Remove CRAA Ransomware Virus (DECRYPT .craa FILES)

remove CRAA ransomware virus and learn how to decrypt or repair files with .craa extension (free guide)

CRAA ransomware aims to take computer files hostage

Contents

CRAA ransomware aims to take computer files hostage
Overview of STOP/DJVU ransomware distribution
Remove CRAA ransomware virus and protect your computer
Decrypt CRAA files
Frequently Asked Questions

CRAA ransomware is a harmful computer virus designed to encrypt all files on compromised systems. It is a new variant of STOP/DJVU ransomware and it appends .craa extension to filenames after making them inaccessible. For example, files named 1.jpg or 2.rar prior to the attack will appear as 1.jpg.craa and 2.rar.craa after being modified by the virus. Afterward, no program will be suitable for opening or editing these files. Furthermore, the malware saves ransom notes called _readme.txt in each affected data folder.

The aim of this malicious virus is to target users of Windows-running computers and to lock their personal or work files with a robust encryption algorithm, so that the user can no longer access them.

The cybercriminals behind this ransomware know that these files are important to the victim, so they try to extort the user by offering to purchase CRAA file decryption tool and unique key from them. Their solution is described in the ransom notes dropped throughout the infected computer.

The ransom note, explained

The ransom note dropped by this ransomware is named as _readme.txt, which is usually opened via Notepad app. It begins with “Attention!” and then explains that all file types stored on the computer have been encrypted with the “strongest” algorithm. The criminals state that locked files can only be restored by using a decryption tool and unique decryption key. The only ones who have access to these tools are the ransomware operators; therefore, the note urges the victim to contact them as soon as possible.

The note provides two email addresses: the primary one, which is support@freshmail.top and a secondary one – datarestorehelp@airmail.cc. According to the perpetrators, the victim can get a 50% discount on the decryption tool, but their condition is that the victim should contact them within 72 hours after getting infected. In such scenario, they promise to set the price to $490 instead of the initial amount that is $980.

When it comes to ransom payments, cybercriminals never accept regular transactions and usually demand that the victim purchases cryptocurrency, such as Bitcoin, equal to the amount in dollars. Afterward, the victim is asked to send the Bitcoins to the criminals’ virtual wallet. The point of this is to prevent law enforcement agencies, such as FBI, from tracking the threat actors down.

To encourage the victim to trust their words, they ask to attach one encrypted file to the email, however, the ransom note warns not to send files that contain valuable information. If the file meets cybercriminals’ condition, they promise to send a decrypted file version to the victim to prove that the criminals can restore the rest of encrypted data.

However, we do not recommend paying ransoms to cybercriminals. Such crooks cannot be trusted, as they usually do not stick to their words and often leave the victim with piles of encrypted file and no decryption tools. In addition, paying money to cybercriminals encourages cybercrime and allows the perpetrators to continue their activities. Finally, after sending money to them, you may be asked to send more money. We strongly recommend that you read recommendations for ransomware victims published by FBI or NCSC.

The ransomware drags additional malware to computer

Samples of malicious files that carry CRAA ransomware and other STOP/DJVU versions are known to carry additional payloads. In fact, analysis of these files revealed that the ransomware often arrives together with information-stealing Trojans, such as VIDAR, AZORult and RedLine.

These information stealers have extensive capabilities, including evasion of detection systems, stealing login credentials, saved passwords, browsing history, cookies, information about computer, and many more sensitive details that should be kept private. On top of that, these threats can be used to download additional malware on compromised systems and also to view and delete files.

Considering the damage that these threats can inflict, we strongly recommend you to remove CRAA ransomware virus and other malware using instructions prepared by our team. You can find them below the article. If you’re looking for a trustworthy antivirus to use, we strongly recommend INTEGO Antivirus. Additionally, you can download RESTORO, which is excellent when it comes to repairing virus damage on Windows OS files.

Ransomware Summary

Name	CRAA Ransomware Virus
Type	Ransomware; Crypto-malware; Virtual Extortion Virus
Family	STOP/DJVU
Encryption type	RSA 2048 + Salsa20
Previous versions	COSW, COBA, COAQ, CRAA, QAPO, QARJ QAZX (find full list here)
Version	661st
Extension	.craa
Cybercriminal emails	support@freshmail.top, datarestorehelp@airmail.cc
Additional malware dropped	Azorult, RedLine or Vidar
Damage	The ransomware uses encryption to maliciously modify all files on the PC and marks their original names with .craa extension. Ransom notes called as _readme.txt will be dropped in every computer folder. This piece of malware usually drags VIDAR Stealer alongside it and also eliminates VSS from the system. On top of that, it tends to modify Windows HOSTS file to restrict computer user’s access to cybersecurity-related websites online.
Ransom note	_readme.txt
Ransom demand	$490-$980 in Bitcoin
Distribution	Victims often download this ransomware along illegal torrent downloads, cracked software, activators, key generators or tools like KMSPico.
Known software cracks to contain this malware	Corel Draw, Tenorshare 4ukey, Adobe Photoshop, Cubase, Adobe Illustrator, Internet Download Manager, Tally, HP/Epson printer drivers, League of Legends.
Detection names	Trojan:Win32/Azorult.FW!MTB (Microsoft), Gen:Heur.Mint.Zard.52 (B) (Emsisoft), HEUR:Trojan.Win32.Scarsi.gen (Kaspersky), Gen:Heur.Mint.Zard.52 (BitDefender), Trojan.MalPack.GS (Malwarebytes), ML.Attribute.HighConfidence (Symantec) see all detection name variations on VirusTotal
Removal	Remove ransomware and related malware from your PC using trustworthy software like INTEGO Antivirus. To repair virus damage on Windows OS files, download and try RESTORO (secure download link).

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Overview of STOP/DJVU ransomware distribution

Ransomware can be distributed in a number of ways; today, we will overview the methods used by STOP/DJVU ransomware operators. These methods are used to spread CRAA virus and other versions of this ransomware, including COBA, COSW and others.

The primary distribution method relies on fake software crack files that cybercriminals upload to various rogue websites online. They hope to attract victim’s attention by claiming to provide “100% working and free” solutions to install premium software versions. They often set up deceptive websites dedicated for spreading malicious download links or torrent files and publish posts, each claiming to provide a specific software download. They typically go for big software names, such as Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator, AutoCAD, Wondershare Filmora, WinRAR, Tenorshare 4ukey and similar.

Unfortunately, the files that the cybercriminals advertise are nothing else but malware launchers. The criminals often provide them in password-protected archives in order to avoid AV detection. Once launched, they run the malware on the system immediately. For this reason, you should never search for illegal software versions, because such files are often filled with malware.

Another method used to distribute variants of this ransomware strain is malicious email spam. The cybercriminals send out thousands of phishing emails to computer users and attach malware-laced attachments. The criminals can inject malicious code in various document formats, such as Word, PDF, Excel or OneNote files. The emails are designed to look like they were sent by trustworthy entities, such as well-known online retailers, service providers, or even government institutions.

Computer users should be careful and avoid interacting with contents and attachments of such emails. Clicking on a deceptive link or opening of a malicious email attachment leads to a computer infection, so if you receive a suspicious or unexpected email, always inspect the sender’s email address, the attachment type, check for grammar or spelling mistakes in the message. In addition, cybercriminals often address victims with a very generic greeting line, such as Dear client/user/customer, since they do not know the recipient’s full name like legitimate companies do.

Remove CRAA ransomware virus and protect your computer

If you’ve become a victim of the described ransomware attack, we suggest that you take actions to protect your computer now. The guide provided below explains how to remove CRAA ransomware virus and other malware from the system securely. Follow the guidelines attentively and do not forget to update your antivirus before running a full system scan. If you do not have an AV solution yet, we strongly recommend using INTEGO Antivirus.

Once you remove all malicious programs from the system, go ahead and download RESTORO. It is an excellent tool to repair damage to Windows OS files, clean junk files and identify various computer problems. Other recommendation that we would like to share with STOP/DJVU victims is this: change all of your passwords and secure your accounts with two-factor authentication due to the activity of Trojans that accompany this file-encrypting virus.

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Our team recommends a two-step rescue plan to remove ransomware and other remaining malware from your computer, plus repair caused virus damage to the system:

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CRAA Ransomware Virus Removal Guidelines

Method 1. Enter Safe Mode with Networking

Step 1. Start Windows in Safe Mode with Networking

Before you try to remove CRAA Ransomware Virus virus, you must start your computer in Safe Mode with Networking. Below, we provide the easiest ways to boot PC in the said mode, but you can find additional ones in this in-depth tutorial on our website – How to Start Windows in Safe Mode. Also, if you prefer a video version of the tutorial, check our guide How to Start Windows in Safe Mode on Youtube.

Instructions for Windows XP/Vista/7 users

First of all, turn off your PC. Then press the Power button to start it again and instantly start pressing F8 button on your keyboard repeatedly in 1-second intervals. This launches the Advanced Boot Options menu.
Use arrow keys on the keyboard to navigate down to Safe Mode with Networking option and press Enter.

Instructions for Windows 8/8.1/10/11 users

Open Windows Start menu, then press down the Power button. On your keyboard, press down and hold the Shift key, and then select Restart option.
This will take you to Windows Troubleshoot screen. Choose Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Startup Settings > Restart. Tip: If you can't find Startup Settings, click See more recovery options.
In Startup Settings, press the right key between F1-F9 to enter Safe Mode with Networking. In this case, it is the F5 key.

Step 2. Remove files associated with the virus

Now, you can search for and remove CRAA Ransomware Virus files. It is very hard to identify files and registry keys that belong to the ransomware virus, Besides, malware creators tend to rename and change them repeatedly. Therefore, the easiest way to uninstall such type of a computer virus is to use a reliable security program such as INTEGO Antivirus. For virus damage repair, consider using RESTORO.

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Method 2. Use System Restore

In order to use System Restore, you must have a system restore point, created either manually or automatically.

Step 1. Boot Windows in Safe Mode with Command Prompt

Instructions for Windows XP/Vista/7 users

Shut down your PC. Start it again by pressing the Power button and instantly start pressing F8 button on your keyboard repeatedly in 1-second intervals. You will see Advanced Boot Options menu.
Using arrow keys on the keyboard, navigate down to Safe Mode with Command Prompt option and press Enter.

Instructions for Windows 8/8.1/10/11 users

Launch Windows Start menu, then click the Power button. On your keyboard, press down and hold the Shift key, and then choose Restart option with the mouse cursor.
This will take you to Windows Troubleshoot screen. Choose Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Startup Settings > Restart. Tip: If you can't find Startup Settings, click See more recovery options.
In Startup Settings, press the right key between F1-F9 to enter Safe Mode with Command Prompt. In this case, press F6 key.

Step 2. Start System Restore process

Wait until system loads and command prompt shows up.
Type cd restore and press Enter, then type rstrui.exe and press Enter. Or you can just type %systemroot%system32restorerstrui.exe in command prompt and hit Enter.
This launches System Restore window. Click Next and then choose a System Restore point created in the past. Choose one that was created before ransomware infection.
Click Yes to begin the system restoration process.

After restoring the system, we recommend scanning the system with antivirus or anti-malware software. In most cases, there won't be any malware remains, but it never hurts to double-check. In addition, we highly recommend checking ransomware prevention guidelines provided by our experts in order to protect your PC against similar viruses in the future.

Alternative software recommendations

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Decrypt CRAA files

Fix and open large CRAA files easily:

It is reported that STOP/DJVU ransomware versions encrypt only the beginning 150 KB of each file to ensure that the virus manages to affect all files on the system. In some cases, the malicious program might skip some files at all. That said, we recommend testing this method on several big (>1GB) files first.

Create a copy of encrypted file to a separate folder using Copy > Paste commands.
Now, right-click the created copy and choose Rename. Select the CRAA extension and delete it. Press Enter to save changes.
In the prompt asking whether you want to make the changes as file might become unusable, click OK.
Try opening the file.

STOP/DJVU decryption tool usage guide

STOP/DJVU ransomware versions are grouped into old and new variants. CRAA Ransomware Virus is considered the new STOP/DJVU variant, just like COSW, COBA, COAQ, CRAA, QAPO, QARJ QAZX (find full list here). This means full data decryption is now possible only if you have been affected by offline encryption key. To decrypt your files, you will have to download Emsisoft Decryptor for STOP DJVU, a tool created and maintained by a genius security researcher Michael Gillespie.

Note! Please do not spam the security researcher with questions whether he can recover your files encrypted with online key - it is not possible.

In order to test the tool and see if it can decrypt CRAA files, follow the given tutorial.

Download the decryption tool from Emsisoft.
Click the little arrow next to your download and choose Show in Folder.
Now, right-click the file and choose Run as Administrator. If asked, enter administrator's password.
In UAC window, click Yes.
Click Yes to agree to software terms in both windows.
The tool will automatically include C:// disk as a location to decrypt. The file recovery tool will prepopulate the locations to scan, including connected data storage drives or network drives. Click Add folder if you wish to add additional locations.
In Options tab, you can choose to keep encrypted file copies. We recommend leaving this option selected, especially if you do not know if the decryption tool will work.
Click Decrypt to start restoring CRAA files. You will see the progress in the Results tab. Here, you can see messages from the tool, such as whether the decryption procedure is successful, or you need to wait for an update.
You might also be informed that online key was used to encrypt your files. In such case, the decryption tool won't work for you, and the only way to recover your files is to use a data backup.

Meanings of decryptor's messages

The CRAA decryption tool might display several different messages after failed attempt to restore your files. You might receive one of the following messages:

Error: Unable to decrypt file with ID: [example ID]

This message typically means that there is no corresponding decryption key in the decryptor's database.

No key for New Variant online ID: [example ID]
Notice: this ID appears to be an online ID, decryption is impossible

This message informs that your files were encrypted with online key, meaning no one else has the same encryption/decryption key pair, therefore data recovery without paying the criminals is impossible.

Result: No key for new variant offline ID: [example ID]
This ID appears to be an offline ID. Decryption may be possible in the future.

If you were informed that an offline key was used, but files could not be restored, it means that the offline decryption key isn't available yet. However, receiving this message is extremely good news, meaning that it might be possible to restore your CRAA extension files in the future. It can take a few months until the decryption key gets found and uploaded to the decryptor. We recommend you to follow updates regarding the decryptable DJVU versions here. We strongly recommend backing up your encrypted data and waiting.

Report Internet crime to legal departments

Victims of CRAA Ransomware Virus should report the Internet crime incident to the official government fraud and scam website according to their country:

In the United States, go to the On Guard Online website.
In Australia, go to the SCAMwatch website.
In Germany, go to the Bundesamt für Sicherheit in der Informationstechnik website.
In Ireland, go to the An Garda Síochána website.
In New Zealand, go to the Consumer Affairs Scams website.
In the United Kingdom, go to the Action Fraud website.
In Canada, go to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
In India, go to Indian National Cybercrime Reporting Portal.
In France, go to the Agence nationale de la sécurité des systèmes d’information.

If you can't find an authority corresponding to your location on this list, we recommend using any search engine to look up "[your country name] report cyber crime". This should lead you to the right authority website. We also recommend staying away from third-party crime report services that are often paid. It costs nothing to report Internet crime to official authorities.

Another recommendation is to contact your country's or region’s federal police or communications authority.

Frequently Asked Questions

✓ How can I open .CRAA files?

You can only open CRAA files if you have the decryption key, or if you were affected by offline encryption type.

✓ How do I know if my files were encrypted with offline or online encryption?

To figure out whether you were affected by offline encryption, please go to C:/SystemID/PersonalID.txt and see if the string inside of it ends in t1. You can also try using Emsisoft Decryptor for STOP/DJVU.

✓ My files contain very important information (family memories). Every tool I used says it is impossible to decrypt. What should I do?

Please follow the guidances provided by the official CRAA decryption tools and believe what they say. If they say it is impossible to decrypt, it really is so. There is no magic tool or human capable of decrypting your files hiding somewhere. Encryption is a technique created to be nearly impossible to decrypt without a special private key (held by the criminals).

✓ I am afraid virus is still in my computer system. What should I do?

We advise scanning with anti-virus, anti-malware, malware removal tools or software like RESTORO to eliminate virus damage on the system. If you do not trust using a single tool, try running one after another. However, we do not recommend keeping several security programs on a computer at once as they can interfere with each other's work.

✓ I saw several Youtube videos suggesting secret decryption tools. Can I trust them?

Beware of fake CRAA decryption tools circulating around the web. Cyber criminals are uploading them to various shady websites, also might be promoting them via suspicious Youtube videos. These programs can infect your computer even more heavily (Trojans, miners, etc.). We suggest being extremely cautious around the web. If there will be an official STOP/DJVU decryption tool available, it will be widely discussed in public media.

Norbert Webb

Norbert Webb is the head of Geek’s Advice team. He is the chief editor of the website who controls the quality of content published. The man also loves reading cybersecurity news, testing new software and sharing his insights on them. Norbert says that following his passion for information technology was one of the best decisions he has ever made. “I don’t feel like working while I’m doing something I love.” However, the geek has other interests, such as snowboarding and traveling.