CryptoWall Ransomware Data Recovery

History

CryptoWall has been estimated to have caused over $1 billion in damages and is considered one of the most successful ransomware programs to date. CryptoWall is still active and continues to evolve, so users should take precautions to protect themselves from this malware.

CryptoWall is a ransomware program that was first released in the wild in 2013. CryptoWall is typically spread through email attachments or malicious websites. Once CryptoWall has infected a computer, it will encrypt the user’s files and demand a ransom be paid to decrypt the files.

CryptoWall 2.0 was released in early 2014 and added new features such as the ability to infect Windows system files and use stronger encryption algorithms.

CryptoWall 3.0 was released in late 2014 and added even more features, such as the ability to infect Linux systems and steal user credentials. CryptoWall 4.0 was released in early 2015 and made significant changes to the way it encrypted files, making it even more difficult for victims to recover their data without paying the ransom.

If you are infected with CryptoWall, you will typically see a ransom note on your desktop or in your Documents folder that instructs you on how to pay the ransom and decrypt your files. CryptoWall will also append the .encrypted or .cryp1 extension to the encrypted files. For example, a file named “sample.jpg” would be renamed to “sample.jpg.encrypted” or “sample.jpg.cryp1”.

How much is the CryptoWall ransom?

The amount of the ransom varies but is typically around $500-$1000 in Bitcoin. CryptoWall 3.0 and 4.0 will also threaten to delete the encryption key if the ransom is not paid within a certain period, usually 7 days. This makes it even more important to take action quickly if you are infected with CryptoWall.

What should I do?

If you believe you may have already been infected with CryptoWall, there are a few things you can do:

– Use a reputable malware removal program to scan your computer for CryptoWall and other malware

– Try using a free decryptor tool if one is available for your version of CryptoWall

– If you have a backup of your data, you can format your hard drive and reinstall your operating system to remove CryptoWall completely. However, this will also delete your backups, so make sure you have them stored somewhere safe before proceeding.

Paying the ransom is not recommended, as there is no guarantee that you will get your files back even if you do pay. CryptoWall is constantly evolving, so new decryptor tools may not be able to decrypt your files if you have a newer version of the malware.

What are some CryptoWall variants?

Some notable CryptoWall variants include:

– CryptoLocker: The largest CryptoWall outbreak to date. CryptoLocker used CryptoWall’s encryption algorithm to encrypt victims’ files.

– CryptoDefense: A variant that emerged in 2014 that was notable for its use of the Tor network to hide the identity of the attackers.

– CryptoTorLocker2015: A 2015 variant that used the Tor network and added new features, such as the ability to delete backups and avoid detection by security software.

What was the biggest CryptoWall outbreak?

The CryptoLocker outbreak in 2013 was the largest CryptoWall outbreak to date. CryptoLocker was a ransomware program that used CryptoWall’s encryption algorithm to encrypt victims’ files. Over 500,000 computers were infected with CryptoLocker, and the estimated damage was over $3 billion. CryptoLocker was eventually taken down by law enforcement, but CryptoWall is still active and continues to evolve.

Prevention

To help prevent CryptoWall and other ransomware infections, it is important to practice good computer security habits:

– Keep your operating system and software up to date with the latest security patches

– Use a reputable antivirus program and keep it up to date

– Don’t open email attachments from unknown senders

– Don’t click on links in emails or online ads from unknown sources

– Backup your data regularly so you can restore it if necessary following CryptoWall infection.

Are there public decryption tools for CryptoWall 2.0 and 3.0 and CryptoWall 4.0?

There are no public decryption tools available for CryptoWall 2.0, 3.0, or 4.0 at this time.

Contact a data recovery service

SalvageData is a data recovery service that specializes in CryptoWall recoveries. Our team of experts has successfully recovered data from CryptoWall 2.0, 3.0, and 4.0 infections, and we can help you too.

If you have been infected with CryptoWall, don’t wait – contact us today for a free consultation. We’ll help you determine the best course of action to get your data back.