Gandcrab
Overview
GandCrab is ransomware that encrypts a victim's files and demands ransom for their return, targeting Windows PCs of both consumers and businesses. Per Malwarebytes, it launched in January 2018 and operated as a ransomware-as-a-service, with affiliates spreading it for a share of the profits. On May 31, 2019 its operators publicly announced they were shutting down. Free decryptors for certain versions were later released through industry and law-enforcement collaboration.
Known aliases
Threat reports may refer to this family under multiple names:
MITRE ATT&CK Techniques
This family has been observed using the following ATT&CK techniques: T1486 T1490 T1082 T1083 T1071.001 T1566.001
Tactical Mitigations
Based on the techniques used by this family, consider the following defensive strategies:
- T1071.001: Implement web filtering and SSL/TLS inspection to detect malicious command and control (C2) traffic hiding in HTTP/HTTPS.
- T1566.001: Scan email attachments for malicious macros, scripts, or suspicious archive files.
Generated Detections (Boilerplate)
These YARA and Sigma rules are auto-generated based on the family name and aliases. They must be heavily tuned before deployment in a production environment.
YARA Rule
rule MALWARE_WIN_GANDCRAB {
meta:
description = "Detects Gandcrab (ransomware)"
author = "SystemHelpdesk Boilerplate Generator"
date = "2026-07-06"
strings:
$s1 = "gandcrab" ascii wide nocase
$s2 = "gandcrab" ascii wide nocase
condition:
uint16(0) == 0x5a4d and any of them
}Sigma Rule
title: Suspicious Gandcrab Activity
id: d4d07dbc129592db4c5ff26cf2c92012
status: experimental
description: Detects generic indicators of the gandcrab malware family.
logsource:
category: process_creation
product: windows
detection:
selection:
Image|endswith:
- '\cmd.exe'
- '\powershell.exe'
CommandLine|contains:
- "*gandcrab*"
- "*gandcrab*"
condition: selection
level: mediumReferences & External Analysis
- Malwarebytes: GandCrab ransomware
- Search "gandcrab" on VirusTotal (External Analysis)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is GandCrab?
Ransomware that encrypts files on Windows PCs and demands payment; it targeted both consumers and businesses.
When was GandCrab active?
It launched in January 2018 and its operators announced a shutdown on May 31, 2019.
How was GandCrab distributed?
As a ransomware-as-a-service: affiliates spread it through methods like exploit kits, phishing, and other vectors in exchange for a cut of the ransoms.
Is there a free GandCrab decryptor?
Free decryptors for certain GandCrab versions were released through industry and law-enforcement collaboration; availability depends on the version.
Should I pay the GandCrab ransom?
Security guidance generally discourages paying. Check whether a free decryptor exists for your version (e.g., via the No More Ransom project) and restore from clean backups where possible.
How can I protect against ransomware like GandCrab?
Keep software patched, be cautious with email attachments and links, use reputable security software, and maintain tested offline backups.
Where can I read an authoritative source on GandCrab?
Malwarebytes maintains a GandCrab overview, linked on this page.
How do I remove the Gandcrab Ransomware from Windows?
Manual removal of Gandcrab is highly discouraged as it may leave persistence mechanisms intact. We recommend disconnecting the device from the internet and utilizing a professional incident response service or enterprise-grade EDR software to conduct a full forensic sweep.
Is Gandcrab a virus or a Ransomware?
Gandcrab is classified as a Ransomware. Unlike traditional viruses that infect files, modern malware like Gandcrab typically operates as a standalone payload designed to compromise systems, steal data, or deploy secondary stage implants.
What are the main symptoms of a Gandcrab infection?
Symptoms of Gandcrab can include unexpected system slowness, unauthorized outbound network traffic to unknown IP addresses, disabled security software, and suspicious background processes running from AppData or Temp directories.
Related Families (Category: ransomware)
Explore other malware families in the same category:
Protect Your Network Against Ransomwares
Want to prevent Gandcrab and similar threats from compromising your organization? Read our comprehensive defensive guide: Ransomware Protection Guide.
Machine-readable
Get this profile as JSON: https://jordan123234-malware-families-explorer.static.hf.space/api/gandcrab.json
Ecosystem & Interactive Environments
This profile is part of the Malware Families Catalog, a public dataset of 2,899 malware families. The catalog is also published across our ecosystem: Hugging Face, Kaggle, Zenodo, Replit, StackBlitz, CodeSandbox, and CodePen.