How to remove SifreCikis Ransomware and decrypt your files

What is SifreCikis Ransomware

Developed by a group of Turkish extortionists, SifreCikis is a ransomware infection encrypting personal data and demanding a fee for recovery. It creates a strong cipher on sensitive data using AES and RSA algorithms. As a result, the decryption of files becomes hard to pull off, even with third-party tools. All data encrypted by SifreCikis obtains a new extension based on these patterns: .{random-alphanumerical-sequence}. For example, a file like 1.txt will change to something like this 1.txt.E02F4934FC5A. Then, after the encryption is done, users encounter a note called ***NA*** that contains ransom instructions.

Unfortunately, the content of the note is hard to conceive for non-native speakers, however, a group of researchers translated it and outlined some key information. It claims that you should contact cyber criminals via e-mail and attach your personal ID in the message topic. Then, you will receive further instructions to purchase the decryption software (500$ in BTC). If there is no response from the extortionists, you should read the information through the link in the Tor browser. Malware researchers spotted the domain name starting with sifrecikx, which is consonant with sifre cikis (meaning “cipher/password + exit” in Turkish). Also, during the investigation researchers defined that SifreCikis could be a brother of SifreCozucu, as it looks very similar having minor differences. Because the inspection is still underway, malware specialists have not found a method to restore the damage affected by SifreCikis. The only and best way to recover your data is deleting the virus and using a backup copy if one was created prior to the infection. You can follow our guide below to explore more information upon removal and decryption as well.

How SifreCikis Ransomware infected your computer

A range of ransomware infections happening on a daily basis covers a list of the most popular distribution vectors. Usually, as practice shows, it can be spread by hacking through unprotected RDP configurations, e-mail spam containing malicious attachments, spoofed downloads, botnets, exploits, malicious ads, web injections, fake software updates, and so forth. The main source of attack often comes from e-mail spam, which implies bombarding users with messages that contain files of different sorts (MS Office documents, PDFs, executable, and JavaScript files). Oftentimes, they are presented as something legitimate, meant to push inexperienced users onto opening them. In fact, they are malicious and lead to background infiltrations of malware. This is why our advice is to avoid interacting with such content, especially if you do not know the address of the sender. All in all, the biggest mistake in increasing the number of victims is the inattentiveness and uncarefulness of people when using the web. Always stay vigilant and do not fall into tricks alluring your eye. Our tutorial below will teach you the basic and vital tips to protect yourself from such threats in the future.

1. Download SifreCikis Ransomware Removal Tool
2. Get decryption tool for your 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 SifreCikis Ransomware

SifreCikis Ransomware files:


RECOVER-FILES.txt
b.dll
testbuild.pdb
{randomfilename}.exe


SifreCikis Ransomware registry keys:

no information

How to decrypt and restore your files

Use automated decryptors

Download Kaspersky RakhniDecryptor

Use following tool from Kaspersky called Rakhni Decryptor, that can decrypt your 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 your 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 SifreCikis 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 your 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 SifreCikis 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. SifreCikis 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