What is Tywd virus?
Tywd is a variant of ransomware that is based on the STOP ransomware. It is capable of using advanced encryption techniques to encrypt the data of its victims. The ransomware works by encrypting the files on the victim’s device and demanding payment in return for the decryption key. Tywd changes the names of the affected files by adding the “.Tywd” extension. Additionally, it creates a file called “_readme.txt” in every folder that contains encrypted files. This file contains a message from the attackers, which encourages the victim to pay the ransom in exchange for the decryption key.
Screenshot of files encrypted by Tywd virus (‘.Tywd’ file extension):
QUICK LINKS
- What is Tywd virus?
- Remove Tywd virus (ransomware)
- Decrypt .Tywd files
- Restore .Tywd files
- Video Guide
Tywd ransomware in detail
Tywd ransomware is a type of malware that targets Windows-based computers, encrypting documents, pictures, and videos, among other files. It gets its name from the “.Tywd” extension that it adds to encrypted files.
The ransomware is typically distributed through spam emails, malicious websites, and untrusted software downloads. Users should be careful when downloading software or clicking on links from unknown or suspicious sources to prevent infection. Keeping software and operating systems updated with the latest security patches is also important to prevent vulnerabilities that can be exploited by ransomware and other malware.
Tywd ransomware uses a strong encryption process that requires a unique key to unlock files. The malware avoids encrypting system files and any file named “_readme.txt” to prevent system crashes and ensure that the ransom message is seen by the victim.
Tywd ransomware employs both online and offline keys to encrypt files. The online key is used when the malware establishes a connection with its command server. However, if the malware cannot connect to the server, it uses an offline key to encrypt files. This makes it possible for security researchers to obtain the offline key and create a tool to decrypt files for victims of the malware.
The ransom message is contained in a file named “_readme.txt,” which is created in each folder that contains encrypted files. The attackers demand a $980 ransom in Bitcoin, offering a 50% discount if the victim pays within 72 hours. The message also includes an email address for the victim to contact the attackers and negotiate the ransom. In exchange for payment, the attackers claim that they will provide a unique key and decryption tool.
If a user suspects that their files have been encrypted with the “.Tywd” extension, it is crucial to remove the ransomware from their computer before attempting to recover files. Detailed instructions on how to remove Tywd ransomware, use the Tywd File Decrypt Tool, and recover files are provided to ensure a successful recovery.
Text presented on the Tywd ransom note:
ATTENTION!
Don’t worry, you can return all your files!
All your files like pictures, databases, documents and other important are encrypted with strongest encryption and unique key.
The only method of recovering files is to purchase decrypt tool and unique key for you.
This software will decrypt all your encrypted files.
What guarantees you have?
You can send one of your encrypted file from your PC and we decrypt it for free.
But we can decrypt only 1 file for free. File must not contain valuable information.
You can get and look video overview decrypt tool:
https://we.tl/t-f8UEvx4T0A
Price of private key and decrypt software is $980.
Discount 50% available if you contact us first 72 hours, that’s price for you is $490.
Please note that you’ll never restore your data without payment.
Check your e-mail “Spam” or “Junk” folder if you don’t get answer more than 6 hours.To get this software you need write on our e-mail:
support@freshmail.topReserve e-mail address to contact us:
datarestorehelp@airmail.ccYour personal ID:
Threat Summary
Name | Tywd ransomware, Tywd file virus |
Type | Ransomware, Crypto malware, File locker, Crypto virus, Filecoder |
File extension | .Tywd |
Ransom note | _readme.txt |
Contact | support@freshmail.top, datarestorehelp@airmail.cc |
Ransom amount | $490 or $980 in Bitcoins |
Detection Names | PWSX-gen [Trj], Ransom.Stop.P5, Trojan.Win32.Save.a, Packed/Win.GEE.C5023791, Trojan-Ransom.GandCrab, Trojan:Win32/Sabsik.FL.B!ml, ML/PE-A, BScope.Trojan.Downloader |
Symptoms | Unable to open photos, documents and music. All of your files have a different file extension appended to the filenames. Files named such as ”, ‘#_README_#’, ‘_DECRYPT_’ or ‘recover’ in each folder with at least one encrypted file.. Desktop wallpaper is changed to the ransom note. |
Distribution ways | Phishing emails that look like they come from a reliable source. Drive-by downloads (crypto virus can infect the PC simply by visiting a website that is running harmful code). Social media, such as web-based instant messaging programs. Torrent web-sites. |
Removal | Tywd ransomware removal guide |
Decryption | Tywd File Decrypt Tool |
How to remove Tywd virus (ransomware)
To successfully decrypt or recover .Tywd files, it is essential to eliminate Tywd ransomware and its autostart entries. Failing to do so may result in the ransomware re-encrypting the restored files. Stopping the ransomware is a straightforward process and can be accomplished through various methods. One way is to perform a complete system scan using malware removal tools that can detect and remove ransomware infections for free. To make the process more convenient, consider reading this entire guide and saving it on your smartphone or printing it out. This way, you will have easy access to all the necessary steps.
Scanning your computer for malware is crucial since security researchers have discovered that Tywd ransomware may install spyware alongside it. Spyware poses a significant security risk as it can steal sensitive information like passwords, login credentials, and contact details from the user. If you encounter any issues removing the Tywd virus, feel free to inform us in the comments section, and we will attempt to assist you.
To remove Tywd ransomware, follow the steps below:
Kill Tywd virus
Press CTRL, ALT, DEL keys together.
Click Task Manager. Select the “Processes” tab, look for something suspicious that is the Tywd ransomware then right-click it and select “End Task” or “End Process” option. If your Task Manager does not open or the Windows reports “Task manager has been disabled by your administrator”, then follow the guide: How to Fix Task manager has been disabled by your administrator.
Detecting a process associated with Tywd ransomware is not a complicated task. To identify a malicious process, you need to scrutinize the process icon and its name. Typically, this ransomware employs a process name with four characters in the format of 4-characters.tmp.exe or 4-characters.exe. For instance, A4b1.exe, 7533.tmp.exe, 19b2.exe, or CD15.tmp.exe. You may also come across the phrase “(32 bit)” in the process name. If you do not locate a process with a similar name on the processes list, it is likely that the Tywd ransomware has stopped functioning. However, it is crucial to note that if you do not eliminate the ransomware autostart entries and fail to delete its file, it may reappear after a while and immediately encrypt any unencrypted files it finds.
Disable Tywd Start-Up
Select the “Start-Up” tab, look for something similar to the one shown in the example below, right click to it and select Disable.
Close Task Manager.
Delete Tywd Task
Type “Task Scheduler” in the search bar. Click Task Scheduler app in the search results. Click “Task Scheduler Library” in the left panel. On the right panel, right-click to “Time Trigger Task” and select Delete.
Close Task Scheduler.
Remove Tywd virus
Run Task Manager and select the “Start-Up” tab. Right click to the Tywd ransomware Start-Up entry and select Open File Location as shown below.
A directory containing one file will open in front of you, this file is the Tywd virus. It needs to be removed. If you try to delete it immediately, then you will not succeed, since this file is protected from deletion.
To delete this file, you need to do the following. Right-click on the file, select Properties. In the window that opens, select Security tab. Next, click the Advanced button below. A window will open as shown in the following example.
Click Disable inheritance. In the Block inheritance dialog box that opens, select the first item (Convert inherited permissions…) as shown below.
In the Permission entries list, select “Deny Everyone”, click Remove button and then OK. Close the file properties window. You should now be able to remove the Tywd virus. Right-click on the file and select Delete.
Scan computer for malware
Malwarebytes is a reputable antivirus and anti-malware software that can be used to remove various types of malware from infected devices. However, the effectiveness of Malwarebytes in removing ransomware depends on the type and severity of the ransomware infection.
Malwarebytes can detect and remove most ransomware threats, including Tywd ransomware, which is a type of ransomware that encrypts victims’ files and demands a ransom for decryption. Malwarebytes uses advanced scanning algorithms and heuristics to detect and remove malicious files, processes, and registry entries associated with ransomware.
However, if the ransomware has already encrypted the victim’s files, Malwarebytes alone cannot decrypt them. In this case, the victim would need to use Stop (Djvu) Decryptor, or restore the encrypted files using the steps below.
Click the following link and download the latest version of Malwarebytes for your operating system.
326391 downloads
Author: Malwarebytes
Category: Security tools
Update: April 15, 2020
Once the download is complete, double-click on the downloaded file to start the installation process.
Follow the instructions provided by the Malwarebytes installer to complete the installation process.
After the installation is complete, launch Malwarebytes by double-clicking on its desktop icon or through the Start menu.
In the Malwarebytes main screen, click on the “Scan” button to start a system scan. Malwarebytes will automatically scan your system for ransomware, malware, adware, and other potentially unwanted programs (PUPs).
After the scan is complete, Malwarebytes will display a list of threats found on your system. To remove the threats, click on the “Quarantine” button.
Malwarebytes will quarantine the detected threats, which will prevent them from harming your computer. Once the quarantine process is complete, you can choose to either delete the quarantined files or restore them if you believe they are legitimate. After you have selected the appropriate action, restart your computer to complete the removal process.
To ensure complete removal of the Tywd virus from your computer, we suggest utilizing the Kaspersky virus removal tool (KVRT) which is both cost-free and user-friendly. With its ability to detect and delete different types of malware, including ransomware, spyware, adware, worms, trojans, potentially unwanted apps, and more, KVRT is a powerful tool. Additionally, it can locate and remove malicious files and registry entries that may be concealed on your system.
Download Kaspersky virus removal tool from the following link. Save it to your Desktop.
129060 downloads
Author: Kaspersky® lab
Category: Security tools
Update: March 5, 2018
When downloading is finished, double-click on the Kaspersky virus removal tool icon. Once initialization process is finished, you will see the KVRT screen as shown in the figure below.
Click Change Parameters and set a check near all your drives. Press OK to close the Parameters window. Next click Start scan button . KVRT tool will begin scanning the whole PC to detect the Tywd ransomware. This procedure can take some time, so please be patient.
When Kaspersky virus removal tool has completed scanning, it will open the Scan Results like below.
Review the results once the utility has finished the system scan. If you think an entry should not be quarantined, then uncheck it. Otherwise, simply click on Continue to begin a cleaning process.
How to decrypt .Tywd files
To access the contents of files with the ‘.Tywd’ extension, a decryptor is required since they have been encrypted and cannot be unlocked by simply renaming or changing the file name. Fortunately, a Tywd File Decrypt Tool is available for free that can decrypt such files. Instructions on how to download and use this tool are provided below.
To decrypt .Tywd files, use Tywd File Decrypt Tool
- Download Tywd File Decrypt Tool from the following link.
STOP Djvu decryptor - Scroll down to ‘New Djvu ransomware’ section.
- Click the download link and save the ‘decrypt_STOPDjvu.exe’ file to your desktop.
- Run decrypt_STOPDjvu.exe, read the license terms and instructions.
- On the ‘Decryptor’ tab, using the ‘Add a folder’ button, add the directory or disk where the encrypted files are located.
- Click the ‘Decrypt’ button.
The Tywd File Decrypt Tool is a free software that allows individuals to decrypt .Tywd files without any charges. Nonetheless, it is noteworthy that the decryptor can solely decrypt files that were encrypted using an offline key. If the files were encrypted with an online key, then the free decryptor will be useless. Despite this limitation, other methods are available to recover encrypted files in such situations, which are elaborated below.
Steps to determine the type of key used for file encryption
To decrypt files encrypted by Tywd File Decrypt Tool, it is important to know which key was used during encryption. You can find out the type of key used through two methods. Both methods are effective, but the second method is considered to be more accurate and therefore recommended.
Identifying the Type of Key Using the ‘_readme.txt’ File
- Open the ‘_readme.txt’ file, which is the ransom demand message created by the Tywd ransomware.
- Scroll down to the end of the file.
- Look for a line of text that says ‘Your personal ID’.
- Below this line, you should see a string of characters. This is your personal ID, which is unique to your computer and is used to generate the decryption key.
Identifying the Type of Key Using the ‘_readme.txt’ File
- Open the C drive on your computer.
- Open the ‘SystemID’ directory.
- Look for the ‘PersonalID.txt’ file and open it./li>
- This file contains a list of ‘Personal IDs’ that match the keys that the ransomware used to encrypt files./li>
The ‘Personal ID’ is not the actual key that was used to encrypt files, but rather an identifier that corresponds to it. If the ID ends with ‘t1’, the files were encrypted with an offline key, whereas if it does not, the Tywd virus used an online key. If you are unable to determine which key was used, you can request assistance by submitting a query here or in the comments section.
Tywd File Decrypt Tool : “No key for New Variant online ID”
If, when you try to decrypt .Tywd files, Tywd File Decrypt Tool reports:
No key for New Variant online ID: *
Notice: this ID appears to be an online ID, decryption is impossible
It means that your files are encrypted with an ‘online key’ and their decryption is impossible, since only the vari authors have the key necessary for decryption. In this case, you need to use alternative methods listed below to restore the contents of encrypted files.
Tywd File Decrypt Tool : “No key for New Variant offline ID”
If, during decryption of .Tywd files, Tywd File Decrypt Tool reports:
No key for New Variant offline ID: *t1
Notice: this ID appears be an offline ID, decryption MAY be possible in the future.
It means the following: your files are encrypted with an ‘offline key’, but the key itself has not yet been obtained by security researchers, in this case, you need to be patient and wait a while, in addition, you can also use alternative ways for recovering encrypted data.
If for some reason you were unable to decrypt the encrypted files, then We recommend to follow the news on our Facebook or YouTube channels. So you ‘ll know right away that it ‘s possible to decrypt .Tywd files.
This video step-by-step guide will demonstrate How to use STOP Djvu decryptor to decrypt encrypted files.
How to restore .Tywd files
Thankfully, there are other ways to recover encrypted files that don’t require a decryption tool or key. These methods can be used by any ransomware victim, no matter which encryption key was used. It’s also worth noting that using these methods won’t interfere with the decryption process using the free Tywd File Decrypt Tool. However, before attempting to recover your files, it’s important to scan your computer for malware using free malware removal tools. It’s crucial to make sure that the ransomware has been completely removed before proceeding with file recovery.
Recover .Tywd files with ShadowExplorer
A tool called ShadowExplorer is available for free and can be used to restore files that have been encrypted by the Tywd crypto malware using the ‘Previous Versions’ feature of Microsoft Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, or Vista. This tool can restore photos, documents, and music from Shadow Copies without any cost.
Visit the following page to download the latest version of ShadowExplorer for MS Windows. Save it on your Microsoft Windows desktop or in any other place.
438681 downloads
Author: ShadowExplorer.com
Category: Security tools
Update: September 15, 2019
After the downloading process is done, open a directory in which you saved it. Right click to ShadowExplorer-0.9-portable and select Extract all. Follow the prompts. Next please open the ShadowExplorerPortable folder as shown on the screen below.
Start the ShadowExplorer utility and then choose the disk (1) and the date (2) that you wish to recover the shadow copy of file(s) encrypted by the Tywd virus as displayed on the image below.
Now navigate to the file or folder that you wish to recover. When ready right-click on it and click ‘Export’ button like below.
This video step-by-step guide will demonstrate How to recover encrypted files using Shadow Explorer.
Use PhotoRec to restore .Tywd files
One final option to restore encrypted files is through the use of data recovery tools. We suggest using a free tool called PhotoRec, which is equipped with all the essential functions needed to restore the contents of encrypted files. It has been proven to help many victims successfully recover their data, even when it appeared to be impossible.
Download PhotoRec on your Windows Desktop by clicking on the following link.
When downloading is done, open a directory in which you saved it. Right click to testdisk-7.0.win and choose Extract all. Follow the prompts. Next please open the testdisk-7.0 folder as shown in the following example.
Double click on qphotorec_win to run PhotoRec for MS Windows. It’ll open a screen as displayed in the figure below.
Select a drive to recover as shown on the screen below.
You will see a list of available partitions. Select a partition that holds encrypted documents, photos and music as displayed on the screen below.
Click File Formats button and choose file types to recover. You can to enable or disable the restore of certain file types. When this is done, click OK button.
Next, click Browse button to choose where restored photos, documents and music should be written, then click Search. We strongly recommend that you save the recovered files to an external drive.
Count of recovered files is updated in real time. All restored personal files are written in a folder that you have chosen on the previous step. You can to access the files even if the restore process is not finished.
When the recovery is finished, click on Quit button. Next, open the directory where restored personal files are stored. You will see a contents like below.
All recovered files are written in recup_dir.1, recup_dir.2 … sub-directories. If you’re looking for a specific file, then you can to sort your restored files by extension and/or date/time.
This video step-by-step guide will demonstrate How to recover encrypted files using PhotoRec.
How to protect your PC from Tywd ransomware
Most antivirus apps already have built-in protection system against the ransomware. Therefore, if your personal computer does not have an antivirus program, make sure you install it. As an extra protection, run the HitmanPro.Alert. All-in-all, HitmanPro.Alert is a fantastic tool to protect your computer from any ransomware. If ransomware is detected, then HitmanPro.Alert automatically neutralizes malware and restores the encrypted files. HitmanPro.Alert is compatible with all versions of MS Windows operating system from Windows XP to Windows 10.
Installing the HitmanPro Alert is simple. First you’ll need to download HitmanPro.Alert by clicking on the link below. Save it directly to your Microsoft Windows Desktop.
When the download is done, open the file location. You will see an icon like below.
Double click the HitmanPro Alert desktop icon. When the tool is launched, you will be displayed a window where you can choose a level of protection, as shown on the screen below.
Now press the Install button to activate the protection.
To sum up
In summary, the purpose of this guide is to assist those who have been impacted by the Tywd ransomware virus. Our aim is to provide helpful insights on how to eliminate the ransomware, decrypt .Tywd files, and restore encrypted files. In addition, we also explain the differences between an online key and an offline key. We sincerely hope that the information we have provided in this guide has proven to be useful for you.
If you have questions, then write to us, leaving a comment below. If you need more help with Tywd ransomware related issues, go to here.