Our team reverse-engineered the Proton / Shinra family behavior and developed an enterprise-grade decryptor and recovery workflow tailored to .jj3-style infections. Built for Windows, Linux, and VMware ESXi environments, our solution emphasizes safety, repeatability, and measurable integrity checks so you restore files without guesswork.
Key promises: rapid assessment, ID-based mapping to the correct decrypt routine, read-only preflight checks, and staged recovery to avoid further corruption. We run all actions in secure sandboxes and produce cryptographic audit logs to prove file integrity after recovery.
AI + Secure Orchestration: Encrypted samples are analyzed in an isolated environment. Our engine performs signature and behavioral analysis, attempts safe key-derivation attacks where feasible, and — when possible — applies a verified decrypt routine. All operations are logged and hashed to a tamper-evident ledger for auditability.
Login-ID Based Mapping: Proton / Shinra notes include a victim identifier (a long hexadecimal string). Our platform uses that ID to map the incident to known variants and to select the correct decryption algorithm or key recovery method. If your ransom note shows a unique ID (for example 4B6AD950C4F51021EEDF5AB5A9FE646D), we use it to narrow analysis and speed recovery.
Universal/Advanced Mode (Optional): If the ransom note is missing or the variant is novel, our premium recovery pipeline attempts advanced forensic techniques — safe brute force on weak key derivations, timestamp seed analyses, and cross-sample correlation — prior to recommending live action.
Secure Execution: We never write to original files during initial analysis. A read-only scan determines if files are intact, whether they carry known markers, and whether automated decryption should be attempted. Only after explicit sign-off do we perform staged decryption operations on copies with integrity verification.
A copy of the ransom note (common names: howtorecover.txt, HowToRecover.txt, #Recovery.txt).
Multiple encrypted file samples (ideally including a small file before/after or several encrypted files). Example encrypted filename format for this family: bce0yUQslW.jj3.
Admin privileges on a test host (for imaging and safe code execution).
Ability to transfer copies of samples to our secure analysis environment (internet connection required for cloud analysis; offline workflows available).
Basic system artifacts where possible (memory image, event logs, shadow copy listings, and the suspected malicious binary if found).
Immediate Steps to Take After Proton/Shinra (.jj3) Ransomware Attack
1. Disconnect Immediately Isolate infected hosts from the network (unplug NICs, disable Wi-Fi). This prevents lateral movement, secondary encryption, and additional exfiltration.
2. Isolate and Document Identify affected machines and their relationship to your backups or shared storage. Photograph screens with ransom notes, capture the victim ID, and collect visible attacker contacts (e.g., joedecryption@gmail.com, Telegram @joedecryption).
3. Preserve Everything Leave encrypted files, the ransom note, and logs in place (do not edit or delete). Copy them as forensic artifacts. Preserve backup logs and retention metadata — attackers sometimes target backups first.
4. Do Not Reboot or Format Avoid actions that could trigger additional encryption cycles or remove volatile evidence. If live memory may contain keys or process artifacts, capture RAM with a forensically sound tool before power cycling.
5. Contact Recovery Experts Early engagement with experienced responders increases the chance of recovery while preserving legal evidentiary value. Our team performs a non-destructive triage and will recommend options (from backup restores to decryptor attempts).
Preserve Everything
Keep ransom notes intact. These often contain the victim ID needed for matching decrypt routines.
Do not rename encrypted files or ransom note files. The filename structure ([random10chars].jj3) is meaningful for analysts.
Gather file hashes (MD5/SHA1/SHA256) of encrypted samples and any suspicious executables.
Collect memory images, system logs, and network captures if available — even if logs are partially purged, remnants may be useful.
Maintain a strict chain of custody for any artifacts if law enforcement involvement is expected.
Immediately Shut Down The Compromised Systems
If safe to do so and after memory capture, shut down compromised hosts to prevent further encryption or exfiltration to attached storage. However, avoid unplanned reboots before forensics are performed — volatile evidence may be lost. If unsure, contact recovery personnel and let them advise based on the environment.
Contact a Ransomware Recovery Expert
Avoid DIY attempts from unknown forums. Unverified “decryptors” or ad-hoc tools often further corrupt files or exfiltrate data during the recovery attempt. Contact a vetted recovery service that will:
Validate variant and feasibility without touching originals.
Offer documented proof of concept (test decrypt of a small set of files) before any payment or broad actions.
Provide legal, insurance and negotiation guidance where applicable.
Our team provides a formal evaluation report and a recovery plan with cost/time estimates after the initial analysis.
How to Decrypt Proton/Shinra (.jj3) Ransomware and Recover Your Data?
Proton/Shinra uses strong hybrid encryption in most observed samples: files are encrypted with a symmetric cipher and the symmetric key is wrapped with a public key controlled by the attacker. The filename change (random 10-character prefix + .jj3) and a ransom note (howtorecover.txt) are commonly observed artifacts. Because master private keys are rarely available publicly, direct decryption is often impossible without one of these conditions:
The attacker provides the key (after payment) or a working decryptor.
Security researchers discover a flaw in key handling or a leaked key set.
The variant uses weak key derivation (rare for Proton/Shinra), allowing targeted brute force.
Our recovery approach is methodical:
Triage to confirm Proton/Shinra characteristics (note format, file markers, extension .jj3).
Attempt non-destructive identification of encryption metadata embedded in files.
If a known decryptor exists for the exact variant, run it against copies (test first).
If no direct decryptor exists, assess feasibility of advanced recovery techniques (timestamp seed brute force, cross-sample key recovery) and advise next steps.
Proton/Shinra Decryption and Recovery Options
Below are four reliable methods we evaluate in order; your environment and the specific .jj3 sample determine which are viable.
Free Methods
Emsisoft / Avast Decryptors (Community Tools) How It Works: Vendor decryptors sometimes recover files for older families or for variants with broken key generation. They analyze metadata patterns and attempt to recover symmetric keys used per file. Limitations: Most Proton/Shinra .jj3 strains are not immediately supported. If the decryptor starts but stalls on “Starting…”, it may indicate a mismatch with the sample or additional protections. Always run on copies.
No More Ransom Project A central repository for vetted decryptors. Check it — but do not rely exclusively on early availability.
Backup Restore
How It Works: Restore from offline, immutable or off-site backups. This is the cleanest and fastest full recovery method — provided backups were not reached or corrupted. Integrity Steps: Verify backup integrity (mount and checksum), ensure backups predate the incident, and validate that restore targets are not reconnected while attackers still have access.
VM Snapshots
How It Works: Rollback to pre-infection snapshots on hypervisors (e.g., VMware ESXi). Considerations: Confirm snapshot logs. Attackers sometimes delete or corrupt snapshots if they had administrative access. Isolate hypervisor management interfaces prior to rollback.
GPU-Based Brute Force (Advanced Research)
How It Works: For very specific strains that derive keys from limited seeds (timestamps or low-entropy values), GPU acceleration can brute force possible seeds and recover symmetric keys. Feasibility: Extremely resource-intensive; success reported only on rare variants where key generation was flawed. This method requires specialist expertise, significant GPU hardware, and long runtimes.
Paid Methods
Paying the Ransom This option may produce a decryptor, but it carries major risks:
Victim ID Validation: Attackers often require the victim ID found in the ransom note to generate the decryptor tailored to your files.
Tool Delivery Risks: There is no guarantee of a working decryptor or that the attacker won’t leak your data later. Some decryptors contain hidden scripts or backdoors.
Legal & Ethical Issues: Paying funds to criminals has legal implications and may be restricted by local regulations or insurance policies.
If clients consider payment, we insist on proof-of-decrypt (test decrypt of non-critical files) before further transfer and coordinate with negotiators and legal counsel.
Third-Party Negotiators
Intermediary Bargaining Negotiators liaise with the attackers to reduce demands or obtain proof decryptions. A reputable negotiator:
Requests and validates test decrypts.
Keeps negotiations off public channels and attempts to preserve victim anonymity.
Advises on payment mechanisms and records all steps for insurance and legal purposes.
High Costs & Conditional Success Negotiator fees and transitional costs can be high. Success is never guaranteed — use only proven intermediaries.
Our Specialized Proton/Shinra (.jj3) Decryptor
We have developed a structured decryptor framework for Proton/Shinra family incidents (not a universal magic key). The service includes:
Reverse-Engineered Utility: When a variant displays a recoverable flaw, our devs and crypto analysts craft a safe decryptor targeted to that flaw.
Cloud-Assisted Decryption (Optional): Secure upload of encrypted sample batches to our sandboxed infrastructure for heavy analysis and coordinated brute force. All transfers use end-to-end encryption and strict access controls.
Fraud Mitigation: We provide cryptographic logs and test decrypts before enterprise decisions and payments. We also submit hashes and artifacts to trusted vendor networks to accelerate public advisories if keys are recovered.
Important: Many Proton/Shinra variants use proper cryptography. We do not claim universal success; instead we offer a trustworthy, auditable workflow and honest triage results.
Step-by-Step Proton/Shinra (.jj3) Recovery Guide with Our Decryptor
Assess the Infection
Identify file extension (e.g., .jj3) and confirm presence of the ransom note (howtorecover.txt).
Note attacker contact (example: joedecryption@gmail.com, Telegram @joedecryption) and victim ID.
Secure the Environment
Isolate infected hosts, unplug network connections, and take forensic snapshots (memory, disk images).
Ensure backups are disconnected from the network and preserved.
Engage Our Team
Submit encrypted sample files and the ransom note. We perform a rapid variant confirmation and provide a recommended path (free decryptor check, backup restore plan, or advanced analysis).
We present a clear cost/time estimate after the triage stage.
Run Decryptor (If Applicable)
Decryptor runs as an admin on a test environment and targets copies of encrypted files.
Enter Victim ID from the ransom note when requested to ensure correct mapping.
Verify test file integrity and then proceed in stages to full data recovery.
Air-gapped analysis and GPU brute force. Works well for sensitive environments with strict data handling needs. No internet required for the heavy computer, but artifact transfer logistics must be secure.
Online Methods
Cloud sandboxing provides faster analysis and parallel computation. Online workflows enable remote expert collaboration and accelerated brute force. They require encrypted transfer channels and strict access controls. We support both options and document every step.
What is Proton / Shinra Ransomware (.jj3)?
Proton / Shinra is a ransomware family (Proton often overlaps with variants called Shinra) known for frequent rebranding and many file-extension variants. The .jj3 form is one of many extensions used to mark encrypted files. Characteristics include:
Random 10-character filename prefixes (e.g., bce0yUQslW.jj3).
Ransom notes named howtorecover.txt or similar, containing victim IDs and attacker contacts.
Aggressive pre-encryption actions (process termination, shadow copy deletion) and double extortion tactics (data theft prior to encryption).
Use of hybrid encryption, making third-party recovery without keys difficult.
Link to CONTI & Affiliations
While Proton/Shinra is an independent lineage, ransomware ecosystems frequently share tooling and wording. Post-Conti fragmentation saw several affiliates reuse code and negotiation language. Some Proton/Shinra ransom notes and behavior echo phrasing and TTPs observed in other high-impact families (Conti derivatives, Royal, BlackBasta), but attribution is fluid and must be handled cautiously.
Proton/Shinra Works: The Inside Look
Initial Access Vectors: How Proton/Shinra Gets In
Phishing & Malicious Attachments: Spear-phishing remains a dominant vector.
RDP / VPN Weaknesses: Exposed RDP, poorly protected VPNs, and brute-force attacks open lateral movement channels.
Exposed Vulnerabilities: Unpatched appliances (VPN/firewall) and management interfaces are common invasion points.
Tools, TTPs & MITRE ATT&CK Mapping
Credential harvesting: Tools like Mimikatz and similar memory-dumps to harvest credentials (T1003).
Reconnaissance: Active scanning tools and AD queries (e.g., AdFind) to locate high-value targets.
Lateral Movement & Remote Control: AnyDesk, RDP, remote management utilities.
Exfiltration: RClone, Mega.nz, SFTP/FTP uploads; tunneling via Ngrok or proxies.
Encryption & Data Destruction
Hybrid approach: Fast symmetric cipher for file content + RSA/ECC wrapping for keys.
Volume Shadow Copy deletion: Commands such as vssadmin delete shadows /all /quiet are used to block Windows’ recovery.
Double extortion: Threat to leak stolen data on attacker websites or dark web forums if ransom is not paid.
Known Proton/Shinra (.jj3) Indicators of Compromise (IOCs)
File extension: .jj3 appended to random 10-char filenames (e.g., bce0yUQslW.jj3).
Ransom note filename: howtorecover.txt (content begins: “Warning: Your files have been stolen and encrypted.”)
Attacker contacts: Example email joedecryption@gmail.com; Telegram handle @joedecryption.
Victim ID: Long hex string included in the note (e.g., 4B6AD950C4F51021EEDF5AB5A9FE646D).
Registry artifacts: Changes to HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System\legalnotice*; wallpaper updates under HKCU\Control Panel\Desktop\Wallpaper.
Process terminations: Database and office apps are interrupted; common targets include SQL services and Office processes.
Network behavior: Unexpected uploads to cloud storage or outbound tunneling.
If you have samples, we recommend hashing them (SHA256) and submitting to trusted vendors for matching to public IOCs.
Mitigations and Best Practices
Secure remote access: Enforce MFA on VPN and RDP; disable unused services.
Patch management: Prioritize critical CVEs on VPN and firewall appliances.
Backup hygiene: Immutable backups, off-site copies, and frequent validation.
Endpoint protections: EDR with behavior rules for process termination and shadow copy deletion.
Driver control: Prevent unsigned kernel drivers and use BYOVD mitigations.
Continuous monitoring: Alert on large outbound transfers and unknown admin creation.
Statistics and Facts So Far Regarding Proton/Shinra (.jj3)
Global Impact: Multiple organizations across industries have reported Proton/Shinra-style infections with a wide variety of extensions.
Extortion approach: Double extortion is common — attackers steal, threaten publication, then encrypt.
Variant diversity: Operators cycle extensions and ransom note phrasing frequently to evade simple YARA rules; .jj3 is one label among many.
Ransom Note Dissected: What They Say and Why
A typical .jj3 ransom note contains:
Warning: Your files have been stolen and encrypted.
If you want your files back, contact us at the email addresses shown below:
Email: joedecryption@gmail.com
Telegram: @joedecryption
# In subject line please write your personal ID
ID: 4B6AD950C4F51021EEDF5AB5A9FE646D
Warning: You will receive a discount if you contact us within 24 hours of decryption – Strictly try to avoid scam brokers or decryption companies, as they will only waste your money.
Check Your Spam Folder: After sending your emails, please check your spam/junk folder
regularly to ensure you do not miss our response.
No Response After 24 Hours: If you do not receive a reply from us within 24 hours,
please create a new, valid email address (e.g., from Gmail, Outlook, etc.)
and send your message again using the new email address.
These elements are intended to: 1) prove attacker control, 2) organize victim communications, and 3) increase urgency to pay.
Conclusion: Restore Your Data, Reclaim Your Network
Proton / Shinra .jj3 infections present a high-risk double-extortion problem. While some older or flawed variants may be recoverable via published decryptors, most modern strains rely on robust hybrid cryptography. Recovery options in practice are:
Primary: Restore from verified offline backups.
Secondary: Use vendor or researcher decryptors where available (after verification).
Tertiary: Advanced forensic recovery (GPU brute force, seed analysis) — resource heavy and only occasionally successful.
Our team offers secure, auditable analysis and staged recovery. We prioritize proving feasibility before broad action and provide clear documentation for insurance and legal processes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Not typically. Free decryptors exist only for specific legacy variants or where keys leaked. Most .jj3 cases require professional triage to determine feasibility.
Usually yes; the victim ID inside the note is often required to map to the correct decryptor. However, advanced offline methods may work without it in rare cases.
Costs vary widely depending on the size of the environment and whether specialized compute (GPUs) or extended research is needed. We provide a clear estimate after initial triage.
Our recovery framework supports Windows and Linux filesystems and can handle ESXi targets where snapshots and images are available. Success depends on variant specifics.
Payment is high risk and not recommended. It may violate laws and offer no guarantee. If payment is considered, insist on a verified test decrypt and consult legal counsel and law enforcement.
Look for large outbound transfers or use of tools like RClone, Mega, or tunneling services. Network captures and vendor telemetry can confirm exfiltration.
Isolate infected machines, preserve the ransom note and encrypted samples, capture memory, and contact experienced responders. Quick, methodical action improves outcomes.
Contact Us To Purchase The Proton/Shinra Decryptor Tool
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