GandCrab v2 ransomware: what it is and how to remove it
GandCrab v2 ransomware is a cryptovirus which has been developed soon after the GandCrab - one of the most aggressive forms of ransomware. Just like its predecessor, the version is distributed via Seamless malvertising campaign leading victims to RIG exploit kit.
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 v2 ransomware: summary
| Name | GandCrab v2 |
|---|---|
| Type | ransomware |
| The predecessor | Gandcrab ransomware |
| Distribution techniques | RIG Exploit kit; Fake "HoeflerText Font NOT Found" ads; Spam campaigns. |
| Ransom amount | 500 USD |
| Currency | Dash |
| 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 13 more facts
| File extension | .CRAB |
|---|---|
| Ransom note | CRAB-DECRYPT.txt; the text of the note is not in our records |
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| Contact | Not recorded in our earlier report |
| Encrypted file extension | .crab |
| Decryptor | No free decryptor is known for this variant; check No More Ransom (nomoreransom.org) for updates |
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
| Symptoms | Files renamed with a new extension and a ransom note left in folders |
| Evidence | 6 write-ups by security sites; no sample analysed yet |
| Encrypted files | .crab |
| Free decryptor | No free decryptor is known (checked 7 October 2026) |
| First seen | 25 July 2018 |
| Facts checked | 7 October 2026 |
Names and addresses to look for
- File extension:
.crab - Note file:
CRAB-DECRYPT.txt
The GandCrab v2 ransomware note
The note is called CRAB-DECRYPT.txt.
We did not record the full text of the ransom note in our report.
How to remove GandCrab v2 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 v2 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 v2 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 v2, 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 v2 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 v2 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 v2 - the second version of the notorious ransomware virus which is asking 500 USD to recover victim's files
GandCrab v2 ransomware is a cryptovirus which has been developed soon after the GandCrab - one of the most aggressive forms of ransomware.
Just like its predecessor, the version is distributed via Seamless malvertising campaign leading victims to RIG exploit kit. Nevertheless, it can also be disguised under HoeflerText Font Update scam pop-ups. Upon successful infiltration, ransomware appends .CRAB file extension to each locked file and generates a CRAB-DECRYPT.txt ransom note.
The malware redirects its victims to TOR site, which contains instructs the victim what they have to do to decrypt locked files. While the original variant of GandCrab2 demanded 1200 USD in Dash coins, the version detected at the beginning of March 2018 asks for 500 USD in Dash coins.
However, specialists mock the attempt of GandCrab2 virus developers to maximize profit since the virus can be decrypted using a free GandCrab decryptor available at NoMoreRansom. However, crooks provide a link to a decryption tutorial on NoMoreRansom and scare people by falsely claiming that the tool won't decrypt files.
Contrary, it will make data undecryptable. Nevertheless, experts point out that the GandCrab2 (version 1.0.0r) and the GandCrab (v2.3.*) belong to the same group and can be decrypted in the same way.
To protect yourself from GandCrab2 ransomware attack, be careful with .doc file email attachments. Despite the fact that such spam emails can be sent by official authorities or other pretend-to-be legitimate sources, by opening a .doc file attached to a suspicious email can run a PowerShell script, which creates a sct5.txt or 128384.txt file, which connects to the remote server and download the ultimate GandCrab2 ransomware payload.
In case of HoeflerText Font Update scam attack, the system gets infected with Font_Update.exe file, which subsequently downloads a g.js scrip and remote access tool known as NetSupport Manager remote access utility, which executes the ransomware completely.
Those whose files have already been encrypted by .CRAB file extension virus should immediately remove GandCrab2 virus. Following successful GandCrab2 removal, you should download a free decryptor provided in NoMoreRansom and decrypt your files with it.
From our report of Jul 2018 · not reviewed since
Cybercrooks distribute viruses via malspam campaigns and fake updates
The developers of malicious cyber infections are accustomed to the use of exploit kits.
Their purpose is to detect the vulnerabilities on the targeted system and open the back door for the cyber infections to enter the system quickly. This particular ransomware relies on the combination of two exploit kits - RIG and GrandSoft.
Typically, people are exposed to the exploit kits by sending them malicious emails with infected .doc file attachments. Spam emails are developed in a way to mimic well-known brands or official institutions. In this particular case, people get an email message with the subject Receipt Feb-21310 [ random numbered] sent by @cdkconstruction.org.
Most of the victims reported that such email does not expatiate on the subject, but only indicate the fact that "DOC attached." Beware that the type of the attached file might also differ, but usually, the file extension is somewhat suspicious ( .EXE, .COM, .PIF, .SCR, .HTA, etc.).
Apart from malspam, people can end up with this ransomware after downloading a fake "Chrome Font Pack" on hacked websites. People can be exposed to compromised domains by mistyping domain's name or after clicking on infected ads.
The hacked website displays a scrambled text by default and generates a notification saying that "The "HoeflerText" font wasn't found" and urges people to install the fake font pack to see the content of the website normally.
From our report of Jul 2018 · not reviewed since
GandCrab2 removal tutorial
Manual GandCrab2 removal is not possible.
In general, ransomware virus cannot be eliminated manually as they inject multiple files, corrupt registries, change startup settings, and initiate other system's changes to evade easy detection and removal.
To remove GandCrab2 virus and get back the data, experts from senzavirus.it recommend people to download , , or another reputable anti-malware tool. If you are currently using one, make sure to update its definitions before running a scan.
Don't fall into a panic if you cannot launch your anti-virus. The gandcrab2 virus can use helper objects that block any security-related tool. In this case, you should try to boot the system into Safe Mode with Networking or a couple of other methods to bypass ransomware's code. You can learn how to create safe environment on your computer before you start the removal of GandCrab v2 below.
[GI=method-1]If ransomware block anti-virus tools, try to restart the system into Safe Mode with Networking and re-try to launch it in this mode:
[GI=method-2]In case the first removal method failed to work, you should follow these steps:
Windows Previous Versions feature - alternative data recovery method
If you create System Restore Points regularly, then you must have one created before GandCrab2 malware attack. Enabling the previous version of the system can help you to decrypt locked files.
Recover data from Shadow Volume Copies
Although most ransomware virus delete Shadow Volume Copies, some of them fail to do so. However, there's no other way to check that except as to download ShadowExplorer and try to recover encrypted files using it.
Use free GandCrab2 decryptor
GandCrab2 virus can be decrypted with the help of free GandCrab decryptor that can be downloaded from NoMoreRansom.
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.
Protect the files you restore
Restore only after the scans are clean and the PC no longer shows files that end in .crab and no longer open; otherwise the restored copies can be damaged again.
Then build a backup that survives the next infection:
- one copy in the cloud with version history
- one on an external drive that is disconnected between backups
- the working copy on the PC
Version history matters because a backup that syncs damaged files overwrites the good ones.
How to do this with the tools built into Windows: the 3-2-1 backup rule on Windows.
Choose a proper web browser and improve your safety with a VPN tool
Online spying has got momentum in recent years and people are getting more and more interested in how to protect their privacy online.
One of the basic means to add a layer of security - choose the most private and secure web browser. Although web browsers can't grant full privacy protection and security, some of them are much better at sandboxing, HTTPS upgrading, active content blocking, tracking blocking, phishing protection, and similar privacy-oriented features.
However, if you want true anonymity, we suggest you employ a powerful VPN - it can encrypt all the traffic that comes and goes out of your computer, preventing tracking completely.
Lost your files? Use data recovery software
While some files located on any computer are replaceable or useless, others can be extremely valuable.
Family photos, work documents, school projects - these are types of files that we don't want to lose. Unfortunately, there are many ways how unexpected data loss can occur:
- power cuts
- Blue Screen of Death errors
- hardware failures
- crypto-malware attack
- even accidental deletion
To ensure that all the files remain intact, you should prepare regular data backups. You can choose cloud-based or physical copies you could restore from later in case of a disaster. If your backups were lost as well or you never bothered to prepare any, can be your only hope to retrieve your invaluable files.
Questions about GandCrab v2 ransomware
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.
How do I open .crab files?
You cannot open them by renaming or by choosing another program. The .crab ending shows that GandCrab v2 encrypted the content, and only the matching key can reverse it. Renaming a file back to .docx or .jpg changes nothing except the icon, and it can confuse a future decryptor, so leave the names as they are.
To get the content back, use a backup, an unencrypted copy elsewhere, or a decryptor listed on No More Ransom if one exists for GandCrab v2. Store the encrypted files on an external disk until then.
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 v2 get on my computer?
The way GandCrab v2 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.
Is there a free GandCrab v2 decryptor?
We last checked on 7 October 2026, and for GandCrab v2 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 v2 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.
Did GandCrab v2 steal my files or passwords?
We do not know yet. Nothing published so far shows data theft by GandCrab v2, 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 v2 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 just remove .crab from the file names?
You can try it on a copy, but for real ransomware it will not help. The .crab extension is only a label; the file content has been scrambled with a key the attackers hold.
If a renamed copy opens normally, the malware only renamed files, which happens with some fake ransomware, and you can rename the rest back. If it does not open, leave the files as they are. Renaming encrypted files can confuse a decryptor later, so always work on copies.
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 Fortect remove GandCrab v2?
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 v2, 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: Fake HoeflerText font update delivers GandCrab ransomware (read October 7, 2026)
- ZDNet: Ransomware crooks test a new way to spread their malware (read October 7, 2026)
- Senzavirus: Senzavirus (read October 7, 2026)
- CISA: StopRansomware (read October 7, 2026)
- No More Ransom (read October 7, 2026)