VoidCrypt Ransomware - How to remove

VoidCrypt is a ransomware infection. It spreads through RDP accounts, encrypts files, changes their names, and may install additional malware. The extortionists behind VoidCrypt are known for scamming their victims and not restoring data even if the ransom is paid.

VoidCrypt primarily uses aliases Spade and Void, but may also use other names – Backup, Encrypted, Exploit, Help, Hidden, Hmmmmm, Honor, Mifr, Peace, Snoopdogg (this is an incomplete list and some of these names are used by other ransomware, such as Help and Encrypted).

About VoidCrypt ransomware:

Classification	Ransomware, scam.
How VoidCrypt infects computers	It gets inside through RDP, it encrypts files and changes their names, the extortionists don’t always fix the data even if you pay the ransom.
Can you get your files back	There is no free decryption option, restore files from backups, data recovery programs might help.
How to remove VoidCrypt ransomware	Use antivirus programs (Spyhunter, others) to delete VoidCrypt and other malware, reset your passwords and set up multi-factor authentication.

How VoidCrypt ransomware works

VoidCrypt infects computers

One way in which VoidCrypt spreads is by hacking RDP. If you expose your RDP connection, if you use weak credentials, there’s a chance that malicious actors will brute-force them (Millions of Brute-Force Attacks Hit Remote Desktop Accounts).

Once VoidCrypt has infected a device, it disables Task Manager and may install spyware.

It encrypts data

VoidCrypt encrypts all the user files that it can find, all the drives that it can access.

I haven’t heard of VoidCrypt stealing files, but this is becoming more and more popular with ransomware.

Encryption in this case is much like password protection on a file or an archive. The people who are in control of the VoidCrypt malware have the passwords (the decryption keys) required to unlock the data. Each victim’s decryption keys are unique and are only known to the malicious actors responsible for the infection.

VoidCrypt changes the names of the encrypted files, too. It adds one of a few different file extensions, such as Spade, Void, Chaos, Heirloom, Revenant, and a few others.

The new file name template is this:

[original file name].[original extension].[email] [ID-random] .VoidCrypt extension

For example:

important.docx.[[email protected]][ID-G4HFI1FE0SF4F1S].Void

Here are some of the email addresses associated with VoidCrypt:

• [email protected]
• [email protected]
• [email protected]
• [email protected]
• [email protected]
• [email protected]
• [email protected]
• [email protected]
• [email protected]
• [email protected]
• [email protected]
• [email protected]
• [email protected]
• [email protected]
• [email protected]
• [email protected]
• [email protected]
• [email protected]
• [email protected]
• [email protected]
• [email protected]
• [email protected]
• [email protected]

It extorts the victims

In addition to changing file names, VoidCrypt creates ransom notes – Html files that claim that “Your Files has Been Encrypted”. These notes may be called Decryption-Info.HTA, INFO.HTA.

These notes don’t specify how much money the criminals behind VoidCrypt want, but they do say that the price will double after 48 hours.

Contacting the criminals and paying the ransom is a bad idea. According to multiple victims of VoidCrypt, the extortionists behind this ransomware may not help you get your data back even if you do pay. Instead, the extortionists ask for more money.

How to recover from VoidCrypt ransomware

Can the VoidCrypt-encrypted data be fixed?

As far as I know, there’s no free decryption solution for VoidCrypt ransomware. There are decryption tools, but they’re useless without the correct decryption key. And each victim’s key is unique and impossible to guess.

Those who don’t have file backups (or whose backups were overwritten by VoidCrypt ransomware – Cloud storage vs Cloud backup vs Cloud sync : Whats the difference?) might be able to recover some of their lost data by using data recovery programs (like EaseUS). These programs can restore deleted files if their data is still present on your drives.

Look into file repair, too. Some ransomware programs do not encrypt files entirely and it is possible to extract unharmed data from the encrypted files.

You can keep backups of the VoidCrypt-locked files in case a solution materializes. You never know – the developers of Ziggy ransomware retired and released decryption keys for everyone (before seemingly coming back to the ransomware business).

Delete VoidCrypt and protect your accounts

You can use antivirus programs, such as Spyhunter, to find and delete all malware. You can also reset your OS and start over.

Automatic Malware removal tools

After deleting VoidCrypt and all other malware, or by using a clean device, it is very important to reset your passwords and set up multi-factor authentication. This way, if cybercriminals got your credentials, they won’t be able to use them.

How to recover VoidCrypt Ransomware encrypted files and remove the virus

Step 1. Restore system into last known good state using system restore

1. Reboot your computer to Safe Mode with Command Prompt:

for Windows 7 / Vista/ XP

• Start → Shutdown → Restart → OK.
• Press F8 key repeatedly until Advanced Boot Options window appears.
• Choose Safe Mode with Command Prompt.

for Windows 8 / 10

• Press Power at Windows login screen. Then press and hold Shift key and click Restart.
• Choose Troubleshoot → Advanced Options → Startup Settings and click Restart.
• When it loads, select Enable Safe Mode with Command Prompt from the list of Startup Settings.

 

2.Restore System files and settings.

• When Command Prompt mode loads, enter cd restore and press Enter.
• Then enter rstrui.exe and press Enter again.
• Click “Next” in the windows that appeared.
• Select one of the Restore Points that are available before VoidCrypt Ransomware has infiltrated to your system and then click “Next”.
• To start System restore click “Yes”.

 

Step 2. Complete removal of VoidCrypt Ransomware

After restoring your system, it is recommended to scan your computer with an anti-malware program, like Spyhunter and remove all malicious files related to VoidCrypt Ransomware. You can check other tools here.  

Step 3. Restore VoidCrypt Ransomware affected files using Shadow Volume Copies

If you do not use System Restore option on your operating system, there is a chance to use shadow copy snapshots. They store copies of your files that point of time when the system restore snapshot was created. Usually VoidCrypt Ransomware tries to delete all possible Shadow Volume Copies, so this methods may not work on all computers. However, it may fail to do so. Shadow Volume Copies are only available with Windows XP Service Pack 2, Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8. There are two ways to retrieve your files via Shadow Volume Copy. You can do it using native Windows Previous Versions or via Shadow Explorer. a) Native Windows Previous Versions Right-click on an encrypted file and select Properties → Previous versions tab. Now you will see all available copies of that particular file and the time when it was stored in a Shadow Volume Copy. Choose the version of the file you want to retrieve and click Copy if you want to save it to some directory of your own, or Restore if you want to replace existing, encrypted file. If you want to see the content of file first, just click Open.

b) Shadow Explorer It is a program that can be found online for free. You can download either a full or a portable version of Shadow Explorer. Open the program. On the left top corner select the drive where the file you are looking for is a stored. You will see all folders on that drive. To retrieve a whole folder, right-click on it and select “Export”. Then choose where you want it to be stored.

Step 4. Use Data Recovery programs to recover VoidCrypt Ransomware encrypted files

There are several data recovery programs that might recover encrypted files as well. This does not work in all cases but you can try this:

• We suggest using another PC and connect the infected hard drive as slave. It is still possible to do this on infected PC though.
• Download a data recovery program.
• Install and scan for recently deleted files.

Note: In many cases it is impossible to restore data files affected by modern ransomware. Thus I recommend using decent cloud backup software as precaution. We recommend checking out Carbonite, BackBlaze, CrashPlan or Mozy Home.