What is KEYHolder ransomware?

KEYHolder is malicious software that encrypts your files and demands a ransom for the decryption key.

How does KEYHolder work?

This ransomware works by encrypting your files with a strong encryption algorithm. Once your files are encrypted, you will see a ransom note that demands payment for the decryption key. The ransom note will also provide instructions on how to pay the ransom. Attackers primarily spread KEYHolder through spam emails. The email will contain an attachment that, when opened, will download and install the KEYHolder ransomware onto your computer.

What encryption algorithm does KEYHolder use?

KEYHolder uses the RSA-2048 encryption algorithm to encrypt your files.

What types of files does KEYHolder encrypt?

KEYHolder will encrypt a variety of files types, including:- Documents (such as .doc, .docx, .pdf, etc.)- Images (such as .jpg, .png, etc.)- Videos (such as .mp4, .avi, etc.)- Music files (such as .mp3, .wav, etc.)After this ransomware encrypts your files, it will rename your files with the .KEYHolder extension.

How much is the ransom?

The ransom amount will vary depending on the version of KEYHolder ransomware and the number of files that are encrypted. However, the ransom is typically 1 Bitcoin.

History

The KEYHolder was first discovered in early 2017. We believe it to be a variant of the Locky ransomware.The biggest KEYHolder ransomware attack occurred in May 2017, when KEYHolder infected over 200,000 computers in 150 countries. The attack caused over $4 billion in damage.

Protection

There are several things you can do to protect yourself from ransomware:- Never open attachments from unknown senders. If you don’t know the sender, don’t open the attachment.- Use a reputable anti-virus program and keep it up to date. Some anti-virus programs may detect KEYHolder ransomware.- Be cautious when downloading email attachments. Do not download attachments from untrustworthy sources.- Do not click on links in email messages from unknown senders. Attackers may spread KEYHolder through malicious links in email messages.

What should I do?

If you are infected with KEYHolder ransomware, the first thing you should do is disconnect your computer from the internet. This will prevent the KEYHolder ransomware from encrypting any more files.Next, you should scan your computer with a reputable anti-virus program. We recommend using Malwarebytes. You can also try to remove ransomware manually, but this is a difficult and risky process. We do not recommend attempting to remove KEYHolder ransomware manually unless you are an experienced computer user.You should restore your files from a backup.If you do not have a backup, you may be able to use file recovery software to recover some of your encrypted files. We built SalvageData data recovery software to help you.

Public decryption tool

At this time, there is no public decryption tool for KEYHolder ransomware.Do not try to decrypt your files yourself, as this may result in permanent data loss.

Contact a data recovery service

If you cannot remove KEYHolder ransomware or decrypt your files, you can contact a data recovery service. We recommend contacting SalvageData Recovery Services.Since 2003, SalvageData has been recovering data for businesses, individuals, and government entities with over a 96.7% success rate.Contact the SalvageData team of experts right now to get help.