Conti Ransomware

A whistleblower leak in May 2025 exposed senior Conti operators and sent the group spiraling into dissolution. Yet Conti’s legacy—ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) with lightning-fast encryption and data theft—continues to haunt organizations worldwide. A recent case against a national health system demonstrated how swiftly files vanish and backups become useless under Conti’s onslaught.

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Threat Overview

Conti is a sophisticated ransomware family first deployed in December 2019 by the Russia-based “Wizard Spider” gang. Once inside a Windows network, it encrypts local and SMB-mounted drives using AES-256, deletes shadow copies, disables real-time protection, and exfiltrates data for double-extortion leverage.

Adopted as a RaaS model, Conti’s core team develops the malware while affiliates handle deployment. Unlike profit-sharing schemes, affiliates receive wages plus bonuses—intensifying competition and innovation among operators.

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In-Depth Analysis

Infection Vector

• Phishing & loaders: Malicious attachments deliver BazarLoader or TrickBot, establishing persistence.
• Exposed RDP: Brute-force or stolen credentials grant direct network access.
• Exploit kits & drive-bys: Compromised websites host exploits targeting unpatched Windows flaws.

Behavioral Profile

1. Reconnaissance: Scans internal network shares and open SMB drives.
2. Privilege escalation: Uses built-in Windows tools (WMIC, PsExec) to move laterally.
3. Payload delivery: Deploys multithreaded AES-256 encryption across 32 logical threads.
4. Cleanup: Terminates backup services, deletes Volume Shadow Copies, disables Defender.
5. Double extortion: Exfiltrates data and threatens public leak unless ransom is paid.

Risk Assessment

What happens if files become encrypted? Victims face weeks of downtime, averaging six-figure demands; one June 2022 survey recorded a mean payment of $110,000. Beyond operational paralysis, stolen data may appear on Conti’s darknet leak site, amplifying reputational and regulatory fallout.

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Artifact Text

CONTI_README.txt

!!! ALL YOUR FILES ARE ENCRYPTED !!!  
 
Your network has been compromised by Conti RaaS.  
 
To recover your files:  
1. Obtain TOR Browser: https://www.torproject.org  
2. Connect to: hxxp://contirestore[.]onion  
3. Follow instructions and pay ransom in Bitcoin.  
 
If you have questions, email mantiticvi1976@protonmail.com  

(Example based on known Conti note patterns and leaked samples.)

Manual Ransomware Removal Guide

Warning: Manual removal is complex and risky. If not done correctly, it can lead to data loss or incomplete removal of ransomware. Only follow this method if you are an advanced user. If unsure, proceed with Method 2 (SpyHunter Removal Guide).

Step 1: Disconnect from the Internet

1. Unplug your Ethernet cable or disconnect Wi-Fi immediately to prevent further communication with the ransomware’s command and control (C2) servers.

Step 2: Boot into Safe Mode

For Windows Users:

1. For Windows 10, 11:
   • Press Windows + R, type msconfig, and hit Enter.
   • Go to the Boot tab.
   • Check Safe boot and select Network.
   • Click Apply and OK, then restart your PC.
2. For Windows 7, 8:
   • Restart your PC and press F8 repeatedly before Windows loads.
   • Select Safe Mode with Networking and press Enter.

For Mac Users:

1. Restart your Mac and immediately press and hold the Shift key.
2. Release the key once you see the Apple logo.
3. Your Mac will start in Safe Mode.

Step 3: Locate and Terminate Malicious Processes

For Windows Users:

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
2. Look for suspicious processes (e.g., unknown names, high CPU usage, or random letters).
3. Right-click on the process and select End Task.

For Mac Users:

1. Open Activity Monitor (Finder > Applications > Utilities > Activity Monitor).
2. Look for unusual processes.
3. Select the process and click Force Quit.

Step 4: Delete Malicious Files

For Windows Users:

1. Press Windows + R, type %temp%, and hit Enter.
2. Delete all files in the Temp folder.
3. Navigate to:
   • C:\Users\[Your Username]\AppData\Roaming
   • C:\Users\[Your Username]\AppData\Local
   • C:\Windows\System32
4. Look for suspicious files related to the ransomware (random file names, recently modified) and delete them.

For Mac Users:

1. Open Finder and go to Go > Go to Folder.
2. Type ~/Library/Application Support and delete suspicious folders.
3. Navigate to ~/Library/LaunchAgents and remove unknown .plist files.

Step 5: Remove Ransomware from Registry or System Settings

For Windows Users:

Warning: Incorrect changes in the Registry Editor can damage your system. Proceed with caution.

1. Press Windows + R, type regedit, and hit Enter.
2. Navigate to:
   • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software
   • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software
3. Look for unfamiliar folders with random characters or ransomware-related names.
4. Right-click and select Delete.

For Mac Users:

1. Go to System Preferences > Users & Groups.
2. Click on Login Items and remove any suspicious startup items.
3. Navigate to ~/Library/Preferences and remove malicious .plist files.

Step 6: Restore System Using System Restore (Windows) or Time Machine (Mac)

For Windows Users:

1. Press Windows + R, type rstrui, and hit Enter.
2. Click Next, choose a restore point before the infection, and follow the prompts to restore your system.

For Mac Users:

1. Restart your Mac and hold Command + R to enter macOS Utilities.
2. Select Restore from Time Machine Backup.
3. Choose a backup prior to the ransomware infection and restore your system.

Step 7: Use a Decryption Tool (If Available)

• Visit No More Ransom (www.nomoreransom.org) and check if a decryption tool is available for your ransomware variant.

Step 8: Recover Files Using Backup

• If you have backups on an external drive or cloud storage, restore your files.

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Automatic Ransomware Removal Using SpyHunter

If manual removal seems too risky or complicated, using a reliable anti-malware tool like SpyHunter is the best alternative.

Step 1: Download SpyHunter

Download SpyHunter from the official link: Download SpyHunter

Or follow the official installation instructions here:
SpyHunter Download Instructions

Step 2: Install SpyHunter

1. Open the downloaded file (SpyHunter-Installer.exe).
2. Follow the on-screen prompts to install the program.
3. Once installed, launch SpyHunter.

Step 3: Perform a Full System Scan

1. Click on Start Scan Now.
2. SpyHunter will scan for ransomware and other malware.
3. Wait for the scan to complete.

Step 4: Remove Detected Threats

1. After the scan, SpyHunter will list all detected threats.
2. Click Fix Threats to remove the ransomware.

Step 5: Use SpyHunter’s Malware HelpDesk (If Needed)

If you are dealing with a stubborn ransomware variant, SpyHunter’s Malware HelpDesk provides custom fixes to remove advanced threats.

Step 6: Restore Your Files

If your files are encrypted:

• Try No More Ransom (www.nomoreransom.org) for decryption tools.
• Restore from cloud storage or external backups.

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Preventing Future Ransomware Attacks

• Keep backups on an external hard drive or cloud storage.
• Use SpyHunter to detect threats before they infect your system.
• Enable Windows Defender or a trusted antivirus program.
• Avoid suspicious emails, attachments, and links.
• Update Windows, macOS & software regularly.

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Conclusion

Conti set a new bar for RaaS efficiency and intimidation: multithreaded encryption, shadow-copy destruction, and double-extortion. Early detection—through email filtering, RDP hardening, and endpoint monitoring—and rapid incident response are vital. Restoring from clean backups remains the only guaranteed recovery path.