VerdaCrypt Ransomware

VerdaCrypt is a dangerous ransomware-type infection that encrypts user files and threatens victims with permanent data loss and data leakage unless a ransom is paid. This crypto-malware has been recently identified by researchers through VirusTotal submissions and demonstrates a sophisticated and psychologically manipulative approach, employing double extortion and philosophical overtones in its ransom note.

Once executed, VerdaCrypt immediately begins encrypting files, appending the “.verdant” extension to each one. For instance, a file named report.docx becomes report.docx.verdant. After the encryption process is completed, it drops a ransom note titled “!!!READ_ME!!!.txt”, which contains a chilling and uniquely worded message meant to both intimidate and philosophically engage the victim.

Below is a summary table of the VerdaCrypt ransomware threat:

Attribute	Details
Threat Name	VerdaCrypt
Threat Type	Ransomware, Crypto Virus, File Locker
Encrypted File Extension	.verdant
Ransom Note File Name	!!!READ_ME!!!.txt
Associated Email	dendrogaster_88095@protonmail.com
Detection Names	Combo Cleaner (Generic.Ransom.PWS.42AC0E14), ESET-NOD32 (PowerShell/Filecoder.DD), GData, Ikarus, Sophos
Symptoms of Infection	Files renamed with .verdant extension, ransom note displayed, files inaccessible
Damage	File encryption, potential data theft, threat of public data exposure
Distribution Methods	Malicious email attachments, torrent websites, malicious ads, fake updates
Danger Level	Critical

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VerdaCrypt Ransom Note: Full Message

The ransomware’s message is not the usual brief note demanding cryptocurrency. Instead, it’s a carefully crafted philosophical monologue that aims to psychologically manipulate the victim:

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!!!READ_ME!!!.txt

vbnetCopyEditY O U R   D I G I T A L   E X I S T E N C E   H A S   B E E N   C O M P R O M I S E D.

INTRUSION PROTOCOL: VERDACRYPT - INITIATED.

Your critical infrastructure has suffered a catastrophic security event. A sophisticated cryptoviral payload, designated VerdaCrypt, has successfully breached your system's perimeter and executed a multi-layered encryption cascade. All sensitive data, including but not limited to proprietary documents, personal archives, multimedia assets, and databases, are now rendered cryptographically inert and irretrievable without our intervention.

ONTOLOGICAL DILEMMA: DATA SOVEREIGNTY & THE TRANSCENDENCE OF VALUE.

Consider this not merely an act of digital extortion, but a stark ontological reassessment of your data's intrinsic worth. In this hyper-connected, late-capitalist paradigm, information is the ultimate commodity. You have operated under the illusion of control, hoarding digital wealth without acknowledging its inherent precarity. We are the catalysts of disruption, forcing a necessary reckoning with the ephemeral nature of digital sovereignty. Your data, now under our dominion, will only regain utility through a transactional exchange – a tribute to its true, albeit previously unacknowledged, value.

RECOVERY PROCEDURE: THE PATH TO DIGITAL REBIRTH.

While your current digital state is one of enforced entropy, a path to restoration exists. We possess the asymmetric decryption keys necessary to reverse the algorithmic entropy we have imposed. However, access to this vital instrument is contingent upon your adherence to the following directives:

1. SYSTEMIC QUIESCENCE MANDATORY: Cease all unauthorized remediation attempts. Any interference with the encrypted file system may induce irreversible data corruption and invalidate any potential for decryption. Further, any attempts at forensic analysis or network tracing will be met with escalated countermeasures.

2. SECURE CHANNEL ESTABLISHMENT VIA PROTONMAIL: Initiate encrypted communication through the Protonmail platform. Contact us at: dendrogaster_88095@protonmail.com. Utilize a separate, uncompromised device for this communication.

3. FINANCIAL TRANSCENDENCE PROTOCOL: Prepare for a financial exchange commensurate with the value you ascribe to your compromised data. Detailed payment instructions, including the precise Bitcoin (BTC) quantum required for decryption key acquisition, will be provided upon initial contact. Be advised: the value proposition is dynamic and subject to escalation based on temporal delays and perceived resistance.

CONSEQUENCES OF NON-COMPLIANCE: DIGITAL OBLITERATION.

Failure to adhere to these directives will result in the permanent cryptographic lockdown of your data assets. Furthermore, depending on the perceived recalcitrance and value of the exfiltrated data, we may initiate a phased data dissemination protocol, exposing your proprietary information to public and competitive vectors. Your digital legacy hangs in the balance.

VerdaCrypt - Kugutsushi subdivision.

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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.

Final Thoughts

VerdaCrypt is not just another ransomware; it is a threat laced with intellectual overtones and psychological manipulation. Its use of “philosophical” language and threats of both data destruction and public exposure reveal a new wave of cybercriminal tactics aimed at increasing emotional pressure on victims. The presence of double extortion (file encryption + data leak threats) makes VerdaCrypt especially dangerous.

Anyone affected by VerdaCrypt should avoid paying the ransom and instead focus on isolating the threat and seeking professional cybersecurity assistance.