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Ransomware decryption tools can restore files only when a legitimate tool supports the ransomware family and the specific case. They are not universal recovery programs, and a listed tool is not a guarantee that every file can be decrypted. First identify the ransomware, then check whether a trusted tool explicitly supports it. If no suitable decryptor is available, restoring from a clean, tested backup may be the practical recovery route. Neither decryption nor backup restoration can undo data theft.
What a ransomware decryptor can do
A decryptor is software built to recover files affected by a particular ransomware family or supported case. The No More Ransom decryption-tool catalog, for example, lists tools for named families such as CERBER V1, CrySIS, and CryptoMix. Those labels define a tool’s intended scope; they do not mean it works on every version, victim, or encrypted file associated with a family.
Before using a tool, read its stated coverage and instructions. Some catalog entries point to multiple tools, but that alone does not establish that any one of them matches your files. A decryptor is a possible route to recover encrypted data—not a general tool for breaking ransomware encryption.
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How to identify the ransomware and check for a tool
Identification should come before attempting decryption. No More Ransom’s Crypto Sheriff accepts encrypted-file samples and information from a ransom demand to help identify the ransomware and check for available tools. Europol describes the service as comparing submitted information against available decryption tools.
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A file extension alone is not enough to establish which strain encrypted files. Use the available evidence, such as the ransom note and sample files, and avoid running a tool unless its coverage fits the identification and its instructions are clear. A positive match is a useful lead, not a promise of complete recovery. If the service finds no tool, that does not prove one will never become available; the catalog can change. See also No More Ransom’s ransomware Q&A.
What decryptors cannot promise
- Support for every strain: A tool for one family or version may not work on another. The catalog’s family-specific listings are not evidence of universal compatibility.
- Complete recovery: A tool’s presence in a catalog does not guarantee that it can restore all files in a particular incident.
- A published success rate: The cited official resources do not establish a current authoritative recovery percentage for decryptors.
- Recovery of stolen data: Some incidents involve both encryption and data exfiltration. Decrypting files cannot retrieve data that was copied or reverse threats to disclose it. CISA discusses these combined risks in its #StopRansomware Guide.
Decryptor or backup restoration?
| Option | What it can address | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Family-specific decryptor | Files encrypted in a case the tool explicitly supports | Whether the ransomware identification and tool documentation match the case; whether the tool comes from a trusted project or security vendor |
| Backup restoration | Files or systems present in a usable backup from before the incident | Whether the backup is intact, sufficiently current, available, and tested; whether restoration can be performed on clean systems |
A backup is a restoration source, not a decryptor for files already encrypted during an incident. CISA recommends keeping backups offline and encrypted and regularly testing their availability and integrity. It identifies physically separate storage devices, as well as cloud options, as possible backup locations. Its guide resource page covers these recommendations.
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Recovery steps that reduce risk
- Preserve relevant evidence. For organizations, CISA advises preserving system images, memory captures, and relevant logs where appropriate. Follow your incident-response procedures and involve qualified responders if the scope is beyond your ability to handle safely.
- Identify the ransomware before testing tools. Use the ransom demand and encrypted-file samples with Crypto Sheriff or another trusted identification process. Check a candidate tool’s stated family and case coverage.
- Ask about legitimate decryptors. CISA advises organizations to consult federal law enforcement about possible decryptors, including tools released after researchers find flaws in some variants.
- Restore from clean backups when appropriate. Reconnect and restore systems according to recovery priorities, using offline backups and taking care not to reinfect clean systems.
- Address possible data theft separately. If information may have been exfiltrated, file recovery does not resolve the resulting incident or breach-response needs.
Does paying the ransom guarantee recovery?
No. The FBI says it does not support paying a ransom and warns that payment does not guarantee access to data; some victims who paid did not receive decryption keys. Payment is therefore not a dependable substitute for a supported decryptor or a tested backup. The FBI statement appears in its ransomware fact sheet.
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