CryptoFortress is a ransomware that’s been available since February. Before that it was also known by the name CryptoLocker, although we don’t mean to say it’s the same as the original CryptoLocker from 2013. Microsoft identifies CryptoFortress under the name Teerac.A (Torrent Locker).
What does CryptoFortress do?
Once installed in your computer CryptoFortress will encrypt some of your files and will change their extension to .frtrss In every folder where the program encrypts files it will ad a new file called “READ IF YOU WANT YOUR FILES BACK.html” This file will have the steps they ask you to follow if you want to remove the encryption from your files. CryptoFortress asks for 1 Bitcoin to allow you to download a tool to remove this encryption.
Once you follow the links contanined in the reward file, you’ll be sent to CryptoFortress’ website where you will be told how to buy the needed tool. As is the case with many other ransomware, this site will force you to send a fixed amount of bitcoins to a particular address, afterwards you’ll be asked to send the transaction ID to validate the payment. After this process is finished you’ll be prompted to download a software to remove the encryption. This website also has a support and FAQ sections plus a section that will allow you to remove the encryption from two files for free. As usual we don’t recommend to pay them anything at all.
In theory CryptoFortress doesn’t erase any of WIndows backup files, these files could be used to get back some of your files. After having the infection deleted use these files to attempt to save back your files with the help of Shadow Explorer.
CryptoFortress asks for 1 Bitcoin to allow you to download a tool to remove this encryption.
How can I protect myself from CryptoFortress?
We recommend the use of HitmanPro.Alert because of its two step technology called CryptoGuard, and also because it will stop you from being the victim of another ransomware like CryptoFortress. This software’s technology will detect any ransomware like CryptoFortress, by analysing the file system behavior. At the slightest sign of suspicious behavior, it blocks the malware without the help of the user. On the plus side it’s a lot more difficult for the ransomware author, to change the full behavior of the program than to change the statics properties. What we mean by this is the location of the source code and structure. HitmanPro.Alert is completely fee.
Here’s an example of CryptoFortress being blocked by HitmanPro.Alert:
You should know that CryptoFortress is detected as a parasite by 23 anti-viruses.
Show the other 19 anti-virus detections
How to remove CryptoFortress ?
Remove CryptoFortress with MalwareBytes Anti-Malware
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware is a light-weight anti-malware program that is excellent at removing the latest detections.
- Download Malwarebytes Anti-Malware to your desktop.
Premium Version Free Version (without Real-time protection) - Install MalwareBytes Anti-Malware using the installation wizard.
- Once installed, Malwarebytes Anti-Malware will automatically start and you will see a message stating that you should update the program, and that a scan has never been run on your system. To start a system scan you can click on the Fix Now button.
- If an update is found, you will be prompted to download and install the latest version.
- Malwarebytes Anti-Malware will now start scanning your computer for CryptoFortress.
- When the scan is complete, make sure that everything is set to Quarantine, and click Apply Actions.
- When removing the files, Malwarebytes Anti-Malware may require a reboot in order to remove some of them. If it displays a message stating that it needs to reboot your computer, please allow it to do so.
Remove CryptoFortress with HitmanPro
HitmanPro is an anti-virus program that describes itself as a second opinion scanner that should be used in conjunction with another anti-virus program that you may already have installed.
- You can download HitmanPro from the below link:
Download HitmanPro - Double-click on the file named HitmanPro.exe (for 32-bit versions of Windows) or HitmanPro_x64.exe (for 64-bit versions of Windows).
- Click on the Next button, to install HitmanPro on your computer.
- HitmanPro will now begin to scan your computer for CryptoFortress malicious files.
- When it has finished it will display a list of all the malware that the program found as shown in the image below. Click on the Next button, to remove CryptoFortress virus.
Click here to go to our support page.