How to Decrypt .antihacker2017 Files Encrypted by AntiHacker Ransomware?
Recover Your Files, Reclaim Your System
AntiHacker ransomware is a member of the notorious Xorist family. It encrypts files and appends the extension .antihacker2017, then demands victims contact antihacker2017@8ox.ru. A pop-up ransom note and modified wallpaper claim your files were encrypted due to illegal content access, and warn that antivirus tools or rebooting the system will destroy your data.
But here’s the truth: AntiHacker’s encryption algorithm is flawed. It can be reversed using verified, field-tested tools—no ransom needed. This guide walks you through every stage of recovery.
Related article: How to Remove Xentari Ransomware and Recover .xentari Extension Files?
Our AntiHacker Decryptor: Precision Recovery, Expert-Built
We’ve reverse-engineered the AntiHacker ransomware encryption mechanism to build a dedicated decryptor for files affected by the .antihacker2017 extension. This tool has been successfully used to restore data for a range of businesses, offering a trusted solution for Windows-based systems. Designed for precision, speed, and integrity, our decryptor works even in complex or partially compromised environments.
Also read: How to Remove SpiderPery Ransomware and Decrypt (.SpiderPery) Files?
How It Works?
Encrypted files are processed through a secure cloud platform, where AI models and blockchain-backed integrity checks analyze the encryption structure. If the ransom note is available, the decryptor uses the embedded victim ID to match your specific key batch. In cases where the note is missing, we provide an advanced universal version of the tool that can infer the key through structural analysis and file entropy. All scans run in read-only mode to preserve data safety before full recovery begins.
What You’ll Need?
- A copy of the AntiHacker ransom note (КАК РАСШИФРОВАТЬ ФАЙЛЫ.txt)
- Access to the encrypted files
- An active internet connection for cloud decryption
- Administrator-level access on the affected system
Our AntiHacker decryptor is built for real-world reliability, helping you recover quickly and securely—without paying the ransom.
Step-by-Step AntiHacker Recovery Guide with AntiHacker Decryptor
- Assess the Infection
Begin by confirming the presence of AntiHacker ransomware on the affected system. Look for files with the .antihacker2017 extension and locate the ransom note titled КАК РАСШИФРОВАТЬ ФАЙЛЫ.txt, which should be present in multiple directories across the system. - Secure the Environment
Immediately isolate the infected device from your network. This includes disconnecting it from Wi-Fi, LAN, external drives, and cloud sync tools to prevent further file encryption or spread to shared environments. - Engage Our Recovery Team
Send us samples of the encrypted files along with the ransom note. Our specialists will analyze the encryption pattern and confirm whether your strain matches the known AntiHacker variant. Based on this, we’ll prepare your recovery path and share a tailored decryption timeline. - Run Our Decryptor
Launch the AntiHacker Decryptor with administrator privileges on the compromised system. The tool requires an active internet connection to access our secure recovery servers and verify encryption batches. - Enter Your Victim ID
Extract the unique victim code from the ransom note and input it into the decryptor. This allows the tool to match your specific encryption key for accurate decryption. - Start the Decryptor
Begin the decryption process. The tool will scan, verify, and restore your encrypted files to their original, usable state while preserving their structure and integrity.
Also read: How to Recover .[victimID].[email].atomic Files Encrypted by Atomic Ransomware?
Immediate Steps to Take After AntiHacker Ransomware Attack
- Disconnect Immediately
Isolate the infected machines from your network to prevent the ransomware from spreading to shared devices, servers, and backups. - Preserve Everything
Do not delete the ransom note and keep the encrypted files untouched, or else the data might be lost permanently. The network traffic dumps, logs, and file hashes should also be saved. - Immediately Shut Down The Compromised Systems
Avoid rebooting the affected system as it may trigger additional encryption scripts. Also, avoid formatting the encrypted data, as you may lose your chances of successful recovery. - Contact a Ransomware Recovery Expert
Don’t attempt to DIY decryption from shady forums or unverified sources. Reach out to cybersecurity professionals as early detection can highly increase the chance of data decryption. You can reach out to our team to begin the secure evaluation and recovery process.
How to Decrypt AntiHacker Ransomware and Recover Your Data?
AntiHacker ransomware is a variant of the Xorist family, known for aggressively encrypting files and appending the .antihacker2017 extension. It gained attention for its psychological manipulation tactics and its rapid encryption capabilities. Once active, it drops a ransom note named КАК РАСШИФРОВАТЬ ФАЙЛЫ.txt and modifies the victim’s desktop wallpaper with intimidating messages. If you’re affected, our custom-built AntiHacker Decryptor is ready to assist. Designed specifically for this ransomware strain, the tool leverages known weaknesses in Xorist encryption to recover files safely—without the need to pay the ransom.
AntiHacker Decryption and Recovery Options
Here we have discussed the top four reliable methods of AntiHacker ransomware recovery. Each comes with its own benefits, risks, and suitability depending on your environment and ransomware variant.
Free Methods
1. Xorist Decryptor by Security Vendors
How It Works?
Legacy Variant Exploit
This decryptor was developed to recover files from early variants of Xorist ransomware, which includes AntiHacker. It reverse-engineers the symmetric encryption logic used in strains that rely on weak or predictable key generation methods.
No Support for Heavily Modified Versions
If the ransomware variant has been significantly altered or uses randomized keys, this tool may be ineffective. It may fail to detect .antihacker2017 extensions if the ransomware structure has diverged too far from Xorist’s original format.
Local Execution
This utility runs natively on Windows and does not require internet access. It is safe to use in isolated or sandboxed environments to check if decryption is possible.
2. Backup Restore
How It Works?
Isolated Recovery
Offline or off-site backups provide the most straightforward path to recovery. If the ransomware did not reach these backups or delete them, systems can be wiped and restored from the latest clean snapshot.
Integrity Verification
Before deploying any backups, administrators should validate the integrity of snapshots using checksums, hash comparisons, or mounting them in a read-only mode. Partial encryption or missed system files could result in incomplete restoration if not carefully reviewed.
Immutable Storage Advantage
Solutions such as WORM (Write-Once-Read-Many) or cloud snapshots with enforced retention policies can dramatically improve your chance of recovery. When combined with network segmentation, these backups are much harder for ransomware to access or corrupt.
3. VM Snapshots
How It Works?
Rollback from Pre-Infection
If virtual environments like VMware ESXi or Proxmox were in use and had automated snapshots enabled, administrators can roll infected virtual machines back to a pre-encryption state. In most cases, this restores access within minutes and avoids the need for decryptors.
Hypervisor Isolation
It’s important that snapshots are stored independently and were not mounted at the time of the attack. If the ransomware had access to vCenter or other hypervisor tools, snapshots may have been deleted, altered, or locked. Always review logs to confirm snapshot integrity.
Retention Settings Matter
Frequent and automated snapshot schedules—daily or even hourly—provide a strong defense compared to occasional or manual backups. Snapshot management platforms should also enforce role-based access to avoid accidental deletion.
4. GPU-Based Brute-Force Decryptor (Research Tool)
Recently, researchers adapted a brute-force decryptor for Linux-based variants of Xorist ransomware like AntiHacker. The method works in some cases, depending on how the encryption keys were generated.
Timestamp-Based Key Recovery
AntiHacker may use nanosecond-level timestamps during encryption to seed symmetric keys. The decryptor attempts to identify and reconstruct these timestamps by brute-forcing the valid keyspace, based on the file creation/modification time range.
GPU-Accelerated Brute Force
The tool leverages CUDA-compatible GPUs to perform high-speed key computation. On basic hardware like RTX 3060s, the process is slow; however, clustered systems with multiple RTX 4090s have demonstrated success in as little as 10 hours of runtime.
Linux-Only & Command-Line
This is a research-grade, open-source utility that must be compiled from source on Linux. It requires installation of the NVIDIA CUDA toolkit. Users must input file paths, sample encrypted files, and output destinations through terminal commands.
Offline Friendly
Because it runs locally and does not require internet access, it is suitable for secure, air-gapped environments. The ransom note is optional as long as file metadata is preserved.
Paid Methods
Paying the Ransom
This method is possible, but not advised. It carries legal, ethical, and technical risks. If no other recovery options work, some organizations consider it as a last resort.
1. Victim ID Validation
If a ransom is paid, the attackers typically send a decryptor that is matched to the unique victim ID from the ransom note. The decryption key is pulled from their backend and applied to your encrypted files.
2. Tool Delivery Risks
There is no guarantee that a working decryptor will be delivered. Even if received, some tools result in partial recovery, file corruption, or come embedded with spyware and backdoors. Many tools provided by attackers are built hastily and lack proper error handling.
3. Legal and Ethical Issues
Paying a ransom may violate laws depending on your country and industry. In some jurisdictions, you are required to report the payment, especially if you work in healthcare, government, or finance. Moreover, paying encourages further ransomware activity.
Third-Party Negotiators
1. Intermediary Bargaining
Professional negotiators act as intermediaries between victims and attackers. Their goal is to reduce the ransom amount and shorten the overall recovery timeline by handling all communication discreetly and securely.
2. Ransom Validation
Experienced negotiators may request proof of decryption—such as test file recovery—before any payment is considered. They understand the structure of criminal groups and can distinguish between legitimate and fake ransomware operators.
3. High Costs
The downside is the cost. Negotiators typically charge either a percentage of the original ransom demand or a flat retainer fee. Even with a successful outcome, this path is expensive, time-consuming, and still relies on threat actors honoring the deal.
Anatomy of AntiHacker Ransomware
AntiHacker is a relatively static payload that does not attempt lateral movement or establish command-and-control (C2) communication. Once executed, it immediately encrypts all user-accessible files and appends the .antihacker2017 extension. Alongside the encryption, it deposits a ransom note written in Cyrillic into every affected directory. Simultaneously, it modifies the system’s desktop wallpaper to heighten urgency and invoke shame as part of its social engineering tactics.
One of its more manipulative features is the imposed limit of 50 decryption attempts. This mechanism is designed to scare victims into acting quickly, although the restriction can be bypassed safely using advanced tools. The ransom message also warns that rebooting the system or running antivirus software will destroy the encrypted data. In reality, these are hollow threats, used to intimidate victims into compliance rather than actual functionality embedded in the malware.
AntiHacker Ransom Note Breakdown
Once the encryption process completes, AntiHacker ransomware generates a ransom note titled КАК РАСШИФРОВАТЬ ФАЙЛЫ.txt, which translates to “HOW TO DECRYPT FILES.txt.” This file is dropped into every affected directory and is accompanied by a pop-up message and a desktop wallpaper replacement—each carrying slightly different wording but delivering the same core threat.
It contains the following message:
Внимание! Все Ваши файлы зашифрованы!
Чтобы восстановить свои файлы и получить к ним доступ,
отправьте письмо на почту antihacker2017@8ox.ru
С кодом №83465178562201У вас есть 50 попыток ввода кода. При превышении этого
количества, все данные необратимо испортятся. Будьте
внимательны при вводе кода!
Также не рекомендую выключать компьютер. Это также приведет к удалению Windows. Это не шутка и не прикол. Стоит перезагрузить компьютер и вы навсегда потеряете свои данные.
AntiHacker Ransomware: Attack Timeline & Global Reach
Reported AntiHacker Ransomware Incidents Over Time
Top Countries Targeted by AntiHacker Ransomware
Indicators of Compromise (IOCs)
File-Based IOCs
- Extension: .antihacker2017
- Ransom Note: КАК РАСШИФРОВАТЬ ФАЙЛЫ.txt
- Sample message:
“У вас есть 50 попыток ввода кода… перезагрузка удалит Windows…”
Registry Artifacts
- HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\AntiHacker
Known Detection Signatures
- Trojan.Win32.Xorist.dxuuhl (NANO-AV)
- Artemis!Trojan (McAfee/Skyhigh)
MITRE ATT&CK Techniques Used by AntiHacker
AntiHacker employs several well-documented tactics and techniques aligned with the MITRE ATT&CK framework. These techniques help the ransomware achieve execution, persistence, and impact without relying on sophisticated lateral movement.
Execution – T1059.003
The ransomware runs via Windows Command Shell, initiating its payload through scripts or executable files often delivered through phishing vectors or bundled with cracked software.
Persistence – T1547.001
To maintain its foothold on the system, AntiHacker creates or modifies Registry Run keys. This ensures that the ransomware launches again on system reboot, keeping it active without user awareness.
Impact – T1486
The core objective of AntiHacker is data encryption. Using symmetric algorithms, it targets user data and appends the .antihacker2017 extension, rendering files inaccessible until a decryption key is applied.
Defense Evasion – T1070.004
AntiHacker deletes Windows Volume Shadow Copies to prevent users from restoring files through built-in recovery tools. This action removes one of the most common fallback methods for ransomware victims.
Initial Access – T1566.001
The infection commonly begins through email phishing. Victims are lured into opening malicious attachments—typically ZIP archives or Office documents with embedded macros—that deploy the ransomware on execution.
Tools Used by AntiHacker Ransomware
Though AntiHacker is not part of a sophisticated malware suite, it uses a small set of tools and utilities—many of them legitimate or repurposed—for persistence, encryption, and disruption. These tools allow it to evade detection while maximizing damage.
CMD/Batch Scripts
AntiHacker uses native Windows command-line scripts to launch its encryption routines. These scripts are typically embedded within its executable and used to execute system-level tasks like deleting shadow copies or modifying registry keys.
Registry Editor (Reg.exe)
The ransomware modifies auto-start keys using the Registry Editor utility. This enables persistence by ensuring the ransomware re-executes upon each system startup, embedding itself into the Windows boot routine without external tooling.
Vssadmin.exe
To eliminate the possibility of file recovery, AntiHacker runs vssadmin delete shadows to erase Volume Shadow Copies. This is a common ransomware tactic, leveraging a legitimate system tool to cripple Windows backup functionality.
Rundll32 or Shell Commands
In some variants, AntiHacker has been observed invoking shell-based commands or using rundll32 to execute payloads stored in memory or dropped in temporary folders. This allows execution without triggering obvious binary activity.
Custom Encryption Engine
The actual file encryption is handled by a lightweight, built-in encryption module derived from the Xorist ransomware codebase. It uses a symmetric algorithm, likely XOR-based or ChaCha-inspired, to lock files quickly and in large volumes.
Prevention Best Practices
To reduce the risk of ransomware like AntiHacker, it’s essential to disable macros by default in Microsoft Office files, as these are a common infection vector. Organizations should implement application allowlisting using tools such as Windows AppLocker to block unauthorized programs from running. Multi-factor authentication (MFA) must be enforced for all administrative accounts to prevent credential-based intrusions. Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) tools should be deployed with real-time monitoring of registry and filesystem changes. Maintaining a 3–2–1 backup strategy—three copies of data, stored on two different media, with one kept offline—is crucial. Additionally, leveraging immutable cloud storage solutions like AWS S3 Object Lock or Azure Immutable Blob helps protect backups from tampering or encryption by malware.
Conclusion: Reclaim Your Systems, Don’t Reward Criminals
AntiHacker ransomware may lock your files and intimidate you with false threats—but it’s far from unbeatable. With access to the right tools and a focused response, you can recover your data, clean your systems, and restore business continuity—without paying a ransom.
Choose your recovery method based on what you have: the ransom note, metadata, or backups. And above all—act quickly, keep evidence intact, and involve experts early.
Frequently Asked Questions
Contact Us To Purchase The AntiHacker Decryptor Tool
2 Comments