zCrypt Ransomware Removal Guide

Do you know what zCrypt Ransomware is?

zCrypt Ransomware is a malicious infection that slithers into your computer unnoticed. As you can clearly tell from its name, the program falls into the ransomware category, which means that the program holds your computer hostage demanding payment. Such infections function under the premise that users will feel compelled to transfer the payment if they want to get their files back. However, it is more than obvious that you need to remove zCrypt Ransomware without even considering giving the people who created this thing any money. Scroll down to the bottom of this description for the manual ransomware removal instructions.

According to our research team, this ransomware application makes use of the RSA encryption algorithm to encrypt selected files. This presents a definite problem if you want to decrypt those files because the algorithm in question is extremely complicated, and practically the only way to decrypt it involves using a private decryption key. This is how zCrypt Ransomware try to manipulate the infected users: the infection says that it will grant them the decryption key as long as they send 1.2 Bitcoin to the given Bitcoin address. Needless to say, there are no grounds to believe that.

You must have been infected with this program when you opened an attachment you received in the mail. Please bear in mind that ransomware distribution vector includes spam email attachments, and they are often disguised as messages from reputable companies and even financial institutions.

When you open such an attachment, you launch the program’s installation sequence. This program also posts a notification that is thought to be there to confuse you and distract you. There is a single system pop-up that says:

There is no disk in the drive. Please insert a disk into drive D:.

Needless to say, there is no such error in your system, and the ransomware simply tries to make you focus on something else rather than the file you have just opened. While you get rid of the pop-up, zCrypt Ransomware goes on and encrypts your files. In order to do that, the program establishes a remote connection with its command and control center and receives the encryption key. With that, it scans your computer for the file formats it is programmed to encrypt. When this process is complete, you will see that every single affected file as the .zcrypt extension added.

Your desktop background will also be changed to the notification that will say you have only four days to submit the payment. Supposedly, you need to send around $500 to the given address; otherwise “your unique key will be destroyed and you won’t be able to recover your files anymore.” The program goes on to say that if you try to get rid of it yourself, “any action taken will result in decryption key being destroyed. You will lose your files forever. Only way to keep your files is to follow the instructions.”

On the other hand, computer security experts say that submitting to these demands is not an option. You will do yourself a favor if you remove zCrypt Ransomware from your system immediately. You have to remember that this program gives not guarantees it would surely give you the decryption key once you transfer the payment.

For example, most of the ransomware programs allow users to decrypt at least one file for free, to prove that they can indeed provide users with the decryption key. Nevertheless, zCrypt Ransomware does no such thing. Hence, it is not clear whether you would be able to restore your files even if you do transfer the money.

Do yourself a favor and restore your files from an external hard drive when you delete this ransomware from your PC. You may also have saved quite a few of files in a cloud drive or some other storage system online. Do not panic, and deal with this situation in cold-blood.

Should you need any assistance with the malware removal, do not hesitate to leave us a comment. Our team will respond as soon as possible. Finally, do consider investing in a powerful computer security application that would notify you of similar threats in the future.

How to Delete zCrypt Ransomware

  1. Press Win+R and type regedit. Click OK.
  2. Navigate to to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run.
  3. Delete the zcrypt key and exit the Registry Editor.
  4. Press Win+R again and enter %AppData% into the Open box. Click OK.
  5. Go to Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup.
  6. Locate and remove the zcrypt.lnk file from the directory.
  7. Go back to the Roaming folder.
  8. Delete the following files:
    zcrypt.exe
    btc.addr
    public.key
  9. Scan your PC with a security tool of your choice.

In non-techie terms:

Albeit it might be scary to see a strange notification on your screen out of nowhere, when you get infected with zCrypt Ransomware, you have to act swiftly. Get rid of this program either manually or automatically with a powerful antispyware tool. Should you require any assistance, you can always leave us a comment below. Do not hesitate to try everything to terminate malicious infections that might threaten your computer and your financial stability.