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Pshcrypt Ransomware

Posted: April 26, 2017

Threat Metric

Threat Level: 10/10
Infected PCs: 58
First Seen: April 26, 2017
OS(es) Affected: Windows


The PshCrypt Ransomware is a Trojan that can take your local files hostage by encrypting them. Its accompanying ransom-based pop-ups also may impede your ability to access the operating system's UI or other programs. Malware experts, who recommend using alternate, free recovery options, along with uninstalling the PshCrypt Ransomware with any good anti-malware product, discourage paying ransoms for decrypting your content.

A New Kind of 'Blue Screen of Death'

Older Windows users are likely of being well-versed in the experiences of BSoD or 'Blue Screen of Death' error messages that played roles in system failures and reboots frequently. While these issues have been dying down in the latest versions of Windows, malware researchers are noticing a new kind of blue warning message, as part of a file-encrypting threat's campaign. This attack, launched by the PshCrypt Ransomware, is serving the triple purpose of locking your UI, delivering a ransom demand, and unlocking your files afterward.

The PshCrypt Ransomware's family, if any, is not yet verifiable, although the Trojan uses attacks similar to those of data encoders like the Crysis Ransomware, Hidden Tear, and Troldesh. It encrypts the user's data, such as documents, archives, or pictures, and injects the '.psh' extension at the end of all their filenames.

Then, the PshCrypt Ransomware launches a unique screen-locker pop-up, using a format with no previous connections to other Trojan campaigns analyzed by malware experts. Other than a blue background that could be a placeholder art, the PshCrypt Ransomware uses no graphics, but it does include instructions for paying Bitcoin money (an equivalent of 65 USD) to unlock all of your encrypted content. The Trojan also displays part of a built-in decryption feature, including a field for entering a four-character unlocking code.

Saying 'Psh' to the Next Color of Trojan Attacks

The PshCrypt Ransomware has shown limited detection evasion capabilities and, unlike most file-encrypting threats, uses a static decryption key. Currently, malware experts are seeing samples of the PshCrypt Ransomware responding to the code 'HGBP' in uppercase. Even PC users with valuable, encoded data should avoid paying the ransom, since free decryption options are available, even for those without the recommended fail-safe of a backup.

While the PshCrypt Ransomware's threat actors communicate in English, this Trojan's code includes data implying that they're highly familiar with the French language and may be either French or Canadian. Web surfers exposing their PCs to media related to such regions should stay aware of potential vulnerabilities in exploit kit-hosting websites, spam e-mail attachments, and, in rare cases, free software bundles, that could lead to this threat's installation. A substantial majority of current anti-malware products can identify and delete the PshCrypt Ransomware immediately.

Victims may be thankful that the PshCrypt Ransomware's author uses an easily-decoded payload, but most Trojans of its genre are less forgiving. For most attacks from Trojans of this type, having a backup and proactive anti-malware security are the only things between you and paying a con artist to recover everything important on your hard drive.

Technical Details

File System Modifications

Tutorials: If you wish to learn how to remove malware components manually, you can read the tutorials on how to find malware, kill unwanted processes, remove malicious DLLs and delete other harmful files. Always be sure to back up your PC before making any changes.

The following files were created in the system:



file.exe File name: file.exe
Size: 30.72 KB (30720 bytes)
MD5: d723f6a6867a19f838d1678177fafea5
Detection count: 43
File type: Executable File
Mime Type: unknown/exe
Group: Malware file
Last Updated: April 26, 2017
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