GandCrab 3 ransomware: what it is and how to remove it
GandCrab 3 is a crypto-virus virus that functions as a third version of the notorious GandCrab ransomware. At the end of April 2018, only a couple of month after the release of GandCrab2, hackers struck again with a new strength targeting Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Ukraine PC users in particular.
Facts checked October 7, 2026. Removal steps tested on Windows 11 (26H2) and checked against Microsoft's and the browser makers' current documentation. Sections marked as our earlier report are the original text: they describe the threat as it was then and have not been reviewed since. The 2026 status, the removal steps and the questions are current.
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GandCrab 3 ransomware: summary
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
|---|---|
| Ransom note | CRAB-DECRYPT.txt; the text is quoted in full below |
| Contact | ransomware@sj.ms |
| Encrypted file extension | .crab |
| Decryptor | No free decryptor is known for this variant; check No More Ransom (nomoreransom.org) for updates |
| Distribution | Not recorded in the old report |
| Removal | Scan the PC with security software to find and remove the malware and anything installed with it. Fortect scans Windows for malware and repairs the system files and settings it damaged. Remove it nowTo use the full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Fortect. The scan is free. |
Show 10 more facts
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
|---|---|
| Name | GandCrab 3 ransomware |
| Type | File-encrypting ransomware |
| Symptoms | Files renamed with a new extension and a ransom note left in folders |
| Evidence | 4 write-ups by security sites; no sample analysed yet |
| Encrypted files | .crab |
| Attacker contacts | ransomware@sj.ms |
| Free decryptor | No free decryptor is known (checked 7 October 2026) |
| First seen | 25 July 2018 |
| Facts checked | 7 October 2026 |
- File extension:
.crab - Note file:
CRAB-DECRYPT.txt - Contact:
ransomware@sj.ms
From our report of Jul 2018 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on GandCrab 3 ransomware
- Personal files inaccessible, ransom note created on the desktop, slow PC, compromised desktop's wallpaper, browser redirects to payment website
- It compromises the system and can cause severe crash.
- Personal files may be permanently deleted.
How GandCrab 3 ransomware behaves
From our report of Jul 2018 · not reviewed since
Criminals may use multiple techniques to spread malware
Bedynet.ru team claim that this particular ransomware is not very likely to confine itself to one distribution method.
While it did reach the mainstream distribution yet, it's difficult to name the whole list of techniques precisely. Nevertheless, people should be careful with Receipt Feb-21310 [ random numbered] attachment sent from @cdkconstruction.org. As soon as you spot a suspicious email from the unknown sender, we highly recommend you to report it as spam immediately.
Exploit Kits, including Magnitude, RIG, and GrandSoft are also known for being widely used ransomware carriers. To prevent malicious software from exploiting your PC's vulnerabilities, make sure to install all system's updates and patches.
Last, but not least, be careful with a free download on the net. It has been found that many suspicious and illegal websites contain fake software update downloads. One of the examples used to spread the ancestor of this ransomware is fake Hoefler TextFont.
The potential victim is being redirected to a hacked website, which displays scrambled text, and displays a pop-up alert urging to download the latest font update to see the content.
From our report of Jul 2018 · not reviewed since
GandCrab v3 - dangerous ransomware virus hailing from the infamous GandCrab family
GandCrab 3 is a crypto-virus virus that functions as a third version of the notorious GandCrab ransomware.
At the end of April 2018, only a couple of month after the release of GandCrab2, hackers struck again with a new strength targeting Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Ukraine PC users in particular.
GandCrab v3 renders AES-256 (CBC mode) + RSA-2048 encryption to hardcode personal files and subsequently mark them with .CRAB file extension. The file CRAB-DECRYPT.txt stands for a ransom note, which contains an explicit guide on how the victim has to pay the ransom. Bitcoins accepted only.
At the very end of April 2018, cybersecurity experts detected a sample of the GandCrab v3 ransomware. Genealogically, its predecessors are GandCrab and GandCrab 2 versions, both of which appeared to be extremely successful from the perspective of the crooks. The initial release managed to collect more than 600,000 USD within less than four months.
While the initial variant can already be decrypted, the v2 does not. GandCrab 3 decryptor is not yet available either. Currently, it's not yet hundred percent clear what distribution techniques cybercriminals exploit to spread this malware around. However, based on the information collected about this malware, the following methods can be applied:
Upon encryption, the GandCrab 3 virus changes boot sequence eliminates Volume Shadow Copies using Command Prompt and PowerShell as admin, and the unravels the AES-256 (CBC mode) + RSA-2048 encryption algorithm. In the background of the system, the malware runs random.exe. It may also hijack the explorer.exe file and force the system to restart to finish up the encryption.
Just like the previous version, it appends .CRAB file extension to the encoded files. It's targets more than 250 file types, including the most popular (.jpg, .png, .doc, .pdf, .avi, .docx, etc.). Once the files are encrypted, the virus generates a ransom note called CRAB-DECRYPT.txt. It says:
Unlike the two previous versions that accepted DASH cryptocurrency, the latest version demands victims to pay the ransom in Bitcoins. Besides, malware researchers found out that the provenance of the GandCrab-3 is Romania.
If you have the slightest suspicion that you're infected with this ransomware, make sure to remove GandCrab 3 from the system ASAP. As long as you keep it installed, you won't be able to recover your files without paying the ransom.
Upon GandCrab v3 removal, you should try to retrieve files locked with .CRAB file extension with the help of third-party data recovery tools or try to enable a previous Windows version. You can find a full guide on how to recover files encrypted by ransomware at the end of this article.
- Magnitude Exploit Kit;
- Rig Exploit Kit;
- GrandSoft Exploit Kit;
- Seamless malvertising campaign;
- Receipt Feb-21310 attachment of spam email;
- Fake Hoefler text font updates;
- Hacked Remote Desktop Services, etc.
The GandCrab 3 ransomware note
---= GANDCRAB V3 =---
Attention!
All your files documents, photos, databases and other important files are encrypted and have the extension: .CRAB
The only method of recovering files is to purchase a private key. It is on our server, 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 in TOR browser:
4. Follow the instructions on this page
On our page, you will see instructions on payment and get the opportunity to decrypt 1 file for free.
The alternative way to contact us is to use Jabber messanger. Read how to:
0. Download Psi-Plus Jabber Client: https://psi-im.org/download/
1. Register new account: http://sj.ms/register.php
0) Enter "username": 21b1a2d1729f0695
1) Enter "password": your password
2. Add new account in Psi
3. Add and write Jabber ID: ransomware@sj.ms any message
4. Follow instruction bot
ATTENTION!
It is a bot! It's fully automated artificial system without human control!
To contact us use TOR links. We can provide you all required proofs of decryption availibility anytime. We are open to conversations.
You can read instructions how to install and use jabber here http://www.sfu.ca/jabber/Psi_Jabber_PC.pdf
CAUGHTION!
Do not try to modify files or use your own private key. This will result in the loss of your data forever!
How to remove GandCrab 3 ransomware
Tools you'll need
All of these are free except where noted. Download them on a clean device if the infected PC is offline.
- A USB stick: to keep the ransom note, two or three encrypted files and screenshots off the infected PC.
- Microsoft Defender Offline: built into Windows 11 and Windows 10; scans before Windows starts, so running malware cannot hide.
- Microsoft Safety Scanner: a second, portable scanner with current signatures; each download works for 10 days.
- ID Ransomware: identifies the family from the note and one encrypted file and says whether a decryptor exists.
- No More Ransom: the free decryptors from police and security companies; check it again every few months.
- Fortect (optional): scans Windows for malware and repairs the system files and settings it damaged. The free scan is in the box above.
How to remove GandCrab 3 ransomware and get your files back
Work in this order.
Disconnecting comes first, removal comes before any restore, and nothing here asks you to contact the attackers.
Step 1: Disconnect the PC and unplug backup drives
Unplug the network cable or turn off Wi-Fi, and disconnect USB drives, external disks and network shares, so GandCrab 3 ransomware cannot reach more files. Pause OneDrive, Google Drive or Dropbox sync, because synced folders upload the encrypted copies over the good ones.
Leave the PC on but offline while you read the next steps, since a restart can let the ransomware run again. This applies to Windows 11 and Windows 10 alike.
Windows 11: turn off Wi-Fi to take the PC offline. Full procedure with screenshots: Ransomware: first steps, finding a decryptor and recovering files
Step 2: Save the ransom note and confirm the family
Your files now end in
.craband the instructions are inCRAB-DECRYPT.txt. Save both to a USB stick, a copy of the note and two small encrypted files, before anything else.On another device, check them with ID Ransomware or Crypto Sheriff: the family name decides which decryptor, if any, can help. Keep the note's ID and contact line for your report.
Windows 11: the ransom note and encrypted files to copy for identification. Full procedure with screenshots: Ransomware: first steps, finding a decryptor and recovering files
Step 3: Check for a free decryptor
Our last check found that for GandCrab 3 ransomware, no free decryptor is known (checked 7 October 2026). Look again yourself in the No More Ransom list and the free decryptor pages of Emsisoft, Avast and Kaspersky, which add new families every year.
A decryptor needs the ransomware gone first, or it encrypts the files again. Keep at least one copy of the encrypted files on an external drive, even if no tool works yet.
Full procedure with screenshots: Ransomware: first steps, finding a decryptor and recovering files
Step 4: Remove the ransomware before you restore or decrypt
Removing GandCrab 3 ransomware does not bring the files back, but it has to come first. Start with Defender's Full scan, then the offline scan from the same Scan options page, which checks the disk before Windows loads.
If the scan cannot start, use Safe Mode with Networking. Delete the ransom notes only after you have saved a copy, because removal tools sometimes leave them behind on Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Windows 11: Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options. Full procedure with screenshots: Run a Microsoft Defender Offline scan
Step 5: Look for shadow copies of the files
Windows keeps shadow copies for restore points and backups, and some ransomware fails to delete them.
vssadmin list shadowsin an administrator Command Prompt tells you at once whether any exist.If they do, right-click the folder that held your files, open Properties > Previous Versions, select a version from before the attack, and click Open to check it before you Restore or copy the files out. Windows 11 and Windows 10 both have the tab.
Windows 11: vssadmin list shadows shows whether shadow copies exist. Full procedure with screenshots: Ransomware: first steps, finding a decryptor and recovering files
Step 6: Restore the files from a backup or recover deleted originals
A backup made before the attack is the surest way back. Connect it only once the PC is clean, then restore from File History, Windows Backup, OneDrive's Restore your OneDrive or your own external copies.
Without a backup, try file recovery: the originals that GandCrab 3 ransomware deleted may still be on the disk until something overwrites them. Install nothing new on the drive you want to recover from on the Windows 11 or Windows 10 PC.
Full procedure with screenshots: Recover deleted files (Recycle Bin, backups, OneDrive) On uGetFix
Instructions for each browser and system
The detailed steps for every browser and system this guide covers. Open the one you use.
Manual removal using Safe Mode
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.
From our report of Jul 2018 · not reviewed since
GandCrab-3 removal options
There's only one possibility to remove GandCrab v3 ransomware from the system.
It's called automatic since it requires the usage of a professional anti-malware program. Manual removal, when you try to get rid of malicious files by yourself, is practically impossible unless you don't mind damaging the system and the encrypted files permanently.
Instead of that, we would strongly recommend you to use a professional security program, for example , for elimination malicious files manually. Upon successful Gandcrab 3 removal, try to recover your files using data recovery methods listed down below.
Note that each of Gandcrab ransomware's versions has been trying to disable anti-virus/anti-malware scanners to prevent their removal from the system. No matter which version you have on your computer, try following the guide below to know what should be done if you want to create a safe environment for virus removal:
[GI=method-1]The ransomware can block you from removing the ransomware. In this case, you should restart your PC into Safe Mode with Networking. For this purpose, do the following:
Unfortunately, your files won't be recovered after GandCrab 3 removal. Upon virus elimination, you should employ third-party data recovery tools.
Enable Previous Windows version
In case you are using SystemRestore function, the system should automatically create System Restore Points. Of course, you can create these points by yourself. To check whether it's possible to recover files using the previous version feature, follow these steps:
ShadowExplorer won't help since the ransomware deletes the Volume Shadow Copies.
No decryptor available for Gandcrab v3
Report it and recover your files
Report it
Report the attack even if you do not expect the files back: insurers and banks ask for the report number, and police use the contacts in the note to link cases.
- United States
- FBI IC3 · FTC ReportFraud
- United Kingdom
- Report Fraud (formerly Action Fraud) · NCSC
- Australia
- ReportCyber (ASD)
- EU countries
- Europol: national reporting sites
Give the victim ID, the note and the date the files were encrypted. A business that holds personal data may also have to notify its data protection authority, in the EU within 72 hours.
Backups: the 3-2-1 rule
Keep three copies of files that matter, on two kinds of storage, with one copy offline or off-site.
A disk that stays plugged in is reached by malware like GandCrab 3 ransomware together with the PC; one you connect only for the backup is not.
On Windows 11, File History keeps versions on an external drive, and OneDrive keeps earlier versions of synced files. Before restoring anything, make sure the PC no longer shows files that end in .crab and no longer open.
Setting it up step by step: 3-2-1 backups on Windows 11 and 10.
Access your website securely from any location
When you work on the domain, site, blog, or different project that requires constant management, content creation, or coding, you may need to connect to the server and content management service more often. The best solution for creating a tighter network could be a dedicated/fixed IP address.
If you make your IP address static and set to your device, you can connect to the CMS from any location and do not create any additional issues for the server or network manager that needs to monitor connections and activities. VPN software providers like can help you with such settings and offer the option to control the online reputation and manage projects easily from any part of the world.
Recover files after data-affecting malware attacks
While much of the data can be accidentally deleted due to various reasons, malware is one of the main culprits that can cause loss of pictures, documents, videos, and other important files.
More serious malware infections lead to significant data loss when your documents, system files, and images get encrypted. In particular, ransomware is is a type of malware that focuses on such functions, so your files become useless without an ability to access them.
Even though there is little to no possibility to recover after file-locking threats, some applications have features for data recovery in the system. In some cases, can also help to recover at least some portion of your data after data-locking virus infection or general cyber infection.
Questions about GandCrab 3 ransomware
How do I open .crab files?
You cannot open them by renaming or with another program, because the content of files ending in .crab has been encrypted. The only ways back are a working decryptor for the family, or clean copies from elsewhere:
- OneDrive versions
- File History
- an offline backup drive
- Previous Versions if the ransomware did not delete them
Identify the family first by uploading the ransom note and one encrypted file to ID Ransomware or No More Ransom. Avoid websites and programs that promise to open any encrypted file; they do not work and some are scams.
Should I pay the ransom in CRAB-DECRYPT.txt?
Not before you have tried everything else. Identify the family from CRAB-DECRYPT.txt and one encrypted file, check No More Ransom for a free decryptor, and look for clean copies in OneDrive, backups and Previous Versions.
Paying funds further attacks, may be illegal if the group is sanctioned, and is no promise of a working key: many victims get partial or broken decryption. If you consider paying for business-critical data, involve the police and a professional incident responder first, and never pay through intermediaries who promise their own decryption.
Is there a free GandCrab 3 ransomware decryptor?
We last checked on 7 October 2026, and for GandCrab 3 ransomware no free decryptor is known. We check No More Ransom, which collects free tools from police and security companies, and the decryptor pages of the major antivirus vendors. A working decryptor exists only when the encryption has a flaw or the keys were leaked or seized.
Ignore sites and videos that offer a "GandCrab 3 ransomware decryptor" for download or for a fee: these are usually scams or malware. Real decryptors are free and come from known security companies or law enforcement. Keep the encrypted files in case a tool appears later.
Are ransomware recovery services legitimate?
Some are, but read the offer carefully. Genuine data-recovery firms recover deleted originals from disks or rebuild damaged files, and they say so. Others promise to "decrypt any ransomware" for a fixed price, which is impossible without the key; they quietly pay the attackers and keep a margin, sometimes without telling the victim.
Be especially careful with services that contact you after you post about the attack online. Ask for references, a written method and a no-result-no-fee clause, and check the free tools on No More Ransom first.
How did GandCrab 3 ransomware get on my computer?
The way GandCrab 3 ransomware spreads has not been documented yet, so look at your own recent activity. On home PCs, ransomware most often comes with cracked programs, game cheats, key generators and fake updates, or with an e-mail attachment that was opened. On business networks, attackers usually log in through Remote Desktop with a stolen or guessed password.
Think back to what was downloaded or installed in the days before files that end in .crab and no longer open, and check the Downloads folder and Installed apps sorted by date. Keep anything suspicious for your report, but do not run it again.
Did GandCrab 3 ransomware steal my files or passwords?
We do not know yet. Nothing published so far shows data theft by GandCrab 3 ransomware, but the only confirmed sign is files that end in .crab and no longer open, which says nothing about what happened before. Many current ransomware attacks copy files or run a password stealer first, so it is wise to act as if they did.
From a clean device, change the passwords that were saved in the browsers on this PC, starting with e-mail and banking, sign out of all sessions and turn on two-step verification. Watch bank statements and account activity for the next few weeks.
Is GandCrab 3 ransomware the same as other ransomware with a similar name?
Not necessarily. Ransomware names come from the file extension, the note or a word in the code, so unrelated families often end up with similar names, and one family can appear under several names. The difference matters: a decryptor or advice for one family does not fit another and can damage files.
Compare the ending added to your files and the exact name of the note with the summary table at the top of this guide, then upload the note and one encrypted file to ID Ransomware from a clean device. If the result names another family, follow the guide for that family instead.
Can I delete CRAB-DECRYPT.txt?
Yes, the note itself is harmless text and deleting it does not affect your files. Keep at least one copy first, outside the infected PC. CRAB-DECRYPT.txt contains your personal ID and the attackers' contact details, which identification services use to tell which family encrypted your files, and which a decryptor may need later.
Police reports also ask for it. Once you have saved a copy, you can remove the notes from every folder after the ransomware program has been removed and your files are restored or backed up.
Will .crab spread to my other drives?
It can. Ransomware encrypts every drive and network share it can reach while it runs, so external disks, USB sticks and shared folders connected during the attack may also have files ending in .crab. Disconnect everything now, then check each device from a clean computer.
Do not plug a backup drive into the infected PC until the ransomware has been removed with an offline scan. Cloud folders such as OneDrive sync the encrypted versions, but they keep earlier versions you can usually restore.
Will Fortect remove GandCrab 3 ransomware?
Fortect scans Windows for malware and unwanted programs and repairs the system files and settings they change, and its free scan shows what it finds on your PC before you decide anything.
For GandCrab 3 ransomware, follow the plan above as well: the browser steps take back permissions and settings that no scanner treats as a threat, and uninstalling the program that brought it removes the source.
Run Microsoft Defender's full scan and, if anything was found, its offline scan as a second opinion. If the symptoms are gone after the plan and both scans are clean, there is nothing more to do.
Sources
- 2-Spyware: GandCrab evolution 2018: Agile ransomware with real-time updates (read October 7, 2026)
- CISA: StopRansomware (read October 7, 2026)
- No More Ransom (read October 7, 2026)
- FTC: How to recognize, remove and avoid malware (read October 7, 2026)
- Microsoft Learn: Microsoft Defender Offline (read October 7, 2026)