We have analyzed and researched thousands of ransomware infections, and this experience allows us to infer that decryption is usually impossible without the attackers' interference. The message is concluded with warnings against renaming the encrypted files and using third-party decryption tools – since that will render the data undecryptable.

Prior to paying the ransom, victims can test decryption (within certain specifications) free of charge. The size of the sum is not indicated in the note, but it supposedly will depend on how quickly victims contact the cyber criminals responsible for the attack. The message in the pop-up window clarifies that decryption will require paying a ransom in Bitcoin cryptocurrency. Screenshot of files encrypted by Carver ransomware:Ĭarver ransomware's text file merely informs victims that their data has been encrypted and instructs them to contact the attackers. For example, a file initially titled ' 1.jpg' appeared as ' the encryption was finished, Carver ransomware created two ransom notes ' info.hta' (pop-up window) and ' info.txt'.

To elaborate, original filenames were appended with a unique ID, the cyber criminals' email address, and a '. Malware within this category is designed to encrypt data and demand ransoms for its decryption.Īfter we executed a sample of Carver on our test machine, it encrypted files and altered their filenames.

While inspecting new submissions to VirusTotal, our researchers discovered Carver – a malicious program belonging to the Phobos ransomware family.

Recuva portable version