Remove CR1 Virus (+Decrypt .CR1 files) – PureLocker Ransomware

CR1 – General Info

The CR1 stands for a ransomware-type infection. The virus comes from the PureLocker ransomware family. CR1 was elaborated specifically to encrypt all major file types. As soon as the file is encrypted people are unable to use them. CR1 adds the “.CR1” extension for each file encrypted by it. For example, the file “myphoto.jpg“, as soon as encrypted by CR1, will be renamed into “myphoto.jpg.CR1“. As soon as the encryption is finished, CR1 places a special text file into every folder containing the encrypted data.

The message given by CR1 text file asking for the ransom is absolutely the same as the statements given by other ransomware virus representatives belonging to the PureLocker family. It literally points out that the info is encrypted which the only way to restore it is to use a a special decryption key. Sadly, this is definitely true. The sort of cryptography mechanism used by CR1 is still not correctly examined. Still, it is definitely certain that each victim might be given the specific decryption key, which is absolutely unique. It is difficult to restore the files without the key available.

Another trick of CR1 is that the victims cannot access to the key. The key is kept on a particular server run by the frauds connected with CR1 ransomware. To get the key and recover the important information people need to pay the ransom.

However, regardless of the asked for quantity, people should keep away from paying the ransom virus. Cyber frauds are not fair, so they tend to totally ignore what their victims feel about the problem, even when the payment reaches their pockets. This is why paying the ransom usually does not provide any positive result and people just lose their money for absolutely nothing.

We strongly advise that you do not contact these crooks and certainly do not transfer money into their accounts. It is said to admit that there are no utilities able to crack CR1 ransomware and to recover the information data totally free. Thus, the only right decision is to recover the lost information from the available backup.

Virus Summary

Name	CR1 Ransomware
File Extension	.CR1
Type	Ransomware
Family	PureLocker
Short Description	The ransomware encrypts all the data stored on your system and requires a ransom to be paid on your part supposedly to recover your important files.
Symptoms	File encryption by the ransomware is performed by means of the AES and RSA encryption algorithms. Once the encryption is completed, the ransomware adds its special CR1 extension to all the files modified by it.
Distribution Method	Spam Emails, Email Attachments
Removal Tool	GridinSoft Anti-Malware

Bear in mind that the world wide web is now overwhelmed with threats that look comparable to CR1 ransomware. Malicious programs of such kind are normally elaborated to encrypt important information and to state the need before the user to pay the ransom. The peculiarity of all such ransomware threats is that all apply a comparable algorithm to create the distinct decryption key for data decryption.

Thus, as long as the ransomware is still being developed or has some hidden bugs, by hand recovering the information is simply not feasible. The only method to avoid the loss of your essential files is to frequently create backups of your important information.

Keep in mind that even if you create such backups, they must be placed into a special storage utility not connect to your main computer. You may use the Memory Stick or external hard drive for this purpose, or refer to the help of the cloud storage. If you store your backup files on your common system they may be encrypted in addition to other files, so it’s definitely not a good storage place.

How did ransomware infect my computer?

There are several ways used by online frauds to distribute CR1 ransom virus. Although it is uncertain how exactly CR1 injects your PC, there are some leaks through which it may infiltrate the system:

• integration with third-party apps, especially freeware;
• spam emails from unknown senders;
• websites rendering free hosting services;
• pirated peer-to-peer (P2P) downloads.

Often CR1 virus may exist as some genuine software, for instance, in the pop-ups advising users to execute some crucial software application updates. This is the common technique used by online scams to persuade people into downloading and installing CR1 infection manually, by methods of their direct participation in the installation process.

Furthermore, the criminals might refer to different email spam techniques to inject malicious codes into copmuter. So, they may refer to to sending unsolicited spam emails with tricky notifications promoting users to download the attachments or click on certain download links, for example, the ones encouraging users to open some video, documents, tax reports or invoices.

Needless to mention, opening such files or clicking on such dangerous links may severely damage the PC. Fictitious Adobe Flash Player upgrade alerts may result in CR1 ransom injection. When it comes to the cracked software, these illegally downloaded programs may likewise include harmful codes causing CR1 secret installation. Lastly, injection of CR1 may take place by means of Trojans that privately get injected into the system and install harmful utilities without the user’s authorization.

Is there any method to prevent the injection of CR1 ransom virus?

Despite the fact that there is no 100% guarantee to avoid your system from getting infected, there are some pieces of guidance we wish to share with with you. First off, be really cautious when you surf the web and particularly while downloading totally free programs. Stay away from opening suspicious email attachments, especially when the sender of the email is not familiar to you.

Keep in mind that some freeware installers may consist of other unwanted utilities in the package, so they may be malicious. Make certain that your current anti-virus and your entire operating system is always appropriately updated.

Naturally, downloading pirated software is illegal and may lead to necessary damage to be made for your system. Hence, stay away from downloading cracked software. You are also strongly encouraged to reconsider your existing security software and potentially switch to another security solution that can render far better services of protecting your system.

Below please find the quotation from the CR1 text file:

#CR1
All your files have been encrypted using: AES-256-CBC + RSA-4096.
Shadows copies were removed, original files were overwritten, renamed and deleted using safe methods.
Recovery is not possible without own RSA-4096 private key.
Only we can decrypt your files!
To decrypt your files contact us at: cr1-silvergold1@protonmail.com
Your private key will be deleted after 7 days starting from: 4/11/2019, after that the recovery of your files will not be possible.

Screenshot of files with “.CR1” extension added by the ransomware:

Use GridinSoft Anti-Malware to remove CR1 ransomware from your computer

1.Download GridinSoft Anti-Malware.

You can download GridinSoft Anti-Malware by clicking the button below:

  GridinSoft Anti-Malware

2. Double-click on the setup file.

When setup file has finished downloading, double-click on the setup-antimalware-ag.exe file to install GridinSoft Anti-Malware on your computer.

An User Account Control asking you about to allow GridinSoft Anti-Malware to make changes to your device. So, you should click “Yes” to continue with the installation.

3. Press Install button for run GridinSoft Anti-Malware.

3.Once installed, GridinSoft Anti-Malware will automatically run.

4. Wait for the GridinSoft Anti-Malware scan to complete.

GridinSoft Anti-Malware will automatically start scanning your computer for Win Speedup 2018 and other malicious programs. This process can take a 20-30 minutes, so we suggest you periodically check on the status of the scan process.

5. Click on “Clean Now”.

When the scan has completed, you will see the list of infections that GridinSoft Anti-Malware has detected. To remove them click on the “Clean Now” button in right corner.