{
	"id": "d14f5174-5f4a-427f-8586-5ddc7a6b193a",
	"created_at": "2026-04-06T00:07:28.015225Z",
	"updated_at": "2026-04-10T03:21:03.58553Z",
	"deleted_at": null,
	"sha1_hash": "5c10d9ae6ebe252ab774e33c1ab82c175817c27e",
	"title": "Killswitch File Now Available for GandCrab v4.1.2 Ransomware",
	"llm_title": "",
	"authors": "",
	"file_creation_date": "0001-01-01T00:00:00Z",
	"file_modification_date": "0001-01-01T00:00:00Z",
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	"plain_text": "Killswitch File Now Available for GandCrab v4.1.2 Ransomware\r\nBy Ventsislav Krastev\r\nPublished: 2018-07-19 · Archived: 2026-04-05 15:42:48 UTC\r\nby   |  Last Update: January 1, 2023  |  0 Comments  \r\nThe South Korean company Ahnlab has developed a Killswitch for the latest version of the virus, calling itself\r\nv4.1.2, causing the ransomware to stop functioning.\r\nAhnlab has reportedly analyzed the internal version 4.1.2 of GandCrab ransomware, which is part of the 4.1\r\nversion, using the .KRAB file extension after file encryption. Researchers have then designed an app, that works\r\nas a defensive measure and can be dropped on users’ computers before they become infected with GandCrab\r\n4.1.2. For the defense tactic to work, you will need to get the file, which has a string in it’s name and has the .lock\r\nfile extension. Such .lock files are essential to GandCrab’s way of operation and here are the steps in which they\r\nare created:\r\nStep 1: GandCrab 4.1.2 infects your computer and encrypts your files.\r\nStep 2: The virus creates a .lock file with a mutex, for which the virus scans for comparing the file to the .lock\r\nfiles of other infected computers.\r\nhttps://sensorstechforum.com/killswitch-file-now-available-gandcrab-v4-1-2-ransomware/\r\nPage 1 of 3\n\nStep 3: If the .lock file already belongs to GandCrab’s infected computers’ list, the virus shuts down and doesn’t\r\nencrypt anything to prevent double encryption and infection to take place.\r\nResearchers have cleverly devised such a .lock file, which acts as a killswitch and the whole app can be\r\ndownloaded from the following link (also available on asec.ahnlab.com/1145):\r\nIMPORTANT NOTICE! Your antivirus may detect the killswitch as a virus, but it is also available on Anhlab’s\r\nresearch site above and we believe that the file can be trusted, because it is not an actual GandCrab but merely a\r\nmethod used to prevent the actual threat so be advised to disable your antivirus and anti-malware software before\r\ndownloading the file.\r\nAfter downloading the file, victims should save it either in the %Application Data% directory for older\r\nWindows Versions or in the %ProgramData% directory for Windows 7 and newer versions of the operating\r\nsystem. This prevents your computer from certain file encryption, even if GandCrab v4.1.2 has already infected\r\nthe machine.\r\nNew Updates in GandCrab v4.1.2\u003c\r\nGandCrab is the type of ransomware that has been spreading and infecting computers since January, 2018. The\r\nvirus has undergone major changes since then, using fake Dental Records and other fake .exe files to infect user\r\nPC’s. The malware which prayed on users who had SMBv1 enabled on their machine has been updated in a 4.1\r\nversion, which has evolved in it’s current 4.1.2 internal variant. The latest version of GandCrab is using more and\r\nmore methods to spread, like the newer EternalBlue exploits used in the WannaCry outbreak, that happened back\r\nin 2017. But in the same time, this newer version of the virus has also stopped using some older exploits, like\r\nSMB to infect computers, suggesting newer operating systems to be targeted. One thing has remained certain –\r\nGandCrab still uses the same methods to spread and they are not likely to be automatic, since the virus uses spam\r\ne-mails with malicious attachments of all types and may also upload the infection files on suspicious and low\r\nreputation sites. It is strongly advisable to apply proper anti-malware protection and also make sure to learn how\r\nto safely store your important files in order to protect yourself from malware infections, like GandCrab (see\r\nrelated articles below):\r\nRelated: Protect Yourself from Getting Infected by Malicious E-mails\r\nRelated: Safely Store Your Important Files and Protect Them from Malware\r\nhttps://sensorstechforum.com/killswitch-file-now-available-gandcrab-v4-1-2-ransomware/\r\nPage 2 of 3\n\nVentsislav Krastev\r\nVentsislav is a cybersecurity expert at SensorsTechForum since 2015. He has been researching, covering, helping\r\nvictims with the latest malware infections plus testing and reviewing software and the newest tech developments.\r\nHaving graduated Marketing as well, Ventsislav also has passion for learning new shifts and innovations in\r\ncybersecurity that become game changers. After studying Value Chain Management, Network Administration and\r\nComputer Administration of System Applications, he found his true calling within the cybersecrurity industry and\r\nis a strong believer in the education of every user towards online safety and security.\r\nMore Posts - Website\r\nFollow Me:\r\nSource: https://sensorstechforum.com/killswitch-file-now-available-gandcrab-v4-1-2-ransomware/\r\nhttps://sensorstechforum.com/killswitch-file-now-available-gandcrab-v4-1-2-ransomware/\r\nPage 3 of 3",
	"extraction_quality": 1,
	"language": "EN",
	"sources": [
		"Malpedia",
		"ETDA"
	],
	"references": [
		"https://sensorstechforum.com/killswitch-file-now-available-gandcrab-v4-1-2-ransomware/"
	],
	"report_names": [
		"killswitch-file-now-available-gandcrab-v4-1-2-ransomware"
	],
	"threat_actors": [],
	"ts_created_at": 1775434048,
	"ts_updated_at": 1775791263,
	"ts_creation_date": 0,
	"ts_modification_date": 0,
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