CryptoMix Ransomware Removal Guide

Do you know what CryptoMix Ransomware is?

CryptoMix Ransomware is not a new threat, but it keeps reappearing with slightly different versions. The malware is a file-encrypting program, and according to our specialists, each new version marks enciphered data with a new extension. So far we have encountered versions that marked files with .EXTE, .ZAYKA, .NOOB, .WALLET, .OGONIA, and many other extensions. If you suspect your PC might have been infected by CryptoMix Ransomware too, we recommend erasing it immediately since there are no guarantees the cyber criminals behind the malicious program will deliver decryption tools even if they promise to do so. To help users get rid of the threat faster, there will be a removal guide at the end of the main text. However, you do not have to decide what to do yet. For starters, we would advise reading the report to get to know this infection better.

It is unknown which encryption method might be used by CryptoMix Ransomware, but the process itself should start shortly after the device becomes infected. As we said earlier, based on the malware’s version, the enciphered files can be marked by a particular extension. Moreover, it was noticed that in some cases the malware may encrypt the file's name too making it impossible to recognize it. The newly given name could consist of thirty-two random characters, e.g. 4CB4CD301G5225B125BB8CA62WEC0768.EXTE. Needless to say, such files can no longer be opened. Sadly, even the infection’s removal does not undo the damage.

Furthermore, soon after targeted files are enciphered, CryptoMix Ransomware should create a text document on user’s Desktop or other directories containing locked data, e.g. _HELP_INSTRUCTION.txt, INSTRUCTION RESTORE FILE.TXT, #_RESTORING_FILES_#.TXT, etc. The text document should contain a couple of sentences from which you might learn the cyber criminals’ email address and your unique identification number. The note does not say what is it for, but from our experience with similar threats, we can say that unique ID numbers are needed to recognize the infected device and its unique decryption key. We did not try to contact these hackers ourselves, but we believe they should send back information on how to transfer the ransom. These people can guarantee they will deliver the decryption key you need and a decryptor right after the payment is made, but in reality, they may not bother to do so.CryptoMix Ransomware Removal GuideCryptoMix Ransomware screenshot
Scroll down for full removal instructions

Under such circumstances, instead of putting your trust in these cyber criminals we advise our readers to refuse to make the payment or better yet do not even try to contact these hackers. If you have no intention risking your savings, we encourage you not to hesitate anymore and erase the malicious application. The removal guide available below this paragraph may help you with CryptoMix Ransomware’s deletion, although we cannot guarantee it will work for all our readers since the malware has many different versions and all of them could work a bit different from one another.

It seems to us it would be safer to use a reputable antimalware tool rather than eliminating the infection manually. If you think it is the best option under the given circumstances too, we advise you to install a reputable antimalware tool created by a trustworthy company and downloaded from a legitimate website. Once it is ready to use, perform a full system scan and wait for the results to appear. Then click the deletion button, and the software should deal with all detections at once.

Eliminate CryptoMix Ransomware

  1. Tap Ctrl+Alt+Delete and choose Task Manager.
  2. Go to Processes tab and look for a process belonging to the threat.
  3. Select this malicious process and press the End Task button.
  4. Leave Task Manager.
  5. Open File Explorer (Windows Key+E).
  6. Find a file that might have been launched before the infection appeared, e.g. it could be in the %TEMP%, %USERPROFILE%\desktop, %USERPROFILE%\downloads, or other folders.
  7. Right-click the infected file and select Delete.
  8. Check the %APPDATA% directory for questionable executable files that could belong to the threat, e.g. AC1AFBA98D.
  9. Right-click the file you suspect and press Delete.
  10. Search for the malware’s ransom note, right-click it and select Delete.
  11. Navigate to the device’s Startup folders and look for suspicious files belonging to the ransomware; right-click them and press Delete.
  12. Leave the File Explorer.
  13. Empty your Recycle bin and restart the device.

In non-techie terms:

CryptoMix Ransomware is after user’s personal data, so files belonging to the device’s operating system should not be enciphered. Thus, if the malicious application manages to settle in it may lock your photographs, pictures, archives, videos, music files, documents, and other private data to make you unable to access it. The malware’s creators goal is to take your data as a hostage and convince you to pay the ransom. This is why the infection should provide the user with the so-called ransom note when the encryption process is ended. This note does not say how much you would have to pay to decrypt your data, but we would advise you not to risk your savings as there is not knowing if the hackers will hold to their word. To get rid of the threat manually you could use the removal guide available above, but if the process appears to be too complicated do not hesitate to leave this task for a reputable antimalware tool.