How to remove Cring Ransomware and decrypt .cring files

What is Cring Ransomware

Cring is categorized as a ransomware-type virus that encrypts personal data of various sorts (images, videos, documents, etc.) To make the encryption successful, Cring applies special cryptographic algorithms, which establish strong cipher protection. All of this is accompanied by the assignment of the .cring extension, which is added to the end of each file. As an example, the original piece like 1.mp4 will be changed to 1.mp4.cring and reset its icon. Whilst this process is underway, the virus prepares to drop a text file (!!!!deReadMe!!!.txt) containing ransom instructions.

Inside of a document, extortionists are straightforward saying that your files are impossible to unlock on your own. The only solution is to contact developers and pay a fee of 2 bitcoins. Unfortunately, because the infection is very new to the ransomware world, cyber experts have not found a way to decrypt it for free just yet. However, knowing the rise of Bitcoin rates in recent days, the amount asked to be paid is astronomically high. Even if your case covers a much less amount of money, we are still against making the purchase. Otherwise, it might result in a significant loss of your budget because there is a statistically-proven chance to be fooled and not receive any decryption tools at all. Whatever the case, the most important thing is to get rid of Cring Ransomware from your computer to prevent further data decryption. Then, once it is done with the help of our instructions, you can restore your data using external backups or third-party tools mentioned down below.

How Cring Ransomware infected your computer

Alike other malware of this sort, Cring does spread its roots via e-mail spam, trojans, fake software cracking tools, backdoors, keyloggers, poor RDP configurations, and so forth. However, the most important one to mention is the infections spread via e-mail spam. Usually, it is done with the help of malicious links or attachments included inside of a letter. Cybercriminals disguise their messages as legitimate organizations that deliver important information to their clients. Unfortunately, even if the e-mail address looks familiar to you, it does not mean the content has come from the right source. Chances are the attached files like MS Office documents, PDFs, executables, or JavaScript files will be compromised and lead to malware infections. In order to prevent this, you should avoid interacting with unfamiliar content. In case you cannot ensure full protection on your own, it is helpful to use anti-malware software that will help you stamp on the interaction with malware. More information about that is located in the article below.

1. Download Cring Ransomware Removal Tool
2. Get decryption tool for .cring files
3. Recover encrypted files with Stellar Data Recovery Professional
4. Restore encrypted files with Windows Previous Versions
5. Restore files with Shadow Explorer
6. How to protect from threats like Cring Ransomware

Cring Ransomware files:


deReadMe!!!.txt
kill.bat
cring.pdb
cring.exe
{randomname}.exe


Cring Ransomware registry keys:

no information

How to decrypt and restore .cring files

Use automated decryptors

Download Kaspersky RakhniDecryptor

Use following tool from Kaspersky called Rakhni Decryptor, that can decrypt .cring files. Download it here:

Download RakhniDecryptor

There is no purpose to pay the ransom because there is no guarantee you will receive the key, but you will put your bank credentials at risk.

Dr.Web Rescue Pack

Famous antivirus vendor Dr. Web provides free decryption service for the owners of its products: Dr.Web Security Space or Dr.Web Enterprise Security Suite. Other users can ask for help in the decryption of .cring files by uploading samples to Dr. Web Ransomware Decryption Service. Analyzing of files will be performed free of charge and if files are decryptable, all you need to do is purchase a 2-year license of Dr.Web Security Space worth $120 or less. Otherwise, you don’t have to pay.

If you are infected with Cring Ransomware and removed it from your computer you can try to decrypt your files. Antivirus vendors and individuals create free decryptors for some crypto-lockers. To attempt to decrypt them manually you can do the following:

Use Stellar Data Recovery Professional to restore .cring files

1. Download Stellar Data Recovery Professional.
2. Click Recover Data button.
3. Select type of files you want to restore and click Next button.
4. Choose location where you would like to restore files from and click Scan button.
5. Preview found files, choose ones you will restore and click Recover.

Download Stellar Data Recovery Professional

Using Windows Previous Versions option:

1. Right-click on infected file and choose Properties.
2. Select Previous Versions tab.
3. Choose particular version of the file and click Copy.
4. To restore the selected file and replace the existing one, click on the Restore button.
5. In case there is no items in the list choose alternative method.

Using Shadow Explorer:

1. Download Shadow Explorer program.
2. Run it and you will see screen listing of all the drives and the dates that shadow copy was created.
3. Select the drive and date that you want to restore from.
4. Right-click on a folder name and select Export.
5. In case there are no other dates in the list, choose alternative method.

If you are using Dropbox:

1. Login to the DropBox website and go to the folder that contains encrypted files.
2. Right-click on the encrypted file and select Previous Versions.
3. Select the version of the file you wish to restore and click on the Restore button.

How to protect computer from viruses, like Cring Ransomware, in future

1. Get special anti-ransomware software

Use ZoneAlarm Anti-Ransomware

Famous antivirus brand ZoneAlarm by Check Point released a comprehensive tool, that will help you with active anti-ransomware protection, as an additional shield to your current protection. The tool provides Zero-Day protection against ransomware and allows you to recover files. ZoneAlarm Anti-Ransomware is compatible with all other antiviruses, firewalls, and security software except ZoneAlarm Extreme (already shipped with ZoneAlarm Anti-Ransomware) or Check Point Endpoint products. The killer features of this application are: automatic file recovery, overwrite protection that instantly and automatically recovers any encrypted files, file protection that detects and blocks even unknown encryptors.

Download ZoneAlarm Anti-Ransomware

2. Back up your files

As an additional way to save your files, we recommend online backup. Local storages, such as hard drives, SSDs, flash drives, or remote network storages can be instantly infected by the virus once plugged in or connected to. Cring Ransomware uses some techniques to exploit this. One of the best services and programs for easy automatic online backup is iDrive. It has the most profitable terms and a simple interface. You can read more about iDrive cloud backup and storage here.

3. Do not open spam e-mails and protect your mailbox

Malicious attachments to spam or phishing e-mails are the most popular method of ransomware distribution. Using spam filters and creating anti-spam rules is good practice. One of the world leaders in anti-spam protection is MailWasher Pro. It works with various desktop applications and provides a very high level of anti-spam protection.

Download MailWasher Pro