How to Recover Files Locked by Cybertron Ransomware (.cybertron18 Extension)?
An Emerging Ransomware Strain with Dangerous Intentions
Cybertron is a newly identified ransomware strain linked to the MedusaLocker family. It first gained attention after researchers found it on VirusTotal during analysis of fresh malware submissions. This variant is highly destructive and operates with the primary goal of encrypting victim data and extorting payment in return for decryption.
Once inside the system, Cybertron encrypts documents, images, and corporate assets, renaming files with a “.cybertron18” extension. Notably, the numerical part of the extension may vary based on the variant being deployed. What follows next is a full-blown ransom operation that involves changing the desktop background and planting an HTML ransom note titled DATA_RECOVERY.html.
Related article: How to Recover Data from Vatican Ransomware (.POPE Extension)?
Immediate Next Steps After an Infection
If your organization is hit with Cybertron ransomware, the following steps must be taken immediately:
- Disconnect compromised systems from the network to prevent spread.
- Preserve all encrypted files and ransom notes. Do not modify or rename them.
- Avoid rebooting the infected machine. Doing so might trigger additional scripts or malware modules.
- Consult with a ransomware response team or threat intelligence experts for evaluation.
Any attempt to tamper with the data or use unverified decryption tools may lead to permanent loss.
Also read: How to Decrypt .HALE Files from Mimic (N3ww4v3) Ransomware – Updated 2025
How to Decrypt Cybertron Ransomware and Recover Your Files?
Cybertron ransomware, a member of the MedusaLocker family, encrypts files using a combination of AES and RSA encryption and appends a .cybertron18 extension (variant numbers may differ). Once encryption is complete, it leaves behind a ransom note (DATA_RECOVERY.html) that contains victim-specific login IDs and payment instructions.
If you’ve been affected, here are the top methods for recovery, including both free and professional solutions tailored to different environments.
Free Methods
1. Backup Restore
How It Works?
Offline or cloud-based backups created before the attack can restore systems without paying the ransom. This includes volume snapshots, cloud sync services, and air-gapped storage.
Best Practices:
Verify backup integrity before use. Mount and test files for corruption. Do not overwrite encrypted files until you’ve confirmed that backups are clean.
Limitations:
If backups were accessible during the attack, they may have been encrypted or deleted. The malware disables shadow copies and searches for networked storage, so confirm isolation.
2. Antivirus Cleanup & Data Preservation
How It Works:
Tools like Microsoft Defender, Combo Cleaner, or Malwarebytes can eliminate active infections. Once removed, you can preserve encrypted files for future decryptor use or forensic analysis.
Important Note:
Removal does not recover encrypted files. However, it stops further encryption and system damage.
Paid Methods
Paying the Ransom
How It Works?
Victims are instructed to contact the attackers using the emails in the ransom note: recovery2@salamati.vip or recovery2@amniyat.xyz. A unique login ID is used to match your encrypted files with a key stored on their TOR-based backend.
Risks:
No guarantee of receiving a decryptor. Some victims get partial tools or non-functional keys. Attackers may embed backdoors or spyware in delivered executables.
Ethical & Legal Considerations:
Payment supports cybercriminal activity and may violate compliance rules. Reporting is often required, especially for regulated sectors like healthcare or government.
Third-Party Negotiators
How It Works?
Cybersecurity firms offer negotiation services to manage ransom communications, verify decryption capability, and reduce payment demands.
Pros:
Improved success rates through tested communication channels and scam avoidance. Can evaluate ransomware group credibility before making payment decisions.
Cons:
High service fees. Often not viable for small businesses or non-commercial victims.
Our Cybertron Decryptor: AI-Driven and Blockchain-Backed
Our expert team has reverse-engineered multiple MedusaLocker variants and developed a professional decryptor compatible with .cybertron18 and related extensions. Designed for Windows environments, this tool works via a secure cloud server to ensure file integrity and safe restoration.
How It Works?
- Login ID Validation
The ransom note contains a unique identifier for your encryption batch. Our decryptor maps this to known key patterns for your variant. - Cloud Decryption
Encrypted files are uploaded to our sandboxed environment. AI-based decryption logic and blockchain integrity checks ensure file accuracy. - Optional Universal Key
If you lack a ransom note, our universal decryptor (premium tier) supports decryption based on heuristic matching of encrypted files. - Secure Execution
Our tool performs read-only scans before launching the decryption sequence to avoid corruption or overwriting.
Also read: How to Decrypt .lumiypt Files After Lumiypt Ransomware Attack Safely and Fast?
Step-by-Step Recovery Guide Using Our Decryptor
1. Assess the Damage
Confirm file extension (.cybertron18 or other variant). Verify presence of DATA_RECOVERY.html.
2. Disconnect from Network
Isolate affected machines immediately. Do not shut them down or restart without expert guidance.
3. Submit Files for Analysis
Share encrypted files and the ransom note with our team. We’ll evaluate the variant and confirm decryptor compatibility.
4. Run the Decryptor
Launch our tool with administrator rights. Ensure an internet connection for cloud verification.
5. Enter Login ID
Paste your victim ID (from ransom note) into the decryptor to match the correct recovery path.
6. Begin Decryption
Let the tool process and decrypt your files. Progress and integrity logs will be provided upon completion.
Offline vs. Online Decryption Methods
Offline Recovery
Ideal for high-security or air-gapped systems. Files can be copied to an external drive and decrypted from a secure host. No internet connection is required after tool activation.
Online Recovery
Faster recovery with cloud support, blockchain checks, and live support. Requires an encrypted and secure file upload channel. Best for enterprise networks and time-sensitive scenarios.
Our Cybertron Decryptor supports both online and offline modes, ensuring flexibility based on your organization’s needs.
Understanding the Behavior of Cybertron in Compromised Systems
This malware activates a sequence of actions upon execution. After the file encryption process is complete, it customizes the user’s desktop with a threatening wallpaper and drops a file that demands payment. The attackers use both RSA and AES encryption protocols, combining speed and security in a hybrid scheme that leaves files completely inaccessible.
The note warns users that attempting to use third-party recovery tools could result in permanent data loss. Victims are given the option to decrypt a few sample files to “build trust.” The communication instructions point toward contacting the attackers via email, and the message comes with a hard 72-hour deadline — after which the ransom amount increases significantly.
More alarmingly, the note claims that data was also stolen during the attack. If the victim fails to comply, this information may be leaked online or sold to competitors and third parties.
Cybertron’s Ransom Note and Extortion Messaging
The DATA_RECOVERY.html file contains a standardized ransom note with deeply intimidating message:
Your personal ID:
–YOUR COMPANY NETWORK HAS BEEN PENETRATED
Your files are safe! Only modified.(RSA+AES)
ANY ATTEMPT TO RESTORE YOUR FILES WITH THIRD-PARTY SOFTWARE WILL PERMANENTLY CORRUPT IT. DO NOT MODIFY ENCRYPTED FILES. DO NOT RENAME ENCRYPTED FILES.
No software available on internet can help you. We are the only ones able to solve your problem. We gathered highly confidential/personal data. These data are currently stored on a private server. This server will be immediately destroyed after your payment. If you decide to not pay, we will release your data to public or re-seller. So you can expect your data to be publicly available in the near future.. We only seek money and our goal is not to damage your reputation or prevent your business from running. You will can send us 2-3 non-important files and we will decrypt it for free to prove we are able to give your files back.
Contact us for price and get decryption software.
email:
recovery2@salamati.vip
recovery2@amniyat.xyz* To contact us, create a new free email account on the site: protonmail.com
IF YOU DON’T CONTACT US WITHIN 72 HOURS, PRICE WILL BE HIGHER.
* Tor-chat to always be in touch:
How Cybertron Ransomware Operates: Behind the Scenes of the Attack
Cybertron isn’t a generic ransomware. It follows a calculated and modular attack flow that aligns with modern ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) models. Its operational tactics show deliberate stealth, control, and disruption, echoing traits of its MedusaLocker lineage.
Initial Access Points
Cybertron is most commonly deployed through email-based attack vectors. Threat actors distribute malware-laced attachments via phishing campaigns, often disguised as business documents or invoices. Once opened, malicious macros or JavaScript launch the payload silently in the background.
In addition to phishing, operators may exploit vulnerable RDP configurations or drop the ransomware using loader malware like TrickBot or Smokeloader, giving them persistent access to the target network. Some attacks begin through cracked software or pirated application downloads seeded with malware.
Execution Techniques and Persistence
Once inside the system, Cybertron uses Windows-native scripting and automation tools like PowerShell to execute the ransomware binary. The executable is typically dropped in the %APPDATA%\Roaming directory under deceptive names like svhost.exe.
To maintain persistence, the malware creates a scheduled task that re-runs the ransomware every 15 minutes. This ensures continued encryption across drives and any newly connected devices. Some variants may also manipulate registry keys to auto-launch on reboot, further embedding the ransomware in the system’s startup flow.
Disabling Defenses and Recovery Mechanisms
Cybertron attempts to disable Windows Defender and other security solutions by terminating relevant processes. It then moves on to disable recovery options by deleting Volume Shadow Copies using vssadmin delete shadows /all /quiet. System restore points are wiped, and if the malware runs with elevated privileges, it may even reboot into Safe Mode to bypass endpoint protection during encryption.
Network-Wide Encryption Impact
After locking local files, Cybertron spreads laterally to connected network shares, mapped drives, and backup servers. It searches for accessible resources and encrypts them using a combination of AES-256 for speed and RSA-2048 to secure the symmetric keys.
Encrypted files are renamed with a unique variant extension, most often .cybertron18, though newer strains may feature different numerical suffixes. This extension marks all affected assets, including Word documents, images, videos, archives, source code files, and databases.
Indicators of Compromise (IOCs)
Security analysts and IT teams should look for these clear indicators when diagnosing a Cybertron attack:
- File Extension Changes: Files renamed with .cybertron18, .cybertron17, etc.
- Ransom Note Filename: DATA_RECOVERY.html dropped in multiple folders and on the desktop.
- Registry Key for Persistence: HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\svhostt
- Dropped Executable Path: %APPDATA%\Roaming\svhost.exe or %Temp%\randomized_name.exe
- Scheduled Task: “Windows Update Check” or similar, repeating every 10–15 minutes
- Desktop Wallpaper: Custom image pointing to contact emails (recovery2@salamati.vip, recovery2@amniyat.xyz)
Analysts should also monitor traffic for outbound connections to known TOR domains or unusual ports, indicating active threat actor communication or data staging.
Malware Tools and Utilities Used
Cybertron’s toolkit mirrors other enterprise-focused ransomware campaigns. The malware may be accompanied by the following tools:
- PowerShell Loader Scripts: Used to deploy the payload without detection
- Task Scheduler (schtasks.exe): Establishes persistent execution of the ransomware
- WMI & Registry Modifiers: Alters startup behavior and user privileges
- RDP Exploits & Credential Tools: In some cases, attackers leverage stolen credentials to gain domain-level access and spread laterally
- Process Killers: Scripts that target processes like sqlserver.exe, backup.exe, or vmtoolsd.exe to maximize data impact
While there’s no public evidence of credential theft modules bundled with Cybertron, the infrastructure suggests that attackers may use separate malware stages to exfiltrate data or harvest credentials before deploying the final ransomware package.
Real-World Victims: Who Is Being Targeted?
Country-Based Distribution
Targeted Industry Sectors
Incident Timeline
Security Recommendations to Avoid Cybertron
Cybertron, like its MedusaLocker relatives, preys on weak security configurations and unpatched vulnerabilities. To prevent infection:
- Use multi-factor authentication for all remote access points like VPN or RDP.
- Keep operating systems and software fully updated and patched.
- Use network segmentation to limit lateral movement across departments.
- Store critical backups in immutable, offline storage formats.
- Monitor for suspicious file extensions like .cybertron18 and sudden file renaming events.
Deploying strong endpoint protection and logging all system changes can help detect ransomware behavior before widespread damage is done.
Conclusion: Cybertron Demands Strategic, Not Emotional, Response
The Cybertron ransomware campaign is sophisticated, fast-moving, and designed to cripple infrastructure in a matter of hours. From double extortion threats to customized communication tactics, its developers use every trick in the ransomware playbook to force payment.
But as always, the best defense is preparation. With the right response plan, secure backups, and immediate isolation procedures, organizations can recover without giving in to criminal demands. Forensic analysis, endpoint detection tools, and expert consultation can help reclaim compromised systems and prevent future attacks.
Frequently Asked Questions
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