How to remove Kruu ransomware
Kruu ransomware is a file-encrypting malware that belongs to the Djvu/STOP malware family. The people operating this ransomware strain release new ransomware versions regularly, and while they’re more or less identical to one another, they add different file extensions to encrypted files. This one adds .kruu, hence why it’s dubbed Kruu ransomware. Unfortunately, if your files have this extension, they have been encrypted and you will be unable to open them. And unless you have copies of your files in a backup, it may not be possible to recover them at this moment. To decrypt them, a special decryptor is needed, and the only people who have it are the cybercriminals operating this ransomware. Instead of simply giving it to you, they will try to sell it to you for just short of $1000. But paying the ransom is rarely recommended because dealing with cybercriminals is often tricky.
As soon as it’s initiated, it will start encrypting your files. Personal files are the main targets, and that, unfortunately, includes photos, videos, images, documents, etc. While the ransomware is encrypting files, it will show a fake Windows update window, presumably to distract users from what’s happening. You will know which files have been encrypted by the .kruu extension added to them. As an example, an encrypted image.jpg file would become image.jpg.kruu. A _readme.txt ransom note will also be dropped in all folders that have encrypted files. The note, while very generic, does explain how users can purchase a decryptor.
The malware operators demand that users pay $980 for the decryptor, though there supposedly is a 50% discount for users who contact them within the first 72 hours. The note provides the contact email addresses if victims wish to contact the malware operators to pay the ransom. Whether to pay the ransom or not is your decision but you should take into consideration all the risks. The biggest risk that comes with paying the ransom is that a decryptor will not necessarily be sent to you after you pay. Keep in mind that you are dealing with cybercriminals, and there is nothing stopping them from simply taking your money. They are not obligated to send you the decryptor and are unlikely to feel like they do. Many users in the past have paid ransoms only to not get anything in return. Furthermore, it’s worth mentioning that if you paid, your money would go towards future criminal activities.
If you’re not planning on paying the ransom but have no backup, your only option may be to wait for a free Kruu ransomware decryptor to be available. You will not find one at the moment but it could be released in the future. The reason why developing a free Kruu ransomware decryptor is difficult is that the ransomware uses online keys to encrypt files. That means the keys are unique to each user, and without those keys, decryption is unlikely. There is a free Djvu/STOP decryptor by Emsisoft but it will only work on Djvu ransomware versions that use offline keys to encrypt files. It’s not impossible that those keys will eventually be released if the malware operators decide to close up shop or if they’re apprehended by law enforcement. If that ever happens, the free Kruu ransomware decryptor would be posted on NoMoreRansom. When looking for free decryptors, you should be very careful because there are many fake decryptors, downloading which could lead to a malware infection.
If you have a backup, you can connect to it as soon as you remove Kruu ransomware from your computer. Make sure to use anti-malware software to delete Kruu ransomware because it’s a complex malware infection. Only when the ransomware is fully gone can you safely access your backup.
How does ransomware infect computers?
Ransomware targeting regular users usually spreads via torrents, email attachments, ads, etc. Users who have bad browsing habits are much more likely to pick up malware because they engage in risky activities like opening unsolicited email attachments, pirating copyrighted content using torrents, clicking on ads when browsing high-risk websites, etc. It’s strongly recommended to take the time to develop better online habits, as well as familiarize yourself with how ransomware is distributed.
You can often encounter malware in torrents for popular copyrighted content. For example, torrents for movies, TV series, video games, software, etc., often have malware in them. Torrent sites are oftentimes quite poorly moderated, which allows malicious actors to easily upload malicious torrents. If you use torrents to pirate copyrighted content, keep in mind that you’re not only essentially stealing content but also putting your computer in danger.
If your email address has been leaked by some service in the past, you may receive malicious emails from time to time. Malicious actors buy leaked email addresses from various hacker forums and then proceed to spam those addresses with poorly-written emails that have malware attached to them. Fortunately, malicious emails are usually quite obvious. Senders often pretend to be from legitimate companies and claim attachments are important documents that need to be reviewed. But the emails are often full of grammar and spelling mistakes, which immediately give them away. No legitimate email from a legitimate company will have obvious mistakes in them because they look unprofessional. We should also mention that legitimate emails whose email attachments you need to open will always address you by name. Since malicious actors do not have access to personal information, they use generic terms like User, Member, Customer, etc., to address potential victims. But some malicious emails may be more sophisticated, which is why we strongly recommend scanning all unsolicited email attachments with anti-virus software or VirusTotal before opening them.
Kruu ransomware removal
Because ransomware is a very complex malware infection, it’s not a good idea to try to remove Kruu ransomware manually. You could accidentally cause additional damage to your computer, or not fully get rid of it. If some parts of the ransomware remain, the ransomware may be able to recover. And if that were to happen while you were connected to your backup, the backed-up files would be encrypted as well. Therefore, it’s much safer, not to mention easier, to use anti-malware software. If you do not have copies of your files saved anywhere, back up the encrypted files and wait for a free Kruu ransomware decryptor to be released.
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WiperSoft.com is not sponsored, affiliated, linked to or owned by malware developers or distributors that are referred to in this article. The article does NOT endorse or promote malicious programs. The intention behind it is to present useful information that will help users to detect and eliminate malware from their computer by using WiperSoft and/or the manual removal guide.
The article should only be used for educational purposes. If you follow the instructions provided in the article, you agree to be bound by this disclaimer. We do not guarantee that the article will aid you in completely removing the malware from your PC. Malicious programs are constantly developing, which is why it is not always easy or possible to clean the computer by using only the manual removal guide.