware virus campaign that reportedly[1] involves .777 file marker and those emails with Windows 10 updates, was discovered in the middle of the same month. When malware is done encoding files, it deletes itself, places a copy of the virus as a file bot.exe in the root of the infected device, and a typical ransom note file in the text file named Cyborg_DECRYPT.txt on the desktop and in various folders with affected data. The message is generated for virus victims, so they can know what to do next. Unfortunately, the option malware creators suggest involves paying the ransom for the alleged decryption tool that is not the best solution, as previous incidents show.[2]
Name | Cyborg ransomware |
---|---|
File marker | .petra, .777 marks all files encrypted by the virus and indicates useless data |
Distribution | Infected email attachments with malicious files, fake updates promoting messages, torrent sites, pirated software, malicious files, other malware set to deliver crypto-extortion based threats |
Ransom note | Cyborg_DECRYPT.txt – a text file containing the message from virus developers where hackers suggest victims paying up as soon as possible to get their files back supposedly |
Ransom amount | Cybercriminals demand at least $300 in Bitcoin. Some campaigns reported about ransom amount going up to $500 for the alleged decryption key |
Contact emails | petra-mail.ru, marceldeneud@yandex.com |
Danger | Such money-oriented threat actors don't care for your belongings, so the main focus is encryption and ransom demands. There is no guarantee that paying could ensure file recovery, so you pay for nothing in the long run and can lose your files permanently. Also, ransomware can load additional scripts and affect the machine further when the encryption is already done |
Elimination | For a proper Cyborg ransomware removal, you should get anti-malware tool and run on the machine to fully find and eliminate malicious files, programs, the initial virus |
Tips for system recovery | Besides encrypting your personal data like photos, documents, or archives, Cyborg ransomware virus can alter system settings and important parts like directories or startup preferences. You should try to fix the virus damage and repair system data using a system tool like FortectIntego |
Cyborg ransomware gets dropped when spam campaign tricks people into script delivery by claiming that the email is sent from Microsoft officials and encourages to install the latest Windows 10 update. The fake update attachment is an executable file even though .jpg file extension is on the filename. In reality, the malicious .NET file is an executable that downloads malware on the infected system and triggers a file encryption process.
According to people who managed to tool more into the attack, this mid-November Cyborg ransomware campaign appended all the files with .777 extension and loaded the ransom note on the compromised machine's Desktop. Cyborg_DECRYPT.txt provided information about the ransom amount – $500 in Bitcoin that should be sent to the particular wallet provided on the text file already.
Cyborg ransomware shows a message on the Desktop directly that replaces the wallpaper, but that picture contains only information about encrypted files and notes that the full ransom message placed as a text file. The ransom message seems to be generated as any typical message from crypto-extortionists, so don't trust them and try to react as soon as possible by eliminating the threat and ignoring the following or a similar note entirely:
———————— ALL YOUR FILES ARE ENCRYPTED BY CYBORG RANSOMWARE ————————
Don't worry, you can return all your files!
All your files like documents, photos, databases and other important are encrypted
What guarantees do we give to you?
You can send one of your encrypted file and we decrypt it for free.
You must follow these steps To decrypt your files :
1) Send $300 bitcoin to wallet :9e3d4e3fad796f4eb15962b74fb2e55fe47
2) write on our e-mail :petra-mail.ru
Your personal ID :
Also, a second step after the payment should be writing an email to the described email address. However, we don't recommend paying or contacting criminals. You should ignore the message instead and remove Cyborg ransomware from the machine until the PC gets damaged permanently.
Cyborg ransomware message encourages you to contact a new email address – marceldeneud@yandex.com that also seems to be related to Russia as a previous petra-mail.ru, but there is no relation to any hacking groups that could be confirmed. Nevertheless, the message should be ignored, and the machine cleaned as soon as possible if you want to get back to the virus-free machine. Cyborg ransomware is the malicious program that gets hidden behind processes on the Microsoft system, so files can get encrypted. At least three different samples got investigated, but there is not enough information to state that Cyborg ransomware is decryptable or belongs to a particular virus family. There is a tool called Cyborg Builder ransomware, so there might be more news about the threat in the future. But the builder contains a link to the Russian version of the same builder on another website beside GitHub.
Researchers report that Cyborg ransomware can be created and spread by anyone who can obtain the builder. It can be spread using various forms of gateways and spamming campaigns. This is a crafted cryptovirus that uses random extensions to mislead victims from identifying the particular strain.
It means that Cyborg ransomware removal may become a huge issue and a question among online users when more and more people will get victimized. Experts[3] also note that cybercriminals who deliver threats like this can only worry about their own benefits, so trusting anyone is a bad choice, even though the ransom note creates trust between you and the developer.
Also, since Cyborg ransomware is a virus that hides all over the computer system, you should check important parts of the system with PC repair tools, system applications like FortectIntego. This software may indicate corrupted, damaged, or outdated files in folders of your system like directories, registry. Even when you get rid of the malware itself, virus damage can cause more issues, so you need to take care of everything to get back to work on the safe computer. Additional tips for your data recovery can be found below the article. Cyborg ransomware is the infection making files useless and marking them with .petra or .777 file extension.
Infected email attachments get hidden behind scary or legitimate-looking email subject lines
Don't fall victim to scamming campaigns by paying close attention to processes and learning to look for red flags. Targeted users in various campaigns receive emails with either the subject line about financial information or, in this case, windows update message.
“Install Latest Microsoft Windows Update now!” or “Critical Microsoft Windows Update!” statements should already be suspicious since Windows Updates are not pushed through emails. Your operating system should indicate that there is an update you may need to install. So this is a red flag number one – a common type of email and the sender.
These particular emails contain notifications like “Please install the latest critical update from Microsoft attached to this email” and attachments that have an easily triggered executable. You only need to download the file, and malicious scripts can do whatever developers designed them for.
How to avoid such infection? Be cautious about such malicious emails, and look for red flags, be more suspicious and cautious, delete anything that is not familiar, or creates questions. Clean the email message more often and delete emails that get there without expectations.
Terminate Cyborg ransomware using professional AV tools and make sure to repair virus damage
To fully eliminate a threat like Cyborg ransomware virus, it is important to know more about the type of malware you got affected by. There is no one cure for cyber infections, even though anti-malware programs can eliminate most of them, there are additional processes and tips you need to remember.
Since this is the crypto-extortion based malware, paying is not the option for Cyborg ransomware removal. Even when you pay the ransom and your files get recovered, the system is still infected and damaged. To get your compromised device to work properly again, you need to clean the system entirely.
The best tool for you that we can recommend is anti-malware software – programs that work on particular malware databases that can indicate malicious activities for you should also remove Cyborg ransomware. Unfortunately, removing the virus is not going to recover your encrypted data or fix damaged parts of the system. Additional steps after the virus removal:
- rely on tools like FortectIntego, SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner, or Malwarebytes and repair the needed parts of your PC that virus affected;
- use data backups or file recovery software to restore encrypted data.
Getting rid of Cyborg virus. Follow these steps
Manual removal using Safe Mode
Reboot the machine in Safe Mode with Networking to fully eliminate Cyborg ransomware virus
Important! →
Manual removal guide might be too complicated for regular computer users. It requires advanced IT knowledge to be performed correctly (if vital system files are removed or damaged, it might result in full Windows compromise), and it also might take hours to complete. Therefore, we highly advise using the automatic method provided above instead.
Step 1. Access Safe Mode with Networking
Manual malware removal should be best performed in the Safe Mode environment.
Windows 7 / Vista / XP
- Click Start > Shutdown > Restart > OK.
- When your computer becomes active, start pressing F8 button (if that does not work, try F2, F12, Del, etc. – it all depends on your motherboard model) multiple times until you see the Advanced Boot Options window.
- Select Safe Mode with Networking from the list.
Windows 10 / Windows 8
- Right-click on Start button and select Settings.
- Scroll down to pick Update & Security.
- On the left side of the window, pick Recovery.
- Now scroll down to find Advanced Startup section.
- Click Restart now.
- Select Troubleshoot.
- Go to Advanced options.
- Select Startup Settings.
- Press Restart.
- Now press 5 or click 5) Enable Safe Mode with Networking.
Step 2. Shut down suspicious processes
Windows Task Manager is a useful tool that shows all the processes running in the background. If malware is running a process, you need to shut it down:
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard to open Windows Task Manager.
- Click on More details.
- Scroll down to Background processes section, and look for anything suspicious.
- Right-click and select Open file location.
- Go back to the process, right-click and pick End Task.
- Delete the contents of the malicious folder.
Step 3. Check program Startup
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard to open Windows Task Manager.
- Go to Startup tab.
- Right-click on the suspicious program and pick Disable.
Step 4. Delete virus files
Malware-related files can be found in various places within your computer. Here are instructions that could help you find them:
- Type in Disk Cleanup in Windows search and press Enter.
- Select the drive you want to clean (C: is your main drive by default and is likely to be the one that has malicious files in).
- Scroll through the Files to delete list and select the following:
Temporary Internet Files
Downloads
Recycle Bin
Temporary files - Pick Clean up system files.
- You can also look for other malicious files hidden in the following folders (type these entries in Windows Search and press Enter):
%AppData%
%LocalAppData%
%ProgramData%
%WinDir%
After you are finished, reboot the PC in normal mode.
Remove Cyborg using System Restore
System Restore is the feature that helps with ransomware since it can recover machine in a previous state
-
Step 1: Reboot your computer to Safe Mode with Command Prompt
Windows 7 / Vista / XP- Click Start → Shutdown → Restart → OK.
- When your computer becomes active, start pressing F8 multiple times until you see the Advanced Boot Options window.
- Select Command Prompt from the list
Windows 10 / Windows 8- Press the Power button at the Windows login screen. Now press and hold Shift, which is on your keyboard, and click Restart..
- Now select Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Startup Settings and finally press Restart.
- Once your computer becomes active, select Enable Safe Mode with Command Prompt in Startup Settings window.
-
Step 2: Restore your system files and settings
- Once the Command Prompt window shows up, enter cd restore and click Enter.
- Now type rstrui.exe and press Enter again..
- When a new window shows up, click Next and select your restore point that is prior the infiltration of Cyborg. After doing that, click Next.
- Now click Yes to start system restore.
Bonus: Recover your data
Guide which is presented above is supposed to help you remove Cyborg from your computer. To recover your encrypted files, we recommend using a detailed guide prepared by 2-spyware.com security experts.If your files are encrypted by Cyborg, you can use several methods to restore them:
Data Recovery Pro should be a helpful program that acts as an alternative for file backups
Data Recovery Pro works for encoded and accidentally deleted files, so you restore them
- Download Data Recovery Pro;
- Follow the steps of Data Recovery Setup and install the program on your computer;
- Launch it and scan your computer for files encrypted by Cyborg ransomware;
- Restore them.
Windows Previous Version is the method for recovering individual files
When System Restore gets enabled, you can use Windows Previous Versions and recover affected data
- Find an encrypted file you need to restore and right-click on it;
- Select “Properties” and go to “Previous versions” tab;
- Here, check each of available copies of the file in “Folder versions”. You should select the version you want to recover and click “Restore”.
ShadowExplorer is the feature helpful for encoded files
When Shadow Volume Copies are left untouched, ShadowExplorer can be a helpful option for data recovery
- Download Shadow Explorer (http://shadowexplorer.com/);
- Follow a Shadow Explorer Setup Wizard and install this application on your computer;
- Launch the program and go through the drop down menu on the top left corner to select the disk of your encrypted data. Check what folders are there;
- Right-click on the folder you want to restore and select “Export”. You can also select where you want it to be stored.
Decryption for files affected by Cyborg ransomware is not possible yet
Finally, you should always think about the protection of crypto-ransomwares. In order to protect your computer from Cyborg and other ransomwares, use a reputable anti-spyware, such as FortectIntego, SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes
How to prevent from getting ransomware
Stream videos without limitations, no matter where you are
There are multiple parties that could find out almost anything about you by checking your online activity. While this is highly unlikely, advertisers and tech companies are constantly tracking you online. The first step to privacy should be a secure browser that focuses on tracker reduction to a minimum.
Even if you employ a secure browser, you will not be able to access websites that are restricted due to local government laws or other reasons. In other words, you may not be able to stream Disney+ or US-based Netflix in some countries. To bypass these restrictions, you can employ a powerful Private Internet Access VPN, which provides dedicated servers for torrenting and streaming, not slowing you down in the process.
Data backups are important – recover your lost files
Ransomware is one of the biggest threats to personal data. Once it is executed on a machine, it launches a sophisticated encryption algorithm that locks all your files, although it does not destroy them. The most common misconception is that anti-malware software can return files to their previous states. This is not true, however, and data remains locked after the malicious payload is deleted.
While regular data backups are the only secure method to recover your files after a ransomware attack, tools such as Data Recovery Pro can also be effective and restore at least some of your lost data.
- ^ Elizabeth Montalbano. Fake ‘Windows Update’ Installs Cyborg Ransomware. Threatpost. The first stop for security news.
- ^ Larry Dignan. Ransomware attacks: Why and when it makes sense to pay the ransom. ZDNet. Technology and security news.
- ^ Zondervirus. Zondervirus. Spyware related news.