How to Remove CRBR Encryptor Virus

How to Remove CRBR Ransomware?

Readers recently started to report the following message being displayed when they boot their computer:

Hi, I’am CRBR ENCRYPTOR ?

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YOUR DOCUMENTS, PHOTOS, DATABASES AND OTHER IMPORTANT FILES HAVE BEEN ENCRYPTED!

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The only way to decrypt your files is to receive the private key and decryption program.

To receive the private key and decryption program go to any decrypted folder,

inside there is the special file (*_R_E_A_D___T_H_I_S_*) with complete instructions

how to decrypt your files.

If you cannot find any (*_R_E_A_D___T_H_I_S_*) file at your PC, follow the instructions below:


The CRBR virus is actually not a new infection. As its name implies, this program is a version of the Cerber Ransomware. It’s not an unusual thing for hackers to revisit old parasites in order to make them more problematic. However, Cerber was already devastating to begin with. You could imagine how dangerous its latest version is. You’re stuck with a variant of one notoriously troublesome ransomware program. Cerber has a well-deserved malicious glory. Seems like its successor is not going to be any less worrisome. For starters, you should know that the Web is full of ransomware-type infections. These parasites provide their developers with a quick and easy way to blackmail PC users. Unless you’re willing to become a sponsor of hackers, take immediate action and remove the CRBR virus. The ransomware gets activated as soon as it lands on board. CRBR acts just like all other file-encrypting infections. It also shares numerous similarities with the original Cerber. After installation is complete, the parasite initiates a scan. By doing so, this intruder locates all your private files including documents, music and pictures. Consider all your data encrypted now that you have a ransomware on board. These things are aggressive beyond belief and they go after every single bit of information. The CRBR ransomware is no different. It uses a complicated encrypting algorithm to lock your files. Unfortunately, this cipher causes serious trouble. All your private information gets encrypted out of the blue. Most people don’t realize that a ransomware is present until it’s too late. They only see the problem when their files get encrypted. Paying attention to your PC speed could help you spot a file-encrypting virus. If you notice that your machine underperforms, that might be a sign of ransomware. As mentioned, though, people usually fail to spot the threat on time. CRBR indicates its presence by locking your files. It also adds a malicious extension to them thus letting you know your information is encrypted. Seeing this appendix means the ransomware is about to start the second part of its plan. CRBR drops _R_E_A_D___T_H_I_S___{RAND}_.hta and _R_E_A_D___T_H_I_S___{RAND}_.txt files. Those contain detailed payment instructions because you’re supposed to pay a certain ransom to free your files. The only drawback is that you’d be negotiating with cyber criminals and they don’t tend to play by the rules.

How did I get infected with?

Ransomware mainly relies on fake emails and messages to get spread online. That means the CRBR Encryptor sneaked itself onto your PC in silence. The infection might have been presented as a job application or some other perfectly safe email. To make sure your computer remains virus-free, always keep an eye out for intruders. Delete the email-attachments or messages that you don’t find reliable. Remember that all sorts of viruses could get sent directly to your inbox. It is your job to be careful what exactly you agree to click open. Ransomware could get presented as an email from some shipping company too. Hackers even add some bogus logos to trick you into clicking. What you have to keep in mind is that your care will prevent virus infiltration. In addition, ransomware could use exploit kits, fake software updates and malicious torrents to get installed. It only needs one moment of negligence to land on your device and cause you harm. In the future, stay away from illegitimate websites as well. Those could offer you some unverified freeware/shareware bundles that contain malware. Unless you check out the entire bundle beforehand, you might download a virus. Last but not least, make sure CRBR is the only infection on board. These parasites often use some help from Trojans so don’t underestimate the danger.

Remove CRBR

Why is CRBR dangerous?

According to the ransom notes, you can buy a special decryption key. Hackers are willing to provide you this decryptor in exchange for 0.5 Bitcoins. That equals 1277 USD at the moment just for the privilege to open your own photos and documents. Does the deal sound fair to you? It’s nothing but a cyber scam which aims at your bank account. You can clearly see that paying doesn’t guarantee crooks would keep their end of the bargain. They are solely focused on stealing your Bitcoins. Therefore, do not allow hackers to involve you in their nasty fraud. Keep your money and restrain yourself from contacting the parasite’s creators. Paying the ransom would only make matters worse so don’t be naive. To delete CRBR manually, please follow our comprehensive removal guide. You will find it down below.

CRBR Removal Instructions

STEP 1: Kill the Malicious Process

STEP 2: Reveal Hidden Files

STEP 3: Locate Startup Location

STEP 4: Recover CRBR Encrypted Files

STEP 1: Stop the malicious process using Windows Task Manager

  • Open your task Manager by pressing CTRL+SHIFT+ESC keys simultaneously
  • Locate the process of the ransomware. Have in mind that this is usually a random generated file.
  • Before you kill the process, type the name on a text document for later reference.

end-malicious-process

  • Locate any suspicious processes associated with CRBR encryption Virus.
  • Right click on the process
  • Open File Location
  • End Process
  • Delete the directories with the suspicious files.
  • Have in mind that the process can be hiding and very difficult to detect

STEP 2: Reveal Hidden Files

  • Open any folder
  • Click on “Organize” button
  • Choose “Folder and Search Options”
  • Select the “View” tab
  • Select “Show hidden files and folders” option
  • Uncheck “Hide protected operating system files”
  • Click “Apply” and “OK” button

STEP 3: Locate CRBR encryption Virus startup location

  • Once the operating system loads press simultaneously the Windows Logo Button and the R key.

win-plus-r

Depending on your OS (x86 or x64) navigate to:

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run] or
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run] or
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run]

  • and delete the display Name: [RANDOM]

delete backgroundcontainer

  • Then open your explorer and navigate to:

Navigate to your %appdata% folder and delete the executable.

You can alternatively use your msconfig windows program to double check the execution point of the virus. Please, have in mind that the names in your machine might be different as they might be generated randomly, that’s why you should run any professional scanner to identify malicious files.

STEP 4: How to recover encrypted files?

  • Method 1: The first and best method is to restore your data from a recent backup, in case that you have one.

windows system restore

  • Method 2: File Recovery Software – Usually when the ransomware encrypts a file it first makes a copy of it, encrypts the copy, and then deletes the original. Due to this you may try to use file recovery software to recover some of your original files.
  • Method 3: Shadow Volume Copies – As a last resort, you can try to restore your files via Shadow Volume Copies. Open the Shadow Explorer part of the package and choose the Drive you want to recover. Right click on any file you want to restore and click Export on it.

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