Security News > 2021 > September > Free REvil ransomware master decrypter released for past victims
A free master decryptor for the REvil ransomware operation has been released, allowing all victims encrypted before the gang disappeared to recover their files for free.
While Bitdefender could not share details about how they obtained the master decryption key or the law enforcement agency involved, they told BleepingComputer that it works for all REvil victims encrypted before July 13th. "As per our blog post, we received the keys from a trusted law enforcement partner, and unfortunately, this is the only information we are at liberty to disclose right now," Bitdefender's Bogdan Botezatu, Director of Threat Research and Reporting, told BleepingComputer.
REvil ransomware victims can download the master decryptor from Bitdefender and decrypt entire computers at once or specify specific folders to decrypt.
The REvil ransomware operation, aka Sodinokibi, is believed to be a rebrand or successor to the now "Retired" ransomware group known as GandCrab.
As Bitdefender states that victims who REvil encrypted before July 13th can use this decryptor, it is safe to assume that the ransomware operation's disappearance was tied to this law enforcement investigation.
While REvil has returned to attacking victims earlier this month, the release of this master decryptor comes as a massive boon for existing victims who chose not to pay or simply couldn't after the ransomware gang disappeared.