How to remove Jywd Ransomware and decrypt .jywd files

What is Jywd Ransomware

Jywd is a ransomware infection originating from the Djvu/STOP family. This family is a group of developers responsible for infecting a bunch of users with different file encryptors. Jywd is new, appeared in the end of March 2023, but has traits very similar to its precursors. Jywd Ransomware, like other variants of the STOP/Djvu Ransomware family, uses a combination of AES-256 and RSA-1024 encryption algorithms to encrypt the victim’s files. AES-256 is used to encrypt the files themselves, while RSA-1024 is used to encrypt the AES-256 key. This makes it extremely difficult to recover the encrypted files without the decryption key. The virus encrypts personal data while assigning the .jywd extension. To illustrate, a file called 1.pdf will experience a change to 1.pdf.jywd and reset its original icon after successful encryption. In order to decrypt the blocked data, victims are given instructions to follow inside a ransom note (_readme.txt).

The ransom note states files have been encrypted and will be inaccessible until victims send money to cybercriminals. It said data decryption costs $980, but can be halved down to $490 if victims contact swindlers within the first 72 hours. In addition, ransomware developers offer their victims to decrypt 1 blocked file for free. This file must not contain any valuable information to not lose the incentive of paying for full decryption. Unfortunately, decrypting files without cybercriminals is almost impossible. It can be done partially or damage file configuration if something goes wrong. The best way to capitalize on and avoid paying the ransom is to use backup copies. Many users do not have those, meaning they are desperate to remain with the encrypted data. Even so, you can still try using third-party instruments to decrypt or recover the blocked data. Note that before trying any of the recovery methods, it is necessary to get rid of the virus to prevent its further encryption activity. We elaborate on all of this in our guide below.

How Jywd Ransomware infected your computer

Ransomware infections are notoriously distributed via phishing e-mail messages. These messages are disguised as something legitimate or highly tempting to open (delivery letters, lottery winnings, free giveaways, invoices, etc.). Usually, cybercriminals try to fool users into initiating MS Office files, PDFs, Executable, and JavaScript files attached to such letters. Sometimes they add external links leading to download pages masked under official websites. Whatever it is, clicking on them will most likely result in malware infection. Although the files may look completely legitimate, they can be reconfigured and altered for storing various infections. There are many other popularly used methods to distribute ransomware as well. They are trojans, backdoors, keyloggers, web-injects, fake software updates/installers, unreliable cracking tools, and other free and pirated content that can be downloaded from third-party pages. Be careful and do not rely on their usage that much. Even if you do, make sure you do it from trusted resources and pay more attention to what you interact with on the internet. For more tips and practical advice on securing yourself against such threats in the future, follow our tutorial below.

1. Download Jywd Ransomware Removal Tool
2. Get decryption tool for .jywd files
3. Recover encrypted files with Stellar Data Recovery Professional
4. Restore encrypted files with Windows Previous Versions
5. Restore files with Shadow Explorer
6. Restore media files with Media Repair
7. How to protect from threats like Jywd Ransomware

Virus modifies “hosts” file to block Windows updates, downloading antivirus programs, and visiting sites related to security news or offering security solutions. Jywd Ransomware comes along with AZORult trojan, which was initially created to steal logins and passwords. The process of infection also looks like installing Windows updates, the malware shows a fake window, that mimics the update process.

It uses rdpclip.exe to replace a legal Windows file and to launch an attack on a computer network. After encrypting the files, the encrypter is deleted using the delself.bat command file. Jywd Ransomware virus is propagated via spam attack with malicious e-mail attachments and using manual PC hacking. Can be distributed by hacking through an unprotected RDP configuration, fraudulent downloads, exploits, web injections, fake updates, repackaged, and infected installers. The virus assigns a certain ID to the victims, which is used to name those files and supposedly to send a decryption key. Great tools to protect against Jywd Ransomware are: Emsisoft Anti-Malware and Malwarebytes Anti-Malware.

How to remove Jywd Ransomware manually

It is not recommended to remove Jywd Ransomware manually, for safer solution use Removal Tools instead.

Jywd Ransomware files:

_readme.txt
rdpclip.exe
delself.bat
{randomname}.exe

Jywd Ransomware registry keys:

no information

How to decrypt and restore .jywd files

Use automated decryptors

Download STOP Djvu Decryptor from EmsiSoft (.jywd variations)

IMPORTANT: Read this detailed guide on using STOP Djvu Decryptor to avoid file corruption and time wasting.

STOP Djvu Decryptor is able to decrypt .jywd files, encrypted by Jywd Ransomware. This tool was developed by EmsiSoft. It works in automatic mode, but in most cases works only for files encrypted with offline keys. Download it here:

Dr.Web Rescue Pack

Famous antivirus vendor Dr. Web provides free decryption service for the owners of its products: Dr.Web Security Space or Dr.Web Enterprise Security Suite. Other users can ask for help in the decryption of .jywd files by uploading samples to Dr. Web Ransomware Decryption Service. Analysis of files will be performed free of charge and if files are decryptable, all you need to do is purchase a 2-year license of Dr.Web Security Space worth $120 or less. Otherwise, you don’t have to pay.

If you are infected with Jywd Ransomware and removed it from your computer, you can try decrypting your files. Antivirus vendors and individuals create free decryptors for some crypto-lockers. To attempt to decrypt them manually you can do the following:

Use Stellar Data Recovery Professional to restore .jywd files

1. Download Stellar Data Recovery Professional.
2. Click Recover Data button.
3. Select type of files you want to restore and click Next button.
4. Choose location where you would like to restore files from and click Scan button.
5. Preview found files, choose ones you will restore and click Recover.

Using Windows Previous Versions option:

1. Right-click on infected file and choose Properties.
2. Select Previous Versions tab.
3. Choose particular version of the file and click Copy.
4. To restore the selected file and replace the existing one, click on the Restore button.
5. In case there is no items in the list choose alternative method.

Using Shadow Explorer:

1. Download Shadow Explorer program.
2. Run it and you will see screen listing of all the drives and the dates that shadow copy was created.
3. Select the drive and date that you want to restore from.
4. Right-click on a folder name and select Export.
5. In case there are no other dates in the list, choose alternative method.

If you are using Dropbox:

1. Login to the DropBox website and go to the folder that contains encrypted files.
2. Right-click on the encrypted file and select Previous Versions.
3. Select the version of the file you wish to restore and click on the Restore button.

Use Media Repair to decrypt media files encrypted with .jywd

1. Download Media Repair tool.
2. Right-click on the downloaded archive, and select Extract to Media_Repair\.
3. Then double-click on the extracted .exe file to launch the utility.
4. At first, you have to choose which file type you want to decrypt. You can do it from the drop-down menu in the utility.
5. Next, browser the folder with encrypted or reference files. Choose any of them and click on the Test icon located in the top right corner.
6. Media Repair will display a pop-up message with information on whether it can repair the selected file or not.
7. After checking if it is possible or not, select your reference file and click on the icon right under the Test button we used in step #5.
8. If the file pair is properly matched, you can move on and hit the Play button to start repairing. You can also stop the process anytime by clicking on the Stop button.

How to protect computer from viruses, like Jywd Ransomware, in future

1. Get special anti-ransomware software

Use ZoneAlarm Anti-Ransomware

ZoneAlarm Anti-Ransomware Dashboard

ZoneAlarm Anti-Ransomware Alert

ZoneAlarm Anti-Ransomware Blocked

Famous antivirus brand ZoneAlarm by Check Point released a comprehensive tool, that will help you with active anti-ransomware protection, as an additional shield to your current protection. The tool provides Zero-Day protection against ransomware and allows you to recover files. ZoneAlarm Anti-Ransomware is compatible with all other antiviruses, firewalls, and security software except ZoneAlarm Extreme (already shipped with ZoneAlarm Anti-Ransomware) or Check Point Endpoint products. The killer features of this application are: automatic file recovery, overwrite protection that instantly and automatically recovers any encrypted files, file protection that detects and blocks even unknown encryptors.

2. Back up your files

As an additional way to save your files, we recommend online backup. Local storage, such as hard drives, SSDs, flash drives, or remote network storage can be instantly infected by the virus once plugged in or connected to. Jywd Ransomware uses some techniques to exploit this. One of the best services and programs for easy automatic online backup is iDrive. It has the most profitable terms and a simple interface. You can read more about iDrive cloud backup and storage here.

3. Do not open spam e-mails and protect your mailbox

Malicious attachments to spam or phishing e-mails are the most popular method of ransomware distribution. Using spam filters and creating anti-spam rules is good practice. One of the world leaders in anti-spam protection is MailWasher Pro. It works with various desktop applications and provides a very high level of anti-spam protection.