Grand_car@aol.com Ransomware Removal Guide

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Category: Trojans

In this article, we will discuss the peculiarities of a ransomware-type malware called Grand_car@aol.com Ransomware which has been released just recently. This program can infect your computer, provided that it does not have an installed anti-malware program. In this case, you should remove this infection instead of complying with the demands of its developer because this program is set to encrypt your files and demand that you pay a ransom in exchange for the decryption software. If you want to find out more about this infection, read this whole article.

Grand_car@aol.com Ransomware is based on the CrySIS Ransomware engine which is also the basis for Green_ray Ransomware, Alex.vlasov@aol.com Ransomware, Vegclass@aol.com Ransomware, and Ecovector3@aol.com Ransomware. Hence, it comes from a well-established ransomware developer that many security experts think comes from Russia.

Like the ransomware that came before it, Grand_car@aol.com Ransomware is distributed using malicious email attachments. The emails are disguised as legitimate and made to appear as if they come from legitimate businesses and websites. For example, they can be disguised as invoices from companies such as eBay or Amazon. The file attached to these emails could be either a fake PDF or Word file or even a self-extracting file archive. Either way, the dropper file will inject this ransomware’s files in various locations. According to our research, the files can be dropped in seven different locations including %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Start Menu\Programs\Startup, %APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup, and %USERPROFILE%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup, among other places.

Once on your computer, this ransomware will run automatically and scan it for files of interest. After the scan is complete, it will begin the encryption. While researching this malware, we found that it uses the RSA-2048 encryption algorithm. RSA is a widely used encryption method for securing data transmission. However, cyber criminals have learned to take advantage of this system and started making malware that can encrypt computer-stored files. 2048 stands for the key length which in this case is 2048 bits long. Therefore, this ransomware’s encryption is quite strong and no free decryption tool could crack its unique code.

We have found that Grand_car@aol.com Ransomware is configured to encrypt close to a hundred file formats, and we have observed that it tends to encrypt files that are most likely to contain personal and, thus, valuable information. For example, this ransomware can encrypt file formats such as .doc, .xls, .ppt, .jpg, .exe, .dll, .odt, djvu, .djv, .zip, .rar, .tgz, and .tar, among others. When it encrypts the files, it appends them with an extension that may, for example, look like .id-B4500913.grand_car@aol.com.xtbl. The B4500913 part is the unique user ID number. After the encryption process is finished, it will create a file named Decryption instructions.txt, which is nothing short of a ransom note. The note asks you to contact this ransomware’s developers via the included email address to get the instructions on how to decrypt your files.

We have no doubt that the decryption involves buying Bitcoins and sending them to the Bitcoin wallet of the developers. In return, they should send you the decryption tool. However, there is no guarantee that they will hold their end of the bargain. It does not lock the screen so you can use your computer, but you will not be able to access the encrypted files. In any case, we do not know how much money this particular ransomware is set to demand because the sum is specified when you contact the developers. The amount of money they ask may not be worth your files, so you should consider deleting this infection instead of complying with the demands.

Grand_car@aol.com Ransomware is truly one malicious piece of programming. Its purpose is to encrypt your files to compel you to pay a ransom for the decryption tool needed to restore your files. It comes from a well-known ransomware family, so we will see more similar infections shortly. If you want to remove this malware, you can make use of the manual removal guide below, but it is not failproof. In case you are unable to locate the executable, we suggest using an anti-malware tool such as SpyHunter that can find and delete the malicious files automatically.

Remove malicious files

  1. Simultaneously press Windows+E keys.
  2. In the File Explorer’s address box, enter the following paths.
    • %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
    • %APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
    • %USERPROFILE%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
    • %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
    • %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
    • %WINDIR%\Syswow64
    • %WINDIR%\System32
  3. Identify the executable file.
  4. Right-click it and click Delete.
  5. Empty the Recycle Bin.

Delete the registry keys

  1. Simultaneously press Windows+R keys.
  2. Type regedit in the dialog box and hit Enter.
  3. Go to HKCU\Control Panel\Desktop
  4. Delete the registry sting with the Value data of C:\Users\user\Decryption instructions.jpg
  5. Go to HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Wallpapers
  6. Find BackgroundHistoryPath0 with the Value data C:\Users\user\Decryption instructions.jpg
  7. Right-click it and click Delete.
  8. Then, go to HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
  9. Locate and delete the randomly named registry string with the Value data %WINDIR%\Syswow64\ExecutableName.exe and %WINDIR%\System32\ExecutableName.exe
Download Remover for Grand_car@aol.com Ransomware *
*SpyHunter scanner, published on this site, is intended to be used only as a detection tool. To use the removal functionality, you will need to purchase the full version of SpyHunter.

Grand_car@aol.com Ransomware Screenshots:

Grand_car@aol.com Ransomware
Grand_car@aol.com Ransomware

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