Remove GYCC Ransomware Virus (+DECRYPT .gycc Files)

Gycc ransomware is a type of computer virus that infiltrates your computer, encrypts your files, and then asks to pay the money for file decryption. Besides these unpleasant activities, that virus also alters some important settings and can even disable your anti-malware program.

Gycc ransomware – what is it?

Gycc virus can correctly be described as a STOP/Djvu malware family. That sort of computer virus is targeted at single users. This feature supposes that Gycc does not bring any type of additional malware, which often helps ransomware of various other families to control your system. Since most people do not have anything valuable , there is no need to inject additional malware that increases the risk of failure of the whole ransomware injection.

The usual signs of this ransomware activity is the emersion of .gycc files in your folders, instead of the document you used to have. The photo.jpg turns into photo.jpg.gycc, report.xlsx – into report.xlsx.gycc and so on. You cannot to suspend this process, as well as can’t open these files – they are ciphered with quite strong algorithm.

You can also spectate various other signs of malware activity. Abruptly disabled Microsoft Defender and inability to check the well-known anti-malware forums or web pages, where the malware removal and file decryption guides are published. You will see how it works in the paragraph below. The removal and decryption guide are also available – read below how to remove Gycc ransomware and get the .gycc files back.

How did Gycc ransomware encrypt my files?

After the malware injection, the Gycc ransomware establishes a connection with its command and control server. This server is controlled by virus maintainers – crooks who manage the distribution of this ransomware. Another activity which is done by these crooks is answering the email messages of sufferers, who wish to decrypt their files.

The files are ciphered with one of the strongest encryption algorithm – AES-256. The “256” digit in the name of this algo means the power of two – 2^256 for this case. 78-digit number of possible password variations – it is impossible to brute force it. As analysts say, it will need more time than our planet can approximately exist, even when you use the most powerful computer system. In each folder that keeps the encrypted documents, Gycc ransomware creates the _readme.txt file with the following contents:

ATTENTION!

Don't worry, you can return all your files!

All your files like photos, databases, documents and other important are encrypted with strongest encryption and unique key.
The only method of recovering files is to purchase decrypt tool and unique key for you.
This software will decrypt all your encrypted files.

What guarantees you have?

You can send one of your encrypted file from your PC and we decrypt it for free.
But we can decrypt only 1 file for free. File must not contain valuable information.

You can get and look video overview decrypt tool:

https://we.tl/t-WJa63R98Ku

Price of private key and decrypt software is $980.
Discount 50% available if you contact us first 72 hours, that's price for you is $490.

Please note that you'll never restore your data without payment.

Check your e-mail "Spam" or "Junk" folder if you don't get answer more than 6 hours.

To get this software you need write on our e-mail:

support@fishmail.top

Reserve e-mail address to contact us:

datarestorehelp@airmail.cc

Your personal ID:
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

However, you can still use some of your documents. The Gycc ransomware encrypts only the first 150 KB of each file, but the other part of this file can be accessed. Primarily, it works best with audio/video files, which are definitely larger than 150 kilobytes. Not each media player can open these files – WinAmp is the best option, since it is free and well-tested. First seconds of every file will be missing – this part is encrypted – but the rest of the video or music will be accessible like nothing happened.

Is Gycc ransomware dangerous for my PC?

As it was described several paragraphs before, ransomware is not only about ciphering the files. Gycc virus makes the changes in your OS in order to prevent looking for the virus removal and file decryption guides. Malware does not establish the software barrier – it just changes the settings, primarily – networking and security configurations.

Through the networking configurations, the most damaged item is the HOSTS file. This text file keeps the DNS-address configurations, which are used by the web browsers while sending a request to the server. If you add a specific DNS-address for the certain website, your web browser will connect that site through this DNS next time. Ransomware alters that file, adding the non-existent DNS, so any of the web browsers will show you the “Unable to resolve the DNS-address” error.

Other changes done by the virus are aimed at prevention of early detection of itself, and also blocking the installation of the majority of anti-malware programs. Gycc virus makes some alterations in Group Policies – the system setting application which allows to modify the rights of each program. In such a way, ransomware disables the Microsoft Defender and various other anti-malware tools, and also disables the launch of antivirus installation files.

How did I get infected?

Throughout the whole term while STOP/Djvu family is active, it was using dubious programs as a primary way of ransomware injection. Under the term of questionable applications I mean applications that are already not supported by the creator and spread through the file sharing websites. These programs may be hacked, to make them usable without buying any license. Another example of such a program type is various hacking tools – cheat engines, keygens, Windows activation tools and so on.

This sort of applications may be spread in many methods – through the site that offers a downloading link, as well as through the p2p networks – ThePirateBay, eMule and so on. All these sources are known as the biggest computer piracy websites. Folks use these sites to get different apps or games for free, even if these apps must be purchased. Nobody can stop the users who crack these apps from adding malware of some type to the files of the hacked tool. Hacktools, however, are created for outlaw purposes, so their developers can easily embed the virus under the guise of some program part.

These hacked apps, regardless of their source, are one of the most often carriers for various malware, and definitely the most popular one for Gycc virus. It is better to stop using of it, and not only because of malware installation risks. Avoiding the license buying is an illegal action, and both hackers and users who make use of cracked apps fall under the charge of piracy.

How do I remove Gycc ransomware?

The Gycc ransomware is very hard to delete manually. Really, because of the amount of changes it makes into your computer, it is almost impossible to find them all and repair. The best option is to use antivirus programs. But which one to choose?

You may read the offers to make use of Microsoft Defender, that is already inside of your computer. Nonetheless, as it was mentioned earlier, most of STOP/Djvu ransomware examples disable it even before the ciphering procedure. Using the third-party application is the only solution – and I can offer you the GridinSoft Anti-Malware as an option for this case. It has impressive detection abilities, so the Gycc ransomware will not be missed. It is also capable of system recovery, that is heavily demanded after the Gycc virus attack.

To remove Gycc malware infections, scan your computer with legitimate antivirus software.

After the ransomware removal, you can go to file decryption. Virus removal is needed to prevent the repeating encryption of your files: while Gycc ransomware is active, it will not pass any unencrypted file.

How to decrypt the .gycc files?

There are two ways to recover your files after a Gycc ransomware attack. First one and the most popular is file decryption. It is performed with a special tool, designed by Emsisoft, and named Emsisoft Decryptor for STOP/Djvu. This program is free. Analysts update its decryption keys databases as often as possible, so you will definitely get your files back, sooner or later.

Another way to get your files back is to try to recover them from your disks. Since Gycc virus deletes them and substitutes with an encrypted copy, the residue of the files are still stored on the disk drive. After the removal, the information about them is removed from the file system, but not from a disk. Special apps, like PhotoRec, are able to recover these files. It is free, too, and may also be used for file recovery in case when you have deleted some files unintentionally.

Decrypting the .gycc files with Emsisoft Decrypter for STOP/Djvu

Download and install Emsisoft Decrypter tool. Agree with its EULA and continue to the interface.

The interface of this program is extremely easy. All you have to do is to select the folder where the encrypted files are stored, and wait. If the program has the decryption key which corresponds to your ransomware case – it will decrypt it.

During the use of Emsisoft Decrypter for STOP/Djvu, you may observe various error messages. Don’t worry, that does not mean that you did something wrong or a program does not work properly. Each of these errors refer to a specific case. Here is the explanation:

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

The program does not have a corresponding key for your case. You need to wait for some time until the key database will be updated.

No key for new variant online ID: [your ID]

Notice: this ID appears to be an online ID, decryption is impossible.

This error means that your files are encrypted with an online key. In such a case, the decryption key is unique and stored on the remote server, controlled by crooks. Unfortunately, the decryption 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.

Ransomware uses the offline key to encrypt your files. This key is not unique, so you likely have it in common with another victim. Since offline keys must be collected, too, it is important to keep calm and wait until the analysts team finds one which will fit your case.

Remote name could not be resolved

This error indicates that the program has problems with DNS on your computer. That’s a clear sign of malicious alterations in your HOSTS file. Reset it using the official Microsoft guide.

Recovering the .gycc files with PhotoRec tool

PhotoRec is an open-source tool, which is created to recover the deleted or lost files from the disk. It checks each disk sector for the residues of deleted files, and then attempts to recover them. That app is able to recover the files of more than 400 different formats. Because of the described feature of ransomware encryption mechanism, it is possible to use this tool to get the original, unencrypted files back.

Download PhotoRec from the official website. It is absolutely free, however, its developer warns that he does not guarantee that this program will be 100% effective for file recovery purposes. Moreover, even paid apps can barely give you such a guarantee, because of the chain of random factors that can make the file recovery harder.

Unzip the downloaded archive to the folder you like. Don’t worry because of its name – TestDisk – this is the name of the utility developed by the same company. They decided to spread it together since PhotoRec and TestDisk are often used together. Among the unzipped files, search for qphotorec_win.exe file. Run this executable file.

Before you can start the recovery process, you need to specify several settings. In the drop-down list, choose the logic disk where the files were stored before the encryption.

Then, you need to specify the file formats you need to recover. It may be difficult to scroll all 400+ formats, luckily, they are sorted by alphabetical order.

Finally, name the folder you want to use as a container for recovered files. The program will likely dig out a lot of useless files, which were deleted intentionally, so desktop is a bad solution. The best option is to use the USB-drive.

After these easy manipulations, you may just press the “Search” button (it turns active if you specified all required parameters). The recovery process may take several hours, so keep patient. It is recommended not to use the computer during this term, since you may overwrite some files you are intending to recover.

Frequently Asked Questions