Skip to main content

Kaspersky battles back against CryptXXX ransomware

kaspersky releases tool to counteract cryptxxx ransomware
Kaspersky
Security experts at Kaspersky have developed a tool that can counteract the ransomware known as CryptXXX. The Russian company has now released the utility as a free download available to anyone who has been affected by the devious piece of malware.

First discovered earlier this month, CryptXXX presents certain advances over the strategies we’ve come to expect from ransomware. Like most attacks of this kind, it encrypts the files on your computer using the .crypt extension, at which point the targeted user is prompted to pay a sum of $500 in Bitcoin in order to regain access.

However, unlike other pieces of ransomware, CryptXXX also encrypts files that happen to be on any attached data storage devices. It also rifles through your hard drive for sensitive data, as well as hoovering up any Bitcoin funds that you might have left unprotected.

Previously, the attack would leave the targeted computer incapable of doing anything but displaying the ransom message. However, Kaspersky has updated its RannohDecrypter tool to be able to handle CryptXXX as well as Rannoh, the similar form of ransomware that it was originally designed to combat.

However, the utility does require something from the user — a single non-encrypted version of a file that was locked away by CryptXXX. So long as there’s a backup of such a file available, then the victim can download Kaspersky’s RannohDecrypter tool from here and follow the associated instructions to regain control of their system.

CryptXXX has met its match for now, but Kaspersky’s John Snow warns that hackers might soon find ways to work around RannohDecrypter, according to a report from ZDNet. According to Snow, the best protection against attacks like this is to perform regular security scans, and to avoid unscrupulous websites and strange links.

Editors' Recommendations

Brad Jones
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Brad is an English-born writer currently splitting his time between Edinburgh and Pennsylvania. You can find him on Twitter…
Get this Asus laptop with a year of Microsoft Office for $199
asus vivobook go laptop deal amazon march 2024 lifestyle

You don't need to spend several hundreds of dollars on a new laptop that you'll use as a productivity tool because there are budget-friendly options like the Asus Vivobook Go L510MA. It's actually currently even cheaper from Walmart after an $80 discount, which brings its price down to just $199 from $279 originally. There's no telling how much time is remaining before the offer expires though, so if you want to take advantage of it, you're going to have to proceed with the purchase as soon as possible.

Why you should buy the Asus Vivobook Go L510MA
For a laptop that will be able to handle basic activities like doing online research, building reports, and browsing social media, you can't go wrong with the Asus Vivobook Go L510MA. It's equipped with the Intel Pentium Silver N5030 processor and 4GB of RAM, which are a far cry from the specifications of the best laptops, but it will be enough for simple tasks. The device also comes with a 15.6-inch screen with Full HD resolution, which is pretty large and sharp for its price, but it's still portable as it only weights about 3.5 pounds with a thickness of just 0.72 of an inch.

Read more
These are the 10 best gaming PCs I’d recommend to anyone
Graphics card in the CLX Hathor PC.

We review dozens of gaming PCs each year. In 2024, there are a ton of great options, but we've narrowed them down to a list of the 10 best gaming desktops that deserve your hard-earned money.

In 2024, we still recommend the Alienware Aurora R16 because of its fantastic design, solid performance, and decent value. However, there are several other options depending on your needs and budget. If you want a deeper look into how we evaluate gaming PCs, make sure to read about how we review desktops.

Read more
Samsung’s crazy 57-inch curved 4K monitor is $700 off today
The Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 57-inch mini-LED gaming monitor placed on a desk.

Your investment in gaming PC deals will  go to waste if you don't upgrade your screen, and if you're willing to splurge for the best possible gaming experience, you'll want to go for the 57-inch Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 curved gaming monitor. It's pretty expensive at its original price of $2,500, so you're going to want to take advantage of any discounts that are available. Fortunately, Samsung has slashed its price by $700 so it's down to $1,800 -- it's still not cheap, but once you're playing your favorite games on this monitor, you'll quickly understand why it's worth every single penny.

Why you should buy the 57-inch Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 curved gaming monitor
The Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 curved gaming monitor features a 57-inch screen with dual 4K Ultra HD resolution and a 1000R curvature, so it will fully immerse you in the worlds of the video games that you play with its lifelike details and vivid colors. It also supports HDR 1000 for better visual accuracy, and it uses Quantum Matrix technology for controlled brightness and improved contrast.

Read more