Since it first appeared, ransomware's profitable business – in short, compromising and encrypting data belonging to companies and users and requesting payment in exchange for the restoration of infected files – has grown rapidly.

One of the threats that has had a significant impact and infected a considerable number of users worldwide was the family detected by ESET solutions as Win32/Filecoder.Crysis. However, and luckily, ESET has developed a free tool to decrypt files and recover the information that might have been compromised.

What is Crysis?

Crysis is a Filecoder-type malicious code whose purpose, as its name suggests, is to encrypt information and request the payment of a ransom in exchange for the return of said information. Crysis uses RSA and AES encryption with long encryption keys, which makes the recovery of processed files almost impossible.

This family of malware gained popularity after TeslaCrypt, another ransomware that also spread widely while it was active (it ceased its operations early this year upon the launch of a tool to revert it).

Top 10 most affected countries by Crysis

Crysis spreads via multiple vectors, ranging from emails to ads in social networks.

The growth in the number of worldwide detections started at the end of May. To date, ESET solutions have detected variants of this malware family in 123 countries, although almost 60% is concentrated in only 10 countries:

Some characteristics of Crysis

This ransomware is simply an executable file that is not protected by a packer, which can be easily verified in the file header:

Doing a static analysis, we can identify some of the main characteristics. One of the first actions attempted by the ransomware is to create copies of itself in the following directories in order to persist in the system:

• C:\Users\Victim\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
• C:\Windows\System32

​The first directory is used by the operating system to execute all the applications within this directory once the user has logged on. It is clear that in this way the threat makes sure it encrypts recently created files.

In the second folder, the ransomware prevents the user from noticing its presence by hiding itself in a native folder, essential for Windows.

One thing particular about Crysis is that it deletes the backup copies created by “Volume Shadow Copy Service”, a Windows XP built-in application.

In short, the VSS service creates shadow copies of files every time a variation in the system occurs as a consequence of the installation or update of a software.

One of the last actions taken by the threat after encrypting the user information is to send information such as the device name and an identifying code, using the HTTP protocol. It is worth mentioning that the sites to where the threat connects are compromised sites, generally servers with some vulnerable version of WordPress.

A new tool to recover encrypted files

ESET has created a free decryption tool for Crysis ransomware victims in order to help anyone whose data or devices have been affected by the Crysis family. The tool was developed using the master decryption keys recently published.

If you have been a victim of Crysis ransomware, you can find and download the ESET Crysis decryptor from our free utilities page.